“Carson Wentz” by All-Pro Reels / Joe Glorioso licensed under CC BY-SA 2
In the middle of this seemingly never-ending year of 2020, Eagles fans are drooling for some football. Now, the time approaches when we shall be satisfied.
Although this season will be different than any other, we will still be able to see the birds take flight. So what do the Eagles look like nowadays anyway? Well, Howie Roseman got busy making good on his promise to the fanbase of Philadelphia: to get a younger team. Now that he’s made his moves and the roster is almost set, here is a position-by-position update on your favorite football team.
There is no question that the Eagles have had some issues over these last few seasons with injuries. Most of this had to do with the team’s startling age average, which sat in the top five of the league. It seemed that Roseman, Doug Pederson and company wanted to hold onto the magic of that 2017 season until they were able to hoist the Lombardi trophy. Alas, sending out the same aging team did as much as you’d expect. While they were a tough, gruff and familial bunch, they just couldn’t stay healthy. The team suffered crucial losses, especially in the secondary and receiving corps. It got so bad that, arguably, the best and most consistent receiver of the year (other than a tight end) was Greg Ward, a quarterback-turned-receiver.
Now, with Nelson Agholor shipped off to Las Vegas and Ward gaining rapport with Carson Wentz, the receiving corps looks renewed. Oh, and did I mention the draft picks? Roseman spent plenty of his picks on some fast pass catchers. Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins and John Hightower, among others, look to bolster DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery on the receiving end. In addition, the team hopes to see a second-year surge from JJ Arcega-Whiteside.
Update on the receiving corps: Jalen Reagor has been injured and will likely miss up to week four because we can’t have anything nice here in Philly.
As for the rest of the offense, the running game looks to Miles Sanders as the head of a fresh and dynamic duo of him and Boston Scott. It would not be shocking to see Sanders eclipse 1,000 yards this season. Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz lead the tight end attack for the third year in a row. Ertz is currently in discussions for a new contract with the team following the recent extensions of Travis Kelce and George Kittle. The offensive line stands strong again, but holds more question marks this season than the previous. However, Jason Peters has returned (again)! This time ‘The Bodyguard’ returns to help out the Eagles at the right guard position after star guard Brandon Brooks succumbed to a torn achilles.
Then, as if this situation couldn’t have gotten worse with the Brooks fiasco, Dillard has suffered a torn bicep and will miss the entire 2020 season. You may be thinking, surely, Peters will take up the position. Not so fast! Peters is reportedly working with the team and demanding a raise if he switches to the oft-higher paid position rather than the one he has signed with the team. Coach Pederson has left the door open for other options at the blindisde protector. This could mean free agency, a trade or another backup. So we’ll see how that works out.
In the secondary, Philadelphia has seen the most changes of any position this season. Early on, the team acquired shutdown cornerback Darius Slay from Detroit, who will now handle the number one duties. The team also announced that cornerback Jalen Mills will move to safety in place of Malcolm Jenkins, who was released and later signed by the Saints. Mills joins the returning Rodney McLeod at safety as Avonte Maddox battles for the second cornerback position alongside Slay. At the nickel/slot corner position, the team signed Nickell Robey-Coleman, who shines as the finest at his position in the league. Jim Schwartz must be happy with these vital improvements to his ever struggling secondary and will likely run a much more aggressive pass rush as a result.
Speaking of the pass rush, the birds have collected an abundance of run stuffers and strip sackers. Derek Barnett hopes to improve upon his less than exciting career alongside veteran Brandon Graham, who looks to remain his spirited and reliable self. Fletcher Cox will now stand side by side with Javon Hargrave and Malik Jackson on the interior line. This combination should mean domination by this defensive line. With the rising star, Josh Sweat, and the returning veteran, Vinny Curry, solidifying the depth, this lineup looks even more dominant than the 2017 game-wreckers.
…the birds have collected an abundance of run stuffers and strip sackers.
Jake Elliott at kicker, and the shockingly powerful punter Cameron Johnston, lead a special teams corps that should be a reliable aspect of the team under coordinator Dave Fipp.
And then there’s the linebacking corps. Yikes. The team let Nigel Bradham walk and sign with the Saints, where he was almost instantly cut. For now, the Eagles remain with a fast but not as physical Nathan Gerry, and an up-and-coming TJ Edwards. It’s definitely the weakest position when concerned with the depth, but should be masked by an improved secondary and front line.
So that’s the 2020 Eagles roster. Who knows? Maybe we will see another Jay Ajayi-type trade that happens unexpectedly in the middle of the season. As for a predicted record, I can see 10-6 as our floor and 14-2 as the ceiling, that is, if the team can stay healthy.
It should be an interesting season, and I for one, feel like it’s been too long of an offseason. Fly Eagles Fly!
Joseph Gill is a second-year English major in the writings track. JG923276@wcupa.edu