Philly Special: Eagles To Soar In 2020?
An Op-Ed Preview By Dylan Angelo
Since winning the Super Bowl in 2017, the Philadelphia Eagles have paid a price in the form of unlucky bounces and lingering health issues.
In 2018, Philly went 9-7 and made the Playoffs with an injury-plagued defense and multiple blown fourth-quarter leads. A somewhat disappointing campaign to defend their title ended with a devastating season-ending drop by Alshon Jeffrey against the Saints in the Divisional Round.
In 2019, the Eagles caught the injury bug again; this time, it decimated their receiving corps.
Still, despite some misfortune, and a 5-7 start, quarterback Carson Wentz helped the team string together four-consecutive division wins, to once again finish the season 9-7.
The NFC East champs headed to Wild Card weekend, but Wentz’s miraculous run with his gang of misfits would come to a fitting end, as the Seahawks knocked both he and his birds out of the Playoffs.
Now, with the final roster officially out, we have a better idea of how the 2020 version of this team will look. The reigning NFC east champs enter this season with high expectations as they look to use a revamped roster to keep the Super Bowl window open.
For me personally, this is an extremely interesting group, as they have a variety of boom or bust guys. Does this roster have the ability to keep up with the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Bucs, New Orleans Saints, or Baltimore Ravens?
Only time will tell, but for now, I will dive into what I believe to be the questions and answers on both sides of the pigskin.
OFFENSIVE WEAPONS:
QUARTERBACK: Carson Wentz, Nate Sudfeld, Jalen Hurts
RUNNING BACK: Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Corey Clement, Jason Huntley
WIDE RECEIVER: Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Jalen Reagor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, John Hightower, Greg Ward
TIGHT END: Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert
LEFT TACKLE: Jason Peters, Jordan Mailata
LEFT GUARD: Isaac Seumalo, Nate Herbig
CENTER: Jason Kelce, Nate Herbig
RIGHT GUARD: Matt Pryor, Nate Herbig
RIGHT TACKLE: Lane Johnson, Jack Driscoll
SOLID DEFENSE:
DEFENSIVE END: Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Vinny Curry, Josh Sweat, Genard Avery, Casey Toohill
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Malik Jackson, Hassan Ridgeway
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Nathan Gerry, Duke Riley, Davion Taylor, Alex Singleton
MIDDLE LINEBACKER: T.J. Edwards, Shaun Bradley
CORNERBACK: Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Craig James
SAFETY: Rodney McLeod, Jalen Mills, Will Parks, K’Von Wallace, Marcus Epps, Rudy Ford.
ELECTRIC SPECIAL TEAMS:
PUNT RETURNER: Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward, DeSean Jackson
KICK RETURNER: Boston Scott, John Hightower, Jason Huntley
PUNTER: Cameron Johnston
KICKER: Jake Elliott
LONG SNAPPER: Rick Lovato
HOLDER: Cameron Johnston
OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN:
This is undoubtedly the most talented and explosive team that Carson Wentz has been a part of. Speed at all levels.
The path was clear for the team this offseason; get Wentz a stable of fast players and let him loose.
Drafting Jalen Reagor, John Hightower and Quez Watkins was a decent start. We do not know if any of these young players will pan out, and with the lack of success Philly has had in drafting players the last four years, I have my reservations.
One of the guys I was extremely excited about, was former Olympian Marquise Goodwin, who is sitting out due to Covid-19 concerns.
I still believe they have enough speed to make up for his absence.
We all got to see what Wentz and Desean Jackson were capable of…through one game. Philly NEEDS Desean to be healthy and to lead this explosive group.
I have never been on the anti-Alshon Jeffrey train. He has brought everything the Eagles had hoped for when they brought him in; including the team’s first ever Super Bowl.
Jeffrey has plenty left in the tank, and with the speedsters all around him, he should be able to settle into his normal role of a possession guy on the outside.
Another player I am extremely high on, as are most Fantasy leagues; is second-year running back Miles Sanders.
Anyone who watched him play last season could tell he is a budding star with highlight reel capability. I love how excited both Head Coach Doug Pederson and running backs coach Duece Staley were about giving Miles the heavier workload.
The only unit I have zero questions about are the tight ends. Zach Ertz and Dallas Geodert are the best TE duo in the league. Plain and simple.
While this is the most talented unit of playmakers Wentz has had, it may be his worst offensive line.
The loss of All-Pro guard Brandon Brooks was a huge blow. They responded by re-signing future Hall of Famer Jason Peters to replace him.
A week later, first-round left tackle Andre Dillard tore his biceps and is done for the year. Peters then slid over to his usual role at left tackle and Matt Pryor got the nod at right guard.
