Since the Eagles knocked the Giants out of the 2008 playoffs, Philadelphia fans are talking about a special run at the Super Bowl. Eagles fans believe that the Birds are a much better team than the GMen, especially now that McNabb finally has some explosive weapons.

The head to head/position by position 2009 preview lies below, by the numbers.

 

QB: edge—Even

Eagles—A healthy McNabb with a new $5 million dollar bonus can be dangerous, but has choked down the stretch and is thirty-three years old this November. His arm was sore in mini camp and he was wearing a protective sleeve.  Let's see what 5 can do with his new weapons.

Giants—The former Super Bowl MVP lost two major weapons, but has another year of experience. His accuracy can be questioned, but his consistency can't be! He also has some new, young talent around him.  He has yet to step up and show he can be an elite quarterback.

 

RB: edge—Giants

Eagles—Brian Westbrook has basically been injured his entire career. It’s amazing the productivity he has been able to put out so far. Last month (June), B-West had ankle surgery and will mostly likely miss Training Camp. If healthy...one of the best.

Why did he wait so long to have the surgery? Will he be ready? The rookie RB LeSean McCoy from Pitt will be exciting if and when he gets on the field.

Giants—Jacobs is a true beast who runs around you, through you and over you. No. 44 Bradshaw has already shown what he can do... a very special player with break-away speed.             

 

O-line: edge—Giants

Giants—This could be the best o-line in football. This group blocked for two 1000-yard rushers in 2008. This feat has only been done four times in the league history. O’Hara & Snee are recent Pro bowlers. 

There's no reason why they would be slowing down. The entire group is under 31. 

Eagles—This unit has a bit of uncertainty after losing both starting tackles—tough guy Jon Runyon (eight years) and Tra Thomas (ten years).

Jason Peters is a great pro bowl addition; however, he is not the best tackle in football (claimed by another B/R journalist) but his addition will be felt in the run and passing game. Peters is more athletic than Diehl...so let's see the big boy play in the NFC.   Shawn Andrews, the Pro Bowl guard has had some up & downs with depression and a bad back.  He is clearly one of the best if healthy.

Center Jackson and RG Stacy Andrews are good not but elite players...they won't hurt the team but head to head, O'Hara and Snee are Pro-Bowlers.

 

WR: edge—Eagles

Eagles—Curtis and last year’s sensational rookie DeSean Jackson are great slot receivers with plenty of speed and upside. Rumor has it that Curtis might become expendable if Maclin is the real deal. Tight End Brent Celek is a good passing tight end, but struggles when blocking. 

Avant doesn’t scare anyone, but the jury is out—Maclin could be the “weapon” McNabb has been asking for!

Giants—Steve Smith is the most reliable receiver on the Giants, and he has made some great catches to earn Eli’s trust and favorite target status.

But he can’t do it alone. Hixon made some nice strides but he’s not a No. 1 receiver. He can stretch the field, but needs to be more consistent.

Moss, Manningham and Nicks...not healthy, not reliable and not known. It will be interesting. If TE Kevin Boss or Ramses Barden, the 6’6 second-round draft pick, can take over for the Giants in the red-zone for a jump ball, Big Blue might draw this position competition to even.

 

D-line: edge—Giants

Giants—can you say oh my god! This d-line will most likely will lead the NFL or come in the top 3 in sacks. This unit was already real good, but with the addition of Chris Canty (Cowboys) and Rocky Benard (Seahawks), the men in the trenches look really scary. 

Justin Tuck is one of the NFL’s most dominant players, and big Fred Robbins in the middle will be joined by Canty & Benard. Ball carriers, beware! Speed rusher DE Dave Tollefson is great off the bench and now with DE Kiwanuka wearing #94 and Pro Bowler Osi Umenyora back, this line is the most complete in football.

Eagles—This unit is a bit undersized and it shows throughout the season as their star DE #58 Trent Cole usually disappears round game 9.   Patterson & Bunkley are solid in the middle and have improved there run game defense dramatically but there overall production is somewhat below average when it comes to sacks. 

