I have avoided this but because I woke up early, maybe I can show you the light.
1. McNabb is overrated. Ever since Limbaugh said he was overated, it seems like veryone is afraid to say anything negative about McNabb (except Aikman). Limbaugh was right about McNabb being overrated, but he had the wrong reason for it. It had nothing to do with color. That made no sense because McNair is black, and he is underrated. The reason McNabb is overrated is because he is a system QB. The fact that his two backups, Detmer, and Feeley, came into several games in 2002 and actually played at a higher level than McNabb, goes to show that he is a product of a good system. How is Feeley doing now in Miami? That's my point.
McNabb very well be overrated, I don't think so but you can't use this as a "reason the Eagles will take a step back" because he has been our QB for this entire run, and its not like this position has gotten weaker.
BTW: Feeley was 86 for 154 (55.8%), 1011 yards 6 TD and 5 int (75.4%).
The games he started we won because of JUST because of our defense and commitment to running the ball. SF was the best team we played and the only reason why we beat them was because they underestimated us. Seattle, Washington, St. Louis (with Warner), and Dallas were all terrible teams in 2002. We lost to the Giants.
2. Owens will cause trouble. He'll hold out as long as he can, but it won't take too long for him to get upset with McNabb. He complained about Garcia, wait until he plays a few games with McNabb. McNabb's accuracy is very suspect and will put Owens in situations he doesn't like. He will get nailed and the frustration will build. At some point, he will spout off and there will be hard feelings. The locker room will suffer and so will the Eagles.
He might cause trouble, when we first got him I thought he would eventually be a problem but the more I see of him and McNabb, the more I think that he has changed. He will never spout off at McNabb, if anyone it would be a coach.
3. Kearse will get hurt. He already is. It will continue. Everyone wants to talk about Testaverde getting hurt because he is 40. This is a prime example of the fact that age doesn't always matter. Kearse is made of glass and I am willing to bet Kearse misses more time than Vinny to injury this year.
Kearse has had one foot injury and one high ankle sprain in five years in which he missed 16 games. That isn't bad. He lasted 3 whole seasons with a perfect attendence record, so he has proved that he can stay healthy. Just because you say something, doesn't make it true.
4. Loss of CB's. Good CornerBacks don't grow on trees. Just ask the Cowboys. CB is becoming one of the most important positions in all of football. You just cannot lose two CB's like Taylor and Vincent and expect to fill the void. This will prove to be the biggest loss of all. Every week.
These were first and second round draft choices a few years ago, they arn't scrubs (Hunter, Thorton ect...). 12 of the 18 games played were with one or two of them starting and we went 9-3 over that period of time (lost to Dallas, SF, and NE). But yes we will miss them, the rest of our defensive additions (Dawkins, Thomas, Grasmanis, McDougle, Burgess, Green, Trotter) should make our defense better than it was last season (7th).
5. Now, no runningback. They went from three, starter quality RB's, to one undersized average at best option in Westbrook. Believe me, Levens is not going to cause any opposing team to lose any sleep. Westbrook will be okay, but he is no more than a change of pace back. They will miss Duce almost as much as they miss Taylor and Vincent.
This is the thing I don't agree with you in. Westbrook is a starting HB who played extremely well last season, people seem to forget this.
A starting HB who has missed two games his entire career due to injury, is being questioned now because we lost two backup HBs. Okay buddy.
