2010 Philadelphia Eagles Preview: Offense

There’s a new reality TV series coming this fall. It’s not the Jersey Shore or Big Brother. It’s NFL Football.

The 2010 season figures to be just as exciting if not more than last, as big name players have left their old teams for new ones, and storylines are abound. (See: McNabb to Redskins, T.O. and OchoCinco on the same team, etc etc.)

As the first preseason games are in the books, I feel it is in order for a team preview of my two favorite teams, starting with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Starting with the offense, here is the outlook for the 2010 Eagles.

Philadelphia Eagles

2009 Finish: 11-5. Lost in NFC Wild Card Playoffs to Dallas, 14-34. The Eagles once again had a great end of the regular season, winning 6 of their last 7 games.  They lost back to back games to the Cowboys to end 2009. The last game of the regular season was a 0-24 loss in Dallas, and the Eagles’ playoff loss was also at Dallas.

Key Departures: QB Donovan McNabb, RB Brian Westbrook, CB Sheldon Brown, LB Chris Gocong
Key Additions: DE Brandon Graham, LB Ernie Sims, RB Mike Bell,  FS Nate Allen, DE Darryl Tapp

Quarterback

Starter: Kevin Kolb

The McNabb era is now over.  After he was traded to the Washington Redskins in the offseason, the reigns were handed over to Kolb, who was drafted by the Eagles in the 2nd round of the 2007 draft.  Questions about McNabb’s future with the team arose immediatley after. For the next three years, anytime Philly fans complained about McNabb, they had Kolb in the back of their mind.  He’s waited for his time, and now it is here.  He has been handed the keys to an offense loaded with speed and talent.  He is part of the young offensive core of Eagles players that will play together for the better part of the next decade.  The core includes Kolb, TE Brent Celek (4th year), WR DeSean Jackson (3rd year), WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy (2nd year).

Kolb is relatively untested as a starter.  With McNabb injured for 2 games last season, Kolb filled in for his first two professional starts.  The first one came against the New Orleans Saints, last year’s Super Bowl Champion.  The Eagles were crushed in this game, 48-20.  Kolb was 31-51 for 391 yards, and 2 touchdowns.  His numbers are deceiving, because most of the yardage was picked up in garbage time, with the Birds well out of it, and he threw 3 interceptions that ended scoring threats. Kolb’s next start came against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3.  The Chiefs had one of the worst passing defenses last year, and Kolb tore them apart, completing 24 of 37 for 324 yards with 2 scores.  Yes, Kolb became the first NFL player to throw for 300+ yards in his first 2 starts, but if you look closer, his performances weren’t that impressive.

Kolb isn’t going to have McNabb’s numbers this season.  He does have a strong arm, but he can’t throw the kind of deep balls that McNabb can.  He is fortunate to have offensive weapons, and for this reason I can see him throwing for close to 3000 yards this season. Whether or not he can do that without throwing 20 interceptions will be a true test of his maturity.  If he makes good decisions and fires the ball to his receivers, dumps the ball off to his backs, and keeps it out of defenses’ hands, he will have a great season. He has the potential to do big things because of the talented team around him.  Michael Vick will be back as a Wildcat weapon, although that didn’t prove to be too successful for the Eagles in 2009.  However, it adds to the options head coach Andy Reid will have in the red zone as the Eagles try to score.

Running Back

Starter: LeSean McCoy

McCoy will be returning as the feature back after the Eagles and Brian Westbrook cut ties.  McCoy learned a lot from Westbrook and is a very similar runner.  Getting the majority of the carries with Westbrook out with multiple injuries, McCoy had a solid rookie campaign, finishing third among NFL rookie backs in rushing yards, and second in yards from scrimmage.  He set a team rookie record for rushing yards with 637.  He is a dual threat back – not only is he quick in between the tackles, he can beat you catching the ball out of the backfield for long gains.  Kolb will be able to rely on “Shady” as a dump-off option when his receivers are covered.  If he stays healthy, I believe McCoy could rush for close to 800 yards and catch 45 balls for 350 yards this year.  His scoring production should also go up, I predict five rushing TDs and four receiving.  Joining McCoy in the backfield is newly acquired RB Mike Bell from the New Orleans Saints.  Bell rushed for 654 yards last season with the Super Bowl champs, and scored 5 TDs.  He will be a nice option for the Birds to give the position some depth, and could be seen in dual back packages in the red zone.  This could lead to him becoming a scoring threat. Watch for him score at least five overall touchdowns this season.

