Philadelphia Eagles 2010: Top 10 Bright Spots Amidst a So-So Season
The Philadelphia Eagles, as we all know, were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs just two days ago.
There will be months to analyze and dissect whether this season: a) exceeded all reasonable expectations; b) was a total letdown; or c) was an unsatisfying blend of both elements.
However you define what just concluded, there were bright spots to be had.
Do you remember the sense of jubilation after their electrifying, improbable 38-31 win over the Giants? Was that really only three weeks ago and was that really their last victory?
Whether your Eagles glass feels half-empty or half-full, there were some individual bright spots this season for a team that won the NFC East, and finished as the third-highest scoring team in the league.
By the way, I have never quite understood that whole half empty or half full saying. Isn’t saying “my glass is half empty” a statement of optimism, indicating that one has a thirst for life or for the beverage of one’s choice? Be that as it may, until I coin a better expression, I will use this hackneyed cliché.
Warning: You won’t see Sean McDermott (although I’m not calling for his head, either), Dmitri Patterson or even David Akers on this list. As for Akers, Sunday’s missed field goals should not wipe out his Pro Bowl year, but even so.
So who did make this list and was it hard to count to 10?
Here we go…
10. Sav Rocca – Punter
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The 37 year-old Aussie had his finest season (of his four) with the Eagles.
Rocca set career marks for average (43.8), net average (39.0), punts inside the 20 (28) and fair catches (20). He only had two touchbacks, a career low—which is a good thing.
Rocca has only had one punt blocked in his career, none this year.
A very solid season for the massive punter.
9. Antonio Dixon – DT
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Dixon, a very good human interest story out of the University of Miami, got more snaps in their rotation this year and solidified their defensive line against the run.
Dixon’s stats were not overwhelming: 30 total tackles and two sacks in 15 games. However, most pundits believe that he outplayed Brodrick Bunkley, and No. 90 saw more and more of Bunkley’s snaps as the season wore on.
Only 25, he could develop into their key run-stopper for several more years.
8. Riley Cooper – WR
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Cooper also did not have eye-popping stats, but anytime you can get a meaningful contribution out of a rookie drafted at the end of the fifth round you’ve got something.
Riley looks like a player, whether playing on special teams or as a fourth receiver. It may prove tough for Cooper to get many more snaps as a receiver when DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant are ahead of him on the depth chart.
Some have blamed him for the loss to Green Bay for not breaking up that pass that was picked off by cornerback Tramon Williams. And I agree: Cooper was, perhaps, reason No. 27 that they lost.
He’s a promising player who also caught a key 11-yard dart from Michael Vick on third-and-long on that last drive.
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7. Jason Peters and Todd Herremans – LT and LG
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When Jason Peters was picked to start in last year’s Pro Bowl, I almost died laughing. It seems that there wasn’t a single game last year that he wasn’t either carried off the field, guilty of at least one holding penalty and maybe an illegal procedure or in which he got burnt by his fair share of speed rushers.
While I’m still skeptical of how Peters can start again for the NFC in the Pro Bowl (are there no more stud LTs in the NFC?), during the second half of this season Peters looked more the part of an upper echelon player.
Herremans was the Eagles’ most steady lineman this year. I have no stats to support this, but that was the general consensus around the team.
Now, when it comes to the right side of the line…
6. Jamar Chaney – LB
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Did the Eagles strike gold with their seventh-round draft pick this year?
If not gold, they certainly seem to have found silver in this athletic, rookie linebacker out of Mississippi State.
Chaney’s best individual game was in Week 15 versus the Giants: 16 total tackles, four solo. He also recorded 10 solo tackles against the Packers this past Sunday.
If Stewart Bradley returns healthy next season, it will be interesting to see how Sean McDermott positions his starting linebackers. Hey, it may also be interesting to see if McDermott is back as defensive coordinator.
In either event, Chaney does look like a steal.
5. Asante Samuel – CB
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I will freely admit that I’m not No. 22’s biggest fan.
I scoffed at his Pro Bowl selection after 2009 and felt that even if he had nine interceptions, he gave up tons of big plays, freelanced far too often and avoided physical contact at all costs (to the team) and chirped way too much.
His me first attitude (“Tackle? The Eagles knew what they were getting when they paid me gazillion dollars." I paraphrased.) irked me and still does.
However, if Samuel did not totally change his style, he much more resembled a shutdown corner this season, while still picking off seven passes in only 11 games. Clearly the Eagles missed him when he was out of the lineup this year.
So he’ll never tackle like Sheldon Brown and will continue to chirp and make boneheaded, helmet-to-helmet hits. But Samuel did play quite well this year.
4. Nate Allen – S
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Safety Nate Allen was the 37th pick in this year’s draft, the Donovan McNabb pick, if you will.
Allen missed several games due to injury, but in only 13 games (not all full games), he had 48 tackles (42 solo), three interceptions, two sacks, a forced fumble and eight passes deflected.
While these numbers won’t make those who bleed green forget about Brian Dawkins, can anyone argue that this kid did not play quite well when healthy?
3. Jeremy Maclin – WR
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The second-year receiver out of Missouri built upon the promise of his rookie year with a very solid sophomore season.
Will it surprise any football fan if Maclin (still only 22) makes a few Pro Bowls during his tenure, hopefully played out in Eagles green?
Often overshadowed by the flashier, more quotable DeSean Jackson, Maclin is almost as fast, quick, tough and sure-handed.
In 2010, Mac caught 70 passes for 964 yards (13.8 yards per catch) and 10 touchdowns.
By comparison, in 2009 (he missed one game), Maclin snagged 55 balls for 762 yards (13.9 yards per catch) and four TDs.
2. LeSean McCoy – RB
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The man they call Shady (like Maclin, 22 and a two-year veteran) just completed a Pro Bowl-worthy campaign that was also worthy of comparisons to Brian Westbrook.
And yes, McCoy should have seen more carries and overall touches against Green Bay.
Although he missed one game this year, he carried the ball 207 times for 1,080 yards (for a whopping 5.2 yards per carry) and also caught 78 balls for 592 yards. He had seven touchdowns rushing and two receiving.
McCoy led al NFL running backs with those 78 receptions and his 5.2 yards per carry was second best in the league for 1,000-yard running backs.
He’s versatile, has great vision and balance and, by all indications, he’s a great team player.
1. Michael Vick – QB
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Michael Vick’s playing style is quite unique because of his obvious gifts and strong will, and No. 7 seemed to put it all together this season.
At the start of this year, did anyone expect Vick to become the starter and be so effective in that role? OK, hands down.
Vick easily led all quarterbacks in carries (100), rushing yards (678), yards per carry (6.8) and touchdowns (9). But he was a revelation to many as a quarterback who played within the system but still was able to improve as only he can.
Vick had the fourth highest passer rating in the NFL (100.2), easily a career best.
Not only is he a lock for Comeback Player of the Year, but he was even in the discussion for league MVP.
On my own (unofficial) ballot, I placed him third behind the Patriots’ Tom Brady (can any credible fan/writer not vote him MVP?) and the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers.
Not too shabby.
Now, It's Your Turn: Stand Up and Be Counted!
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So, how's my list?
Did I forget anybody or rate anyone too high or too low?
Was it hard to find 10 bright spots about this past season?
Please comment below in a civil, discussion-promoting kind of way.
Face paint is optional; that is face paint, right?
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