This team has now beaten the best of the AFC and the best of the NFC with wins against the Steelers and Giants.  That should make next week's game against Cleveland an easy win, right?

Not so fast....

Does anyone else worry that next week could be a letdown against the sucky Browns with their third string QB on MNF?   How do you keep the Eagles focused and pumped against such a crap opponent? 

Has anyone heard any statements from either Jeff Lurie or Joe Banner concerning Andy Reid's future?  The front office seems awfully quiet.

At this point, one thing Lurie/Banner have to do is separate the GM and Head Coach position.  Tom Heckert may have the job in title but Reid is still making the decisions.  As long as Reid is around, Heckert's only a figurehead.  And if Reid isn't around, can he do the job?

Ray Rhodes and Andy Reid held both positions......Remember Rhodes wasting a first Round pick on Jon Harris and Reid trading us out of the first round ?

So if you're Lurie, do you ....

A.  Clean house, fire Reid and Heckert and bring in a new GM and HC

B.  Fire Reid, keep Heckert and bring in a new HC

C.  Keep Reid, fire Heckert, separate the jobs and bring in a new GM?

Any suggestions for GM and HC?

 Well Eagle fans, time to face the facts.  In the last two weeks, we've witnessed our Eagles devolving from a playoff contender to a team of irrelevance.  The season is toast... should we somehow manage to win every remaining game, it still won't matter and we'll still be on the outside looking in.

Our team is rudderless, without  direction. Pass happy Porky is addicted to jelly donuts, the buffet line and the pass happy West Coast offense.  He refuses to relinquish control of the GM position and playcalling.   

Our Offensive line is aging.  Andrews is gone again to injury.  Our chronically injured franchise Tight End (HAH!) has developed a fear of catching the ball over the middle and getting his bell rung and has been the intended receiver on over half of McNabb's INTs.  Our receiving corps includes a guy named Lewis who wouldn't even make the practice squad on a serious NFL team.  Curtis and Brown have missed most of the season and have been irrelevant.

 We are destroying our franchise back,  running him when he's hurt and have a fragile backup in Buckhalter whose one serious hit away from another surgery.  We have no true 3rd down back to speak of and the running corps has a guy named Booker that the coach deactivated for Sunday's game despite an injury to Westbrook.  And let's not even delude ourselves into thinking Klecko is a fullback....

I could go on, but I'm sure you're depressed already, and that's not the point. I'll stop before we all need to start drinking heavily and focus on how we can find a light at the end of this very dark tunnel. 

NOW IS THE TIME TO EVALUATE

and see what you have to work with and what you need to discard, starting with the head coach.  Do it now, when the season is irrelevant and go into the draft and post season prepared to do some serious rebuilding.  Starting with ....

THE HEAD COACH/GM

If you believe the Walrus should go, sign the petition at www.canthefatman.com . Reid has given us plenty of reasons to call for his head, from his mismanagement the clock, challenges and personnel  to his stubborn adherence to the pass happy West Coast Offense like a fly to fresh manure.  His gimmicks are old and tired and everyone's got his number, especially in the NFC East. 

And while it is unlikely that Reid change his ways or abandon the tired WCO, who would have thought Tom Coughlin was capable of evolving into a Superbowl coach two years ago when he was fighting for his job? Reid and his hubris have cost us games, but he did take us to four NFC Championship games and one Superbowl.   Give him the rest of the season and see if he's capable of evolving.  Besides, who do you put in the position of interim Head Coach to suffer through the rest of the season?

Personally I think  Bill Cowher would make an excellent Head Coach for 2009 if Lurie decides to get rid of the Walrus and assuming that we are not scrapping the whole team and starting from scratch (I don't think Cowher would walk into a team that needed to total restructuring).

QUARTERBACK.

During yesterday's blunder in Baltimore, we witnessed the end of an era here, folks.  Even if McNabb has some good football in him (and I believe he does), I don't think it will be in Philadelphia.  The Philadelphia crowd turns on him after a few bounced passes and he's been booed in some games before the end of the first quarter.   McNabb has been looking over his shoulder since the day Kevin Kolb was drafted.  He hasn't been the same since the T.O. tantrums, and while he has talent, his intestinal fortitude and confidence have been an issue.  Reid's betrayal of his favorite son and benching is the last straw. 

At this point, what do we have to lose by throwing in Kolb? Consider it an audition to see if Kolb can wear the big boy pants in the  NFL. As for McNabb, Minnesota or Chicago would welcome him with open arms and either would likely to give up some valuable draft picks for him.  Not playing him might diminish his trade value somewhat, but an injured McNabb would be useless and net us nothing.  McNabb is owed 19.8 mil. over the next two seasons.  That's some serious change to add to our arsenal.  McNabb deserves a fresh start somewhere else.  And we need to find out now is Kolb has the makings of an NFL QB.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Runyan is signed to the end of the 2009 season.  Thomas isn't getting any younger either.   OT King Dunlap on IR is a big IF for next season, but prior to injury in training camp showed some promise. In any case, replacements have to be found now for both Runyan and Thomas.   Andre Smith of Alabama is probably the best OT in the draft , but Jamon Meredith (6'5" 305 lbs) of South Carolina is a natural G who is also familiar with the tackle position and may make it  to the 2nd round. 

