Which Eagles face the most pressure?
24-hour breaking news, sports, weather, entertainment, and more with coverage from The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News.
Which Eagles face the most pressure?
Eagles rookies are due into town Friday for a rookie mini-camp that begins this weekend. They represent the team’s future, and while some will be expected to contribute right away – starting with defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, the player the Eagles drafted 12th overall – no one with any sense will try to make lasting judgments on the new kids for at least a couple seasons.
Many veteran Eagles players and coaches, though, don’t have the same leeway. What’s striking about this Eagles team is how many people enter this season having something to prove right now. Off the top of my head I can point to at least nine coaches or players who face serious questions about their standing and whose play this year will go a long way to determining their futures in Philadelphia.
Part of the pressure comes from so many players falling below expectations last year and who can’t expect another mulligan. Part of it is that the team’s offseason has looked so positive that another deflating regular season would scream out for a shake up. And part of it is that with a full offseason to prepare, there are truly no excuses to lean on this time around.
We won’t get answers about who impresses and who falls short for months and months to come. For now, consider this a quick primer on some of the players we’ll be watching most closely as offseason training ramps up and we search for clues about what their 2012 campaigns may hold:
- Andy Reid: The guy everyone wants to know about. In his February press conference Jeffrey Lurie made clear he had to stop and think about Reid’s future following last year’s 8-8 finish. With an even stronger line up this time around, at least on paper, and a full year to incorporate 2011’s new pieces, it’s hard to see how Reid could survive without a strong rebound. To many on the outside, that means at least one playoff win, if not more, but Lurie has (wisely) not publicly offered such a clear ultimatum.
- Mike Vick/Juan Castillo: Vick and Castillo represent Reid’s biggest decisions, and gambles, since trading away Donovan McNabb and rebuilding his team. The pair both faltered in 2011, drawing their coach’s judgment into question. Both will have some improved circumstances heading into 2012: Vick will have a full offseason as the team’s starter; Castillo has a faster, more athletic defense, a year of coordinating under his belt and a pair of corners who play a similar style. If Vick is ever going to lead this team deep into the playoffs, now would seem to be the time. No matter how nice the team’s offseason moves, none will mean anything if he can’t deliver, or at least cut down on turnovers and injuries. Castillo still has to win over many doubters and prove that Reid’s faith was justified, and not a massive error.
- Brandon Graham/Nate Allen: Another pair in similar circumstances, each was taken early in the 2010 draft, each showed some signs of promise but were inconsistent as rookies and hampered by the after-effects of injuries in 2011. In year three, each has the experience and health that should allow them to show what they can – or can’t – do. This is the year we find out if the team whiffed on these two important picks, or if they simply needed time to blossom.
- Nnamdi Asomugha/Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: Asomugha never seemed comfortable with the Eagles last year, on the field opposite off-corner Asante Samuel or in front of a critical media. Now he has another year to get used to his new home and prove that he really was worth all of the hype leading up to his signing in 2011. If he falls short, questions will grow about whether the Eagles gave a long-term deal to a player who had just hit the wrong side of 30. Rodgers-Cromartie was a smaller investment but has less security. With just one year left on his contract, he has to show he is worth keeping in Philadelphia. If not, he could face the stigma of being deemed expendable by a second team in three years.
- DeMeco Ryans: Two years ago DeMeco Ryans was a Pro Bowl middle linebacker and indispensable part of the Houston Texans. Last year he was a two-down linebacker playing a reduced role and traded for very little return. Now he’s back in the system he came up in, the 4-3, and two years removed from his Achilles tear. This is when we find out if he just needed time to get back to form, or if the serious injury has diminished his ability.
- DeSean Jackson: He got the contract, finally. Now there are no excuses for the up-and-down receiver who envisions himself as a superstar but only sometimes plays like one. Jackson signed for less than many expected, he still put his name on the deal. There can be no complaints now about distractions or feeling undervalued or being concerned that he would never get to cash in on his Pro Bowls. Now it’s time for Jackson to show that last year’s dip on and off the field are things of the past.
Reid needs to finally win a Super Bowl in his FOURTEENTH year...with all this DREAM TEAM talent and now combined with the Dream Draft..Reid needs to win the SUPER BOWL...Giants coach won TWO Super Bowls in last 4 years..if Reid can't win a Super Bowl in 14 years he should be fired immediately after this season.
