Divisional questions

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Every offseason I have talked about how the Eagles were not going to falter due to the loss of key players during free agency. This offseason may be different.

For one, the Eagles were horrible in stopping the run last season (as has been noted in previous posts), and they did little to help themselves this offseason. They got rid of the one guy on defense who really helped them stop the run - Carlos Emmons (and Dhani Jones, though good, is not a premiere run-stuffer). Moroever, the Eagles have yet to fill the hole at MLB left by Trotter's defection to Washington.

I don't think the losses of Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent will be felt all that much (provided there aren't major injuries in the new Eagles secondary). The Eagles have some great young corners and their pass rush has improved dramatically (with the addition of Kearse).

The Eagles run D has gotten worse, it's pretty much a draw in the secondary, and the pass rush has improved. Overall, I'd say the Eagles D has improved (barring major injuries in the secondary or to Kearse).

On offense, the Eagles surprisingly didn't pursue TO with much vigor. I thought that the Eagles would definately get TO. Because the Eagles have managed the cap so well, they could have afforded to front-load the contracts for Kearse and TO (so as to not mortgage the future). Maybe they'll end up with TO (if the Ravens deal falls through), but that's far from certain. Then the Eagles let Darrell "drop-em" Jackson get re-signed by the Seahawks. So, I guess they are going to wait to draft a wideout next month. Though they'll probably get a high quality WR (because of the amazing WR depth in the class of 2004).

Even if they do get a good WR in the draft (i.e. Rashaun Woods), they're going to have to hope that McNabb and Westbrook have great seasons if they expect their offense to go anywhere. Thrash, Mitchell and Pinkston just aren't getting the job done, Staley is a Steeler, and the Eagles oline is about as overrated as they get (not that they are considered top-notch, but they are considered good, which is far from true).

I say the Eagles offense has weakened more than the Eagles defense has improved.

The Eagles go 10-6 and we go 9-7. I'm going to say that we split the series (the first time I've said we'd split with the Eagles since 2000).