Section 215
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Eagles Armchair: It’s Time For The Eagles To Rebuild

By Tucker Bagley

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The most comprehensive weekly look at the Philadelphia Eagles on the internet. 

WALK THROUGH

Things are beginning to look bleak for Chip Kelly’s squad. Yesterday afternoon, they were outplayed by a Kirk Cousins-led Redskins team that single-handedly keeps Deadspin afloat with all of their shenanigans.

Kelly spent a lot of time and a lot of Jeff Lurie’s money reconfiguring this roster, adding numerous high-priced free agents and letting go of homegrown players who made up the nucleus of the team Kelly inherited from Andy Reid. Obviously what we have seen from the team through the first quarter of the season may be growing pains, but what if this team does actually stink? And would the latter be better than the former?

The Eagles haven’t had the opportunity to rebuild in this century. Not since drafting Donovan McNabb has the team made a conscience effort at building a team from the ground up. In the 17 years since then layer after layer of duct tape has been strategically placed in hopes of trotting out a flawed roster that can scratch and claw its way to postseason run and a Super Bowl appearance.

And now, the city of Philadelphia is seven years removed from its last postseason victory. That’s the longest such drought since the Eagles went 12 years between winning the 1980 NFC Championship and beating the Saints in the 1993 playoffs. So maybe its time to shake things up and challenge the status quo.

The main thing that is holding the process back is impatience. The fans are impatient. If Kelly took a decent, competitive team and tore it to shreds, why should he get another opportunity to turn things around? What has he done to earn everybody’s trust?

The thing is, the Eagles don’t necessarily need to start from scratch if they decide to focus on the long-term. The defensive line is young and good. Ditto for the inside linebackers. The secondary seems competent and the outside linebackers are alright. Offensively, the wide receivers are very young and unproven. The running backs are a group of Pro Bowlers, but the offensive line seems to need a complete overhaul.

Obviously, the number one need is a stud quarterback. If Sam Bradford — whose contract runs out at the end of the season — is unable to win more than five or six games, the Eagles will be able to use a top pick on a stud QB such as Conner Cook or Jared Goff.

Neither one is a “can’t miss” prospect, but Mark Sanchez could step up and start for 2016, (and take the hit), while the young guy sits back and learns. It’s just time to stop these reclamation projects. Reid and Kelly have committed to Mike Vick, Sanchez and now Bradford. They had varying levels of success, but there’s one consistent factor: the lacking of a playoff victory.

Kelly himself has said the only way you can get a good NFL quarterback is to be bad or to be lucky. The Eagles have tried to be lucky since McNabb’s departure five years ago. Maybe it’s time to start being bad.

INJURY REPORT

DNP – Kiko Alonso, Taylor Hart, Chris Maragos and Cedric Thornton

Byron Maxwell – Maxwell pulled his quad early in the first quarter and Eric Rowe was forced to step in. The rookie was targeted often towards the end of the game and took a bad pass interference penalty in the end zone that set up a Cousins TD run. After getting torched by Julio Jones week one, Maxwell has been very good and is a big loss if he misses extended time.

Mychal Kendricks – I was surprised when Kendricks said he could play, just two weeks removed from a strained hamstring. Sure enough, the injury flared up in the first quarter and he sat out the rest of the game. He seems doubtful to play next week against the Saints.

Jason Peters – Peters also left the game in the first half with a strained quad. His loss could be huge, considering the lacking of depth the Eagles have along the offensive line. I wouldn’t doubt Peters tries to play again next week, but he certainly hasn’t looked like the perennial All Pro left tackle we have taken for granted.

Lane Johnson – Johnson was injured on an extra point, but was able to walk off under his own power and finished out the game. He clearly didn’t look right as he allowed consistent pressure on the Eagles final drive and told reporters after the game he thinks he sprained his MCL.

Brandon Bair – Bair pulled his groin in the first half, leaving the Eagles defensive line void of any depth for the rest of the game. This probably caused them to be a bit more tired than usual by the end of the game and led to Alfred Morris running all over them on the game-winning drive.

