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How exactly do you support the Birds and root against Reid?

we will see how solid that team is sunday night.

I expect the Cowboys to win.

My whole point was I think the difference in the two teams is the Cowboys currently have more difference making players and the Eagles have a lot of "solid" but unspectacular players. I wouldn't expect a 10 year run of Dallas dominance, though.

The Eagles need some playmakers...no doubt.

Send a huge, greasy, cholesterol-clogging piece of meat to NovaCare with the words, "Congratulations on your win over the Vikings, Andy! Eat up!"

How exactly do you support the Birds and root against Reid?

I've justified in all in my mind.

Basically, I feel like the Eagles are exactly what they set out to be: A solid organization, with solid players, and a "chance to be competitive" each year.

I think that McNabb is diminished and FB has maxed out his potential (ie: no Suoper Bowl).

I DO think that if they added a couple pieces and had a new voice, they could be a team that goes from average to very good, very quickly.

A real #1 receiver and a real play caller would make this team an immediate contender IMO.

You mean, if they get a playmaker at WR, get a playmaker at KR/PR, get a playmaker at DE (loving Cole's year, but need more out of the rest), need a bruising/reliable RB, need a TE that can stay healthy and be a marginal threat, need a playmaking QB. Why the last one? Cuz Reid wants to pass, pass, pass. Therefore, he can't have a QB "manage" the game since they don't run the ball enough.

I'd say that there are modest but plug-able (makes me laugh just typing that) holes. The problem with the team is that it is the house that Mormonism built.

PS, FD, if you mean a new voice instead of FB's, I'd agree.

That's what I mean. I think Reid has topped out with this team and his message is stale. He still might be able to coach them to successful seasons, but I think the past 3 years are a good example of what we're going to see...inconsistent football, inconsistent effort, no super bowl.

Here's to coach Cowher......I hate his psuedo angry look and his laterneque jaw. TP Reid's house, Eagles fans and make him hate the city.

A real #1 receiver and a real play caller would make this team an immediate contender IMO.

...in the NFC.

You mean, if they get a playmaker at WR, get a playmaker at KR/PR, get a playmaker at DE (loving Cole's year, but need more out of the rest), need a bruising/reliable RB, need a TE that can stay healthy and be a marginal threat, need a playmaking QB. Why the last one? Cuz Reid wants to pass, pass, pass. Therefore, he can't have a QB "manage" the game since they don't run the ball enough.

I'd say that there are modest but plug-able (makes me laugh just typing that) holes. The problem with the team is that it is the house that Mormonism built.

I think they are okay at WR, but would obviously prefer a #1. They are simply tough to find.

I think they are okay at DE, too. Juqua Thomas has turned into an excellent situational rusher, Cole is very close to being a true impact player (he simply has to prove he can finish the year strong), and they Abiamiri in the wings. Kearse is still okay and will likely be back 1 more season, but as a backup. That's a pretty darn good DE group.

KR/PR is about as easy as it gets. They have to commit to spending a precious for one, but they can waltz right into the league and play.

TE is another fairly easy fix. I think the longer LJ is hurt, the better the chances the Eagles keep him. I like LJ as a player, but simply didn't want anything to do with him at the price he wanted.

Big back? They need a big situational back, but they have Hunt in the fold. If he doesn't work out, situational backs literally fall out of trees.

QB is the big one. If Kolb is the guy, they're set. If he's not, they could spend years trying to sort that spot out.

I think they are okay at WR, but would obviously prefer a #1. They are simply tough to find.

You CAN find them; it's just a matter of what type of price you're willing to pay. They had two different #1s and they could've kept, but went about it the wrong way.

You're right about situational backs; they're common - you just have to find the right one. Again, they had a shot at Davenpoop, who I think would've been a nice fit for the short yardage runs. Can't fault them for trying, though, especially keeping Ilaoa around longer than most people would've. I mean, the first time I would've seen a back his size turn away from the hit instead of laying the lumber, that would've been it.

Let me amend that a bit - the one #1 they had obviously helped to grease his own skids out of town. But #1s are there.

Again, I can't fault them completely for thinking they could get a potential #1 out of Curtis, even if he's still Thrash 2.0. They at least tried.

Curtis is definitely better than Thrash.

If he averages 30 yards per game the rest of the way, he'll top Thrash's best season and I feel he's playing with a diminished McNabb.

By the way, does anyone else find it odd that Thrash played just 3 seasons with the Eagles and is in his 8th year with the Skins? I just noticed that and for some reason it shocked me.

I should also include the fact that Curtis is also not a #1. He's just a really solid WR, IMO.

I find it more odd that somehow Thrash is in the lineup and Lloyd is in the doghouse.

That's what I mean about the Thrash 2.0 moniker. Not just skill levels and what-not, but the concept of turning a #3 into a #1, or someone who contributes as such.

Doesn't Thrash's 8 years with the Redskins include his first round with the Redskins and the Eagles just sandwiched in-between.

I don't really think that Mcnabb is finished. I think he'll recover his rushing abilities by the end of the season and they'll keep him.

For Playmakers, I really only think they need a speedy return man who can double as a wide receiver/runner either like Hester in Chicago, or like Brian Mitchell used to be. Mitchell could give some big returns and could fill in as a running back when needed. They also need a much better fullback. The fullback they used to have, Ritchie, used to get quite a lot of passes in the end zone. And he used to open lots of holes and I bet they could have used him for short yardage gains had they wanted to. Ironically, I think they need another really dominant lineman to be able to reach the level of the play on the offensive line of the Colts or the Patriots.

