Dave Uram
Dave Uram is an update anchor at SportsRadio 94 WIP. You can follow him on Twitter (@MrUram).
There’s three weeks left in the 2016 season and the buzz around the Philadelphia Eagles is weak. The buzz is even less than when Sam Bradford was slated to be the starting quarterback in early September.
It speaks to another deflating season, even though there’s promise with the franchise quarterback in Carson Wentz. In fact, he may be the only current Eagle on offense with promise.
It’s hard to believe, but the runaway most popular team in town is worse off than the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies, as they gradually become worse since Chip Kelly’s NFC East Championship season.
Other than Wentz, Fletcher Cox, Jordan Hicks and maybe the safeties, who on this team is a sure lock to be here in the future?
Let’s go position by position, minus special teams.
There’s no wide receiver on the roster to count on, including Jordan Matthews, who is legitimately a No. 1 threat. The tight ends are inconsistent at best. Zach Ertz only shows up when the season is nearly over. The running back core is old with Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles, and unproven with Wendell Smallwood and Kenjon Barner.
The aforementioned guys won’t matter if the offensive line isn’t cohesive for an entire season. Left tackle Jason Peters’ career is near over. Right tackle Lane Johnson is one dumb mistake from a two-year suspension. The guards are solid despite a serious anxiety issue for Brandon Brooks that I wish him the best in defeating. And center Jason Kelce has regressed ever since signing a big contract.
On the defensive side, the line severely underachieved this year and one of its promising players in Bennie Logan may not be re-upped. The corners are an absolute mess. Malcolm Jenkins is a nice safety, but also getting up in age. Rodney McLeod was a good pickup for the most part, but not elite.
Meantime, the NFC East improved significantly across the board this season, especially in Dallas with their rookie quarterback and running back.
Not to be forgotten, across the street from Lincoln Financial Field is a hockey team that’s won 10 in a row, trying to stay competitive in an insanely good Metropolitan Division.
Head coach Dave Hakstol was a proven winner in college and made the playoffs his first season at the helm of the Flyers. Doug Pederson’s performance diminished as this season progressed.
Flyers general manager Ron Hextall has a promising plan, with a Stanley Cup previously won as a member of the Los Angeles Kings’ front office. Hexy has drafted well, while Howie Roseman hasn’t. Hexy gives out fairly good contracts, while Roseman doesn’t. Roseman is also the one who dealt away DeMarco Murray, Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso, all of whom are having very good to great seasons.
Roseman trading Sam Bradford for a first-round pick was luck and landing Wentz isn’t good enough. Clearly, the Birds and the rest of the NFL whiffed on fourth-rounder Dak Prescott’s potential. There’s the risk that gambling so much away for Wentz wasn’t necessary if Prescott has a better career. Of course, it’s still too early to say.
Those who defend Roseman argue that he’s in the process of fixing Kelly’s previous mistakes. That task appears far from over, while Hextall is doing a great job in righting the wrongs done by former Flyers general manager, Paul Holmgren.
Most importantly, the Flyers’ roster is filled with a nucleus that possesses chemistry. They’re maybe missing one more scorer and a couple of solid defensemen, most of whom are being groomed with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
As far as the Sixers and Phillies, I’m not a “Process Truster,” but there’s no question the Sixers sport cornerstone players in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, with more draft picks along the way. The Sixers aren’t that far ahead of the Eagles, especially since they’re still the worst team in the NBA, but I’d give them the nod because of likely superstars in Embiid and Simmons. And Simmons hasn’t even seen the court yet. Just imagine.
The Phillies lack identity and an aggressive front office, but their farm system is considered one of the best. Their manager in Pete Mackanin is very bright and I believe John Middleton will spend money similar to the way George Steinbrenner did when he feels the time is right.
Jeffrey Lurie comes off as someone who speaks the rhetoric of wanting to win Super Bowls (plural), but is very comfortable (key word) with a consistently competitive team similar to the ones he had during the Andy Reid era.
Does Lurie ever display a sense of urgency?
No. And if he does, it surely isn’t enough.
Unless the Eagles become a dynamic team on and off the field, they will be less likely to succeed than their three South Philadelphia Sports Complex neighbors.