Philadelphia Eagles: Top Five Stats To Pay Attention To in 2011

We can hardly assemble a group of statistics to tell why one team wins and another does not. However, we can look at the numbers at the end of the year and find in what spots the team does well and in what spots the team needs improvement.  

Key to improving year after year is to stand by the things you do well and to get better at the things you do not. 

That said, let's look at five key stats from the 2010 Philadelphia Eagles season and figure out what needs to be improved and what was done well.

Number 5 : Take Aways

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 10: Joselio Hanson #21 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after recovering a fumble against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on October 10, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobso

In 2010, the Eagles were spot on in the NFC for take aways.  With an overall plus 9, the Eagles landed third in the NFC.  

Take aways are key to winning. Looking throughout the NFL , the New England Patriots (14-3) at plus 28 and the Steelers (14-4) at plus 17, clearly prove this. The Eagles (10-7) were good enough for the NFC, but to compete with the big boys, increasing the take aways is key.

Number 4: Average Yards Per Carry

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 28: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles in action against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field on December 28, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Philly ranked number one in the NFL in yards per carry.  You would never know from watching Andy Reid's play calling choices that the Eagles had such a great running game.  Run Andy Run.

Number 3: Points Per Game

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Mario Manningham #82 of the New York Giants scores a touchdown in the first quarter as Dimitri Patterson #23 and Colt Anderson #30 of the Philadelphia Eagles defend during their game on December 19, 2010 at The New Mead

Only the Seattle Seahawks made the playoffs with a worse record of points per game.  The defense gave up nearly 24 points per game.  Much of that can be attributed to the terrible performance in the red zone by the worst ranked red zone defense in the league.  

Improvement must be made for 2011.

Number 2: Kick Returns

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: Jorrick Calvin #38 of the Philadelphia Eagles is tackled by D.J. Moore #30 and Kellen Davis #87 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Eagles 31-26. (Photo by Jonathan

The Eagles ranked 25th in the NFL in kick returns averaging only 20.5 yards per return.  None were returned for a touchdown.  Bobby April will surely bring more focus on the return game come draft day.

Number 1: Red Zone Defense

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Quinn Johnson #45 of the Green Bay Packers tries to avoid the tackle of Ernie Sims #50 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pen

For goodness sake.  Is there anything worse than a critical category like red zone defense when you're the number 32 team looking up at the rest?  Some teams who were better than the Eagles.  Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Little Sisters of the Poor.

New defensive coordinator Juan Castillo had better come up with a scheme to improve this. Considerably.