A Completely Distorted, Totally Negative Preview Of The 2009 Philadelphia Eagles

The 2009 season is finally here and it’s time to assess the Philadelphia Eagles’ chances of attaining that ever-elusive first Lombardi Trophy. The off-season was pretty interesting with major turnovers at key positions and major controversies at others. Without further adieu, let’s dive in.

Whenever you start your off-season by letting the best player on your defense – maybe the best defensive player in the history of your franchise - walk, over a relatively small (by NFL standards anyway) amount, you are in trouble.

And that’s exactly what happened when Brian Dawkins was allowed to leave, following another Joe Banner low-ball special.

He ended up in Denver and the Eagles ended up with Macho Harris starting in his place. Dawk will be 36 next month but anyone who watched last year, especially the last regular season game against Dallas, knows he was consistently their best defensive player last year – a defense that finished fourth overall.

Dawkins leaving, combined with the passing away of Jim Johnson and middle linebacker Stewart Bradley tearing up his knee in training camp means big trouble. Especially when you look at the pathetic remains of the Eagles linebacking crew.

Linebacker is and has been a position that Banner and Andy Reid have absolutely refused to put any high picks or money into over the years. A point proven wrong every year, as the Steelers and Patriots win Super Bowls with kick-butt linebacking crews of their own.

Speaking of the draft, it went seemingly well with the Eagles picking up wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and running back LeSean McCoy in the first and second rounds, respectively.

For whatever it’s worth, which is never much, McCoy has looked tremendous in the preseason while Maclin, who was a little late to camp, has shown flashes and looks to be a solid contributor at some point.

Ellis Hobbs, a former Patriot corner, was also picked up for two fifth round picks in a solid move that’s hard to argue with, especially with the unhappiness of Sheldon Brown.

Late pick, Victor ‘Macho’ Harris has seemingly won a starting safety job beating out supposed Dawkins replacement, Quentin Demps, despite looking completely average and occasionally lost.

Offensive Tackle Jason Peters came to the Eagles on a draft weekend deal with the Buffalo Bills. The Eagles gave up a ton of picks to get him – including a mammoth contract extension - and the guy has played like an absolute stiff.

He was supposedly battling a minor quad injury for much of the camp, but to play like he has in the preseason, well let’s hope it was a really bad quad injury.

Free-agent fullback Leonard Weaver should help out with the running game, if Reid actually decided to run the ball consistently. Which is, in a word, laughable.

The Birds also acquired offensive lineman Stacy Andrews from Cincinnati to play guard, while they moved his brother Shawn Andrews to tackle.

Together the Andrews Sisters, as they’re affectionately being called now, have played zero snaps together this preseason. Shawn hurt his back day one of training (on a fitness run!) and Stacy has been slow to recover from major knee surgery last year.

The team, for it’s part, is so sure of Shawn Andrew’s commitment to the team they recently brought in recovering relic Jon Runyan for a workout. Smart. But not what you’d call ‘positive.’

Which brings us to ESPN’s favorite third-string quarterback Michael Vick. After caving in to Tony Dungy’s nauseating sympathy tour, Andy Reid brought in Vick to presumably run some sort of wildcat-like set and give the Eagles some added offensive flexibility.

In his two brief preseason appearances we have already seen Vick upset the offensive flow, upset starter Donovan McNabb and become a general distraction for the team.

Not to mention, Vick’s presence forcing the cutting of A.J. Feeley, the only back-up quarterback on the team who has won games for this team. Kevin Kolb is still on board but there is no evidence to believe he can do anything besides hold a clipboard.

The Vick move seems desperate and out of character for Reid. The wildcat is already yesterday’s news and will take no good defense by surprise. As soon as McNabb goes to the sideline for Vick you know what’s coming – and if they’re in there together, McNabb playing wide receiver is just a bad joke.

You really have to wonder how all the bad press, hype and commotion around Vick is going to help this team. And if McNabb has a bad game or several bad games, look out. The press is already salivating for McNabb vs. Vick storyline. All in all, way too much trouble for a one-dimensional player with huge character issues, at a position they were already strong at.

What Do You Got?

Provided McNabb and Westbrook stay healthy, this team should score some serious points. DeSean Jackson, Maclin, McCoy, Weaver, emerging TE Brent Celek - and of course, Westbrook - look to be the best collection of skill players McNabb has had since one Terrell Eldorado Owens was in town.

The offensive line could be good but looks to be a mess, at least for the first couple of games anyway. If Shawn Andrews plays, they’ll be solid. They lose him and McNabb won’t make it through the year.

The defense will kill this team. Any team with a good tight end and running back (like say, Dallas) will hammer them through the middle. Their corners and deep defensive line will be the strong points but the crushing losses of Dawkins, Johnson and Bradley seem way too much for this group to bear.

At best, they’re an offensive showcase that fires up a 9-7 in a non-playoff year.

At worst, they’re a defensive disaster constantly fighting to keep their head above water – eventually drowning with the worst record you could ever have as an NFL team: 8-8.