2011 NFL Predictions: 5 Philadelphia Eagles Who Will Need a Big Year

Let’s call this the, “Hey, the Eagles have players not named Michael Vick” slide show.

It takes 50 bodies to field a football team and at least 35 to win any given game. For the Philadelphia Eagles to fulfill their much-ballyhooed potential (I believe a two-word, rhyming moniker has been tossed around), these five players will need to prove their capable of playing at a high level.

One bird can’t make the whole flock fly.

Asante Samuel

The table is set for Asante Samuel to have a big year.

The nimble CB has one elite skill: jumping pass patterns and intercepting the ball. The way the Eagles defense is aligned this year, Samuel should have ample opportunities to do just that.

With Nnamdi Asomugha patrolling the opposite side of the field and a refortified defensive line looking strong early on, quarterbacks should be forced to throw toward Samuel’s side while under duress. It’s a perfect recipe for picks.

Take Samuel’s interception against Cleveland in the most recent preseason game as an illustration. Colt McCoy drops back, the defensive line gets pressure, McCoy anticipates an out route, Samuel anticipates it sooner and comes away with a pick.

Most every interception changes the complexion of a game, and Samuel has the opportunity to change the complexion of over half the games the Eagles play this year.

LeSean McCoy

McCoy is a pretty obvious pick here but deserves mention just because of how indispensable he looked against the Browns.

Defenses are going to do three things to try and stop Michael Vick this year. 1) Pressure him. 2) Take away the deep ball. 3) Keep him from gaining big chunks of yardage on the ground.

Looking at the X's and O's, all three of those strategies conspire to create a lot of openings for McCoy in the passing game. With a spy on Vick and other defenders playing over the top, McCoy should have tons of room to operate underneath.

That was on display against the Browns, with McCoy reeling in seven catches for 69 yards (both team highs). If McCoy can continue to punish conservative defenses, opponents will have to adjust and open themselves up to bigger plays down the field.

It all works in tandem, and McCoy is the key to making it happen.

Danny Watkins

Watkins is the man holding his finger in the dam right now. If he’s not ready to contribute from the get-go, the integrity of this offensive line could disintegrate quickly.

Everything the Eagles did from April onward was predicated on having Watkins start at guard. They didn’t look for extra help along the line in either free agency or trade, and they let dependable backups like Max Jean-Gilles and Nick Cole walk away.

So what does it say that Watkins will be the only starter to play in the Eagles’ final preseason game against the Jets?

One of two things. Either the Eagles feel like they need to see more from the Baylor rookie to confidently put him on the first unit or Watkins simply wants more time to prepare himself.

Let’s hope it’s the latter, as Watkins claims, because if Watkins isn’t ready by week one the Eagles will need reshuffle an already chaotic offensive line.

That reshuffling could include moving current RT Todd Herremans to his natural position at guard, moving Evan Maths over to Watkins’ spot, and then inserting King Dunlap back into the crucial RT position on Michael Vick’s blind side.

That’s not a game the Eagles want to play heading into the start of the season. If Watkins can simply play league average the Eagles will be in a much better place.

Alex Henery

Like Watkins, Henery is another rookie starter running out front without a contingency plan. The placekicker from Nebraska walks right into David Akers’ shadow without a moment to process the enormity of it all.

Maybe that’s a good thing because the Eagles will need Henery to kick with a clear head from the get go.

Reports out of camp say the first-year kicker has plenty of leg but can struggle with accuracy. During the preseason aim hasn’t been an issue (he's perfect on FG attempts), and the Eagles hope it stays that way.

The Eagles do not want to be scouring the free agent pool for unemployed kickers come December or January. That kind of desperate search could foreshadow a tough stretch run.

Jamar Chaney

Much of the conversation at linebacker has revolved around surprise rookie starter Casey Matthews.

Is he ready to play? Are Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Juan Castillo throwing him to the dogs?

All legitimate questions, but if Casey Matthews can’t cut it the Eagles have an in-house backup at middle linebacker—Jamar Chaney.

But if Chaney, currently starting at strongside LB, can’t prove his starter mettle then the Eagles have to dip even further into an already-weak linebacker pool. Remember, Chaney also looked over-matched in the Eagles preseason tilt against the Steelers, and he needs to prove he’s better than that.

I think we can already resign ourselves to the fact the Eagles’ strength will not be their linebacking corps. That’s OK. The linebackers do need to at least hold their own, and I think Jamar Chaney is the linchpin of that unit.

If he can’t stay healthy and productive, this group could be in real trouble.