What they're saying about the Eagles
Are national writers predicting a postseason berth for the Eagles? How are Jason Babin and Lito Sheppard adjusting to their new teams? Here's a roundup of some links and notes.
What they're saying about the Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
It's only late June, but that hasn't stopped the national media from making predictions about the 2010 season.
Here's a roundup of links and what they're saying about the Eagles.
NFL.com's Vic Carucci predicts division winners and has the Cowboys taking the NFC East. He says the Giants will be Dallas' strongest competition. What about the Eagles?
Without McNabb, the Eagles suddenly look vulnerable. Kevin Kolb could eventually prove to be an outstanding replacement, but the fact he only has two career NFL starts is likely to be a problem. So is the fact Eagles coach Andy Reid will be relying on plenty of other young players.
Houston Texans offensive lineman Eric Winston would agree with Carucci. Winston pinch-hit for Peter King as Monday Morning Quarterback this week on SI.com. Here are the teams Winston has going to the postseason in the NFC: Cowboys, Vikings, Saints, 49ers, Packers, Falcons.
But Winston's got some love for the Eagles:
Philadelphia was hard to leave off but first-time starter Kevin Kolb will have his hands full. I got to know Kevin my first couple years in Houston when he was lighting up the scoreboard for the Cougars, and I like his mental makeup. I don't think the notorious Philly media and fans will bother him as much as people think it will. The NFC East simply will be tough sledding. They are all going to knock each other around this year.
Give Winston some credit for making predictions. In general, it's extremely rare for current players to do that sort of thing. He left the Jaguars and Titans off his list of playoff teams and will have to face each of those squads twice this season.
One guy who's not counting the Eagles out is CBSSports.com's Clark Judge. Judge says the NFC East is the strongest division in football and warns readers not to underestimate Andy Reid:
I don't know what to make of Philadelphia, either, other than I would never, ever, ever, underestimate Reid. Two years ago disgruntled fans and irate talk-radio hosts wanted to run him and McNabb out of town after a listless midseason tie with Cincinnati. But Reid and McNabb didn't go away, and neither did the Eagles, reaching the playoffs and making it to the conference championship game for the fifth time in eight seasons.
Let's catch up with some former Eagles who now have new homes, starting with defensive end Jason Babin.
Babin signed with the Titans this offseason and seems to be content with his decision.
"I think the biggest thing here is just that I'm getting coached,'' Babin told The Tennessean. "In Seattle, they didn't want me, didn't coach me, didn't talk to me. Here, I'm wanted. I'm getting coached. (Washburn) tells me what I need to work on and boom, boom, boom, it works.''
Babin didn't take any jabs at the Eagles in the article, and he really would have no reason to. The Birds gave him a shot last August when he was without a team and his NFL career was at a crossroads. He worked his way on to the roster, into the D-line rotation and now has extended his career. It'll be interesting to see how the Titans use him and what kind of success he has there. His teammates better get ready for some training camp skirmishes. Babin was in the middle of quite a few of those at Lehigh last summer.
And finally, Mr. Lito Sheppard. Hard to believe it was just a couple offseasons ago that the Eagles dealt him to the Jets. Sheppard spent one bad season in New York before being released and signing with the Vikings. Minnesota's system has more similarities to the Eagles' system, and former Birds assistant Leslie Frazier is the defensive coordinator there.
"I think I’m about 80-85 percent in the system right now as far as the different techniques and what I needed to work on to make that transition," Sheppard told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "I feel comfortable with my progress at this point, but there’s still a lot of work to be done and I’m looking forward to it."
Hard to believe Lito's only 29. Seems like he's been in the league for 15 years.
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Don't forget last year's edition was without any decent LB's, the O-line was an injury riddled mess, Westbrook contributed next to nothing, two of the primary receivers were new to starting...and they still won 11 games! Oh Yeah, McDermott wasn't ready to take over after JJ died, either.
