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NFL preview 2017: Philadelphia Eagles

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 22: Strong safety Malcolm Jenkins
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 22: Strong safety Malcolm Jenkins

The 2017 NFL regular season is right around the corner. What are the expectations for Doug Pederson’s improving Philadelphia Eagles?

Was it really that long ago that many were calling then-Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach Chip Kelly an innovator? From his thoughts on nutrition and sleep to his fast-paced offenses, the former University of Oregon sideline leader seemed like he was getting ready to wave in a new style of football.

Of course, with one game remaining in the 2015 season, Kelly was gone. He would land with the San Francisco 49ers one year later and was out after a dismal 2-14 showing. Meanwhile, Doug Pederson became the new head coach of the Birds and guided the club to a 3-0 start. But the team dropped nine of its final 13 games. And just as was the case in ’15, Philadelphia finished with a 7-9 record.

Why the revisionist history lesson? Because although the Eagles have won just seven games each of the past two seasons, this team appears to be in much better shape under Pederson and general manager Howie Roseman than it was when Kelly was calling all the shots. The team’s current top executive has orchestrated his share of trades and good free-agent moves that has enabled the club to set itself up for the present and the future.

Case in point are some of the team’s more recent deals. Philadelphia shipped wide receiver Jordan Matthews and a third-round draft choice to the Buffalo Bills for cornerback Ronald Darby. The price sounds a little steep but they are also getting back a proven defender who has only been in the league for two seasons. Even more recently Roseman sent tackle Matt Tobin and a seventh-round selection in 2018 to the Seattle Seahawks for a fifth-round pick next April.

The list goes back to a year ago, when the team did its damnedest ridding itself of any remnants of Kelly’s work. You will recall the Eagles sent LeSean McCoy to Buffalo for linebacker Kiko Alonso. The latter is now a member of the Miami Dolphins. So is cornerback Byron Maxwell, who got a lucrative contract from Kelly only to disappoint in Philadelphia. There was also the trade for quarterback Sam Bradford from the Los Angeles Rams.

To be fair, Roseman and the organization did re-ink the oft-injured quarterback. But the GM also managed to get a first-round pick in 2017 from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for Bradford. The Eagles gave up their own ’17 first-rounder earlier in the year in order to move up to get Carson Wentz with the second overall selection.

You get the picture. This is a franchise that has been moving quickly to get back in the playoff picture. These Birds haven’t been to the postseason since 2013. But they have been working hard to rectify that.

This offseason, Roseman was once again busy. A team that needed help at wide receiver signed veterans Torrey Smith (cut loose by the rebuilding San Francisco 49ers). He also added ex-Chicago Bears Pro Bowler Alshon Jeffery. And with the sudden development of 2015 first-rounder Nelson Agholor as a slot option, hence the ability to deal Matthews to the Bills. In order to bolster an inconsistent ground attack, the Eagles added two-time Super Bowl champion running back LeGarrette Blount. He’s fresh off an 18-touchdown campaign with Bill Belichick’s club. Recently, the franchise parted ways with running back Ryan Mathews. He was the team’s top ground gainer this past season.

On the other side of the football, we saw some strides made from 2015. That year, Philadelphia finished 30th in the NFL in total defense and allowed the most rushing yards in the NFL. Now solid performers such as defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod are joined by cornerbacks Darby, Patrick Robinson and versatile Corey Graham. Cox will team inside with Timmy Jernigan, obtained via trade from the Baltimore Ravens. Veteran defensive end Chris Long brings depth to coordinator Jim Schwartz’s unit.

From top to bottom this past season, the NFC East was the best division in football. And while the Philadelphia Eagles were the only team in the division to finish below (.500), they closed the year with victories over the playoff-bound New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys (albeit the latter rested its share of players in that contest).

Still, we saw enough growth in one year under Pederson to warrant some real optimism here. Now what these Birds must do next this upcoming season is to build on a promising start to a new era. That means the continued development of Wentz. It also means strides by a defensive unit that has an exciting newcomer in rookie defensive end Derek Barnett. These are interesting times for the team that resides in the City of Brotherly Love.

X-Factor

It would be easy to say he really didn’t get a chance to adequately prepare for his rookie season. In August, Carson Wentz was thrown into the starting mix a year ago. He’s slated to take a big step forward this season. And we will put on the onus here on Alshon Jeffery. The former Pro Bowler in the Windy City who missed a little time this summer with a shoulder injury.

That caused receivers coach Mike Groh to voice these thoughts. “I think he’s behind,” said the Eagles’ assistant to Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com Groh said late summer. “Anytime you miss the amount of time he did. He’s a little bit behind but fortunately, we have time for him to catch up on all that…”

Understandably, the veteran pass-catcher didn’t agree. “Not at all,” explained Jeffery. “But at the same time, missing a few practices here and there just getting some timing down – I’ll be all right.”

Philadelphia’s passing attack produced only 16 scores a year ago. That’s a number that needs to change with Jeffery’s help this fall.

Best case

The Eagles build on their final two games of the season (regardless of the circumstances) and use that pair of wins to ignite another good start. And ideally for Pederson, his team learns to win away from the friendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia takes a seven-game road losing streak into 2017. After a Monday night win at Soldier Field in Week 2, the Green and White couldn’t get the job done when they headed out of town.

If the Eagles can fashion another 6-2 record at home (which was the case in ’16) and can split their eight away games (including at least one divisional road victory), it’s very conceivable that this club is back in the NFL playoffs.

Of course, that may be easier said than done. But if the Philadelphia defensive line continues its improvement from a year ago, they’re going to make it very difficult on a lot of teams. And that’s regardless of where the game is played.

Worst case

It could be a long year if the defense doesn’t take another step forward under Schwartz. The team has been concerned about its cornerback situation. Hence the decision to deal for Darby as well as the somewhat-recent signing of Corey Graham. The latter can play safety but is also very suited to be the team’s nickel back. Point is that the team needs to have the ability to slow down some of the NFL’s best wide receivers. As we know, Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Terrelle Pyror, Dez Bryant, etc. all happen to reside in the NFC East.

Another stumbling block could be the team’s inability to mount a consistent ground attack to help Wentz and the new-look passing attack. The signings of Smith and Jeffery are big pluses. But if Blount (who comes off a career year), Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood and the rest of the backfield doesn’t step up, it’s a step backwards for these Birds.

Final word

With the Cowboys waiting on a final verdict when it comes to running back Ezekiel Elliott (pending the appeal of his six-game suspension), the Giants having their own offensive issues and the Washington Redskins hoping their new-look defense, the door is open for the Eagles to fly to the top of the NFC East. It’s just a matter if Pederson’s club can take advantage of a possibly opportunity.

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You can certainly see these Birds being in line for a playoff spot in a division that hasn’t had a repeat winner over a decade. It will be very intriguing to see how far Wentz progresses from a season ago.