Philadelphia Eagles: Where Did They Go Wrong?

Earlier this year, I wrote an article commenting on the unlikelihood of the Philadelphia Eagles making the playoffs.

Even with all the talent, all the hype, and all the potential?

Surely you must be an idiot you say.

But it turns out that the players, like most fans, underestimated the impact of the NFL lockout.

Philadelphia constantly looked out of sync this year, especially the biggest free agent acquisition of 2011, Nnamdi Asomugha.

While many will point to the Eagles zone scheme as cause behind Asomugha's poor play this season, and others will blame former offensive lineman coach-turned defensive coordinator Juan Castillo for installing a poor defensive scheme and often failing to game plan effectively week in and week out, the Eagles front office is ultimately to blame for acquiring a player that was unfit for their scheme.

In addition, having Vince Young, who himself is an inferior Michael Vick, backing up Vick himself makes for poor depth without a true passer.

Yes, Vick played excellently in 2010, but his track record does not show consistency. Maybe his $100-million-dollar contract had the same effect on Vick as it did in 2005 when he signed his first $100-million-dollar contract with Atlanta, which was valued at $130 million.

But that wasn't all.

DeSean Jackson, who held out for a larger contract after the lockout ended, has been playing poorly and uninspired as he tries to stay healthy in hopes of testing the free agency market in 2012.

Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles' other explosive receiver, has been hindered by injuries all season.

The once explosive offense is now flat, and the millions spent on defense during the offseason only has a 19th-ranked defense in points allowed to show for it.

It can't be all on the players though right?

While it may up to the players to execute, sometimes the coaches just get out-coached. After yet another loss tonight to the Seahawks, the season may just be over.

At 4-8, the odds of making the playoffs are virtually impossible. Vince Young was right in dubbing Philadelphia the "Dream Team."

He forgot, however, that eventually we all have to wake up and face reality.