Quick question:  who is the best general manager in the history of Philadelphia sports?  Quick answer:  Ruben Amaro.  I don't even think it's close.  While Pat Williams did an excellent job assembling talent during the Sixers' golden era of the late 70s and early 80s, I think Ruben has surpassed him.  

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While watching this past weekend's playoff games, several thoughts came to mind.  Of course, I made my observations related to how the Eagles can improve in the off-season.  Here they are:

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According to philly.com, Sean McDermott has been terminated as defensive coordinator of the Eagles.  I'm curious to see who will replace him.  Last year, the scapegoat was McNabb, this year they've decided to make it McDermott.  I know he had huge shoes to fill, but it just seemed like the Eagles' defense didn't respond to him.  

I still believe they need better players on defense, specifically at linebacker.  I'm just glad they decided sooner, than later.  

Because I live in Atlanta and work as a school teacher, I've had extra time on my hands.  We've been off 3 days, but with the same conditions in Philly, we MIGHT have had 2 hours late.  

Anyway with my extra time, I had a few thoughts.  Thanks to all those who chimed in on my last fan shot.    I'm not sure if there is an unwritten rule on how many of these you can write in a week.  If I've exceeded that limit, I apologize.  There have been a few thoughts that have been bothering me for a while.

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By now, most of us are tired of discussing Vick's off the field indiscretions.  However, it's now refreshing to celebrate Vick's on-the-field production.  Interestingly, I've sense a backlash when discussing Vick's performances.  I wanted to sight a few criticisms that I feel are not accurate.  

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NFL seasons never go according to plan.  Last year, who would have predicted Desean Jackson would have all of those 50+ yard TD?  Who would have guessed the Jets would make the AFC Championship game with a rookie QB? Finally, who would have thought the hapless New Orleans Saints franchise would shock the proverbial world and win the Super Bowl?  

So with a new season on the rise, I'm going to make a humble attempt at make some off-the-wall predictions that could actually come true.   If you have any freaky forecasts, feel free to add them.  Just make sure your cowboy predictions are negative...

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Obviously, Eagles fans' passion for our team is unrivaled.  No other city loves their team more than we do.  No other fan base is as knowledgeable as Eagles fans.  This site is a microcosm of what we are as Eagles fans.  

Being rational is not any fan's strength.  As a result, I have listed several phrases that may help you from losing your mind this year.  You will be tempted to say (and throw) all kinds of things.  But remember, we are the most knowledgeable, well-versed fans in the NFL.  This season, because of all the changes, will test our resolve.  Here it is:

1.  "Kolb sucks"

Kevin Kolb will have some bad moments.  It's inevitable.  This is not a bearing on him.  All young QB face pitfalls and obstacles.  I do believe he's going to have his fair share of exceptional plays, too.  We just need to remember that Kolb is our long term answer at quarterback.  

2.  "Fire Andy Reid"

This is going to be the toughest one for me.  However, I am very intrigued to see if the roster overhaul will work out. Obviously, the offense looks exciting.  The defense has some young guys, as well, who may be playmakers.  If things go horribly wrong during any point of the season, I don't think Reid should be canned.  Reid should finish building the team, since he's the architect...for now.

3.  "Lesean McCoy is a bust"

I think one of our underrated weaknesses will be out offensive line.  I'm concerned about Jamaal Jackson's health. Also, the right side of the line has some question marks.  As a result, the running game will suffer.  In addition, McCoy is under a learning curve.

4.  "Sean McDermott needs to blitz more"

Like the offense, the defensive side of the ball has a lot of moving parts.  Coach McDermott received some criticism for his appropriate use of the blit.  Unlike past years, we are very susceptible to big plays when the blitz comes because the secondary is somewhat shaky.  I can envision McDermott being especially conservative in the beginning of the season.

5. "The McNabb trade was stupid"

This phrase ties into #1.  I was a huge McNabb fan while he was here.  To me, he was one of the primary reasons why we had a moderate level of success.  We have talked ad nauseum about McNabb's legacy.  However, we must move on. The trade will take a few years to be judged accurately.

6.  "This season was a shibacle" (disaster, travesty or any word that means bad)

The main reason I wrote this is to encourage you guys that although we may not make it back to the playoffs, rebuilding is not a bad thing.  Many teams have had to endure growing pains before they are contenders.  Our situation is no different.  The future is bright; just not the near future.

7.  "Go cowboys"

The state legislature in Pennsylvania should sign a law that any person that roots for the cowboys in our great state is subject to torture. The lowest piece of scum in "fandom" is a cowboys fan who resides in Philly.  These frontrunners may gloat this season, but feel free to punch in the face if they get too obnoxious.  

Hopefully, I'm totally off base, and the Eagles gel into a juggernaut.  If so, this will be a stress free season.  But when is rooting for the Eagles ever "stress free"...

I was reading the Inqy/DN today, and it stated that Jason Avant was one of three wideouts who did not drop a pass all last season (minimum 30 receptions).  That got me to thinking that when listing our "young guns", Jason is often times left out.  However, I believe he will be an integral cog in our offensive machine.  To me, he can be the Wes Welker in our offense.  Avant doesn't have Welker's quickness, but he equals Wes' toughness and ability to make big 3rd down catches.  

Obviously Kolb, Desean, Maclin, Celek, and McCoy will get the well-deserved attention.  In addition, I believe Jason Avant will be an important catalyst as our offense develops into an explosive unit.  

The McNabb detractors must understand that dealing Donovan McNabb will not instantly put the Eagles into the Super Bowl.  While some think it would be a move in the right direction, others can argue that lingering problems would persist.  The following points will illustrate the current flaws on the team:

1.  The offensive line:  Kevin Kolb's success or failure will be largely predicated on the offensive line.  Jamaal Jackson's injury was a devastating blow to the Eagles.  It was clear that Nick Cole is not on par with Jackson during the last two games of the season.  If Jackson is not ready for the regular season, replacing him may be difficult.  In addition to center, the right side of the line seems to have question marks as well.  The Brothers Andrews Project was a complete disaster.  Winston Justice may great strides last year, but can he be counted on for another full season? 

2.  Linebackers:  The Eagles pay attention to linebackers like a vegan pays attention to a porterhouse.  They have not focused on this position over Reid's tenure.  To me, this is a big mistake.  Many Super Bowl teams have had a dominant (or  near dominant) linebacker.    Vilma (this year), Derrick Brooks, Ray Lewis,  and Tedy Bruschi are examples of this.  Stewart Bradley appeared to be on his way to stardom.  It will be interesting to see how he bounces back.  Outside of Bradley, the other LB have had glimpses of brilliance, but nothing sustained.

3.  Offensive philosophy:  Neither the Saints, nor the Colts ran the ball with a great deal of regularity.  However, the Saints did effectively run the ball to keep the other teams off balance.  Also, both teams have imaginative offenses to move the ball.  The Eagles had neither attribute.  Until they develop some type of  "rhythm" or structure on offense, they will continue to sputter in key moments in games like red zone effeciency. 

In conclusion, I didn't list other weaknesses like safety because the Eagles seemed to address them, and they may address other concerns with the compensation they will receive in a McNabb trade.  Nevertheless, McNabb couldn't control his protection.  He couldn't control linebacker play.  He definitely couldn't control Marty or Reid's decision making processes.  When McNabb's gone, Kolb will inherit the same burden.