Revamped Birds: Next step . . . or out of step?

There was much puzzling over exactly what Banner meant. Or rather, everybody in Eagles Nation felt they knew all too well what he meant; the question was, what would change? Over the next several months, we found out, as the Birds embarked on a series of moves that remade the offense while saying goodbye to some popular, longtime stars.

"It was very, very frustrating; we had played both Arizona and Pittsburgh very well in the regular season," Banner recalled last week. The Steelers, of course, ended the Cards' improbable playoff run in the Super Bowl.

Banner didn't recall any Arizona epiphanies, moves he or Eagles coach Andy Reid came out of that game feeling they definitely needed to make. But after they sat down and evaluated, as they do each offseason, they made what Banner today calls "very dramatic changes . . . We reoriented a lot of the roster."

To Banner, it's important that many of the changes seem to position the team well for the years beyond 2009. That's probably not a point he should press too hard with a large segment of the fan base, which has long felt the Birds were too oriented toward tomorrow to ever win today. But no question, the team is younger now, and many of the newcomers — offensive linemen Stacy Andrews and Jason Peters, rookie running back LeSean McCoy, rookie wideout Jeremy Maclin — are here for the long haul.

One other thing that quickly followed that loss on Jan. 18 was a plea for weapons from quarterback Donovan McNabb, who clearly was outgunned, trying to outscore a diverse Cardinals offense with a gimpy Brian Westbrook, a fearless rookie wideout named DeSean Jackson, and very little else.

"There was a particular emphasis on upgrading the offense," Banner said.

The rebuilding of the offensive line has hit a few well-publicized bumps, but it's hard to argue against the idea that McNabb has more weapons and a more talented supporting cast, in general, after perhaps the most eventful Eagles offseason since 2004. That was the year Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse arrived, while Duce Staley, Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor departed.

Over the next four pages we look at the major developments since the end of last season. Each is offered with an appraisal of how it looked initially and how it looks now.

Feb. 28: Eagles sign offensive lineman Stacy Andrews.

How it looked then: The assumption was that for 6 years and $40 million, Andrews would replace Jon Runyan at right tackle. There was concern that he was less than 2 months removed from ACL surgery.

How it looks now: Turns out, Andy Reid decided to move Stacy's brother Shawn outside to right tackle and play Stacy at Shawn's guard spot. The initial concern — Stacy's knee — seems less of a gamble now than Shawn's back, which only allowed him to start practicing with the team 2 weeks before the opener.

"It's still in the back of your mind," Stacy acknowledged recently, when asked about the status of his knee, not quite 9 months after surgery. "Every game that I'm out there, [the doubt] will start slowly erasing from my database."

Stacy Andrews played in just one preseason game, but he practiced extensively and seems likely to be a very good addition.

Feb. 28: Brian Dawkins signs with Denver as a free agent.

How it looked then: Like the end of the world for a fan base largely decked out in No. 20 jerseys. There was an extended discussion of how the Eagles managed to send an all-time franchise icon off to end his career in another uniform; team president Joe Banner eventually went on Howard Eskin's WIP radio show to assure fans that "I feel terrible about the way this ended."

"I go back and forth in my mind about what we could have said differently or done differently to produce a different outcome," Banner added.

The Eagles really wanted Dawkins back — unlike Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan — but they underestimated the market for the 35-year-old free safety. It might be fair to say a few things got lost in translation, with Dawkins' agent (whose fee obviously depends on the size of the deal his client signs) relaying what Dawkins came to characterize as "insulting" Eagles contract terms. Banner also said on Eskin's show he wished he had talked to Dawkins directly.

How it looks now: Not that much different, really. The Eagles have had trouble settling on a replacement; second-year man Quintin Demps didn't step up and ease everyone's concerns in training camp. The death of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and the season-ending injury to middle linebacker Stewart Bradley have only heightened concerns about defensive leadership in Dawkins' absence.

Safety Quintin Mikell spoke recently about how strange it was watching his old friend play in the preseason for Denver.

"I will say it was a little nostalgic sitting here [thinking], 'I remember those hits,' and stuff like that. It was a little weird, but I'm happy with the situation that we're in, and I'm sure he's happy," Mikell said. "It's the position we're in. We just have to move on."

March 20: The Eagles sign fullback Leonard Weaver.

How it looked then: Finally, a real fullback, after a year of Dan Klecko and Tony Hunt, and problems at the position that go back much farther, to Josh Parry and Thomas Tapeh. In keeping with the Birds' seeming lack of concern about the fullback spot, Weaver signed only a 1-year deal, after he couldn't find anything better on the market.

How it looks now: Weaver showed in the preseason he is probably the best player the Eagles have had at the position in the Reid era. He understands all the blocking facets, run and pass, is big enough to make the blocks, can catch a pass and do something with it, can even gain a tough yard running it himself. Biggest concern now would be that the Birds don't have anyone comparable behind him, should Weaver get hurt.