What they're saying about the Eagles
Predictions for the 2010 NFL season continue to trickle in. Here's a look at what the national media are saying about the Eagles.
What they're saying about the Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
As we sit a week away from the start of the 2010 NFL season, predictions continue to trickle in.
Here's our weekly look at what the national media are saying about the Eagles.
SI.com's Ross Tucker previews the NFC East and has the Eagles going 9-7. Tucker has all four teams in the division finishing above .500, with the Redskins and Cowboys going 10-6. He has the Giants finishing 9-7.
Tucker lists one thing that each team needs to improve. For the Birds, he says it's an intimidation factor:
The defense took a step back last year under first-year defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and must get back to being the intimidating crew that the late Jim Johnson created during his tenure in Philly. The Eagles got a number of reinforcements this offseason after trading for linebacker Ernie Sims from the Detroit Lions and using their first two draft choices on defensive end Brandon Graham from Michigan and safety Nate Allen from South Florida. All three are expected to start from day one. The defense also returns rock-solid middle linebacker Stewart Bradley after he missed all of the 2009 campaign with a torn ACL.
Sean McDermott and Andy Reid have pointed to Sims as a guy who can provide that intimidation factor. But, in my opinion, that has to start with being a playmaker, something Sims will have to prove he's capable of in the regular season.
SI.com's Peter King also previews the Eagles in a video that accompanies Tucker's piece. He praises the Eagles for moving on to Kevin Kolb, but says it will be tough for them to win the division or even make the playoffs this season.
NFL.com has six different experts chiming in with Eagles predictions. Two predict 10-6; two predict 9-7; one predicts 8-8; and one predicts 5-11.
Vic Carucci has the Birds winning just five games:
Kevin Kolb will eventually be a good quarterback. This year, however, he isn't ready to carry the load and the team will feel his growing pains.
None of the experts have the Eagles winning the NFC East. Three have them finishing second; two have them finishing third; and Carucci has them finishing last.
Jason La Canfora gives the Eagles 10 wins:
Kevin Kolb is going to be a star. If the OL was more settled I'd like their chances more. Dick Jauron should bring consistency to secondary.
CBSSports.com's Clark Judge predicts a third-place finish for the Eagles. He has the Cowboys first, the Giants second and the Redskins last:
This is one of the most intriguing teams out there because after eight playoffs and five conference championship games they had the guts to cut loose the quarterback who took them there. Now, I'm not sure what to make of them, other than it's never wise to underestimate Reid. He admires Kolb and believes he's a better fit for what the Eagles do with their passing game than McNabb ... and maybe he's right. But one problem: McNabb had over 10 years of starting in this offense; Kolb has two games. So expect mistakes borne from inexperience, which means expect more losses than last season.
In case you missed it from earlier this week, here's what Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski think about the Eagles.
And Phil Simms' take on the Birds.
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Vic Carucci is light headed from sucking flatulence out of bus seats.— tornadoh
They say the preseason is not an indicator of what to expect during the regular season. That is if you have been playing together for years. Kolb is not the answer just look at him in the preseason, if Mcnabb would have played like that they would have trashed him. I see them winning eight games at best. D Jax is a player that needs the ball in the open field if teams play press covewrage and don't let him get by them he will get frustrated as was evident in the Dallas games last season. I like Kafka, I see him as the QB of the future just watch if they don't trade him he will take Kolb's spot.— gwilli1234- I strongly predict between 5-11 and 11-5, depending on how well we play.— tommy_the_k
- Bold prediction, tommy_the_k. Truth is, all these predictions aren't worth squat, especially with a young team like the Eagles. Nobody knows how they'll do. There's certainly a good deal of talent, but there's a bunch on the other teams as well. There will certainly be youthful errors. But it really comes down to coaching. For all the Big Red haters, you do have to admit he's had a good bit of success, at least in the regular season. If we do make it to the playoffs, the pressure will probably get to the young guys. My prediction (worth as much as anyone elses, which is nothing) is that the Eagles will make the playoffs, then lose in the first round.— dlscholt
- THE EAGLES RECORD WILL BE 6-10 Imao— riza1976
