they have such a young core and the front office is continuing to build from the inside out, replacing older players (i.e. dawkins) with younger guys, that arent necessary rookies (i.e. Demps).

itll be really scary if a team that has, in a sense, dominated the past decade, can dominate the next decade.

Always excited for your posts, you do a great job!

I agree with the guys that beat me to comments, especially on the Falcons and Texans. I think both of those teams have made huge strides the last couple years, except I can’t explain why the falcons sold their defense this offseason.

We are no doubt stacked and I think we’re all excited for this year especially, but ultimately we love the core that has been developed and that we are working around.

The five answers to your question concerning dominance for the decade are going to come in the form of:

Kevin Kolb
LeSean McCoy
Shawn Andrews
Quentin Demps
Stewart Bradley

These are the guys that are either completely unproven with huge potential(Kolb/McCoy), have shows sparks(Demps), or are the young and solid rocks that we need to continue to stay healthy and produce at a high level for years to come (Bradley/Andrews). If these pieces fall into place, then we’re good.

Why they will:

The Eagles are one of the best run franchises in NFL. They have great talent, and often fill in their holes before any hole is actually created (the drafting of Lito and Sheldon). The same kind of things that happened last decade will transpire again, and with a Superbowl win or multiple wins, the Eagles would be viewed as the dominate team.

Kevin Kolb will fill in seamlessly, a la Aaron Rodgers, to bring great talent and stability to the arguably the most important position in the league, QB.

McCoy becomes a diet version of Westbrook. Much like Kolb, the RB transition is very important as Westbrook is such an important part of our offense. McCoy possessing a similar skill set, masters the playbook in his first two seasons, and takes over in his 3rd.

Maclin backs up that top 10 prospect grade, many had given him. Not expected to have to contribute in any capacity as a rookie, Maclin plays in a reserve role and is able to polish his route running, that will lead him to eventually be a dominate threat.

Jackson builds off his success last season and continues to grow as a player. Likewise, Celek builds off his late season success and becomes one of the better TEs in the league. Avant blossoms into a crafty slot specialist, and Ingram is match up nightmare coming off the bench.

The O-line gels together and stays healthy. The talent is definitely there, and they are relatively young. The line is skilled and nasty and turns out to be perennial top 3 line for the next 5ish years, until the next crop of Andy Reid lineman are ready to take over.

The defense continues to improve. An already young group of players build off their success last season. The front 4 is very good hands, with guys like Cole, Bunkley, Patterson, Laws, and Abiamiri all 26 and under. They continue to grow and set the tone for the players behind them.

Bradley continues to be a beast in the middle. Gocong, Jordan, and Gaither while not great players, improve their game. They are far from bad players, and with talent around them, they will be good enough to not disappoint. If one of them can step up, it could put this defense over the top.

Jack becomes better than Asante, or close enough to make it a discussion. The secondary is the oldest of our defensive units. If Jack’s first round talent can come to fruition to replace Sheldon brown, this secondary should be good long term. Asante has some time left, and Demps showed flashes of being good player. Mikell is aging, but has less wear and tear than most, and continues to be a top 10 type safety.

Why they wont:

It’s really, really hard to be dominate for an entire decade. We’ll have to keep up our winning ways and top it off with a Superbowl victory, probably at least two times, to truly to be considered such.

Kolb is not answer and/or leaves town. In a QB driven league, and with McNabb not getting any younger, the Eagles will not be a dominate team if they don’t have a legitimate QB. The fact we love to pass the ball compounds this issue.

Westbrook runs out life sooner than later, and McCoy turns out be much more like Ryan Moats than Westbrook 2.0. He fails to ever be an effective between the tackle runner.

Maclin never becomes an effective route runner. Even with all his athleticism, his inability to run proper routes and create separation, dooms his career. Jackson was a flash in the pan, and/or his undersized frame doesn’t withstand the rigors of being the Eagles number one WR. Celek and Ingram never learn how to block, and are only marginal receiving threats.

The offensive line tanks. Peters allows multiple digit sacks, with the Andrews brother’s not even being healthy to play. Andy Reid drafts more Winston Justices.

The LBs get old without getting better. The OLBs never take that next step, and the team is in unable to draft a real difference maker.

The D-line falters without the game planning of JJ. They become exposed as averagely skilled, undersized players, who had the benefit of some of the best game plans. The pass rush suffers, making everyone behind them struggle.

The secondary, and team for that matter, actually did need Dawkins. They become lazy and unmotivated. Sheldon throws a fit, and Jack and Hobbs are mediocre at best in his spot. Mikell never matches his play from last season. A very good athlete in Demps never becomes a starting caliber safety.

Summation:

If any team can dominate next decade, the Eagles have as good a chance as any. They already posses a very good roster capable of winning a championship, and on paper have very few, if any, holes. (The OLBs are weaker than you’d prefer, TE is questionable, no “number 1 WR”, FS perhaps) The teams has youth on it side in numerous positions, and is perceived to have solid depth at most positions.

For the decade on a whole, Kolb and McCoy are likely the two most important prospects for Philadelphia. It’s the NFL, shit happens, things are unpredictable, but the Eagles look to be in great shape.

he gives me interesting shit to read in this god awful time of year for football…rec’d

with apologies to the morning people at WIP:

Will Andy Reid continue to be the coach? If he stays, I see no reason things won’t be as you predict. If he goes, we are looking at either Mornhinweg or someone from the outside. Morty will probably keep the core intact, but hasn’t proved he can win as a coach (wasn’t given much of a chance in Detroit). An outsider would probably dismantle the team and start over.

The main key, therefore, is Andy Reid. If he stays on as the HC, it should be a sweet next 10 years.

I see how you laid out the 2009 UFA’s, but can you also show me the rest of the roster and when their current deal is up?

I think the Eagles need to be concerned with one thing and one thing only; historical relevance.

Not having won a Super Bowl in the Andy Reid era is problematic for two reasons. First, he doesn’t have that many chances left, given his age, his weight and his owner’s dwindling patience. Second, and maybe more importantly, no one will remember the strides this team made 10 years from now. After all, you could make an argument that Philly has been consistently in the mix more than anyone except the Pats over the same span of time. Football is unforgiving like that.

By the way, what is the latest on Jim Johnson? I haven’t heard anything on ESPN or NFLN.

The question refers to next decade. 2011 will be telling with regards to QB and who we can expect to lead the team for the following 8 years.

We don’t have a QB on this roster signed beyond 2010 so it should interesting.

to be dominant.

But as my old running backs coach used to say, “potential means you ain’t done &$^! yet.”

the BEAST as the next dominant team.

Looking at this decade, the Giants and Eagles except for few years for each were consitently at the top, relatively equal. Eagle won more, but of course there was 2007 so Id say its a wash.

As much as I hate to admit it, there was an extremely brief part, 2 seasons, that you could say the Cowboys were the best team.

The Skins haven’t been there and more than likely with Daniel Snyder as their owner they never will, but there’s always a chance and they could surprise even this season.

I just don’t think that given how strong each team really is every season, there almost never will be a dominant team in the Beast again.

This will definitely work as a thing to break the boring offseason-out-of-practice lull