Get serious— tommy_the_k- hey "Andy is Fat"...the joke is old and stale...move on would ya!— Gray Areas
Comment removed.- In the past you could put any QB in the offense and the Eagles would win...Feeley, McNabb, Garcia, it did not matter...they would win. Why? Because of Jim Johnson's defense and a superior O-Line. Now they have neither and the toughest schedule in many years. If they get just eight wins that would be more than expected.— Carlos2
- The Giants are totally unpredictable. The Cowboys usually underperform. And the Redskins never quite put it all together, though they play tough. For those reasons, you can't count the Eagles out in the East. But the odds of them making the Super Bowl are worse than 1000:1. Winning it, 1,000,000:1. Too young, but even more important, questionable O-line and defensive backfield. Also, not clear McDermott can fill Johnson's shoes. And it's not clear Reid and Morninhweg are Super-Bowl worthy play callers. If we win the East, it's because the Cowboys let us. The Eagles will be interesting this year, fun to root for, nothing more. And that's all I ask for. Living in eastern PA, I don't dream about Super Bowl wins. Just give us some exciting games. Next year...maybe... If the Giants could do it, so can we.— tacklinjoe
- PaulSoTx - and this year, one LB is just back from an ACL tear while one of the few pleasant pieces from last year's dismal LB corps is gone (Witherspoon); the the O-line is, well.. STILL an injury riddled mess; BWest is gone.. ok a year of experience for the receivers but EVERYone's first year with the new QB. And oh yeah, McDermott is in the first year of applying his touch to the D (much re-working?) with ... who are the DBs again? I'm not as negative as some posters here - they'll do better than 4-12 - but am expecting a tough season. Great promise, but outside looking in come playoff time.— raoool
- josh moneyman is a blithering idiot. Yep, there's no talent on this team and Andy Reid is awful. That's why we've been one of the most competitive organizations in all sports. I'll take a stale Reid anytime over a probably unemployed idiot like moneyman. I bet Kolb does really well, in fact I'll be glad to put some money on it, man. You're a goof josh but, hey... what a superb, in-depth assessment of the club. Thanks.— 1983ufgator
- what a bunch of balljobs. this team might be young, but cant anyone see how close we are? bradley back is huge...HUGE! trent cole will finally avoid these relentless double teams that gas him in the 4th. fresh legs mean sacks, boys... and fumbles and scores. obviously kolb will face questions, way to state the obvious. if that line can give him time, i think hes going to dominate right out of the gate.bell, shady,Dshawn, celek,...we are LOADED. i see minnesota as our biggest concern, in the nfc championship. then we see the hounds unleashed! F dallas.— meengreen
Sorry Gay Areas, I still find fat jokes amusing. Time's yours.— ANDY-IS-FAT- Nobody knows if Kolb sucks or if he is gonna be good. I liked that 2 minute drive against the Saints to end the half.— bigphillydad
- lonewolf, what aeason did Mcnabb have "weapons" other than the last one? Kolb better light it up, because McNabb never had it so good so early on. You are truly in a fog!— nceagle
- There is a story on the news out here in Vegas where I live that Randall Cunningham's two year old baby drowned in their hot tub this evening.— Richardgozinya
- What are you guys talking about? Kolb is a 'true leader', All-American. Of course we'll go 16-0, easily. No O-line? No problem. Kolb with his super-fast release that throws approximately 700% more accurate than Mr. air guitar, cannot possibly be sacked or intercepted and will be lighting up the NFC East for decades, no centuries to come. No D? No problem. 'True leader' Kolb will spark his teammates from the sidelines to make stops and force turnovers by the hundreds. All these positive characteristics that the previous choke artist does not and will never have. Why did it take 3 years for us to realize this? 'True leader' Kolb will be the greatest ever to play the game. Kolb for president!— goeagles87
- Why bother? If there is anything I have learned over the years its that These so-called experts have no idea what they are talking about. Take any given year - any - and you will see the results at the end bearing very little resemblance to preseason predictions. Who had New Orleans winning the Super Bowl? And as I recall the Cowboys were talked about last year in the same way that these guys are discussing the Eagles this year. They have no idea. They are just talking out of their cabooses for the sake of filling space. As the season progresses, things will shape up in a very different way then 90% of them predict. Look it up. They can't even get playoff predictions right, with a greatly narrowed field of teams!
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