I no longer think that passing too much is the problem so much as not having high percentage passes. They need some 5 and 10 yard pass plays that are high percentage and almost always there. We haven't seen a reverse in a while. I'd like a running back like Duce was, but I am not sure how they would split time with Westbrook, unless they found a way to have a 2-back set. (Come to think of it, I think they used to do that with Duce and Mitchell for a while).

The Patriots and Colts have playmakers but they also have a system that allow those playmakers to fit together well. The Eagles don't seem to be professional enough to have a consistent rate of success. They're explosiveness strategy is also a percentage game. They need more money in the bank plays, instead of having McNabb buy time to make a play.

The Eagles might beat the Cowboys, go on a tear, and maybe make it through the playoffs.

But would you want to see the Eagles crushed by the Patriots in the superbowl?
Wouldn't that be a little agonizing to get to the Superbowl twice and get beat by the same team twice, while hearing about how the Eagles always choke in the big one?

They need some 5 and 10 yard pass plays that are high percentage and almost always

I mentioned this in another thread, Ox. Basically, many of Reid's passing plays are slow developing and often have most of those 3 or even all 4 WRs running intermediate length patterns of 10-15 yards, rather than have more than a few running shorter patterns.

This meant McNabb HAD to have a 5 or 7 step drop. I'd prefer some quick slants thrown in along with some shallow posts thrown into the mix when it isn't 3rd and long.

Doesn't Thrash's 8 years with the Redskins include his first round with the Redskins and the Eagles just sandwiched in-between.

Yeah, I just think of Thrash as an Eagle (a frustrating one) and it was weird actually seeing he spent less than 1/3 of his career here.

I no longer think that passing too much is the problem so much as not having high percentage passes. They need some 5 and 10 yard pass plays that are high percentage and almost always there. We haven't seen a reverse in a while. I'd like a running back like Duce was, but I am not sure how they would split time with Westbrook, unless they found a way to have a 2-back set. (Come to think of it, I think they used to do that with Duce and Mitchell for a while).

I still think they pass WAAAAAAY too much.

Consider this...from 2005 to present, McNabb has averaged:

2005: 39.7 attempts per game
2006: 31.6 attempts per game
2007: 34.4 attempts per game

2006 would have actually been higher but because they led the league in 3 and outs PLUS they had a poor run defense, they didn't get many chances to run plays. Plus, he only played 1 quarter of the 10th game.

Over that same time span, Peyton Manning averaged:

2005: 28.3
2006: 34.8
2007: 33.1

Further, you have to include sacks and scrambles in the "passes attempted" category to get a real idea of how much they are dropping back to throw the ball. Adjusted for sacks, scrambles (Manning's runs are sneaks or kneeldowns), and the short game against the Titans, McNabb averaged:

2005: 44.5 attempts per game
2006: 40 attempts per game
2007: 40.8 attempts per game

Manning takes an average of 1 sack per game, so his attempts all go up by about 1 when adjusted, but do you see my point?

Why is McNabb throwing the ball an average of 10 more times per game than the best or second best QB than the game (depending on Brady)?

Anyone want to guess which season McNabb had his fewest attempts per game (again adjusted for sacks and runs)? Shock, I know, but it was 2004. When his adjusted average was 36 attempts per game. He also was sacked fewer times that season than in any other full season of his career.

These things and many more all go hand in hand, which is why the known universe knows running the ball is critical and the Eagles think it's something can try to do in the 4th quarter, when up by 3 or more scores, sometimes.

And Oxford, I'd like to believe McNabb will "regain his speed", but the truth is it's been deteriorating for some time and it's never going to be better than average from here on out.

He hasn't really struck any fear into opponents running the ball since 2003 and at age 31 (in a couple weeks) with 3 serious lower body injuries, his dangerous scrambling ability is gone. He should come back to the point where he can make people miss in the pocket and scramble for some first downs, but he's never going to be spied again.
If you look at McNair, he suffered a serious decline in rushing ability at age 29 and his career has been in a freefall since (he's just 3-4 years older than McNabb).

I fear McNabb will go down the same road, though he's definitely a more polished passer than McNair.

There are going to always be "playmaking WR's" around each year, I don't think I'd trust Reid and Co to draft one but there are always FA's out there, it's a matter of IF they think he will be able to "fit into the system." A prime example this year coming up is Chad Johnson, he is very good with the potential to be great, BUT he doesn't fit Reid's system (he has fun on the field after scoring a big no no with Reid) I think everyone would love to see CJ here, he is a showboat BUT IMO that is what this team needs, someone that plays with fire... Its all a moot point, as long as Reid is here he will not sign another #1 or trade up to draft a #1 like this year it'll be Mario from Mich... so we either have to hope Reid steps down to handle his family OR he has a car accident(or some other accident) and gets amnesia...

Chad Johnson would be very expensive and require a trade (that's IF the Bungles decide to part ways with him). In addition, he's a headcase.

But this is the problem with WR...the only chance you have to get a true #1 without the prima donna attitude is to draft one.

When is the last time a true number 1 WR hit the market as a free agent or in trade with no strings attached?

T.O. was T.O.

Moss was Moss (and thought to be diminished).

David Boston signed a rich deal, but I think most of the league must have known he was roided up bad and he had attacked coaches.

Plaxico Burress was politely booted out of Pittsburgh and he still refuses to participate in the off-season program and fakes injuries to the point where he doesn't practice a single down during the week.

Unless you draft one, you're taking on some kind of risk with a high price tag.

Even if Chad Johnson had a clean record, what are the odds the Birds would pay him after giving $10+ million signing bonuses to receivers in back to back years?

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