NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Eagles have assembled a great roster this offseason through trades, free agency, and the 2024 NFL Draft. And yet, they will still struggle this coming season. While they may not crumble as they did in the second half of the previous campaign, the Eagles will have to fight through some growing and learning pains.
Despite the talent, the Eagles will be on their third Defensive Coordinator in three years. If fans and players didn’t understand how important it is to have stability in the coaching ranks, they learned a valuable lesson last season.
Heading into Training Camp, the Eagles have supposedly fixed a weak secondary with the additions of rookies and veterans. But are they enough to turn the tide back in their favor as top dawgs in the NFC?
Darius Slay is aging and James Bradberry seems to be regressing. Bringing back CJ Gardner-Johnson was a great move, but can he stay healthy? The rookie additions will see time but will they be able to adapt to the speed and physicality of the NFL?
But the curve doesn’t end there for the Philadelphia Eagles. Fletcher Cox retired which means that the Eagles will now have to rely on Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter more than they have in the past. Now is the time for these high-profile players to make a name for themselves.
The LB position is one that still needs tweaking. It seems that each season Howie Roseman takes a gamble here with players who were left for dead by other teams or low-income players hoping they pan out. This offseason, that player is Devin White who came over from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If White can return to his Pro Bowl form of 2020, he will fix what has plagued them for the last few seasons.
The Importance Of The Philadelphia Eagles Defense
With Vic Fangio now leading the charge, the hope is that the Eagles can get back to doing what they do best–attacking the passer. Last season was a serious drop-off as sacks were hard to come by. Fox clogging up the middle is gone. Brandon Graham is still around but how much does he have left in the tank? The front 7 will now fall on the shoulders of the young guys. With the addition of Bryce Huff who now takes over for the departed Hassan Reddick, this defense will look different.
But no matter who suits up and plays, it will come down to execution. The Philadelphia Eagles can’t remove the stink of how they finished last seaosn. But it all starts with this unit. The offense will take care of itself. If they can find a way to get back to form, then another Super Bowl appearance is not out of the question.
However, it won’t be easy. Some of the names are still the same and some are new to the team and new to the league. There will be times when they resemble a championship-caliber defense and others when they resemble a team still building chemistry. It’s about patience. Not only on their side of the coin, but for fans as well.
