The Philadelphia Eagles may have hit the rebuilding phase and got out of it as quick as any team in sports history. After their dismal experience during the Chip Kelly era, the Eagles were forced to go young and look towards the future. But no one expected to see them start the 2016-17 season 3-0. Since then, the team has lost four of their last six games but their margin of defeat has been small. They are there but not quite ready just yet.
Carson Wentz is hands down the future and face of the franchise but it’s the talent or lack thereof that will haunt the team this season. For as good as Wentz is, he needs help. The running back situation is an area of concern as Darren Sproles has taken over as featured back replacing Ryan Mathews. Their passing game has suffered due to a lack of speedster and playmakers. But, what if that wasn’t the case?
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and imagine how life would be if only…
What if DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin were still around? I know that’s impossible due to the fact that there would be no Wentz without the McCoy trade but let’s play along anyway. Sproles could still be a third down back and a dangerous special teams player but the Eagles ground game would no longer be middle of the league average. McCoy is not the same player in Buffalo that he was in Philly. Maybe he’s homesick but with those silver wings on his helmet he was a one-man wrecking crew. McCoy scored 66 touchdowns with the Eagles and rushed for 6792 yards and caught 356 passes for another 2706 yards. The Eagles have one of the best rushing attacks in the league but most of that success has come during the first few games of the season. McCoy stats were 16 games strong. Defenses had to devise game plans just to contain him. Imagine the positives his vision and pass catching ability would do for the confidence and growth of Wentz this season.
[embedit snippet=”2″]
The Eagles most glaring hole is their production from the wide receiver position. Jordan Matthews has been steady but he has taken a hit with the conservative play of Doug Pederson’s play calling. Nelson Agholor has been a bust and Dorial Green-Beckham has been the invisible man since coming over this year. But, what if Maclin and Jackson were still manning the outsides? During his time with the Eagles, Maclin caught 343 passes for 4771 yards and 36 touchdowns. He was not the featured receiver until the departure of Jackson and when he was giving the green light he produced his first 1000 yard season as the featured wideout.
Jackson is exactly what the Eagles need this season. His speed is still one of the league’s best and his production may not be what it was when he was in an Eagles uniform, but he is still to be regarded as a top flight WR. Jackson caught 356 passes for 6117 yards and 32 touchdowns for Philly. Now, if No.10 was still running Go Routes for Wentz, imagine the chemistry and damage they could do as a unit.
Wentz, Jackson, McCoy, and Maclin. What an offense that would be.