- You folks have as much faith in Andy Reid as you do the Redskins winning hardly any games at all, havent the past 10 years with Andy Reid taught you anything ???.. are you really given that much credit to McNabb's ability ????.. l'll tell you what, and l'll say it now and here.... Eagles will contend for the NFL East.. it wont be with Washington, nor the Giants, but the Giants will be in the mix towards the end, as usual..... so l see it Dallas n Eagles with the Eagles making up for last year's embarassment.... We improved on Defense, and havent lost anything since last year, the Offense will depend on the OL... and how well it jells, lookout if they do.. the rb's, wr's and te's the same, so l dont even see a drop with Kolb, as some others have stated.. and special teams could have only improved.. .there, l said it.....Mark My Words... Gooooooo Eagles..— Pa Bryon
- They will be lucky to win 2 games. But neither Detroit or Chicago will make that easy.— DW4
- You know what? I've been predicting that I would win the lottery for years now. Guess what...I was wrong. There are too many intangibles to make an accurate pick outside of maybe the top 3 teams. And then the order would still be wrong. Weren't the Cowboys suppose to be in the Super Bowl last year?— PhillyFanSouth
- Wolf 4, good post, I actually agree with most of it, except for 1 thing: 8-8 can only be considered a success for teams that admit they are rebuilding, and since everyone at Nova Care will put their hand on a Bible and swear that we aren't doing that this year, better than 8-8 has to be achieved to consider '10 a success. Iladelphiasfinest, great post and you make 2 really great points re: McD getting all of the blame for the dip in Defensive production last year and the loss of the folks you mentioned not being accounted for and secondly, to truly determine the value of AR, one needs to compare him to other Eagles coaches that mastered the art of putting together teams that SUCK, ala Mr. Rich Kotite, quite possibly the worst coach ever. Ask Jets fans, they will instantaneously agree.— The Reddgie
- I love those who predict the unpredictable. And that's exactly what this current Eagles team is, unpredictable. Could be one of the best or be one of the worst. Most likely scenario is they are right in the middle of the pack. The Eagles will be in the top 5 teams within 2 years from now, remember there's gonna be a lockout next year. Kolb should play just as well as McNabb can play with this same cast of charachters. Only differance will be that Kolb's INT number will be slightly higher.Prolly around 6 or 7 more. And please stop burying the Redskins because they have McNabb now. He was a very good if not borderline great QB for this city and will only continue that trend with Washington. Papabear has spoken!— papabear702
- These pretzels are making me thirsty.— Gene London
- The media Sheil selected are pretty much on target. Kolb might be able to carry the load right away with a very good line, but he won't even have a good one. The best he'll be is inconsistent, shining occasionally.— tacklinjoe
- Opinions are like noses...everybody has one.— watsonmr
Hard schedule? Gimme a break. The experts said the same thing before last season. "Oh, how devastating the second half was going to be" and that was the talk BEFORE the team was wiped out by injuries. So what happened? PLAYOFFS! This hard schedule nonsense is just the Kolbettes giving themselves an out in case our #24 rated QB falls flat on his face. Every aspect of this team is on or par or BETTER than last years team and they have more experience. If McNabb got them to the playoffs why can't our brand new 24th ranked QB? Hey, McNabb stunk remember? Now our 24th ranked QB is going to have LESS success and it'll be a successful season? Hahahahahahaha, gimme a break. If this team is better all around, and it is, how can going from a playoff team to 8-8 be a success? Are you kidding me? Regression is a success? Really? Please, do I have to read this BS from the cowardly Kolbettes every day? Oh, the 3rd preseason game was a BIIIIIG test until the unexpected happened and that "SB" contender KC made our 24th ranked QB Kevin Kolb look like Lee J. Cobb, then all of a sudden "it's only preseason" or "it doesn't count". Typical Kolbettes talking out of both sides of their mouths. This is just a prep job for the eventual excuses to follow because they are scared, just like I said they would do. They are paving the street with every angle they can to cover all the bases in case our 24th ranked QB stinks it up. It's as clear as glass. Now, since the team is equal or better in all areas and the Kolbettes DEMANDED the QB be changed then the only reason for 8-8 can be that 24th ranked QB they just HAD to have. They gave no quarter to McNabb and I'm not giving an inch to our 24th ranked QB either. If no playoffs this year it's an out and out FAILURE!! 8-8 is a success, SB in 2 years or less, WHICH IS IT!!— tpizza- Hard schedule, OL, inexperience, rookies, Reid, play calling, not running enough, bad defense, Rookie QB [my favorite], Marty...on and on it goes. Please Kolbettes, show some spine, please.— tpizza
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