Everyone in Birdland is excited as a squeamish schoolgirl asked to the senior prom by the quiet dashing young quarterback this year. It could be a dream come true or she could be getting punk’d by his mates to win a bet.
Life is cruel that way. Hopefully the Chipah is the real deal and St. Nick is Tom Brady Lite, as I like to refer to him. I really shouldn’t be commenting on football matters, not after my last 2 predictions. To recap, I thought Chip would go 6-10 and I mocked his genius label last year.
And then to top it off I picked Frankie the Choker to win the Super Bowl … thanks JD.
So I’m hedging my bets this year and come up with some reasons for and against the team going 10-6.
For:
Nick Foles truly is the future of the franchise. Probably not since Donovan McNabb have the Eagles had a quarterback with such promise. I can still remember St. Nick’s first pre-season game under Cap’n Andy and thinking to myself that we might have Tom Brady Lite here. He could slide in the pocket enough to give him time to avoid the rush and find a receiver downfield and he seems to make the intelligent decision without panicking most of the time. But alas, he doesn’t have Tom Terrific’s gun of an arm or Gisele Bündchen for that matter but nonetheless. Even when he took over for Vick in 2012 for the last 6 games of the season with a decimated OL he showed promise while only winning one of those games. Handles adversity well and shows the ability to bounce back like a jihadi suicide bomber instructor. His ego is in check and just seems to thrive on just winning, happily deferring to his mates. Simple concept but hard to carry out with all the distractions that today’s NFL offers. He’s in a contract year with a new blushing bride … does it get any better in life?
Against:
Remember Bobby Hoying …
‘nuff said.
For:
The offensive line plays like it did toward the end of last year with Pro Bowlers Peters, Mathis & Kelce along with a rejuvenated Todd Herremans and a competent Alan Barbre. The second unit played lights out for Mark Sanchez & Matt Barkley in the pre-season and seems to be a vast improvement over what they had the last 3 years.
Against:
This line ain’t getting any younger. Lane Johnson is suspended for the first 4 games …
moron … and his replacement, Alan Barbre, is a 30 year old journeyman tackle on his third team. The depth on the OL is questionable and un-tested. An injury to either Kelce or Peters could sink their battleship quicker than the Japanese air force did at Pearl Harbor.
For:
They jettisoned DeSean Jackson, wanna-be thug and team cancer. For all his great physical attributes and stats, MeSean had a way of disappearing in big games and physical corners could make him shrink even more so that his listed height. Getting rid of DeSean was a message to the team to let everyone know who was in charge of the insane asylum, both rookies and established veterans alike.
Against:
How do you replace the speed and the fear that DeSean bought to the table, forcing the free safety to shade to his side on passing plays; obviously not with the existing WR corps.
For:
The D with another year under its belt in Bill Davis’s system and improved depth becomes a top 15 barrier to opposing teams scoring at will on 3rd down and can hold a lead at the end of the game.
Against:
The NFL’s new emphasis on pass interference dooms the physically aggressive Williams-Fletcher duo and Malcom Jenkins is exposed as a player that couldn’t play corner, for which he was drafted by NO or as a marshmallow enforcer at safety, which led NO to let him go seek employment elsewhere.
For:
LeSean McCoy, the emergence of Zach Ertz, that Maclin can stay upright for at least for 10 games, Vinny Curry is finally unleashed, faster up-tempo game plans combined with offensive unpredictability, weak division.
Against:
Rookie kicker, injuries, suspect defensive depth.
The variables for and against are endless, so I’ll just stop torturing you and myself and accept our fate. Like my theme song for this year’s season says, “the future is uncertain and the end is always near”.
Let us pray!!!
For you other heathens who cheer for our enemies, like the Washington American Indians, Dallas Cowgirls & the NY Gint's, I wish you nothing but misery in the upcoming season.
What? You thought I was going to be magnanimous?
Silly rabbit.
Enjoy the season guys/gals.