Honestly, I’ll believe it when I see it on the field. We’re told every year that the new Eagles are better than the old ones. I’ve yet to actually see it though. Sorry, Andy, but I’ve stopped drinking your Kool-Aide.

Look guys, I am the typical Eagles fan – I let the team get my hopes up and then they are dashed so many times that I become guarded. However, this has nothing to do with what I am about to say:

I don’t understand how you all conclude that this team is better than last year’s team.

The first change is at RB where we lost Buckhalter – a proven player who got better later in his career and replaced him with an unproven RB in McCoy – who has the potential to be great but hasn’t played one snap in the NFL. In addition, coaches don’t think he can block and he has been known to have fumble problems. While that might one day be an upgrade, I don’t see how it is right now.

The second change is at FB where we basically used a combination of converted players who performed poorly, but our version of offense rarely uses a FB anyway. Yes we added a Pro Bowl caliber player in Weaver, but most say that he is actually more talented in running and screens than he is at run blocking which is what we need. Yes he SHOULD be an improvement but I would like to see how often he is lead blocking for Westbrook first.

The third change is at WR where we added Maclin – a 20 year old who barely ran any NFL routes in college. Yes he is supposedly dynamic after the catch, but that was playing in the Big 12 where offenses routinely put up 40 + points on the weaker, slower defenses. Of course he could learn the routes and prove to still be as dynamic with the ball in his hands but at best he replaces Avant as the 3rd WR who was coming on late in the season and proved to be trusted as a big target on 3rd downs by McNabb. While Avant provides nothing after the catch, there is something to be said for the big trusted 3rd down target.

The fourth change is the offensive line on the whole. Taking two, proven, past Pro Bowl tackles and replacing them with one who led the league in sacks allowed last year, and another who is coming off a major surgery and we aren’t sure he is fully healthy. I understand that both are younger and have more potential, but everyone must understand potential doesn’t always pan out, and most of the time it doesn’t happen right away. I also understand we could be getting Shawn Andrews back this year, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch – he has serious mental issues that are not easily solved, and people question his desire to play the game. Finally, the way the offensive line works is that it is a unit, a unit that is greater than the sum of its parts. Individual talent does not make an offensive line, it takes time working together for one to gel into a great unit, and last year’s unit had that. While this unit may eventually become an elite one, it is unreasonable to think it will be right off the bat.

The fifth and final change is the defensive secondary on the whole. We lose our team leader and Pro Bowl safety in Dawkins (while I am the first to admit he is a shell of his former self – he is still a great player who leads by example and still makes plays). We also lost a former Pro Bowl CB in Sheppard, who while he played like shit last year, he had the talent to excel and provided talented depth at the position. In addition, if we lose Sheldon or if simply he doesn’t play up to par, or even if he causes a distraction we will be in trouble. Hanson is more suited to play nickelback and is not big enough to take the WRs Sheldon typically guards. Hobbs is a similar player to Hanson and I don’t approve of the argument that he played CB for the Patriots when they went to the SB. Trent Dilfer played QB for the Ravens when they won and we all will admit we don’t want him. Finally, Ikegwuonu is completely unproven and honestly a lottery ticket. He might pan out but in no way is he an upgrade. If Sheldon doesn’t play the way he did last year CB is a significant downgrade. While we added Sean Jones and Demps has an extra year of experience, I don’t think you can call safety an upgrade. If anything it is a wash.

The only other arguement that might be made is special teams. While we acquired a lot of return talent, I don’t see how one could argue that any punt return will perform better than Jackson. Yes, it helps that Jackson can concentrate on being a #1 WR, but I don’t see an upgrade there. And Demps performed admirably at KR, and while we might be able to upgrade there it is not a definate.

I don’t mean to seem pessimistic, I just want everyone to realize this is the Eagles. They routinely get your hopes up only to dash them. I think this team has potential to be better than last years, and to be elite within the next 2-3 years (given Westbrook holdsup) but I don’t understand the arguement that this team is UNQUESTIONABLY better than last years team. I just don’t see it.

OUR OFFENSE WAS 9TH IN THE LEAGUE LAST YEAR. I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT CHANCE AT IMPROVING THAT STAT WITHE THE FIRST THREE PICKS.

I ALSO DISAGREE THAT ANDY/MCNABB HAVE TO PROVE THEMSELVES THIS YEAR.