Philadelphia Eagles: 7 Steps Eagles Must Take to Rebuild

For Philadelphia Eagles' fans, it is safe to say that playoff hopes are slim to none.  

Fortunately, there will be plenty of football to play next season, which means the Eagles can now get a head start on trying to prepare for a run at the Lombardi Trophy next year.

In a city with a fiery temper and a lack of patience, the Eagles must take the following steps in order to ensure that they do not have another season like this one next year.

Develop Their Propspects

Perhaps one of the most preached rules of thumb in the NFL is that you build a championship-caliber team through the draft.  So when the Philadelphia Eagles went out and signed everyone and their mother in free agency, it should have been met with an equal amount of skepticism as well as praise.

With their season essentially over, however, the Eagles can now afford to give their prospects some more playing time in hopes that they develop into quality starters next year and years after.

One player in particular that deserves more playing time is rookie safety Jaiquawn Jarrett.  

Drafted in the second round out of Temple University, Jarrett was labeled has a sure tackler with good instincts.  Those skills were put on display in Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals, as he finally got his shot as a starter.

While he did not disappoint on the stat sheets—notching seven total tackles—he still has room for improvement, as he was part of a secondary that allowed back-up quarterback John Skelton to throw for 315 yards and three touchdowns.

Still, the rookie showed plenty of promise, and more playing time will inevitably equate to better performance on the field.

Acquire a Middle Linebacker

It feels like the Philadelphia Eagles always have the same problem.

Every year fans and analysts alike suggest that the Eagles acquire a surefire middle linebacker, and every year they fail to do so.

Granted, second-year veteran Jamar Chaney has performed admirably in the MIKE role, but the position still lacks someone both sufficient against the run and the passing attack.  

There are not too many quality starting middle linebackers coming into this year's free-agency class, which is why it may be best for the Eagles to draft one with their top pick.

Easier said than done.  Under head coach Andy Reid, the Eagles have not once drafted a linebacker in the first round.

Still, one cannot help but hope that the big man finally comes around and drafts one this year with a first-round pick that, given how the season is going, should be relatively high.  In fact, it would not be surprising if Arizona State middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict fell to them in the middle of the first round.

At 6'3" and 245 pounds, Burfict has the size of a prototypical starting linebacker.  Nabbing him in the draft would go a long way toward regaining the trust of the Philly faithful.

Acquire a Big-Bodied Wide Receiver

Much like the story of the middle linebacker, it seems the Philadelphia Eagles never have a quality big-bodied receiver who can present a prime matchup in the end zone.

Granted, the team does have the 6'3" Riley Cooper on the roster.  With Jeremy Maclin likely out against the New York Giants, Cooper is slated to start opposite DeSean Jackson.

This may finally be his chance to prove that he is indeed the big wide receiver the Eagles have desperately needed.

If he doesn't meet expectations, however, it may be critical for the Eagles to either sign or draft a wide receiver once this season ends.

Hire a New Defensive Coordinator

I will be the first to admit that current Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo initially sold me with his fiery attitude and passionate coaching.

Oh, how foolish I was.

Many times this season, Castillo has seemed lost during games.  That is too be expected the first few games for a new coordinator, but it is expected that things start slowing down for them midway through the season.  That has not happened yet for Castillo.

Perhaps the biggest problem with Castillo is that he has not figured out a way to use cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha consistently throughout an entire game.  It is baffling to see Asomugha shut down an opposing wide receiver for much of a game, only to have that same receiver make huge plays later on in the game because Castillo failed to have his top corner follow him.

Don't get me wrong, I think Castillo is a great coach.  His passion on the field inspires his players to perform better.  But that type of coaching may best be left to a lesser position (say, offensive line?).  For a defensive coordinator, the Eagles need someone with a clever mind and a thorough understanding of defensive schemes.

Draft Best Players Available

This year, the Philadelphia Eagles have nine total draft picks, with five of those picks coming in the first four rounds. 

As was stated earlier, the Eagles' draft picks should be relatively high, allowing them to draft better prospects than if they had the season they were expected to have.

This abundance of quality picks means the team has the luxury of being able to draft the best players available, rather than drafting players that fit their needs.

Coincidentally, their first pick may actually be both the best player available and a player who fits their need (see slide No. 2).  

Aside from that, however, the Eagles best game plan may be to select players who have brighter outlooks in the NFL, rather than settling for lesser players that simply fit their scheme.

Heck, with the way Michael Vick has under-performed, it may even be wise to draft one of the better quarterbacks in this year's draft class.

Find a Team Leader

Gone are the days of Brian Dawkins and his passionate leadership.

These days, the Philadelphia Eagles really do not have any single player that has the ability to instill fire into the hearts of his teammates.

Many people like to understate the importance of leadership on a roster  Those people clearly have never seen Dawkins or Ray Lewis give one of their patented inspirational speeches prior to a game.  

Players like Dawkins and Lewis have the ability to improve the performance of everyone on their team. The Eagles do not have that kind of player anymore and it shows.

If this team wants to try and get to the Super Bowl next year, they need to find a natural leader willing to steer the team toward greatness.

Retain Andy Reid

This last step may come as a surprise to many fans given how this season has played out for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Regardless, it is crucial that the Eagles do not fire long-time head coach Andy Reid.

Reid is obviously not without flaws, and his biggest problem is that he has yet to win a Super Bowl.  But there is not a coach out there that would be able to sustain the same amount of success that Reid has over his 13-year tenure as head coach.

It is easy to be rash and say that Reid will never get this team the Lombardi Trophy, but there is still reason to hope that he will eventually win it all.  

Another year with this same group of talented players and an off-season to correct all the mistakes made this season, and there is no telling how deep Reid will take the Eagles into the playoffs next year.