Prediction: Better OL play will lead Eagles to a greener season.
August 14, 2008
Dave Spadaro earlier this week posed a question on his Eagle TV broadcast asking what do you think of Winston Justice so far this year. I thought about this question, thought about not only the play of Justice so far this year, but of the offensive line in general. This led me to think how well the Eagles will really do this year.
As as a True Green Eagles fan, I believe the Eagles will have a great year. They will go to the superbowl or at least contend for the NFC championship. A lot of Eagles fans, like me, would root hard for the team no matter what and when asked would say that the Eagles are definitely going to the Superbowl even if the Eagles fielded Miami’s team in the dark green and white. But that’s really my wish, not a prediction. That said, here is what I truely believe.
I’m very afraid that the Eagles will do poorly this season. In training camp I’ve seen the #2 defense dominate the 1st team offense or at the very least, get great pressure. And as much as I hate to admit this, the Eagles number 2 defense is probably not as good as many other teams #1 defense.
I have huge concerns about the play of Tra Thomas and the recent play of Herremans at LT in training camp. And I’m not even considering Tra’s recent back spasms. Let us pray.
Tra Thomas has been beaten badly (almost constantly) during one on ones in training camp, 1st team offense against 2nd team defense, and in the first pre-season game against the Steelers he was charged with a sack. However, the first week of camp he and Runyan both looked great. Later Runyan also started to get beat constantly by DT Clemmons. Hopefully the recent bad play of both starting tackles may just be a combination of their age, natural wear down of training camp, and the summer training theyve done to prepare for this season. Physically they really look in great shape. They might just need a few days rest as I’m sure the whole teams needs. Lets all hope.
Winston Justice is now playing RT. He started slow this training camp. But soon after he started playing much better. He is now showing a new side to his game. In camp and the first pre-season game he is looking much stronger, determined, and at ease. I believe with contant playing time and working him into full game playing shape, he’ll be everything we had all hoped for when he was drafted. I’ve always believed, and continue to believe, the issue with Justice isn’t his ability but his game playing shape. In the last four years he’s played essentially one season of college ball and 2 1/2 NFL games.
He is ready to fill in at RT. He proved he could last year when he filled in for Runyon at RT against a good Buffalo defense. He played the entire game without the benefit of preparation. In that game he had 1 penalty, no sacks. Tra Thomas had 1 sack charged to him. Justice also looked good against the blitzing Steelers in last week’s pre-season opener. Will he have a bad game in the future? Sure. Everyone does. He needs playing time. Would that mean he he can’t play? No. However, I wish Justice was still playing left tackle this season because Dunlap may be good in the future. But that future, I believe, is not going to be soon enough.
Prediction: Eagles will be strong in the second half of the season as always. Lots of work needed up front on offensive line or maybe just a bit a rest after training camp. Hopefully.
This is my first post. This blog was created because I am a true honest to god green blood flowing through my veins Eagles fan. I had read so many inaccurate and purposely malicious articles and post in blogs from so called Eagles fans and supposedly knowledgeable sportswriters about players on the Eagles roster that I could not take it anymore. I had to speak out. Speak for all the true honest fans of the Eagles who make judgements on players and coaches based on fact, not rumors, not just to spew the venom they hear from others. And now, on the eve after the first day of full contact training camp, I want to offer my honest evaluation of some of the most maligned players on the Eagle roster and their agitators.
Donovan McNabb
McNabb is one of the elite quarterbacks in the league and has been so for many years now. He has quarterbacked the team to the playoffs and the super Bowl. In 2006, before his injury, McNabb had a quarterback rating that was out of this world, and the Eagles looked like they had a team as strong as their 2004 Super Bowl team, if not stronger. Yet even now there are many fans booing him, suggesting that he should be traded, and that the team would be better off without him. STUPID. My question for these folks making this suggestion openly is who is a better quarterback in this league than McNabb? He is in the same class as Peyton Manning and Brady. But an even better question is who is the best quarterback right now for the Eagles? Why suggest he leave when there are no better choices in the league. He’s proved himself year after year. If you guys were Green Bay fans you would probably be rooting for Aaron Rodgers to start over Farve. Crazy. Stop it.
Lito Sheppard Vs. Assante Samuels
These are both great corners. Lito is as good or better than any cornerback in the league. I say keep them both. Give the man the quan due him. Corners get injured a lot and are very important to the defense. How many teams have a backup of that caliber. No matter who starts. No Trade. Go Eagles!
Herremans Vs Giles
Both these guys can rock. Although Giles had 2 strong outings in 2007 against 2 great teams, and sure to have an outstanding camp, I believe Herremans’ experience wins out. This round goes to the starter.
Kevin Curtis
Yes he is not Randy Moss, but this sure handed, play ’til the end, tough, quick wide receiver is a keeper. Expect a breakout year if McNabb remains healthy.
Winston Justice
Despite the unfortunate events that took place September 30th against the Giants, I truly believe this kid is the real deal. One game, especially that game, doesn’t make this kid a bad choice at left tackle, although I like him much better at right. Anyone who has seen this kid in action in training camp against D. Howard and superman Trent Cole knows he can play and play at a high level. Remember he played 7 games last year ( 2 starts/1 official start). He played a good game against Green Bay ( get the video if you need to review) and was awesome against the Redskins in the game previous to the Giant game.
To me the Giant game is not a great game to judge this kids ability. The Giant game was just one of those bad games that happen to a team every once in a while. Everyone on the team played bad. It was a team bad effort. And he was not the only player charged with 4 sacks. Justice actually played a decent first half against Osi and company. Don’t take my word for it, Madden, who did the color for the game, had the same view and expressed it during the first half. Further, Herremans injured his knee that evening, I believe, towards the end of the first half ( he had surgery the next day). I believe this what led to the problems that Justice had with Osi during the second half. If you recall during the game Justice was playing halfman. Also, Herremans, because of the injured knee, was being turned constantly. Many of Osi sacks came as a result of Herremans being turned and pushed towards Justice from behind.
Justice, to me, was a great player with unlimited potential when he came into league in 2006.
I believe had he gone to any almost any other NFL team ( Baltimore, San Diego, Kansas City, Texans, etc, ) he would now be a pro bowl caliber player. To get back to that level I believe he just needs to play. Awesome and vicious at USC at RT, he destroyed many of the top DLs in the NFL. Now having only played in 7 games the last last 2 years, 1 full year playing in college and 7 games last year in the last 4 years, he just needs to play. The more games he plays the more you’ll see the pro bowler play come out.
Hugh Douglas
This ex Eagle has been masquerading as an Eagle fan. He’s not folks. He’s just trying to get a pay check he lost when he got booted from the NFL. Douglas you suck! When you dog a player just to make sure you get a dime, you’re a jerk. You’re starting to sound worse than Barber when he left the Giants. And you saw what happened to the player he called out. Mr. Douglas let me help you out here. You judge a player by his skill. Not by how much he can act like, and walk like, a street thug. There are plenty of those thugs with the swagger walking on the street everyday and can’t play ball. Stop trying to promote it as skill or a sign of greatness. Besides that’s not what the NFL needs is it?
