Stan Van Gundy Has...Handles?

Can The Eagle Win It All This Season?

Over the past week, the Philadelphia Eagles have been stirring up a lot of talk after making a few major signings in free agency. After Michael Vick sparked much talk last season with his phenomenal on the field play after much controversy with his dog fighting scandal, the Philadelphia Eagles became a team of intrigue. Now with the signings of Nnamdi Asomugha, Vince Young, Ronnie Brown, Cullen Jenkins, Jason Babin, and pulling in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie through the trade of Kevin Kolb; the Philadelphia Eagles have pulled them into the front running as Superbowl favorites. But that begs the question....what could potentially stop them? I think there are 3 potential roadblocks:

1. Michael Vick getting injured

Since Michael Vick plays the game as a running quarterback, he is more susceptible to injury. However, this last season he showed HUGE improvement on playing in the pocket and avoiding injury in the fight for a few extra yards.

Let's also add that Vince Young has been a more than formidable QB in the NFL. Vince Young is 30-17 as an NFL starter. He had a 99 Passer Rating last season as well. Completing 60 percent of his passes and only throwing 3 interceptions. He also went 8-2 to finish the 2009-2010 season to save Jeff Fisher's job that season. Yes, Chris Johnson was also a big part of that, but a running back alone does not win 30 games. So if you think Vince Young can't help lead this team if called to the duty for a few games or more with as many offensive weapons as the Philadelphia Eagles have and THAT strong of an offensive scheme, then you are being unreasonable.


2. Poor RB play

Many people question Lesean McCoy because he doesn't score many touchdowns and he fumbles a lot, and Ronnie Brown has a history of injuries and hasn't had a 1,000 yard rushing season since 2006 (The only one of his career). But let's look at this deeper....

Lesean McCoy rushed for over a 1,000 yards and had 600 yards receiving in only his second season in the league last season and first full year as the starter. With the Eagles passing game being the 9th best in the league last year and having 3rd highest scoring total in Mike Vick's first year there, their passing game will only go upward in his second year as the starter with the same weapons around him and more chemistry. Therefore it will open more doors for Lesean McCoy running the ball and not to add he'll have a full year as a starter under his belt.

Ronnie Brown has pretty much split carries with Ricky Williams over the last few years and has still put up respectable numbers yards wise (734, 648, 916). Coming from a system where he's split carries, it won't be uncomfortable for him to do this with Lesean McCoy. Not too add, the system he came from in Miami ran a lot of Wild Cat (and ran it pretty dang good), which the Eagles like to pull out every once and awhile with speedsters like Michael Vick, Jeremy Maclin, Desean Jackson, and Lesean McCoy.

3. Themselves

This one is by far the biggest threat. It's football folks. So no matter how great your team is on paper, you've got to go out and win the games still. Not too add with all this media hype, does it interfere with the teams play? Can Asante Samuel adjust to being the #3 corner Cromartie and Asomugha? Does Desean Jackson end his holdout? Will Vince Young start acting like....well....Vince Young? These are all internal questions that no one can answer or even begin to ponder until the season plays itself out.


So looking at all of this, I think the only very serious threat that could stop the Eagles from winning the Superbowl is themselves. They have to be a TEAM and they have to go out there and win the games. The future is in their hands.