Fill Gaps in Free Agency, Land a Star in the Draft

The early reports out of free agency are that the Philadelphia Eagles are making modest, smart moves. James Casey, tight end/fullback from the Texans, looks to be close to signing and he adds depth to a weak tight end position. Other players like Isaac Sopoaga, Ricky Jean Francois, and Connor Barwin are all solid role players that could help the defense as they make a switch to a 3-4 hybrid. Obviously the Eagles must also address the need in the secondary and offensive line. There are plenty of solid offensive lineman to take in the draft as well as in free agency so the team should be able to begin to solidify that area. The secondary is another issue.

Outside of trading for Darrelle Revis, which the Eagles don't seem posed to do, there are no superstars to be had in free agency. There are however some very solid options out there. A player to look out for is Dolphins CB Sean Smith. Smith is a young player(25) who has become one of the better corners in the league. Adding Smith, at the right price, could be a smart option in helping to rebuild the secondary. At safety, names like Dashon Goldson and Louis Delmas have been mentioned by insiders and would fill a need but the Eagles need to realize that this is not a one year fix. There will be other options in the draft and next years free agency and they must be cautious not to overpay for either of these safety's as they are just the best of a down year in free agency.

This coming draft is the most important they have had since the 1999 Draft in which they had the second overall pick. Though it doesn't seem there is a quarterback of the future in this years draft class there are several players that could immediately make and impact for the Eagles in key positions. The Eagles must add a star with the fourth overall selection. With a pick this high it would be wise for them to take the best available player when their selection arrives. Players like Von Miller, Pat Peterson, and Ndamukong Suh all have become huge stars and immediately changed their teams defenses. The Eagles need to draft an impact player that can immediately turn this defense around. The Eagles roster does not lack individual talent on offense or defense and by landing a star in the draft, this team could go a long way in solidifying their future. With that being said quarterback is a still a huge question mark on this team but with a top class of signal callers entering the draft next year, they could still land a quarterback to take this team forward. Looking past the first round, the Eagles must again look at the positions previously mentioned; offensive line, defensive back, along with another pass rusher. Possibly adding a bigger wide receiver in the 3rd to 5th round range to team with Jackson and Maclin would help them in the red zone. This is not a one year fix, however the Eagles cannot afford to miss on their top draft choice this year.

Hope is a Dangerous Thing

The 2011 Eagles season was a mess from Week 1 on. After preseason expectations were set high, the “Dream Team” crashed and burned. With four games remaining, they had a 4-8 record and nearly all Philadelphia fans had lost hope. For 12 weeks, Eagles fans had given up hope on this team, expecting losses. They had cut emotional ties with games and were able to prepare themselves for what lay ahead each week. Then they won back-to-back games. Rumors began flying that if the right pieces fell into place, the Eagles could make the playoffs after all. All of the sudden, Eagles fans that had long since given up on their team, began to believe again. This hope is what once again let Eagles fans have their dreams dashed. In the past 13 seasons under Andy Reid, it seems that every year, there is a point in the season at which the fans seem to think to themselves, “We can actually do it this year,” and every year that team lets us down. It’s not just that they let us down. It is the way they do it. There might as well be a recipe for Eagles’ seasons of late: Begin the season hyped to win division. Struggle throughout the middle portion of the season (usually when the “Fire Andy” chants begin). Somehow put together a few big wins in a row so that an entire city is back on the bandwagon. Then crush their dreams with a late season loss or in 2011’s case, with another team (the Giants) taking the division away from them at the last moment. Just add water and repeat.

            This year it is another Philadelphia team that is poised to follow this recipe. The 2012 Phillies season has been anything but hopeful. The season began with their two most iconic players, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, on the Disabled List. When Roy Halladay went down in the first month of the season, fans let themselves believe, “If we can just hold on until the All-Star break.” With three of the teams best players missing, no one stepped up to fill the void left by the missing players. Cliff Lee struggled to through most of the first half of the season without a win and when the trade deadline came the Phillies were “sellers,” and Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino were dealt. Season over. Nothing that Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Roy Halladay could do with this roster would put them in a position to make the playoffs. “Not so fast, my friend.” Since losing back-to-back games to the Cincinnati Reds on August 20^th and 21^st, the Phillies have gone 14-4, the best mark in baseball over that span and have lost just two games since September 1^st. In the midst of a six game winning streak the Phillies are gaining ground on the second wild card spot everyday. On the 21^st of August when the Phillies run began they were 10.5 games behind the 2^nd place wildcard spot (held by the St. Louis Cardinals). As things stand today, they are a mere four games back of St. Louis and closing fast.

            As a Phillies fan I can’t believe that on September 12^th I find myself staying up late, “scoreboard watching” to see how far out we will be at the end of every night. The Phillies, like the Eagles do every year, have the city believing in them again. Hope is a dangerous thing to mess around with.  With ESPN.com giving the Phillies just a three percent chance to make the playoffs on September 12th, it is still an improbable feat, but with the run the Cardinals made last season, it seems possible. In all likelihood, the Phillies will fall short of their goal of returning to the playoffs (probably losing on the final day of the regular season with Ryan Howard striking out. Okay maybe I am just cynical…). In all likelihood, the Phillies will take a chapter from Andy Reid and the Eagles, and give us as fans hope, only to destroy that hope in the final moments of the 2012 season. I don’t know what is worse: accepting defeat early on in the season or becoming totally invested in a team then losing. But here is to hoping the Phillies prove me wrong and break the mold. Because, I mean, they are only four games out…