TIGHT END

LJ has got to go!  Let's see if Celek has what it takes to be a starter.

If not, Brandon Pettigrew (6'6" 260 lbs) of Oklahoma State has good hands and is an excellent blocker. Chase Coffman (6'6" 245 lb) of Missouri is a possibility in perhaps the 2nd or 3rd round but Pettigrew is best in class. 

RECEIVER

Greg Lewis must have dirt on Reid to still be on this team.  He's hurt Special teams with idiot penalties two consecutive weeks. 

DJax shows great promise but the secret is out that he's the main target for McNabb.  The only receiver who possesses both size and speed is Hank Baskett, who just doesn't get a lot of balls thrown his way.  Our receiving corps is undersized, along with our Defensive line.   A big target to complement DJax and Baskett would benefit whatever QB you use. Just don't let Reid pick the next WR.  Remember Na Brown, Todd Pinkston, Billy McMullen and Freddie Mitchell?  All were either undersized or underweight. 

One guy that might fall as far as the 3rd round I'd take a chance on is Brian Robiskie (6'3" 200 lbs) of Ohio State.  Other guys may run the 40 faster (which may cause him to fall as far as the 3rd round), but this guy is SMART (his fatheris Atlanta Falcon's WR Coach Terry Robiskie) and he is good at using his body to shield defenders from the ball (something DJax doesn't have the size to do.) 

FULLBACK

For God's sake, if you are going to use a fullback, at least put a real one on the roster!  I'm a Temple alum, but Klecko just won't do!   No suggestions here...anyone?

RUNNING BACK

Save Westbrook for next season, and find a durable back to shoulder the burden of our joke of a running game.  By default, bring back Tony Hunt.  He  is still available and while his career as an Eagle was not remarkable and his stint as a FB was disastrous, his career at Penn State was stellar and he's at least familiar with Reid's dog of a system.  And do you really want to run your injured franchise back and possibly risk his career for the remainder of this useless season?  Buck was injured in the first quarter of the Baltimore game and is one hit away from another surgery.   Booker is garbage and hasn't done anything since Lance Briggs rung his bell in the 3rd Quarter of the Chicago game so why not bring Hunt back and give him the ball? He'll be happy to shoulder the load (on the few times we run the ball) and as this is probably his last chance to make it in the NFL, he'll run himself ragged to prove himself. 

In the meantime, it may be time to draft a back with some size and speed ...while it is highly doubtful Chris Wells (6'1" 232 lbs) of Ohio State will be on the board when we pick, a guy  that might be available for the later first round pick (or even a second round pick)  is Shonn Greene (5'11" 235 lbs) of Iowa, who has rushed for over 100 yards in every game (including the upset vs. Penn State). 

SECONDARY

Sean Considine and Joselio Hansen have got to go!  I liked Shepard but he's talked and played his way out of town in all likelihood.  No suggestions at CB or S, just find someone with the size to take on big bodied receivers and not wind up on their asses. 

And I hate to bring this one up as it almost seems traitorous to mention but B Dawk, the only leader we have on this team, ain't what he used to be  (I kick my own ass for writing it).  I'm not saying cut him, as I want to see him retire an Eagle.  But he's not a starter and his playing time should be limited.   I would suspect he must be considering retirement at this point.  Maybe one suggestion at FS... Kam Chancellor (6'4" 224 lbs.) VA Tech.  Kam's been moved around a bit in his career at VA Tech (QB, C, FS),  but has decent speed, delivers the big hit  and has the size to match up with a big bodied receiver. 

DEFENSIVE LINE/LINEBACKERS

What is it with Reid and undersized linemen/ linebackers?  For once, can we draft someone who's a monster?  Open to any suggestions.  As you can see, I'm not picking much apart on on Defense.  Our Linebacking corps may not make the big plays and may be light but the needs appear to be greater on the other side of the ball.  Our Defense is the bright spot on the team this year.  Tracy White is a waste of a position.  He's undersized and has been cut by Green Bay, Jacksonville and the Seahawks. 

KICKER

I hate writing this one too.  David Akers was very consistent for several seasons.  But he's had three sub-par seasons and it's three strikes and you're out.  Losing LS Mike Bartrum was a big blow to Aker's kicking game.  You never realize how important a LS is until you lose one (just ask Pittsburgh in their game vs. the Giants). 

DON'T GIVE UP HOPE!!!

Play every guy you're not sure about.  See what he can do at this point.  This season could still be productive from a learning standpoint and a good barometer of our needs for the future.  It will be ugly to watch.  But we all like to sit and watch train wrecks in slow motion, don't we?  Just make sure you have extra beer and good company to commiserate with.  :-)   See you next game.