Over the offseason Philadelphia accumulated the so-called (now sarcastically) "Dream Team": a defensive backfield filled with some of the most talented players in the league at their position... yet here they've given up nearly eighty points in three games. They also paid a huge sum to keep Michael Vick firmly cemented as their starting QB... and he's suffered weekly injuries, to the extent that he's only finished one game and is essentially wearing a Kevlar uniform. (And that's no exaggeration - after the concussion, he got a Kevlar helmet; after the fractured hand, he got a Kevlar glove... what's next?) This is a team many people picked to go the Super Bowl - at the very least, deep into the playoffs - and they're only 1-2.
That's hardly a reason to get worried, certainly no reason to get desperate, but it's also time to get things turned around. Philadelphia plays best when they have momentum, swagger even; and this team is a peacock that has lost its feathers. Good news, though - I have a few suggestions to fix things!
(1) Stop shooting yourselves in the foot.
Easier said than done, I realize, but the Eagles dominated that Atlanta game. Truly dominated. Atlanta couldn't get much of anything going through the air or on the ground... yet somehow they managed to win. How? They capitalized on Eagle mistakes; and good God, were there plenty of those. Within the span of a few minutes Vick alone had like two fumbles and one interception.
Solution: Stop the stupid mistakes. Vick can't keep forcing throws, and the secondary can't keep missing tackles.
(2) Don't rely on Michael Vick.
I get it: Michael Vick is a freak of nature, athletically speaking. The speed and quickness of a running back with the golden arm of a Steve Young-type quarterback. He can make the throws, he can make people miss, but Vick's greatest weakness has always been and continues to be his decision-making. Don't get me wrong - he's vastly improved, but he still has problems dealing with pressure (especially when teams force him to his right), he still throws into danger, and worst of all he basically forces the entire game to reflect his performance. Consider the Atlanta and New York losses: almost all their points came off turnovers, and a majority of those turnovers came from Michael Vick either making poor decisions or throwing into coverage.Solution: Protect Michael Vick. Preach patience to him. This is a team - one player should not be able to lose the game.
(3) Get the ball to DeSean Jackson.
Never mind the fact that he's on my fantasy team - pound for pound, DeSean Jackson is one of the most talented players in the league. He'll drop a few balls, and his ego often gets in the way (who can forget when he threw the ball and started celebrating before crossing the goal line in that game against Dallas?), but when he has the ball in space, he can make extraordinary things happen... and yet how involved is he? After three games, he has one touchdown (in the first game) and not even two hundred yards receiving. This just won't work if Philadelphia wants to win. In an offense as famously high-flying as the Eagles' is, you just have to give this guy as many chances as possible.
Solution: DeSean Jackson needs at least ten targets a game. I understand that the Eagles have a number of extremely talented players, especially on offense, but everyone is getting their fair share except for Jackson, and the team is 1-2. Get Jackson more involved, and I guarantee that number will go up. LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin are doing their part, but they're supporting players - it's time to let DeSean Jackson be the star.
That's all I got. I realize this may not be the most exciting topic for my usual readers, but as you've probably noticed, I write what I'm compelled to write. And tonight I'm compelled to write about this young man's plight.
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