| I
was having dinner with a colleague the other night when "the Question" came up. "So
which 3-13 team," he asked, "is going to be the next Rams?"
The Question, in and of itself, seems absurd.
A year ago, no one wanted to be like the Rams. Now, as rags-to-riches Super Bowl
champs, they are the envy of the NFL. And everyone wants to know who’s going to
follow in their footsteps.
Who’s going to come out of nowhere? Who’s going to go from worst to first?
Who’s going to make a mockery of those preseason odds? Who’s the million-to-one
shot?
When I delivered my response to the Question — with a straight face — my
colleague nearly choked on his Friday’s burger.
"Philadelphia," I said.
Now, before you call the men in white jackets to whisk me away to the local loony bin,
allow me to explain.
First of all, I am not saying the Eagles will win Super Bowl XXXV. I’m simply
saying they’re going to surprise some folks in 2000. It wouldn’t surprise me if
they snuck into the playoffs as a wild-card entrant. And considering where they’re
coming from, 9-7 would be a giant leap, not a small step.
But giant leaps are within reach in today’s NFL (except for the Giants, who are
strictly .500 material). As the Rams demonstrated, you can go from dreadful to dominant in
a year’s time. The foundation is in place in Philadelphia, if not the final pieces to
the puzzle.
The Eagles have the quarterback. Donovan McNabb showed flashes of brilliance during his
rookie season, when he didn’t have a whole lot to work with. Next season, with more
talent around him, he could blossom.
Philly already has made one key acquisition: OT Jon Runyan. Runyan, acquired via free
agency, is considered the best right tackle in the game, or very close to it. Along with
OLT Tra Thomas, Runyan gives the Eagles bookends — the critical building blocks for a
kick-ass-and-take-names offensive line (see Jacksonville).
With Runyan and Thomas protecting McNabb and opening holes for underrated RB Duce
Staley, the Eagles should be able to move the ball. The question then becomes: Can they
take it to the house?
If Philly lacks anything on offense, it’s finishers. The Eagles don’t have an
impact tight end to speak of, and their wide receivers, Torrance Small and Charles
Johnson, are solid pros but not difference-makers.
The Eagles can remedy this situation in the upcoming draft. They own the sixth pick,
which should enable them to land an elite receiver. Michigan State’s Plaxico Burress
might be around at No. 6, and he is capable of Randy Moss-like feats. Like Moss, Burress
can also break your heart, but his potential is undeniable.
Some mock drafts have the Eagles taking Miami (Fla.) TE Daniel "Bubba"
Franks. It’s unusual for tight ends to go so early, but Franks is considered an
unusually talented tight end, a man with legitimate TE size and the pass-catching skills
of a wideout. Either way, Burress or Franks, and the Philly offense is a lot better than
it was.
Defensively, the Eagles have a very good secondary, featuring fine CBs Troy Vincent and
Bobby Taylor, as well as rising star Brian Dawkins, a real ballhawk. Philly also has some
promising talent at linebacker in youngsters Jeremiah Trotter and Barry Gardner. The pass
rush needs to get better, but overall the defense is good enough for 9-7, if given
adequate offensive support.
The ’99 Rams far exceeded 9-7, and they blew "adequate" away. But
remember: No one saw them coming.
Keep an eye on these Eagles. They just might be a pleasant surprise. |
