This will be more of a long winded rant disguised as a single game recap of a Monday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks from November 30th, 2020.
The Seahawks marched into south Philadelphia last night and did what they’ve done every time they’ve come here since 1989, they won. Even to put extra mustard on the soft pretzel, running back Chris Carson after a late touchdown did the Eagles wings flap and ESPN announcer Steve Levy said “Fly Seahawks Fly” The Seahawks beat the Eagles by a final score of 23-17 but it easily could have been a lot worse if the defense didn’t perform as well as they did but it sure as hell feels like it was a lot worse than it was. So how did we all get here? From the top of the world to the bottom of the barrel. Put on your wet suit, we’re going on a deep dive.
Let’s start at the head of this snake, Howie Roseman. Hired by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2000 as a salary cap staff counsel to then move onto director of football administration, to VP of football administration, to then the following year to VP of player personnel. He finally achieved his childhood dream in 2010 when he was named General manager. Now first off let’s give him his due, he has the Super Bowl in 2018 and that’s an incredible accolade but if we take that out of the equation for a few minutes let’s dissect Howie’s job performance. Mainly speaking the draft selections. Let’s list just the first two picks in the last ten years which are in the tenure of Mr. Roseman.
In 2010 the selection of Brandon Graham. Now at the time the city hated the pick as we all and I mean ALL wanted safety earl thomas there at that pick. I’ll never forget it as I was watching the draft with a packed house at Paddy Whacks on Welsh rd. That pick actually worked out in the long run as BG is still playing at a high level. 2nd pick was safety Nate Allen who played for the birds for four years and was an average safety at best. 2011 “The Fireman” Danny Watkins offensive guard played only two years with the Eagles and it was in all sense of the word a failure. He was out of the league a year later. Pick 2 Jaiquawn Jarrett…. yeah I have no recollection. ( this may be a common theme moving up this list.) 2012 first pick is Fletcher Cox, one of the top tier d lineman in the league. He has regressed since getting his cash a few years ago but a pro bowl player and a great pick. Pick 2, linebacker Mychal Kendricks, another solid pick for Howie in this draft, but eventually injuries and wear and tear was his downfall before getting shipped off to Seattle in 2017. Fun story, I worked a 76ers team event at the Fillmore Philadelphia in 2016 and Kendricks was a guest there. To say he was intoxicated, would be an understatement of a life time. Moving on to 2013, my man from the university of Oklahoma o tackle Lane Johnson. A very solid pick for the team as he’s been for the most part healthy and a trust right tackle for the offense since he’s been here. Pick 2 Zach Ertz who doesn’t need any talk up, a top tier tight end in the nfl since he’s been in the league. Good draft in 2013. 2014 Howie selected 24th DE Marcus smith and it was a whiff. Only in the NFL for five seasons. 2nd selection was wide receiver Jordan Matthews who had his moments but never lived up to his potential with the team. Added bonus wr Josh Huff was selected next who never materialized. This is where you can pull out your highlighter a d start keeping track of Rosemans track record of drafting wide receivers. 2015 sticking with this theme of receiver they select Nelson Agholor ohhh everyone’s favorite, played five years before moving on to Vegas. Agholor’s peaked in 2017 when he accounted for 8 touchdowns and snagged 62 balls. But as his tenure here staggered on the reputation of dropped balls, and laziness on his route running made him on most sundays enemy number one to the fan base. To the point where his exit was cheered by many including myself. The 2nd pick was Eric Rowe a cornerback we NEEDED to be a star and he ended up just being a dud. He then heartbreaking enough was dealt to New England and made a solid career for himself, currently playing for the Miami Dolphins. Enter 2016 and enter Mr. Carson Wentz. 