In 2008 they had 2.5 sacks between them.  In 2008 Robbins and Cofield had 8.8 between them.

 

Line backers: Eagles

Giants—The weakest unit on the team!  Pro-bowl linebacker Antonio Pierce had somewhat of a down year for one of the smartest middle linebackers in the game, partly because Kawika Mitchell moved on. AP struggled without a run stuffer next to him.  During the 2008, No. 57 Chase Blackburn became the weak side linebacker and was also named a 1st alternate to the NFC Pro Bowl team. He was by far the Giants' biggest surprise of the year.  

 

No. 53 Kehl is developing into a nice player who contributed last year in a big way after bring drafted from BYU. but needs to improve rapidly with Boley out for 10 weeks with a hip injury.  No. 55 Danny Clark lacks big play ability.

 

Eagles—No. 55 Stewart Bradley is a pure stud—leaps and bounds better than most middle linebackers. He will become a multi-time Pro Bowler, and can run sideline to sideline with the best of them. 

No. 57 Chris Gocong, clearly is younger and stronger than Clark and was probably the most improved player on the defense.  No. 56 Akeem Jordan is young and raw. No. 96 Omar Gaither lost his starting job mid way through the season. Some say it was because he did not want to sign the Eagles extension.

Still...this group is strong and can play fast and furious.         

 

Defensive Backs: edge—Even

Giants—the most improved unit on the team.  The light bulb has gone on for No. 23 Corey Webster, for he has played two years of great football. His coverage skills dramatically improved, and his ball skills have been exceptional as Webster has made some really big INTs!   He has a way to go if he was ever to be considered a shut down corner like Brown or Samuels.

Aaron Ross, the Giants No. 1 draft pick in 2007, also became a great cover corner, and even better, a superb open field tackler. Ross has great speed and is used frequently on the safety blitz. 

The safeties are under a bit of construction, but the ’08 first-round draft pick, No. 21 Kenny Phillips from Miami, is ready to have a breakout season. He showed some great flashes last year, and look out for some MONSTER hits! Phillips is 6”2, with a 210 lb frame.

Eagles—The face of the franchise and seven-time pro bowler, Brian “The Wolverine” or "Weapon X" Dawkins, was disrespectfully shown the door, and so he left for Denver. This turn over is the only reason I call this even.  Loosing B. Dawk is a huge blown to that locker room.  No. 27 Quintin Mikell and No. 39 Quintin Demps take over as the safety duo.  

Mikell made the Pro Bowl as an alternate last year, and has come a long way under the guidance of Brian Dawkins. There’s no way to know what Demps brings to the table; however, he did get beat for the game-winning touchdown in the past NFC Championship game vs. Arizona.

Asante Samuel was quite a disappointment in his first year with gang green, as he only had 4 interceptions and 40 tackles.  I like his ability but has shown a steady decline in tackles and int's over the last 3 years.  The new system might have held him back.

Their best cover corner, the hard hitting No. 24 Sheldon Brown, is back, but there are problems in the City of Brotherly Love (see Lito Sheppard) as the always-cheap Eagles won’t restructure his contract.

Brown, who has never missed a game in his tenure, has been the most consistent player on the defensive unit and deserves to get paid for his hard work and dedication, especially since they just paid No. 21 Joselio Hanson, the nickel back.  

As a footnote, first-round draft pick and two-time Pro Bowler Sheppard was basically run out of town because he asked for more money.

 

Special Team:  Giants

Giants—This is an easy one; Jeff Feagles is amazing even at 43. That’s 22 years in the NFL, and there is no better weapon! Lawrence Tynes kicked the Giants to a Super Bowl in the coldest game in history.

No. 87 Dominick Hixon & No. 44 Ahmad Bradshaw are extremely dangerous each averaging 25 yards a return.

Eagles—Sav Rocca is average. Akers is older and lost some leg after tearing that hamstring a few years back. Plus, he just can’t get it done in the playoffs. No. 10 DeSean Jackson is very special, but I feel that at 175lbs. he won’t last long. As far as No. 39 Quintin Demps, the jury is still out.