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| | Thursday, August 24 Eagles: Lofty expectations | |||||||||||||||
| By Tom Oates Special to ESPN.com The Philadelphia Eagles won three games in 1998 and five last year in coach Andy Reid's debut season. Next stop? The Eagles think it's the playoffs. After a productive draft and an even better performance in free agency, it's not out of the question. The roster, which deteriorated during Ray Rhodes' regime, is again respectable although far from a finished product. The key to any playoff run will be how fast second-year quarterback Donovan McNabb has progressed in Reid's version of the West Coast offense.
McNabb was booed on draft day by Eagles fans who wanted halfback Ricky Williams. No one is booing now. Duce Staley's breakthrough season showed that Williams wasn't needed and McNabb looks like a future star. He started the final seven games as a rookie and, while he didn't put up particularly impressive numbers, he did play with poise and discipline. He has the arm strength and running ability to become a prototypical NFL quarterback in a year or two. The question for the Eagles is: Can he win in the meantime? Key position battle The West Coast offense needs an excellent tight end to flourish and the Eagles have yet to find one. When Jamie Asher, an injury-related bust, was released in the spring, it left the job to Luther Broughton, Chad Lewis, Jed Weaver or Jeff Thomason. One of them will win the job, but none of them will give the offense the combination of blocking and receiving skill it needs. Biggest adjustment The defense led the NFL in takeaways under first-year coordinator Jim Johnson, then was given an infusion of talent. First-round draft pick Corey Simon, a tackle, and free-agent linebacker Carlos Emmons are expected to shore up the run defense, among the worst in the league last season. That will allow the Eagles to turn loose ends Mike Mamula, who had a career-high 8½ sacks, and Hugh Douglas, who missed much of the season with a biceps injury. The secondary, when healthy, is second to none. Rookie report Besides Simon, another rookie being counted on to help immediately is second-round wide receiver Todd Pinkston. Pinkston is reed-thin, but he'll add badly needed speed to the wide receiving corps. Third-rounder Bobby Williams could beat out veteran Jermane Mayberry and start at right guard on the restructured offensive line.
| ALSO SEE Cardinals: Plummer has to fix leaks Cowboys: Time is ticking away Giants: Dayne carries a big load Redskins: Super offseason AUDIO/VIDEO   Andy Reed wants to restore the winning attitude to the Eagles franchise.wav: 83 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Andy Reid wants Corey Simon in camp as soon as possible.wav: 135 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Andy Reid knows that his quarterback and receivers need to have their timing down.wav: 122 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Donovan McNabb has built a rapport with Charles Johnson.wav: 61 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Eagles safety Brian Dawkins tells what life is like in the defensive secondary.wav: 1235 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Dawkins says Donovan McNabb has the Eagles offense clicking.wav: 915 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | |||||||||||||||