— phil500- The front office has a smugness about it like it's actually won something. Hopefully this is the year they prove they know more than the rest of the league instead of just acting like it. The accounting firm of Banner, Roseman and Reid is on the clock.— hunglikeaton
reid will go 10-6, lose in the 1st round of the playoffs, and lurie will say he's moving in the right direction and give him a contract extesnion.
nothing will happen until drunk eagles fans stop selling out the linc. but then, that would require them to spend time at home with their wives and children, rather than cracking open the miller high life at 8:30am at the jetro lot on gameday- Hey there is nothing wrong with us eagles fan enjoying football sunday a couple hours earlier than the rest of america. And plus miller high life is the champagne of beer, everybody knows that. — nx2kdet
- If it weren't for us, the games would be blacked out.....and you'd have to watch something else while ignoring your wife and kids. — Shea386
- Unless the Eagles become an embarrassment, Any isn't going anywhere. Since they haven't been an embarassment in the last 14 years, I think we can conclude that Andy is going nowhere. Same thing for Castillo. If Andy stays, I think so does Juan. People also forget that Castillo managed to get the defense to a statistical 8th in the league ranking with a new defensive line scheme that he had to incorporate, no tacklers, no playmakers, and no LBs.— Bobphxville
- Yeah i miss the good ol rhodes and kotite days remember all those nfc championships and that sbowl they took us to?then reid came along and all that stopped.— Sean s.
- In my opinion, there's no right or wrong. It all comes down to what you want for your sports dollar.
Some fans are fine with a Superbowl appearance, and can ignore Reid's many mistakes and our current 4-year decline.
Others are interested in a championship only.
And still others care about the "entertainment value."
If you fall in the first category, you're happy with Reid.
If you fall in the second category, Reid's been here way too long.
And if you fall in the 3rd category, Reid's probably not your desired coach.
Personally, I'm a 2, 3, 1 guy: I want a championship first, to be entertained 2nd, and to have had a "close" run 3rd. Reid's neither entertaining nor does he have what it takes to win it all (in my opinion).
If we're not going to win it all, I prefer Buddy Ryan over Reid. Buddy didn't make any playoff runs, but he had some very memorable games (from the "Bounty Bowl" to the "House of Pain Game.") Also, Buddy stood up to his owner and he was a "quote machine." After 13 seasons, can you name one infamous Reid game?
So, as far as I'm concerned, the ONLY thing Reid has to offer is a Supebowl win, and he doesn't have one. - If Vick gets hurt, Reid is gone.— farley
- I heard Kotite is first in line for an interview wheb the season ends— tommy_the_k
- Tamari, you just excluded at least 80% of the fan base with this comment: "...no one with any sense will try to make lasting judgments on the new kids for at least a couple seasons."— Penfold18
- hey Bedpan, the avg football player is bankrupt 2 yrs after their playing days end, the stats are unreal. Coaches of course are not worried, you are right there, at least Andy is set for life. Fans expectations are hilarious, they finally "appear" to have had a good draft and there are still a few yrs to see if it really was. NFL is the king, fans will pay to see a 4-12 team so some kind of team mutiny for an organization whos missed the playoffs a few times in a decade aint happening. Cant wait for camp and the season, enjoy the entertainment. Heck, Im enjoying watching the sixers right now even tho they have zero chance of winning it all. Win this series and win some gms against celtics, maybe get to a gm 7. If the eagles fall flat on their face and miss playoffs thats a whole different story. I want playoffs, then you try to get on a roll from there. Funny thing about Harbaugh going old school with 49ers, great D and solid run game still goes a long way in college (stanford) and pros.— peteike
- People, you need to remember, no team that losses a Manning, Brady, Rogers is going to have a good year. Nobody has a pro-bowl caliber back-up, or they wouldn't be a back-up. The key is to keep Vick healthy and the defense off the field as much as possible. THAT'S THE REAL REASON TO RUN THE BALL MORE. Vick's injuries mostly happened in the pocket (never on a handoff)because they tee off knowing the Eagles don't run and they don't have to be careful for the run. Teams pin their ears back for the most part. Running the ball will stop this, EVEN IF THEY DON"T GAIN A STINKIN YARD. Andy/Marty, pay attention. It's not about balance, but more of keeping the defense "off balance" to save your quarterback.— jakenepa
- Oh how many? How many times have you, I, and countless thousands of other Eagles fans said this, sometimes in unison? But, is Reid listening? Does Reid LISTEN? NO! NO! A thousand times NO!!! This is one of the greatest, most important strategies that can be employed by a team, as you said, even if they don't gain a yard initially.
Offensive balance simultaneously forces changes in defensive strategy that works to the offenses advantage in creating positive passing situations. Oh well, one day, when Reid is working as an assistant elsewhere, he'll probably STILL be wondering where he went wrong.— essell - I love how people mock the Ray Rhodes/Ray Kotite years. We'd at least make the playoffs 50% of the time and win playoff games under those coaches - look up the records. Since 2004 we've had less success than we had during the "dreaded" Kotite/Rhodes years. Wake up people, the Eagles era of 2005 to current is no different than the Rhodes, Kotite, Ryan years.— guyguy4
