Ten Things The Eagles Must Do To Be Contenders Next Season.

The Eagles are coming off perhaps their most disappointing season in the Andy Reid era. That is because the team completely underachieved. They defeated one playoff team all season and only one team with a winning record. This was completely unacceptable for a team that started the season with Super Bowl aspirations. Needless to say there are several things the Eagles needed to do in order to become legitimate contenders, but I consider these as the ten things this team needs to accomplish most in order to be competitive next season.

#1) Get a defensive coordinator: Juan played the good soldier. He was put into a bad situation by being forced to use the wide 9 for the line and given substandard linebackers and safeties to try and make it work. Juan isn’t all at fault here, but his defenses couldn’t hold leads. His constant shuffling of players only added to the confusion. His lack of experience caused some of his veterans to question him. The Eagles need to let a Defensive Coordinator come in here and hire his own staff. They also need to get him talent capable of playing his schemes.

#2) Draft a linebacker in the first round: Something this team hasn’t done since the 70s is to draft a linebacker in the first round. The constant movement of the linebackers showed the Eagles are lacking talent at this position. Andy Reid has never drafted a pro bowl linebacker. There are some young talented linebackers in the upcoming draft that would be available where the Eagles will be drafting. No more drafting of lineman that never make the field in the first round or fizzle out after a few years in the league. Draft a linebacker Reid and save your job.

#3) Pay Desean Jackson: It’s obvious the Eagles will not pay for any of top receivers available in the pending free agency. To franchise Jackson would mean overpaying for the player. The Eagles do not have a valid excuse not to pay Jackson. He played on his substandard contract and made the pro bowl in his first two seasons for them. If the Eagles think they will just get by with Steve Smith and Riley Cooper then they would be mistaken. Just pay Jackson the money he deserves and move on from this mess.

#4) Get a real return guy: It’s time to stop making the return guy be a guy by committee. Jackson should not be the punt return man anymore and Dion Lewis was the worst kick return man since Greg Lewis. The Eagles could have gone after a few valuable return men, but they decided to once again place little value in the position. It’s a mistake they continue to make. Dion Lewis rarely made it to the 20 yard line on his returns. Jackson is better served at wide receiver than he is a punt returner. The Eagles need to fix this problem.

#5) Get a backup quarterback: No more reformation projects. They need a guy who can play. Its obvious Vick is going to spend some time on the shelf next season. That means whomever they bring in is going to start some football games. The Eagles cannot afford another Vince young debacle. The Eagles need a guy who can come in who they are confident can win games for them. I hear McNabb is playing semi-pro basket ball these days….

#6) Get Mike Vick back in the books: Vick needs to get himself right again. The offseason may have hurt him most of all, because the coaches were unable to work with him and get him into the film room. Vick needs someone working with him and showing him his mistakes. He needs the coaches to get him out of making the bad play. He needs them teach him how to throw it away when the play isn’t there. Mike Vick needs them all over him and forcing him to get better. Vick can’t be a turnover machine like he was last season.

#8) Mini-camp ball security drills: These guys hold the football so far from their body you would think it was radioactive. The players were terrible with protection of the football last season. Even McCoy (arguably their best player) held the ball way too far from his body even though he had only one fumble. If his carries increases then so will the hits he will take. He can’t afford to keep the ball so far from his body. The receivers also need to do a better job of not only holding on to the football, but they also need to do a better job of bringing the ball in. There were far too many dropped passes last season and too many tipped balls turned into interceptions. This team needs to cut down the turnovers in order to win in the NFL.

#9) Eliminate distractions: This goes against everything I have been preaching since week 5, but since the Eagles decided to stick with Reid, then they need to do that very thing. It would be a mistake for the Eagles to go into next season with a lame duck coach who could get any job available to him once he gets released. The Eagles should show him the commitment by extending him at least a year or two. An extension would eliminate the question of if he should be fired during the season at any point. A team focused on winning a championship should not have distractions like contract situations hanging over them. They also should trade Asante Samuel as soon as possible. Bringing him back would only add to the confusions from last season.

#10) Bring back the short game: The Eagles are giving up far too many interceptions. They either need to run the ball more or they must find a way to make their screen game effective again. They have had some success late in the season with the TE screen. They need to bring the 3-5 yard play back into their offense. Now that the line seems to be playing better I see no reason why the running backs and tight ends can’t be more involved in the offense. Every play doesn’t have to be a homerun. Moving the chains runs the clock and rests the defense.