Why Does Everyone Want a WR?

Everyone that I am talking to lately has been saying that our #1 priority this year is to get a WR So they suggest considering there aren't a lot of WR's available in free agency this year to get one in the draft. I've seen numerous mock drafts projecting us to take either Santonio Holmes or Derek Hagan. I really just don't understand how this can be right. Considering we are picking 14th this year I'm definitly expecting the 1st round pick to be a starter in this offense next year. From what I've seen Holmes is the best of what is available at WR, but there isn't much available. This isn't a year where there is a Braylon Edwards type WR prospect that is going in the Top 5. I can see that a WR is needed on this team but I don't see how people consider that and another HB a top priority. To me when someone says that I Just figure that they are a very impatient fan who doesn't know much about the game. Now that doens't go for everyone who says to get a WR is a number one priority but if you think about it WR, QB, and HB have to be the easier positions in football to grade to see how well a player is doing. For those positions you really can in most cases just go right to the stats and see who is producing. That is why I believe a lot of people hate it when a linemen is taken in the draft first because they have to know about the position and really focus on the player to see his impact, you can't just look at stats for a OT, it doesn't work that way. For an OT you have to watch the film. The thing that would make me happiest in this draft is to get a DT. The way I look at it is that when the offense was on the field last year they obviously performed poorly. But they did lose Donovan, TO, Pinkston, and eventually Westbrook. Whereas we have a defense that only lost Lito Sheppard but yet consisently performed poorly. You can't just go and blame a team's problems on one position on a team but I do believe that a BIG problem of last year's defense was the lack of pressure on the QB. Jim Johnson and our secondary love to take chances. They were most successful in 2004 and were able to do that because our line was getting to the QB. Then when the line provides pretty decent, consistent pressure, it opens up more room for the secondary. This year since the QB had so much time in the pocket they just waited for a CB to bite on one move, and then the WR was gone. That can't happen again this year and I really have a hard time blaming that on the secondary. I feel like the 3 positions needed on this team are #1 DT, #2 OLB, #3 WR. I'll be the first to say that I don't want to go into training camp without adding another WR but I'll also tell you that I don't want to draft a WR. I know there are no real impact players in free agency this year at WR but I would much rather just bring an iffy #2 in who at least has veteran experience. Then I've heard people go back and forth about DT and OLB. I think that it is smartest to attack DT in the draft because the only real ones avaiable in free agency are Larry Triplitt and Rocky Bernard, who I love, but don't believe we will pay to get. Whereas for the OLB position there are a lot of veteran's out there in free agency this year like Will Witherspoon, Julian Peterson, a guy with a really weird name from Jacksonville that I forget, and possibly Derrick Brooks. I've heard some rumors about that. So we will see what is going to happen. After March 3rd and that week we will be able to get a MUCH better feel for what is going to be happening in the draft by seeing how free agency is attacked. Honestly? I feel like we are going to be dissapointed by the lack of action in free agency but I'm not sure if I really believe that or if I'm just scared that that will happen. After saying all of this hey if the Eagles draft Santonio Holmes in the first round or whoever I'm not going to be coming on here complaining. That's not my style as a fan. What I do is take what happens, analyze it, figure out what needs to be done, etc. I dont' just come on and cry and cry about poor decisions made by the front office. I'm sure that if we did end up getting Santonio I'd be excited but right now I just don't believe it's the right thing to do.

My Perfect Offseason and Some Pro Bowl Stuff

I just want to start off by talking quickly about the Pro Bowl. I normally dont' watch it because I'm so depressed by this point in the season because of either losing the Super Bowl or NFC Championship game that I dont' want to see people having fun on the field. But this year considering I hadn't seen any Eagles play since January 1st I was excited to watch Dawkins, Trotter, and Bartrum. I'm not going to go deep into the game at all because we all know that it is just played for fun and for each players own personal publicity. Dawkins had an awesome hit on Marvin Harrison which made me really happy. I love Dawk and really hope he retires as an Eagle. Then Trotter made a slew of tackles and recovered a snap that was fumbled by Steve McNair. Lastly Bartrum had all of his snap perfect which was another plus on the day. I was happy the NFC finally won, that makes for a total of 1 good thing that happened this season. My Perfect Offseason: Offense: I just wanted to write about what moves would be made this offseason that would leave me compeltly confident about next year's team. I'll start off with the QB position. Donovan would come back completly healthy and ready for the post-draft mini-camp. Then behind him will be Mike McMahon and a free agent back-up QB. I want a veteran with experience as a starter in the past but has just lost his job for one reason or another, such as a Jon Kitna. I dont' want to see Koy Detmer on the team even though I completly love and respect what the guy has done for us all of these years. Then as for the running back position we would have Westbrook healthy from his injury as well as the same guys at back up. I want to see Ryan Moats and Bruce Perry both behind Westbrook, good bye Reno Mahe. At fullback I would love to just say I want Thomas Tapeh there but I can't because right now the only thing I've seen from him is very little over the 2004 season. Plus I only have heard that he is doing great in recovery, I haven't seen for myself yet, so let's just say that Parry and Tapeh will be ready to battle the starting FB spot in camp. Then my #1 thing for the offense would be to have Jon Runyan back on the team. It would be nice to have Tra Thomas but I would actually rather have Todd Herremans at LT then Tra at this point which would also save us some many and save us from having to worry about Tra's health so much. Then we'll have Adrien Clarke at LG and Shawn Andrews at RG. As for the Center that will be battled out in training camp between Hank Fraley and Jamall Jackson. As for WR I don't expect a big splash to be made at this position just a very solid veteran to be brought in. I would love to have Todd Pinkston, Reggie Brown, Greg Lewis, Billy McMullen/McCants (whoever is better in training camp) along with a new free agent such as Keenan McCardell, David Givens, Antonio Bryant, etc. I'm not expecting a huge name guy but I would actually be really interested in Antonio Bryant from the Browns. As for the TE position I want it to be the same with LJ and Spach. So bascially - I want to resign Runyan, a Free Agent WR, and Free Agent Back-Up QBDefense: This is definitly the part of the team that needs to be most improved. The biggest area for me is the defensive line. I really want a new DT. I mean a playmaking guy, not just a run stuff but I want a pass rushing DT that can open up some room for the DE's to be able to get some more sacks this year. I think are DE's are set with Cole and Kearse, we could use a little depth, but otherwise were fine. Then right next to the DT priority is my OLB priority. I would LOVE to get a great outside backer in free agency or maybe with our 1st round pick. There are some great LB's available in this year's free agency with some of them possibly being Derrick Brooks, Julian Peterson, and Will Witherspoon. So I would be happy if the DT position was attacked in the draft and the OLB position was attacked in free agency. As for the rest of the defense they are set with our secondary I have a lot of confidence in them. If we put a great line in front of them they will be having a much easier time all year. So bascially - Draft DT, Sign OLB, Depth at DESpecial Teams: Not much to do here just bring Dirk Johnson and David Akers both back healthy and have Bruce Perry be the KR/PR. That would be perfect for me. But hey if you want to bring in Randle El, sure why not.