Protect Your QB
I have a good friend who's a Colts fan, and we were talking about Andrew Luck, the Colts' new coaching search, etc. In the process of gathering evidence and news reports, I found an interesting article on CBS Sports about how the Colts mismanaged Luck's athletic prime. Here's the link:
In sum, they basically downplayed Luck's injury, rushed him back, failed to give him adequate O-line protection, and basically flubbed the situation at every opportunity. The team was overly dependent upon Peyton Manning when he was in Indy, and the team is now overly dependent upon Andrew Luck (as evidenced by this season's 4-12 record with Jacoby Brissett at the helm).
Take away the Colts' franchise QB, and they completely melt.
That's not how you build a team, that's not how you keep fans in the stands, and that's definitely not how to treat your franchise QB!
What does this have to do with the Eagles?
Now for the Eagles-centric take: the Eagles' ownership and front office certainly isn't beyond criticism, but it's apparent that they tried to surround Carson Wentz with good O-line protection and improved weapons in the passing and running game. When Wentz went down, that certainly wasn't good for the team! But unlike Indianapolis, the Eagles didn't utterly collapse when their starting QB got injured!
The story linked above clearly illustrates how important it is to: a) allow Wentz to fully heal instead of rushing him back, b) build a strong team with talent and depth everywhere, and c) continue to invest in an offensive line that will protect your QB and hopefully keep him healthy.
Luck's sad saga just goes to show that even franchises with some success--not just perennial bottom-dwellers--aren't always run well. I, for one, am thankful that Jeff Lurie owns the Eagles, and Howie Roseman leads the front office. They've made mistakes in the past, but they've learned from those mistakes. They want to compete, but they're patient and don't have a continuously revolving door at coach and in the front office. And they haven't done anything egregious (like the Colts' handling of the Andrew Luck situation)!
I think the Eagles are built well, and built for the long haul. I don't expect them to compete only this postseason; I expect them to be in the playoff dance for many years to come!
If they want to fulfill those expectations, it's clearly not enough to rely on a top-notch QB. It's obvious that, first and foremost, your QB needs to be protected. Look no further than the Colts, who have an all-time great RB in Frank Gore, dangerous receivers like T.Y. Hilton, Phillip Dorsett (before he was traded to New England), Donte Moncrief, and even young deep threat Chester Rogers.
These players weren't enough to help an OL-needy team overcome injuries, especially when it came to losing their star QB. Therefore, looking ahead to the offseason, it is crucial that the Eagles (not to mention the Colts!) continue to find and develop talented players on the offensive line.
The focus for 2018
Joe Douglas' influence on the Eagles' 2017 draft was evident; the team did not trade all over the place as in past drafts, but they were able to find tough, talented players all over the board. Crucially, undrafted rookie free agents like Corey Clement and Tyler Orlosky signed with the Eagles. The team also found talent in the draft, including Derek Barnett in the 1st round, Sidney Jones in the 2nd, promising young CB Rasul Douglas in the 3rd, deep threat Mack Hollins in the 4th, LB/S Nate Gerry in the 5th, and athletic DT Elijah Qualls in the 6th!
Not every player the Eagles draft will pan out; Derek Barnett, Corey Clement, and Rasul Douglas had the biggest impact in their rookie years. Nate Gerry barely saw the field on defense in 2017, and RB Donnell Pumphrey was put on IR (likely as a way to keep him on the roster without having him active on game day). Both of these players weren't ready to make a positive impact for the team in a meaningful NFL game--at least not as rookies. They may improve, or they may end up washing out of the NFL. It's too soon to tell for sure.
But the quality of players that the Eagles found in the 2017 draft was clearly higher than in other recent drafts. The 2013 class was top-heavy, with good players in the first 3 rounds and busts afterward. The Eagles 2014 and 2015 draft classes were mediocre, with hits and misses all over the board (and, to be honest, more misses than hits).
So, bearing Andrew Luck's saga in mind, Joe Douglas and the Eagles' front office should pay particular attention to offensive linemen in the 2018 draft class. After all, as the above link illustrates: when you have a QB who's among the best in the NFL, you need to keep him upright!
Happy New Year, everyone! And, as always, Fly Eagles Fly!
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