Fezzik said:
The Defense should be solid. Anyone who watched Philly DESTROY Gb's 1st string offense in the 1st quarter realize we have something very special here.
Hey Fezzik, you are an Eagles fan eh?
If I remember correctly, I don't believe Aaron Rodgers played in this game, so not sure how much weight I'd put into Philly Defense's performance. Also, didn't Cobb get hurt like on the first play of the game? Even with Rodgers, Cobb, and of course Nelson out of action, rookie Brett Hundley started and was exceptional against this Eagles D. He threw for 315 yards, 10.2 PY/A, and a 112 QB-rating.
In any case, I do agree that Eagles offense could be strong this year. Their run-game could be very difficult to slow down if they keep rotating fresh RB's at will and their pace is going to continue to set the tone for the opposing defenses. But there are also plenty of major question marks with this team.
First, can Bradford stay healthy for a full season after two straight ACL surgeries? Sure everyone gets easily excited after one PRE-SEASON performance where he went 10 for 10 with 3 TD passes, but let's not forget that this is a QB who has a career PY/A mark of only 6.3 and that's with a completion-% of less than 60%! It's one thing not to be able to get the ball downfield consistently but it's another when you're not completing a high percentage of your short throws. I've never been a big fan of Bradford for these reasons and I think he's as over-rated as they come. That's why for me it's a 'wait and see' approach on how he'll do in this offense, and one PRE-SEASON game is not going to sway me just yet. Second issue is that Eagles' offense is now relying on a second year WR and a rookie WR to carry the passing-game. Maclin is gone and Ertz is already hurt. Behind Matthews and Agholor there's Miles Austin and Riley Cooper, both of whom are pretty useless at this point of their careers. NFL is a 'passing league' and establishing the pass is what drives teams to be successful offensively (regardless of what the talking heads on ESPN would want you to believe). If Eagles struggle in the pass-game, their potentially dominant run-game will be useless. Speaking of a run-game, this brings me to the 3rd issue and that's their RB's. Sure if they all stay healthy, they could be a lethal combo, but staying 'healthy' could be an issue. DeMarco Murray is coming off a 436 carry season (including post-season) which is an absolute TON for an NFL RB. Chance for an injury and loss of efficiency is high. Ryan Matthews only played 6 games last season and has played a full 16-week schedule only once in his 5 year career, carrying an 'injury prone' label throughout. And of course Sproles is 32 years old and has been in the league for 11 seasons already. Chances of him breaking down and fading later in the season are pretty high. I understand the idea of utilizing all 3 backs to keep all of them fresher, but regardless, all of them are major injury risks.
As far as the defense, Kelly did upgrade the talent there but let's see if everyone meshes and plays well together this season. Having 'talent' is one thing, but actually performing on the field is the difficult part. I think Eagles could be very good but I also think there are just a ton of major question-marks with this team. Getting to 10 wins won't be easy for tthem, though it could happen if everything gels together. Hoping your team has a great season for you though. Wish mine (Bears) had at least some hope for 'greatness' like the Eagles do, but unfortunately I'm hoping for an 0-16 year and the #1 overall pick next year!