I have been a die-hard Eagles fan since I attended the 1960 championship game when we beat Lombardi’s star-studded Packers. So no one more than I would like to see the Eagles turn out to be a “dream team” and waltz to a Super Bowl victory. But I wish that Vince Young had never uttered that phrase. Sure, the Eagles made some nice upgrades in the off season. But realistically, their best case scenario is to beat the Giants for the 7th and 8th times in a row, win the NFC East, then lose the NFC Championship Game. Here are five reasons why the Eagles cannot win the Super Bowl.
1. As the Giants proved last year, rookie kickers cannot be counted on in big games. With the loss of both Akers and Rocca, the Eagles seem to be destined to have rookies in two kicker positions. Imagine the NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field, late in the game, the snow swirling in his face, and the game on the line. Can a rookie place kicker be counted on to win the game? Hardly!
2. With a legacy of Buddy Ryan and Jim Johnson as defensive geniuses, the Eagles now have an offensive line coach running the defense. Maybe Castillo can grow into the job, but this will take time.
3. Third down and one remains the Eagles’ Achilles’ heel. In the past few years, lack of ability to execute this critical play has cost dearly. Lacking a brute running back and with an offensive line possibly relying on rookies Watkins and Kelce, this problem will continue to plague the team. The recent re-signing of Wells signals that the offensive line is an area of concern for team management as well.
4. The linebacker corps remains sup-par. A continuing problem seems to be that they are too often in the wrong place to make the play. Maybe Casey Matthews can evolve to be a force like his brother, but this will take time.
5. The Eagles lack a Dawkins or Woodson style defensive back or safety capable of both blitzing and snuffing the run. The three all-star defensive backs are great for pass coverage, but lack these skills. More importantly they can’t all be on the field at the same time. So unless a trade can be orchestrated, this will lead to dissension.
Fly Eagles Fly! I hope you prove me wrong.