The playoffs won’t start for until the second week of January and the Eagles are improving as a football team. This seems to happen every year.
We complain about the fact that they haven’t won a championship but Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb know how to get a team into the playoffs.
It’s great to start off strong but it’s more important to be going in the right direction when December and January arrive. Despite the fact that they’re playing without a number of starters, the Eagles are getting better.
They’re doing a better job of utilizing the skills of fullback, Leonard Weaver.
Rookies Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy are getting better every game and gaining the confidence of Reid and McNabb as the season continues.
They have finally come up with a few plays with Michael Vick in the red zone that work. Now that they have shown that they run up the middle, they’ll be able to run some play action passes in the red zone with Vick.
Defensively, safety Sean Jones is coming into his own and proving that he belongs in the starting lineup.
I think Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown can pick the pocket of Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Kurt Warner if they get pass rush pressure.
Trent Cole is having another Pro Bowl season, but they need more members of the defensive line to consistently provide pass rush help. I think this will be the key to the Birds being able to knock off the better teams in the conference.
If they can get pass rush pressure without blitzing, they’ll be able to do a good job defensively against teams like the Saints and Vikings.
You can’t rely on blitzing against veteran quarterbacks in championship games. You must be able to get to them with your front four. They’ll light up a blitzing team because they’re probably throwing to some talented and speedy receivers.
I’d like to see them get DeSean Jackson back in the lineup because he takes the offense to another level.
I’m holding out hope for Brian Westbrook but that may be too much ask.
