Philadelphia Eagles Preview: The Offense
An Elite Offensive Line Will Make McNabb and Company Shine
Jun 11, 2009
It wasn't long ago that fickle Eagle fans were calling for Donovan McNabb's job, perhaps even his head.It's funny how a successful playoff run changes things. Despite his age, McNabb is still a very good quarterback, and his playoff experience and leadership ability is impossible to overlook.
A.J. Feeley and Kevin Kolb will battle it out for the right to be McNabb’s right hand man. The team is hoping Kolb wins in a landslide, but he has shown very little in two years. A quarterback’s third year is often his breakout year, and the Eagles are hoping a light goes on in Kolb’s head.
Brian Westbrook: Perpetually Questionable and Always Game Changing
Brian Westbrook is one of the league’s best gamebreakers, and also one of its most reliable injury report participants. The year hasn’t even started yet and Westbrook’s health outlook appears fuzzy. He recently underwent surgery in order to clean out bone spurs in his ankle, and the road to recovery may be longer than most expect.
Enter LeSean McCoy. The rookie’s strengths and skills are similar to Westbrook’s, and the team is hopeful that his overall game follows suit. If Westbrook is forced to sit out some games, the offense may not miss a beat for the first time in a long time.
The rest of the halfback depth chart looks spotty, but the team is hopeful that their lack of depth will not be tested. Lorenzo Booker has the ability to surprise, though. Leonard Weaver is penciled in at fullback. His solid all-around game will be an asset to the team
DeSean Jackson Leads an Improving Set of Pass Catchers
The Eagles’ receiving core has been a team weakness ever since Terrell Owens’ infamous departure. Things are slowly starting to change. DeSean Jackson put together a fantastic rookie season, despite his raw route running skills. His game will only improve.
Jeremy Maclin, a tremendous value pick in the first round, is expected to start opposite Jackson. His skill set is remeniscint of Jackson’s, except Maclin brings more size and a more polished game to the table.
The rest of the wide receiver depth chart looks strong. Jason Avant, Hank Baskett, Reggie Brown, and Kevin Curtis will bring versatility to the offense. Believe it or not Eagle fans, but one of the best spread formations in the league could be coming out of Philly.
Brent Celek, Matt Schobel, and rookie Cornelius Ingram will add up their combination of skills to make sure that the tight end position is not an afterthought. They all have their strengths, and they will all have their role.
The Offensive Line: Busting Heads Can Be Intimidating
That leads us to Philadelphia’s best offensive asset. The unsung heroes along the offensive line are as talented as the team has ever seen. It’s hard to tell exactly how the depth chart will shake out, but the players on board are ready to make the offense the best it can be.
The newly acquired Jason Peters is locked in at left tackle, Todd Herremans at left guard, and Jamaal Jackson at center; while Shawn Andrews will start somewhere on the right side next to either his brother Stacy Andrews or Max Jean-Gilles. Winston Justice, Mike McGlynn, Nick Cole, and others round out an elite offensive line.
Breaking Down the Philadelphia Eagles Offense
Philadelphia could feature one of the more exciting offenses in football. With their superb offensive line leading the charge, long-time stars Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook could post prime-like seasons.
But they may not need to. Not with DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and LeSean McCoy on the roster. That group of playmakers has a lot to prove, but all the ability in the world to get it done. Anything less than a top-10 offense will be a huge disappointment. The team is truly primed for another Super Bowl run.
The defense will have to hold up their end of the bargain, though. Read about the Philadelphia Eagles 2009 Defense.
