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Now, if this were the same Eagles team that started the run of success we've had under Andy Reid the idea of the window closing might make sense. However, I think people don't realize just how much this team has turned over since it first rose to prominence in 2002. To illustrate that point, I present to you the Eagles starting lineup and depth chart in the NFC Title game against the St Louis Rams. The players still on the team are in bold.
The Offense. 5 guys, 3 starters. McNabb, the two offensive tackles, AJ Feeley(rookie), and Correll Buckhalter(rookie).
WR 87 PINKSTON, 84 F. Mitchell*, 82 D. Douglas
OLT 72 T. THOMAS, 67 Schau
OLG 76 WELBOURN, 74 Brzezinski
C 63 FRALEY, 73 Pyne
ORG 71 MAYBERRY, 66 Williams
ORT 69 RUNYAN
TE 89 LEWIS, 83 Thomason, 88 Bartrum, 81 Stewart*
WR 80 THRASH, 85 Brown, 86 Scott
QB 5 McNABB, 10 Detmer, 14 Feeley*
RB 22 STALEY, 28 Buckhalter*, 30 B. Mitchell
FB 38 MARTIN, 34 Reader
The Defense. One guy. Dawkins.
DLE 98 WHITING, 94 Kalu, 59 Burgess*
DLT 90 SIMON, 97 Walker
DRT 96 GRASMANIS, 97 Walker
DRE 53 H. DOUGLAS, 91 Hamiter
WILL 56 CALDWELL, 55 Caver*
MLB 54 TROTTER, 52 Gardner
SAM 51 EMMONS, 58 Reese
LCB 23 VINCENT, 41 Hampton
RCB 21 TAYLOR, 31 Harris, 29 Crutchfield*
SS 43 MOORE, 45 Hauck
FS 20 DAWKINS, 42 Cook
Specialists. Obviously Akers.
P 7 LANDETA
PK 2 AKERS
So currently on our 53 man roster there are 7 players from the start of the "run" under Andy Reid. 4 starters and the kicker. The fact is that the roster has almost completely turned over in that time. It's not as if we have an old roster trying to live off past glory here. The fact is that much of the nucleus of this team was only drafted in the past 3 years. The fact is when media types spout this "window closing" cliche about the Eagles, they really mean McNabb. If Kevin Kolb was the QB of this team they'd be painted as a young team on the rise.