Photo: “Philadelphia Eagles iPhone/iPod Touch Wallpaper” by Brian Wilson licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2
I’m not even sure how to begin this article. Do I dramatize the utter collapse of what was supposed to be a dynasty? Shall I take you on a tour down the pothole-filled road that is Doug Pederson’s shoddy playcalling? Should I discuss the sheer ineptitude of the general manager? The list goes on and on as to what could open this article which will discuss these points and more. Ultimately, I’ve decided to begin by asking one simple question: why?
Why has this team seen such a regression since 2017? Why is it that we cannot beat a turnover-prone, second-year quarterback who has almost no threatening weapons at his disposal? Why are we making Ben DiNucci competitive against us? It really is mind-boggling if you take a look at the stark differences between 2017 and now. The roster doesn’t look that much different aside from some departures and new faces, and part of the reason why is the stubbornness of the management.
Howie Roseman, Pederson, Jim Schwartz and Wentz all seem to share one significant trait that has led to the demise of a supposedly rising contender: They’re all too darn stubborn! Howie continues to control all personnel, even though his draft record is spotty, along with a stretch of terrible re-signings that have plagued this team over the past few years — *cough*, Agholor, *cough*, Jeffery. He never seems to make the moves to win in the future, in part because he, like many others, are taking this year’s NFC East crown seriously. It’s not gonna lead to a Superbowl and even if by some miracle it does, what about next year and the following decade of Eagles football? Keeping a roster stagnant for too long will result in nothing but future collapse. Perhaps, that collapse is ensuing earlier than expected as we saw it unfold right before our eyes against the Giants and in pretty much every game this season.
Pederson was the man in 2017. He had the guts to call “Philly Special” against Bill Belichick, he had the play calling mojo of Andy Reid with time management and he carried an underdog chip on his shoulder. His team was willing to fight for him no matter how many troops they lost along the way and he never wavered to go for it on fourth down. If that’s Dougie P, then who is this imposter on the sideline bearing his name? Sure, his troops still give their all every week, and I will give credit where credit is due. But where is the masterful play calling that led us to call Sean McVay overrated? Doug’s unwillingness to share play calling duties since Frank Reich left have no doubt punched a significant nail in the Eagles’ coffin. He never utilizes Sanders to his potential and refuses to craft the offense to Wentz’s abilities. The team’s creativity has all but evaporated, and the efficiency has taken a massive toll as third and fourth downs find almost no success. This argument against Pederson was put on full display against the Giants on Sunday. Wentz finally refused to play hero ball and let the offense work around him. Gaining players back from injury should have made this even easier for Carson, but they never got a consistent rhythm. Doug’s calls were not enough to beat the Giants and that should be deeply concerning.
Speaking of concern, what happened to Schwartz’s stout run defense? In the first quarter alone the Giants posted over 90 rushing yards! That is unacceptable for a defense that prides itself on stuffing the run and pressuring the quarterback. There is an argument to be made that Schwartz’s scheme has shifted with the addition of Slay to focus on pass defense, but there should not be such a major downfall. Entering the game, the birds’ defense ranked 24th against the run; the previous years, they held a top 10 spot since Schwartz was hired. Things need to be adjusted when the Giants’ inconsistent offensive line allows a backup running back to tear up the defense.
And now, to number 11. Wentz, to his credit, didn’t play recklessly in this game. He let the offense come to him and finally didn’t turn the ball over. The fact that I have to praise this mediocre effort should hint to you how he’s performed so far this season. Prior to the game, he led the NFL in turnovers as well as sacks taken. He leads the NFL in fumbles lost since 2016 and his present QB comparison has shifted from Ben Roethlisberger to Jameis Winston (who, for context, threw for 30 interceptions last season). Carson seems to carry the weight of the team on his shoulders and tries to do too much. This can probably be attributed to how Roseman and Pederson have built and coached around him. One thing that should also be considered is the guy’s patience and perseverance.
In his best career season so far, Wentz tore up his knee and watched his fanbase fall in love with his friend and backup Nick Foles. The next year, he dealt with more injuries and adjusted to playing with a recovering knee, in addition to the new offensive calling that no longer heard the voice of Frank Reich. These issues all got 5000% louder when his receivers just couldn’t hold onto the ball. That season ended up culminating in Foles taking the reigns again and doing almost the same thing as in 2017. His spirit has been crushed, he’s been endlessly ridiculed by an exceptionally critical fanbase and media and he has been talked about behind his back by an unknown source in the locker room he is supposed to lead. Despite all this, Wentz wears a gritty expression every time he steps on the field. He carries himself as any franchise quarterback should and never gives up on the guys around him.
This same trait can also be attributed to the previous three I mentioned through this article. Sure, they’re stubborn. Sure, we’d love to rip our hair out when they make boneheaded decisions. But if we’re being honest, who else would we rather have? I’ll put my faith in Pederson, Roseman, Schwartz and Wentz to make the necessary changes. Call me crazy, but I’m not ready to throw in the towel on these guys just yet. Fly, Eagles Fly.
Joseph Gill is a second-year English writings major. JG923276@wcupa.edu