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NFL Team Preview: Philadelphia Eagles
Published: August 19, 2009
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Pigskin Heaven’s Sascha Bartels is breaking down every single team in the NFL prior to the season. Here is his analysis and forecast for the Philadelphia Eagles. Click on a team to read their preview.
*Editors Note: Opinions expressed in this article were formed prior to the signing of Michael Vick.
AFC East: BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ
AFC North: BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT
AFC South: IND | HOU | JAX | TEN
AFC West: DEN | KAN | OAK | SDG
NFC East: DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
NFC North: CHI | DET | GBA | MIN
NFC South: ATL | CAR | NOL | TBA
NFC West: ARI | STL | SFO | SEA
What’s new?
Let’s start off with the sad part.
A few weeks ago, Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson lost his battle with cancer, meaning the Eagles will now have to rely on Sean McDermott to carry the load. But is he up to the task?
He does get a few new toys to play with, safety Sean Jones, corner Ellis Hobbs, as well as DE/LB Jason Babin. However, he does lose the Eagles defensive leader, Brian Dawkins, to the mile high city.
Other than Dawkins leaving, the Eagles really only made news twice during the off-season. Once, when they made a trade with Buffalo to acquire LT Jason Peters, and again during the draft, finding some gems who went later than expected like LeSean McCoy and Cornelius Ingram.
Add WR Jeremy Maclin and last year’s top choice DeSean Jackson to the mix, and it’s very apparent that the Eagles main quest right now is to overhaul the offense in an attempt to get Donovan McNabb back to the Super Bowl.
Three burning questions
Will the Eagles suffer with the recent loss of MLB Stewart Bradley?
Even though Andy Reid hasn’t confirmed it yet, it seems apparent that Bradley will miss most or all of the season.
Bradley really emerged on this team last season, and was set to make a name for himself this season.
With the loss of Bradley, an already very inexperienced linebacker core becomes even more so; as Chris Gocong and Omar Gaither become the most experienced LB’s on the team.
The Eagles have always found talent at the position though, so in the end, they should be okay.
Can Donovan McNabb repeat last season’s rare feat?
What’s the rare feat you ask?
Playing in all 16 games.
That’s something McNabb has only done 4 times in his career, and until last year, none since 2003. For the Eagles sake, let’s hope, because with McNabb, they’re a title contender, without him for a long period of time, they don’t contend at all.
And that’s not just meant as a knock on Kevin Kolb, it’s directed much more at the level of competition in the division.
It looks like McNabb finally has all the pieces in place.
An offensive line that now feature Peters, Jamaal Jackson, Gilles, Herremans, and Stacy and Shawn Andrew.
The play-maker positions are just as loaded, as long as Brian Westbrook proves healthy. McCoy will provide a nice change of pace for him, while Kevin Curtis, Jackson and Maclin should all be able to roam free in the secondary. Brett Celek and Ingram will also be mired in competition at the tight end position.
With Dawkins gone, who will be the “QB” of the defense?
Again, not only Dawkins, but also the probable loss of Bradley leads to this question.
Seems like the logical answer to the question is Quentin Mikeel, who is joined in the strong secondary by Jones, Asante Samuel, and Sheldon Brown, as well as a couple youngsters in Victor Harris and Trae Williams.
But the question is still there. It’s not a question of talent on the Philly defense, but it could be a question of leadership.
Prognosis
For the prognosis and final record, read the originally posted article, here.
This is an original article by Pigskin Heaven Staffer, Sascha Bartels, you can read it, more of Sascha’s articles and more from the Pigskin Heaven staff, here.
NFL Team Previews: Cincinnati Bengals
Published: August 15, 2009
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Pigskin Heaven’s Sascha Bartels is breaking down every single team in the NFL prior to the season. Here is his analysis and forecast for the Cincinnati Bengals. Click on a team to read their preview.
AFC East: BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ
AFC North: BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT
AFC South: IND | HOU | JAX | TEN
AFC West: DEN | KAN | OAK | SDG
NFC East: DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
NFC North: CHI | DET | GBA | MIN
NFC South: ATL | CAR | NOL | TBA
NFC West: ARI | STL | SFO | SEA
What’s new?
Perhaps a little addition by subtraction.
Their most steady offensive player, T.J. Houshmanzadeh, is off in the Pacific Northwest now.
Stacy Andrews, John Thornton, Erich Ghiaciuc and Dexter Jackson are also among the Bengals heading out of town.
In to replace Housh is former Jet Laveranues Coles, while other acquisitions include Tank Johnson and safety Roy Williams.
Last year’s maligned draft Jason Shirley is set to make a jump across the line, from DT to OG.
Cincinnati appears to have had a very fruitful draft, starting with Andre Smith.
They also found several others still available in spots where most would have expected them off the board, including LB Rey Maualuga, DE Michael Johnson, TE Chase Coffman, C Jon Luigs and CB Morgan Trent.
Three burning questions
Will Carson Palmer resume his role as top-caliber NFL QB?
Even without Houshmanzadeh, it appears that all signs point to yes.
If Chad Eightfive returns to form, that would be an added bonus, but the Bengals receiving core looks plenty good for a QB of Palmer’s caliber even if Chad continues being Chad.
Coles is a very good addition, and Chris Henry may have finally gotten it, and he’s impressed everyone in camp so far.
Add to that second year pros Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell and rookie Quan Cosby and the Bengal receivers are in good shape.
If the revamped offensive line keeps Palmer upright, he should at least hit his averages, which should mean around 4000 yards and 28-30 TDs.
Will the Bengal defense start catching up to their division rivals?
Certainly, nobody expects the Bengal defense to play as well as Pittsburgh’s and Baltimore’s.
But in case you haven’t noticed, they were 12th in defense last season, and 14th in scoring defense.
There is definite talent on this defense, including Keith Rivers, Chinedum Ndukwe and Rashad Jeanty.
The one problem?
Not enough pressure on opposing QB’s, only 17 sacks in 2008.
Will the Bengals be able to run the ball?
The offensive line is revamped, with the rookies Andre Smith, Augustus Parrish and Luigs all likely to see playing time sooner rather than later.
Add to that uncertainty at RB, a group that’s currently led by perennial disappointment Cedric Benson.
With the inexperienced line, it may be best for Cincinnati to give opponents a heavy dose of Brian Leonard, who is probably the best on the roster at gaining the extra inches when running into the line.
Prognosis
Cincinnati is one of my candidates for surprise team of the year.
Like I already mentioned, the defense was vastly improved last season, and the offense returns Carson Palmer.
This is a team that last year took the Giants into overtime, handed the Eagles a tie, and won their last three games.
The Bengals should find a way to win at least six of their home games, but the road schedule is a different story, with Green Bay, Oakland, Minnesota, San Diego and the Jets joining the always tough division rivals.
The team is capable of upsetting a few of those teams, and they take a big step forward this season.
Final Record: 8-8
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This is an original article by Pigskin Heaven Staffer, Sascha Bartels, you can read it, more of Sascha’s articles and more from the Pigskin Heaven staff, here.
