Section 215
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Five Big-Picture Takeaways From Eagles Week 4 Loss to Redskins

By Somers Price

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5.) Will Locker Room Erode or Endure?

Oct 4, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon (88) is hit by Philadelphia Eagles inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans (59) and Eagles strong safety Walter Thurmond (26) after making a catch in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

If the 2015 Eagles were a team with a sound foundation in terms of chemistry and continuity, a 1-3 start might not seem quite as daunting as this one does. Fact of the matter is, the Eagles are a team that underwent significant changes and could not forge the type of camaraderie that is sometimes developed over multiple years of playing alongside one another. The NFL, with seasonal turnover and financial issues playing a role, sometimes does not allow for this to happen. Losing is always magnified at the professional level. When this takes place, the heat of the spotlight can lead to significant internal problems.

There are still a handful of key locker room figures on the Eagles roster. Malcolm Jenkins, Jason Kelce, and Connor Barwin are all among those who have distinguished themselves as major voices. Those watching some of the players speak after the game wonder how much more Barwin and Kelce can handle as far as serving as the sounding board for the Eagles roster. With a roster full of players learning how to fit with one another, one wonders if anyone new will step up and try to help steer the team out of their early-season rut. With having to concern themselves so much with the team’s overall performance, one can’t help but think some of the aforementioned Eagles are allowing their game to slip. (Jenkins not having that problem, he’s been spectacular)

When a team acquires new players via free agency and trades, they cannot assume that individual slides into a primary leadership role. For all we know, the Eagles locker room is sufficient in that department and the issues are much more linked to their lack of familiarity. If this happens to be the case, there’s no reason a team with as much talent as the Eagles do have can’t right the ship to a certain extent. To even speculate over postseason possibilities at this point is fruitless. A team with the right mindset will focus their energy on getting back to .500 and reassessing from there.

The alternative could very much test Kelly’s ability to handle a locker room in turmoil. Given the style of coach he is, Kelly has pieced together a leadership council of sorts to make up for some of his shortcomings in that regard. Whether or not Kelly feels his team’s back is against the wall, the time for him to try and break his mold of borderline stubbornness in his ways is fast approaching. The Eagles are a veteran-laden team with players who have seen what winning teams and losing teams look like from the inside-out. They can spot weaknesses within a coach or a locker room and recognize what that can do to a season.

Whether or not he’s willing to take this type of step back and react to it, Kelly’s Eagles have lost six of their last eight regular season games. They won a meaningless game at the end of 2014 and have allowed persisting problems in a handful of areas dictate a concerning narrative about the team. It’s possible that Kelly does not have it in him to pull the Eagles out of their early-season swoon. It’s also possible that Kelly can do what he’s been doing his entire career coaching football, and prove people wrong. Ultimately, this could be the development that defines the Eagles fortunes in 2015 and Kelly’s beyond.

Next: DeMarco Murray Upset with Lack of Touches

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