Die Hard Sports Fan

Feel free to rip me a new one in the comments section if you don’t agree but I think this is the perfect time for the Eagles to make a trade.  After 3 weeks, the Eagles have proven that they are a contender.  Unfortunately, in the NFC, the Cowboys, Giants, and Packers also proved they are contenders.  Worse, the Cowboys and Giants are in the same division as the Eagles, the NFC East.  Therefore, every game means something more this year than ever and the window of opportunity is wide open.  With the AFC so far looking like the lower of the two conferences, if the Eagles can make a move, they can further position themselves to win the Super Bowl.

Next year, the Eagles have two first round picks.  One was acquired last year in a draft deal with the Carolina Panthers.  Assuming major injuries can be avoided, the Eagles have the core of players and talent to win now.  There’s no point in keeping both of these two number one picks for next year.  Those picks can certainly help them in the future but it cannot help us win the Super Bowl this year. 

Hurry up and make the phone call to Detroit Lions GM Matt Millen before he is fired.  The Lions have been known to make some bad trades in the past (see Denver trading RB Tatum Bell and OT George Foster for CB Dre Bly as an example).  WR Roy Williams is struggling in Detroit’s new offensive scheme.  He can become a free agent at the end of the season.  With the Lions starting the season 0-3, they might as well blow up the team and get value for what they have now before they lose Williams and get nothing in return.  They would be crazy not too.  Offer a number one pick to Detroit for WR Roy Williams; conditional on him signing a long-term and cap-friendly contract with the Birds.

Yes, I know, receivers take time to learn the West Coast Offense.  Don’t tell rookie sensation WR DeSean Jackson that.  Let’s see how Roy Williams fits in.  Heck, use him as a decoy and let him run fly routes all game long.  Yes, I know, Head Coach Andy Reid insists we are fine with our current core of receivers and he does not value the receiver position as highly as other positions.  Hello Coach Reid.  The one year we had a stud receiver, we lost the Super Bowl by three points!  QB Donovan McNabb had his best year that season.  Can you imagine Roy Williams lining up with a healthy Kevin Curtis, DeSean Jackson, and any other combination of Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett, or Jason Avant?  The formation possibilities would be endless.  Reid could scheme and confuse opposing defenses by sending RB Brian Westbrook in motion, out of the backfield.  Having all these weapons on the field at all times makes it easier for others including Tight End L.J. Smith.  Having all these receiving threats would open up running lanes for Westbrook as the opposing defenses would have to further respect the pass.  It would give McNabb more choices and make the offense more of a threat.  In theory, a better offense gives us a better defense as they would not have that added pressure of keeping opposing offensive teams’ scoring down as they had to do this past Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

There’s no time like the present.  How much longer will the likes of Jon Runyan, Tra Thomas, and Brian Dawkins be around, playing at a high level?  McNabb could be gone after this season.  This city and the fans deserve a championship.  This core group of players on this current team deserves a chance at the Super Bowl.  It is now up to Reid and the front office to pull the trigger and make the move.  After all, half the time, number one picks wind up as busts.  The upside of the trade is worth the risk.  Do it.

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!”

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Given the concerns that many fans had about Jason Campbell and his ability to run this new West Coast offense, it is fitting to read what some Arizona Cardinals players, as well as their head coach said about him and his performance yesterday. In the end, the best compliment a player can receive is from his peers that play against him. From the Defensive Side of the Ball Cardinals Safety, Antrel Rolle

He came out today, he was very poised…I think he knew where he was going with the ball and he made some clutch throws. I take my hat off to him . . . he really stepped his game up today.

Cardinals Linebacker, Karlos Dansby

He didn’t try to make passes he couldn’t make…Screens and underneath stuff. You gotta get in a rhythm and that’s what they did today, they got in a rhythm. We couldn’t get them off the field.

From the Head Coach Cardinals Head Coach, Ken Whisenhunt

He did a good job of getting the ball out of his hands and if there wasn’t anything there then he ran with it. I can’t fault our defense as much as they played well offensively today.

From the Quarterback Cardinals QB, Kurt Warner

I thought he played well, I thought he played controlled. I think he’s a young kid that’s growing into the position and understanding how to play and manage games — that he doesn’t have to win games for them now, just make the plays that need to be made. I think he’s doing a great job with that. Now I think he’s becoming an NFL quarterback. And he’s looked poised and I think he’s going to keep growing.

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It would appear that Jason Campbell and Jim Zorn have already agreed on some adjustments for next week. Namely, JC and JZ have agreed on utilizing the shotgun formation to ease Campbells comfort level in the new offense. The Washington Post quotes JC, saying:

“I was really happy to hear him say that, because I like the shotgun,” Campbell said. “The shotgun gives me the chance to do some different things than when you’re under center. Right now, we’re all still learning this new offense and adjusting to it, so anything that can help us get to where we want to be, I’m all for it.”

When I think of West Coast offense, I think of Joe Montana and Steve Young. I don’t recall either of them using the shotgun formation. They may have. I just don’t remember. It seems a bit odd. That aside, however, Whatever is needed to facilitate comfort in JC is a good thing at this point. But, both he and Zorn have to be careful to not telegraph to the defenses what they are trying to do.

Specifically, I can’t imagine our running game working out of a shotgun formation. When Steve Spurrier was here, that seems like all we did run…at least effectively. Campbell acknowledges that could be a problem.

“But we can’t go from a shotgun all the time,” he said. “Some plays are just designed to start under center, and defenses would start keying on certain things if you tried to do it all the time.

“You’d have to start running out of the shotgun to keep the defense guessing, and that’s not really what this offense is set up to do. Down and distance are really going to determine when we can use it, and the feel of the game, too. Coach Zorn is going to leave it up to me to decide, but it has to work in the offense. It can’t be outside of what we’re trying to do, and it won’t be, it’s just something that can help us get into the things that we want to do . . . until we get everything down as a group.”

The bottom line is that we need to figure out what we do best within the framework of this offense. And, based on the comments by JC, it sounds like the shotgun, at least for now, may be a workable concession to facilitate our objectives.

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An article today, by Ryan Wilson over at Fanhouse has me a bit ticked off. He quotes an unnamed source as follows:

Some scouts and executives believe Campbell is a poor fit for the West Coast offense, with his size and skills favoring seven-step drops and more deep throws, instead of the three-step drops and quick, rhythmic cadence of Zorn’s style. “When I watch that team, I think something’s going to have to give,” said one NFL executive who has studied Campbell closely and believes he could succeed as a drop-back passer. “Is it the scheme or the quarterback? At some point either the coach is going to have to change what he does to fit the quarterback, or they’re going to need a different quarterback.”

After one game, it has already started. People are beginning to question whether Jason Campbell is suited for the offense. They’re quick to comment on his performance in the last two preseason games, and the most recent game against the Giants. I will readily concede the point that the offense looked pathetic, especially in the first quarter. In fact, see my game summary and commentary as I watched. Honestly, they didn’t look ready.

That said, I fully believe it is extremely premature to grade and/or judge Jason Campbell or Jim Zorn based on the performance thus far. Let’s all remember, Joe Gibbs needed five games to figure it out. Now, I know what Ryan Wilson might say to that. He’d say, the reason Joe Gibbs turned it around after five games is because he adjusted the offense to fit his personnel. And you know what, he’d be right.

So, maybe Jim Zorn and/or Jason Campbell will adjust further. But, what I think, is that first and foremost, the will each become more comfortable with each other. And that alone will yield better results.

Lastly, with regards to JC’s size, Brett Farve is only three inches shorter. Let’s all relax, take a deep breath. We may or may not make the playoffs. But, we will be an improved team.

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