Fullback

Starter: Leonard Weaver

Weaver earned his first Pro-Bowl appearance in 2009, and was also named 1st team All-Pro.  He had a career high 323 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. He led all NFL fullbacks in rushing attempts (70) and yards (323).  He signed a 3-year contract extension in March, so he will be in midnight green for at least a few more years.  Weaver is another running threat besides McCoy and Bell, and also provides solid blocking.  He also caught 15 passes for 140 yards and 2 TD last season, so Kolb has yet another receiver he can depend on out of the backfield.  Weaver will be counted on to produce similar numbers this season for the Eagles, and is another scoring threat in the red zone.

Wide Receiver

Starters: DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin

No longer is the receiver position an issue for the Birds. They have more depth at WR than a oil well in the Gulf of Mexico. Jackson heads up this crew, with stunning speed and escapability.  He tied a NFL record with eight TDs of 50+ yards last season. His average touchdown catch was 52.8 yards, the highest of any player with at least 10 touchdowns. Ever. He was second in yards per catch average in 2009, at 18.6. He is unquestionably one of the most dangerous receivers in the game today.  I predict a 1,200 yard season and 10 TDs for D-Jax in 2010. He can also pick up large gains on reverses and receiver screens.  Lining up on the other side will be second year player Maclin. Maclin is another speedy receiver for the Eagles that will benefit from opposing teams doubling Jackson. A solid rookie season last year, Maclin finished third among NFL rookie receivers in receptions with 56, third in yards with 773, and fifth in touchdowns with 4. He will be looking to build off his outstanding performance against the Cowboys in the postseason, in which he set an Eagles postseason record with 146 yards.  I see another productive year from Maclin, with 60 catches, 820 yards, and five TDs.

The Eagles also will have Jason Avant and Hank Baskett to run routes in 3 or 4 WR packages.  Both have been proven their worth over the past 4 years.  Avant is tremendous at catching passes over the middle and is sure handed for 3rd down conversions, and Baskett’s size and length makes him a valuable target to have in the red zone for fade passes. Avant set career highs in catches (41), receiving yards (587), and touchdowns (3) last season. Baskett spent most of 2009 with the Indianapolis Colts, but rejoined the Eagles after signing as a free agent in the offseason.  Avant and Baskett are reliable options for Kolb that give the Eagles depth at the WR position.  The Birds also have former Florida standout Riley Cooper, who has been making noise in training camp.

Tight End

TE Brent Celek should have another outstanding season for the Eagles.

Starter: Brent Celek

Celek had a breakout year in 2009, becoming one of the NFL’s top tight ends in his first season as a full-time starter.  He finished fourth among NFL TEs in TDs (8) and yards (971) in 2009.  Celek and Kolb have formed a nice tandem in their years together with the Eagles, and I can see Celek emerging as one of Kolb’s favorite targets in 2010.  Celek is a big, physical target and has good hands.  He has big play capability, and is another terrific offensive weapon for the Eagles. I see Celek having an even better 2010 season, with 80 catches for 1,000 yards and 10 TDs.

Offensive Line

Starters – G: Stacy Andrews, Max Jean-Gilles. T: Jason Peters, Winston Justice. C: Nick Cole

Let’s face it: the Eagles offensive line had its fair share of problems in 2009, especially in the final 2 games against the Cowboys. C Jamaal Jackson begins 2010 coming off a season-ending injury he sustained in the second to last game of the 2009 regular season. Cole will have to fill in for Jackson until he has recovered. Peters (left tackle) had a Pro-Bowl season in 2009, his third straight, but his fellow linemen did not impress as he did. Jean-Gilles, Justice, and Cole all are in their fifth season together, and Peters and Andrews are established veterans, so they will continue to improve and get comfortable playing every week.  They will have to give Kolb plenty of time in the pocket this season, allowing him to get set and throw to his receivers without being rushed heavily.  In order for the Eagles to be successful offensively this season, the offensive line must play consistent and stay healthy. The Eagles have plenty of weapons, but without protection and time, the ball won’t be able to get to these stars.

This is the first of two parts of my Eagles preview for 2010.  Part 2 will feature the defense and special teams. Be on the lookout for that post coming soon, as well as season predictions for the team as a whole.