Headed in the Right Direction

The Eagles play their season opener six days from now. We’ve gone through free agency, the draft, OTAs, Training Camp and the preseason. This team still feels like a mystery to me. The bloated 4-11-1 team feels ages ago, but many of those players are back. There is new talent and a new coaching staff. There is hope.

Hope was lacking last year as an aging team fell apart and had a disaster of a season. The cohesion and chemistry that helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2017 was long since gone. Too many injuries and too many agendas ripped apart a team that was already lacking in talent. Not only was the team bad, it was boring on the field. Most of the drama came off the field.

This summer feels very different.

No one is saying the Eagles are loaded with talent. There are obvious weak spots on the roster. The lack of depth at certain spots could prove to be a real problem if injuries do pop up.

But the feel of the team is different. There is energy. There is enthusiasm. There is cohesion.

The young coaching staff has connected with the players. Both  young and veteran players have remarked about how much teaching has gone on. Nick Sirianni’s messages about focusing on details and getting one percent better everyday seem to resonate with the players. The Eagles didn’t hire the guy with the best resume, but Sirianni sure feels like the right fit for this team.

The biggest X-factor for this team is Jalen Hurts. He’s the starting QB and he earned that role this offseason. The question is whether he can be a consistently good NFL starter. Hurts has all the intangibles to get the job done. He has NFL talent. There are times when he can be very impressive. But as we’ve learned with Travis Fulgham, consistency is key. Can Hurts play at a high level for a full season?

Hurts play will have a huge impact on the success of this team, but also his future. If he plays well enough, he can convince Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie they have their franchise QB. If Hurts is up and down, the team will be up and down and his future job security will be an issue. That’s a lot of pressure for a young player, but he has the mental makeup to handle it.

Hurts didn’t have much help last year. The OL was beaten up and the skill players were lacking skill. This year is different. The OL is healthy, for now. Keep your fingers crossed on that. If they give Hurts time, he’ll actually have someone to throw to. DeVonta Smith looks like the real deal. Quez Watkins has emerged in a big way and earned a starting role. Jalen Reagor gives Hurts another explosive target. Mix in a pair of good TEs and suddenly Hurts has weapons.

The Eagles defense also looks to be improved. The DL could be among the best in the league. Josh Sweat and Javon Hargrave were dominant at times, in both camp and the joint practices. I can’t wait to see them in action. Rookie Milton Williams gives the team an interesting piece, with his ability to play outside or inside. I’m guessing that Fletcher Cox guy might still be kinda decent, too.

For the first time in a while, the LBs could be…good? Nate Gerry is a distant memory. Alex Singleton and Eric Wilson give the team a solid pair of starter. They’re backed up by Davion Taylor, T.J. Edwards and Shaun Bradley, who all played well this summer. The SAM LB spot will be different and Genard Avery showed real promise in that role. I’m curious to see how he’ll do. There is a good combination of size, athleticism and talent with this group. They still have to prove they can get it done in the regular season, but things are absolutely looking up.

I wish I could be that optmistic about the secondary. This is where I’ve got some concerns. The group is better than a year ago, but are they good enough? Darius Slay and Steven Nelson give the Eagles veterans on the outside. Avonte Maddox is back in the slot, where he’s better suited to play. There isn’t much depth and this group could still struggle against top receivers.

Safeties Anthony Harris and Rodney McLeod are veterans. They’ll have a good feel for the scheme, but chemistry will take some time to develop. Harris is new to the team and McLeod is coming off a knee injury and we’re not sure when he’ll play. The coaches tried to get K’Von Wallace up to speed, but injuries slowed him down this summer. That means we could see more of Marcus Epps early on.

I don’t know if this team will go 6-11 or 11-6. I do know this team is headed in the right direction. They just feel different.

One of the reasons for optimism is the young talent. Miles Sanders, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, Jalen Reagor, Tyree Jackson, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Josh Sweat, Milton Williams and Davion Taylor all have a lot of potential. The Eagles aren’t on a full blown youth movement, but the front office and the coaching staff have embraced finding young talent and trying to develop those players.

I hope 2021 is a fun season after the misery of last year. At the least, it should be a lot more interesting, and for the right reasons.

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