Facelift?

The second the Eagle's season ended, I became the typical fan - looking at mock drafts, seeing who will be free agents, and asking myself what moves do the front office need to make in order to fix this dream team that went 8-8. Now that free agency is getting closer and the NFL combine is under way I have been spending more time looking into rumors, gossip for what players will end up with the franchise tag, which players will hit the open market, and who will draft who. The more I think about it, the less I want the Eagles to go crazy this offseason. The Eagles only have a few areas to address during the offseason and I think it would be a mistake to fall into the same trap of signing as many big-name players to the roster that they can. 

Key Eagle Needs In Order:

1. Middle Linebacker
2. Outside Linebacker
3. Depth at Safety
4. WR (conditional if Desean Jackson leaves)
5. Depth at Offensive Line
6. Depth at RB
7. Depth at DT
8. Depth at QB

I think that the most important areas (like LB) should be address in free agency, and the Eagles can use the draft to add depth in other areas for their 53-man roster. First, the linebacker position needs to be looked at and, with free agents already working out deals with their current teams, the amount of talent and players available is beginning to dwindle. There is one name, and one name only, that interests me in this year’s middle linebacker position in free agency - Stephen Tulloch. There are three reasons that Tulloch should be adorned in midnight green this upcoming season. First, he has played in the wide nine style of defenses for his entire career, first playing with Jim Washburn (current Eagles defensive line coach) back in Tennessee from 2006-2010, and last year playing in a very similar system with the Detroit Lions. In the past three seasons Tulloch has had 392 total tackles according to espn.com. Secondly, if they have any desire to make a run in the playoffs next year the Eagles need an experienced signal caller to lead the unit. We all saw what happened when the Eagles put a rookie (who will not be named) in the middle calling the plays…it was a disaster. The Eagles need someone who is experienced in the wide nine, along with having experience in calling the plays. Lastly, I think the Eagles need Tulloch because of his age, he is only 27 years old, and can solidify the Eagles linebacker core for many years to come. I am not looking for a quick fix that will just put the team in the same position next year; they need someone who is young and can help lead this team. 

Many Eagles fans and draft experts have the Eagles selecting Luke Kuechly with the 15th pick in this year’s draft. After an impressive combine, in which Kuechly posted the 3rd fastest 40 time of all LBs and looked as big if not bigger then all other LBs at the combine, the idea of Kuechly being an Eagle sounds even better. But I still do not think he is the answer. I would be more than happy if the front office took Kuechly in the first-round, but Stephen Tulloch gives the Eagles the best chance to win, and win now. A rookie LB is not the best choice for the Eagles to make a run in the playoffs in the 2012 season. 

It would also be nice to take one of the Lions’ best defensive players and, with the trouble the Lions are in with their current cap space, I do not see them being able to come to terms with the tackling machine that is Tulloch.

I have a lot more to say about the Eagles and this current offseason, but I must pace myself. I will be addressing the other positions of need over the next few days. Overall the Eagles should not go crazy this offseason, and the team that won the last four games of the season should look very similar to the team that takes the field this upcoming 2012 season.

Here we Go

I am an Eagles fan, with a lot to say about the Philadelphia Eagles and because I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan my friend's refuse to let me rant about my team. I decided to fined an outlet in which I can speak my mined openly and freely about my team, without lions, or bears fans bringing me down. (you know who you are)

I am very optimistic about my team, and this mined set is the only way I can really follow the Eagles without go insane after they lose every year. Lion's fans know what I am talking about; for the past 10 years Silver and Honolulu blue fans have been saying that this year we will be 8-8, only in 2011 they out performed that expectation for the first time. (Good for you)

That being said this is a very exiting time for Philadelphia football fans, the eagles are in position to really do what ever they want this offseason. They have a few needs on both sides of the ball, but nothing that cant be fixed in free agency or in the 2012 NFL draft. 

The eagles have 10 picks in the draft along with some players that could be used a trade bait, (Desean Jackson and Asante Samuel) so trading up or down will be no problem for them this year. The Coach almost never stays put with his first round pick. They are around 20 million under this years salary cap so the Eagles will be able to sign some key free agents if they feel the need. There is a lot that will be discussed over the offseason, and with the NFL combined underway you can bet that rumors will be flying over the next few weeks. (RGIII)

Dates to look for:

• March 5, at 4:00 p.m. End of period to designate franchise/transition players
• March 13, at 4:00 p.m. Start of free agency
• April 26-28, start of the 2012 NFL draft