IT’S EASY TO SEE THE EAGLES GOING 11-5;But The First Half Of The Season Will Tell The Story by Joe Santoliquito
(All games radio broadcast on 610 AM WIP)
Sept. 13 at Carolina, 1 p.m., Fox29—W
Sept. 20 vs. New Orleans, 1 p.m., Fox29—L
Sept. 27 vs. Kansas City, 1 p.m. CBS 3—W
Oct. 4, Bye
Oct. 11 vs. Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. Fox29—W
Oct. 18 at Oakland, 4:05 p.m. Fox29—W
Oct. 26 at Washington, 8:30 p.m. ESPN—L
Nov. 1 vs. N.Y. Giants, 4:15 p.m. Fox29—W
Nov. 8 vs. Dallas, 8:20 p.m. NBC 10—W
Nov. 15 at San Diego, 4:15 p.m. Fox29—L
Nov. 22 at Chicago 8:20 p.m. NBC 10—W
Nov. 29 vs. Washington, 1 p.m. Fox29—W
Dec. 6 at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Fox29—L
Dec. 13 at N.Y. Giants, 8:20 p.m., NBC 10—L
Dec. 20 vs. San Francisco, 1 p.m. Fox29—W
Dec. 27 vs. Denver, 1 p.m. CBS 3—W
Jan. 3 at Dallas, 1 p.m., Fox29—W
The Eagles are entering 2009 with questions about the Shawn/Seans, Shawn Andrews and Sean McDermott. The offensive line will be playing for the first time intact this Sunday, when the Eagles travel to Carolina for the season opener, and we don’t really know what we’ll see from Andrews at right tackle—a position he’s never played before at any level.
As for McDermott, we don’t know what we’ll see there, either. He certainly hasn’t shown any of his hand this pre-season, and the Eagles will definitely look differently on defense, without Jim Johnson calling his exotic blitz schemes, Brian Dawkins crashing down from his secondary perch and Stewart Bradley combing the middle.
But we should have a good idea what Donovan McNabb and the offense is capable of doing. Indications are we could see high-scoring shootouts, until the defense becomes more stable, fully grasps McDermott’s system and the Eagles find someone to patrol the middle if Omar Gaither can’t do the job. The Eagles could arguably have the fastest team in the NFL. I’m sold on Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy being contributors, regardless of what Andy Reid’s history is with rookies, and that Leonard Weaver swinging out of the backfield could spell dividends in addition to noted weapons Brian Westbrook and DeSean Jackson stretching defenses.
I like McDermott’s gutsy move in starting Macho Harris at free safety, and the fact that no one in the league knows or has a book on what McDermott will throw at them.
But the first eight games will tell where this team is headed. The Eagles could conceivably go 6-2 over their first eight, with serious roadblocks coming against New Orleans in the home opener and at Washington on Monday night, October 26. For those who feel Oakland is trouble, please just take a look at the Raiders, take a good look at that mess. They’re in too much disarray for the Eagles to be sucked into a trap game (as of early-September).
In fact, the Eagles may have to go 6-2 over their first eight to have any postseason shot, because the second half of the season looks treacherous, with back-to-back trips to San Diego and Chicago, and trips to Atlanta, the New York Giants and Dallas to close the season. Over the final eight-game stretch, it’s possible the Eagles could go 4-4, but I’m banking on Tony Romo falling flat on his face once again, and the Cowboys out of contention by the time the two teams meet in early-January.
I also see this season being filled with a few 35-plus point games. This offense is too explosive to corral and the defense too much of a mystery to really gauge in early September.
Maybe I’ve drunk too much Andy-Aid, but the most successful coach in Eagles’ history has done nothing but win in the 11 years he’s been here, and the peripheral motivation that his contract is up in 2010 will certainly add a greater level of urgency to win.
How about that, a little something about the Eagles and no mention whatsoever about that other guy … if he’ll have an impact at all this season.
Joseph Santoliquito is an Emmy Award-nominated writer based in the Philadelphia area who can be contacted at Jsantoliquito@yahoo.com.
