The Bird Doctor Is In: How To Fix The Philadelphia Eagles

Four losses is no reason to panic. Granted, it's not what they wanted, but they were still in the hunt with an opportunity to make some noise down the stretch. And up until last Sunday, the Eagles were merely a team who could not eek out the close win.

They had lost four games, but they were all to teams who were shaping up as contenders (Dallas, Washington, Chicago, and the Giants).

Then came Cincinnati. A putrid 1-8 Bengals team who had pulled out a close win against Jacksonville two weeks prior. Their first of the 2008 season.

This was a game that was supposed to be the jumping point to a strong finish. The Eagles were a team who had not won a single game in their own division and knew every game for the rest of the season was must-win.

McNabb and the offense came out the way they have in weeks prior: flat.

The offense started off slowly and put the defense back onto the field early and often. And as they had in weeks prior, they were fantastic.

The Bengals struggled for every yard, and it did not amount to much.

But in a game where turnovers were prevalent and good offensive play was few-and-far between, the game ended in a very fitting fashion.

The first tie in six years. The last one coming in 2002 in a 34-34 finish by the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Time to hit the Panic Button.

The Eagles are better than this, much better in fact.

The most maddening thing with this team is not the fact that they are at an average 5-4-1 and on pace to miss the playoffs for the third time in four years, but the fact that every problem is fixable.

Here are just a few suggestions:

• Run early. Running on the first drive for a first down will settle McNabb down. Also, it will bring the safeties closer to the line to set up the pass. The only caveat here is the fact that Westbrook is not 100 percent. Can you say Correll Buckhalter?
• This may sound crazy, but stick with me on this one. Move Omar Gaither to the SAM, and Chris Gocong to the WILL. This will help with the poor coverage of the tight ends. Gaither is a true linebacker, while Gocong was a 'tweener LB/DE coming out of Cal-Poly. Who could stop Gocong off the weakside? A back would always have to be pulled over to chip, while Gaither sticks with the tight end.
• The only way to solve the poor run game is to run more. While that may sound crazy, linemen are creatures of habit. The Eagles' linemen are in the habit of pass blocking. The only way to get better at the run is to get the linemen better at run blocking.
  
• Replace the tight end with a back-up lineman on short yardage plays. I'm not worried about being obvious, I'm worried about getting the yards and staying on the field. With a back-up lineman like Nick Cole pushing off the edge, there is no way a linebacker will be able to blitz and catch Westbrook (or preferably Buckhalter) off the edge.
• Add a blocking tight end in the off season. I don't foresee the Eagles keeping L.J. Smith, but if they do, release Matt Schobel and replace him with a blocking tight end.
• I do not believe we need it because I think we have one capable in Buckhalter, but if he is allowed to leave via Free Agency, the Eagles need to sign the heaviest running back they can find around March. A guy who can serve as a bruising 1a type back behind Westbrook.
• A note to Lurie: keep Reid and McNabb. These are two borderline Hall-of-Fame guys at their respective positions and their is no better option out there.

Now to touch on the Reid/McNabb situation.

I hear a lot of people yelling for them both to go. I understand fans are frustrated with the way things have gone through this year and dating back to last year.

But if the fans are given what they want, let's examine the options as far as replacements.

The Eagles will probably promote from within. Seeing as how the Eagles have had success with the staff Reid has put together, and have had two coaches go on to head coaching gigs (Brad Childress—Minnesota and Jon Harbaugh—Baltimore), Lurie would probably try to pick a guy on the staff now.

That guy, more than likely, would be offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Marty Mornhinweg.

Marty, as an offensive coordinator has been very successful. He has served as a tutor to quarterbacks like Brett Favre, Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, and Donovan McNabb. All of whom have been sent to Hawaii under his tutelage.

That said, Mornhinweg has not found success as a head coach.

In two years with Detroit, he accumulated a 5-27 record. A record that got him fired from the Motor City.

On to quarterback, assuming Mornhinweg is the heir-apparent, the new signal caller would likely be Kevin Kolb.

Kevin Kolb's stats: 7-9, 71 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, and has been sacked twice.

Compare the two head coach/quarterback teams.

Andy Reid: 101-66-1

Donovan McNabb: 2,416-4,114, 28,115 yards, 185 TD, 87 INT

There is no comparison.

Does anyone think that the Eagles are better off with Reid/McNabb rather than Mornhinweg/Kolb?

Again, this is only an attempt to get inside the mind of Jeff Lurie. But, given his faith in Reid, I don't think it's unreasonable to believe that he would hire from his staff.

So, along with all the bullet-points given above:

• Keep Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb. Proven Winners.

Also, Eagles' fans, don't get too down on this season. We've seen the Eagles win down the stretch before. Keep the faith, and whether you're a Reid/McNabb supporter or not, keep backing the birds and hope for the best. Nothing fixes problems in the NFL like winning.

Fly, Eagles, Fly!

Check out this new article, with a link to a video I think every Eagles' fan MUST watch!