Why does this concern me? Jason Peters has not played a full 16-game season since 2015.
Matt Pryor has never played substantial time, left guard Isaac Seumalo is a plug and play guy; and the Eagles are extremely thin at line and are relying on center Jason Kelce, and right tackle Lane Johnson to lead this group.
I expect we will see both rookie lineman from Auburn, Jack Driscoll, and Prince Tega Wanogho this season.
This is a unit that needs to keep Carson healthy and upright and I am deeply concerned about that.
DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN:
This unit came together the last four weeks of the season to make the playoffs and win the division; however they struggled almost all season long.
Especially against the pass.
How did they answer this off-season?
They brought in three, instant, starters to help bolster a unit that desperately needed it.
The Eagles acquiring corners Darius Slay, Nickell Robey-Coleman and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave will give the jolt of life they have been searching for.
Malik Jackson returns to the interior D-line as well after missing all of last season.
Statistically, this has been one of the best run defenses four years in a row.
Led by All-Pro Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham, I expect the dominance in the trenches to continue this season.
The secondary, and arguably the team, lost its leader in Malcolm Jenkins.
A move I did not necessarily agree with.
The team’s response was to acquire Philly native and former Denver Bronco Will Parks, shift cornerback Jalen Mills to Safety, and draft Clemson Safety K’von Wallace.
I am extremely high on Wallace and I expect him to play a variety of positions, especially in the nickel set as the cover linebacker.
The corners the Eagles will move forward with this season will be Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Cre’von Leblanc, and Craig James. A unit that can be extremely successful, providing they stay healthy.
The biggest question mark on the defensie is undoubtedly the linebackers.
I said it two years ago and I will say it again. The Eagles should have never let middle linebacker Jordan Hicks walk.
Now, we will see a group of linebackers that have been recycled special teams players and busted draft picks.
The noise coming out of camp is that T.J Edwards and Shaun Bradley have exceeded expectations.
I will need to see it to believe it. Alongside them is Duke Riley, and the guy who played most of the reps last year Nathan Gerry.
Gerry missed the most tackles in the NFL last season and Duke Riley was a kickoff specialist.
I know the Eagles are mainly in the nickel and in the past have only used one linebacker on the field due to injuries, and the range, and play of Malcolm Jenkins; but this year they do not have that luxury.
Here’s to hoping the young guys can step in and make some plays immediately.
TEAM SUPERLATIVES:
Offensive player of the year: Miles Sanders
Defensive player of the year: Nickell Robey-Coleman
Offensive sleeper: Corey Clement
Defensive sleeper: Davion Taylor
REVIEW:
I believe that this team can exceed expectations—provided they can stay healthy.
As a lifelong Eagles fan, I am not holding my breath for that to happen.
In typical Philly fashion, I expect they will not show up certain weeks (Miami last year) and they will dominate weeks they should not (at Green Bay last year).
The NFC east will be a two-team race again between Dallas and Philly.
Although it pains me to say it, Dallas once again has a stacked roster.
But as usual, I am expecting them to play below their potential and much like last season, ultimately choke when it matters most.
At the end of the day, I think this is a well constructed roster on paper but once they step inside the white line’s anything can happen on any given sunday.
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN:
The Eagles have the 25th toughest schedule this season which hopefully can aid them in their run to the playoffs. Here is a breakdown of how I view their schedule.
9/13 Week 1- 1:00 @ Washington Football Team Result: Win
9/20 Week 2- 1:00 Los Angeles Rams Result: Win
9/27 Week 3- 1:00 Cincinnati Bengals Result: Win
10/04 Week 4- 8:20 (SNF) @ San Francisco 49ers Result: Loss
10/11 Week 5- 1:00 @ Pittsburgh Steelers Result: Win
10/18 Week 6- 1:00 Baltimore Ravens Result: Loss
10/22 Week 7- 8:20 (TNF) New York Giants Result: Win
11/01 Week 8- 8:20 (SNF) Dallas Cowboys Result: Win
Week 9- Bye Week.
11/15 Week 10– 1:00 @ New York Giants Result: Win
11/22- Week 11- 1:00 @ Cleveland Browns Result: Win
11/30 Week 12- 8:15 (MNF) Seattle Seahawks Result: Loss
12/06 Week 13- 4:25 @ Green Bay Packers Result: Loss
12/13 Week 14- 4:25 New Orleans Saints Result: Win
12/20 Week 15- 4:05 @ Arizona Cardinals Result: Loss
12/27 Week 16- 4:25 @ Dallas Cowboys Result: Loss
01/03 Week 17- 1:00 Washington Football Team Result: Win
Final record prediction (10-6)
* SNF= Sunday night football, TNF= Thursday night football, MNF= Monday night football *