MEASURABLES

12 – Since Kelly became head coach of the Eagles, there have been twelve games in which a team had a time of possession under 20 minutes. Four of those games come courtesy of the Eagles and they are 0-4 in those contests. In fact, the entire NFL is just 1-11 in such games. Time of possession may not directly lead to wins, but it certainly helps.

28 – Bradford became the first Eagles QB in 28 years to throw three touchdowns with zero interceptions in a losing effort. In 1987, Scott Tinsley accomplished the same feat in just his second NFL start. He only played one more game. No telling how the rest of Bradford’s career will turn out.

4.83 – The Eagles averaged 4.83 yards per carry yesterday. Yes, sometimes numbers do lie.

SECTION 140

This pretty much sums up the atmosphere on Twitter after the game. Also, I’m going to include Brock Lesnar any chance I get.

It is amazing how Hicks has gone from a third round pick who many “experts” considered a reach to a the Eagles best linebacker so far this year. It’ll be hard to take him off the field once Kendricks and Alonso are healthy. And Marcus Smith was a healthy scratch.

It is getting harder and harder to not think the rest of the league is catching up to Kelly.

WEEKLY AWARDS

The Consistency Award – Malcolm Jenkins

Consider this me making up for neglecting Jenkins this year, but the dude is very easy to take for granted, but much like Connor Barwin, he is so consistent and does the little things well. How many times has Jenkins come up and made a tackle for loss in a key spot? Heck, he would have a half-dozen interceptions if his hands weren’t made of stone. There’s a lot of question marks on this team, but you know Jenkins will be ready every Sunday, leading the back-end of the defense.

Related Read: Eagles vs. Redskins Game Balls

Oct 4, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper (14) runs with the ball past Washington Redskins strong safety Trenton Robinson (34) to score a touchdown in the third quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The “Maybe They Aren’t The Worst Wide Receivers In The World” Award – Riley Cooper and Miles Austin

These guys were the recipients of much criticism the past few weeks, but both stepped up and caught deep touchdown passes in the second half yesterday. Austin and Cooper aren’t nearly as talented as some of the other weapons the Eagles have, but the two veterans need to emerge as leaders until the younger guys are ready to step up and takeover.

NO HUDDLE

  • Let me first say this: there is no way in hell Chip Kelly is not coaching the Eagles in 2016. I understand people are very upset at his efforts this off-season, but if you think for a second that Jeff Lurie is going to give a guy the keys to the franchise, then take them away in less than a year, you are sorely mistaken. Kelly will be given an opportunity to fix this.
  • What happened to Josh Huff? After missing last week with an injury, he was not targeted by Bradford once yesterday. Huff is explosive with the ball in his hands and Kelly needs to find a way to get him the ball in space. In fact, I’m surprised Huff wasn’t used in the reverse that ended with a Nelson Agholor fumble.
  • Speaking of Agholor, the kid has talent, he showed that on his one-handed, 45-yard catch. But he also continues to drop relatively easy catches and makes mental lapses. The kid will be good, but his development is a bit slower than some of us expected.
  • It is hard to not be impressed with Bradford’s effort in the second half, but he needs to build on it. I’ve never played a down of organized football, but I assume that it is hard to take two years off then try to compete at the highest level of competition with next to zero practice. However, Bradford needs to continue to progress and put together a full game before he can make fans confident in his ability.
  • The Eagles are two field goals and an extra point away from being 3-1.

WHO’S NEXT

The Eagles will head back to the Linc to take on the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Drew Brees and company have also been a huge disappointment this year. Brees missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury, but he was back last night to battle the Cowboys. A rematch of Kelly’s only NFL playoff game, the Eagles are a vastly different team then the one from two years ago. I hate using the term “must-win,” especially this early in the season, but at this point,  if the Eagles still think they have a shot at the playoffs, this is a game they have to win.

Next: Eagles Fall to Redskins-Offensive Grades

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