Philadelphia Eagles: 5 Birds Who Must Step Up

After a disappointing start for an aspiring Super Bowl team, the Eagles must rebound, and I believe they can, especially with an easier schedule of games these next few weeks.

The reason for this below average start are players and coaches who have failed to live up to expectations.

For the Eagles to go on a winning streak, these vital members have to step up their game.

Free Safety Kurt Coleman

I've always liked Kurt Coleman as a third safety, one who could make plays in more of a limited role.

The Eagles though couldn't address the safety position in free agency and couldn't rely on rookie second round pick Jaiquawn Jarrett.

Coleman's best attribute is his tackling skills, but he completely botched on a tackle (Victor Cruz's 74 yard touchdown reception) and subsequently blocked his own guy trying to make the tackle (Nnamdi Asomugha).

Coleman was trying to be the hero and knock the ball out for a fumble, even though he already gave up the first down.

Instead of making the sure tackle, Coleman's poor attempt at tackling had the Eagles looking up at a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter.

Coleman has to learn to make the correct play, rather than be the playmaker. Leave the playmaking to Asante Samuel and Asomugha.

Weakside Linebacker Casey Matthews

So, Casey Matthews was a complete fail at middle linebacker, and he seems to be carrying his failures to the weakside.

His misunderstanding of gap control is evident and frankly disappointing for a linebacker who was hailed as being a smart, disciplined player.

In the running game, Matthews seems lost and cannot use his great reaction skills because he is swallowed up by an offensive lineman.

I thought Matthews was decent in pass coverage, up until his huge blunder against Brandon Jacobs.

The linebackers as a whole need to step up their game, but Matthews seems to be the culprit of most of the long runs or big plays.

He needs to improve in a hurry, otherwise the Eagles must bench him.

Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson

Jackson seems to have a stretch of games where he disappears and he may be entering one now.

Arguably the Eagles most dangerous weapon, Jackson could never get it going against a sub-par Giants secondary.

Could his play have to do with the poor play at quarterback? Possibly, but receivers who want and are paid elite receiver money, show up in important games.

The Giants left Jackson on one-on-one coverage for more than half the Eagles offensive plays, but he failed to make any impact.

The Eagles are at the best when Jackson is making plays or at least drawing double coverage for Jeremy Maclin to make the plays.

Head Coach Andy Reid

Why does it always seem the Eagles are outcoached on Sundays? Reid's bonehead decisions have proven to be costly.

In the Giants goal line stand, instead of any sort of play calling, the Eagles run Vick twice up the middle and of all people Owen Schmitt.

LeSean McCoy was having an outstanding day and yet he wasn't given a goal line touch on those plays?

Ronnie Brown was supposed to be the short yardage back, shouldn't he have at least be given one run over Schmitt.

Instead of maybe running a bootleg to surprise the defense, Reid decides to go conservative on those four plays.

Conservative would not be the word to describe Reid and the offense on other plays though. Reid has an incessant desire to run trick plays at least two or three times every drive?

Keep it simple Reid.

Enough with the triple reverses or direct snap to a running back who throws it to Vick who then has no clue what to do with the ball.

The Eagles offense has enough weapons, they don't need trickery to score.

Quarterback Michael Vick

Though he may have been rushed back from injury, Michael Vick was certainly not the same player facing the Giants.

Even if Vick has average performances, he must learn to be safe with the ball, he already has six fumbles (two lost) and two interceptions, granted one was not his fault but he could have had at least two or three more picked off.

Vick has been solid at quarterback, but is showing he was not worth the big contract. If he continues on with his nagging injuries, the Eagles may need to find someone else for next year.

Vick's recklessness with the ball is concerning, but he still has trouble reading the blitz and making pre-snap adjustments.

Teams are just going to continue exploiting Vick's greatest flaw, until he proves he can overcome it.