10:44am April 20th 2016 I remember it clearly bc I was at work and the news spread like wildfire. The Eagles have traded a 1, a 3, a 4, and 2 other picks to the Browns to move up in the draft 6 spots to select the future of the franchise. Quarterback Carson Wentz. Now if you’re reading this you know and are still following the Wentz wagon saga so we will keep going. The pick after CW was guard Isaac Seumalo and your guess is as good as mine to where that dude is. 2017 DE Derrick Barnett a standout defensive player coming out of Michigan who I had watched a lot with the Wolverines and at the time was excited about the selection but his stats since coming into the league have been nothing to write home about. Although had a good game last night against Seattle. Pick 2 was corner back Sidney Jones which was a well documented risky pick due to injury concerns. Played a total of 22 games in three seasons with the Eagles before moving to Jacksonville and had stats that wouldn’t impress anyone. 2018 the Eagles didn’t have a first round pick so in the second round Howie to add to Wentz’ arsenal selected tight end Dallas Goedert who for my money is a solid backup tight end. I don’t feel he will ever be a number 1 tight end on any team in this league, but an ok player. Pick 2 Avonte Maddox another corner in the never ending search for the Eagles for good secondary. When I watch him play he just comes off to me as an average nfl cornerback. Who was beaten pretty badly last night on the corner fade to David Moore for the td. 2019 selected 22 overall Tackle Andre Dillard, the verdict on Dillard is still far too early to tell. His rookie season he played in all 16 games while starting 4 of them. Leading up to this season he needed to have surgery on his bicep and is missing the whole year so we will see. Pick 2 was Miles Sanders running back who I feel if gets enough touches could be an elite running back in the league but that of course involves… getting him his touches. Great selection. Finally 2020 where Howie may have went to Home Depot purchased a hammer and a case of nails to nail himself into his own coffin. With the 21st pick Howie selected a WR, a position where the Eagles needed help with since TO left for Pete’s sake. 5-11’ 206 lb receiver out of TCU. To be honest when the selection was made I didn’t know much about the player as I was hoping to get my ASU neighbor Aiyuk or Jeffries both players that are looking to be far superior to Reagor. Pick 2 was an Earth rattler in the selection of star quarterback Jalen Hurts. A pick that will go down in Eagles history. None of us can know yet how it will play out but at the time in my opinion was a stretch and tremendously bone headed. Especially when there was a ton of players ( good players ) still on the board in position of need specifically at linebacker.
The sad truth to this list that only three players listed above in the last ten years have been selected to a pro bowl. That harsh reality is just awful for a franchises draft picks and should shine the light on Howie Roseman’s evaluation skills or lack there of of players. To which from the look of owner Jeffrie Luries face and body language from last nights embarrassing lost to the Seahawks could spell the end of Howies tenure in Philadelphia. Every time I heard last night that the Eagles selected Whiteside over DK Metcalf I wanted to Bill Murray from Groundhog Day style throw myself off a building. Side note, Metcalf is not the next big thing in this league, he IS the big thing now.
With the sub par talent on this team, the horrible offensive strategy, and Wentz’s lack of confidence in his current staff of weapons which subsequently has made his confidence in himself as an athlete basically non existent. This team is in such bad shape that I haven’t seen since the 90’s and the dreaded ray Rhodes/ Rich Kotite era. On top of that the multiplicity of bad contracts on this roster are enough to pull your hair out, if you have any by this point.
In closing, being a life long fan of this Eagles franchise I felt for the first time last night watching that game not angry, not upset, for the first time I felt sad. Sad for realizing that the road back to prominence is going to be a long one. Come the end of this season whether we ridiculously win the NFC east or not, Howie needs to be future endeavored and if I can be honest Doug can go with him. Do me a favor and go back and listen to the broadcast of last nights game and notice how many times the MNF crew point out that Eagles offensive players were on different pages or that their was miscommunication. Now with it being game 11 in this season only one word comes to my mind and that’s coaching. The franchise needs a new head of the snake and that’s where they need to start rebuilding this thing. Yesterday I predicted the final score was going to be 38-17 Seahawks but it turned out to be 23-17 hawks, but it sure as hell felt like 38. Next week it’s at Green Bay and that should be another ass whooping. 2020 has been a dumpster fire, hopefully in 2021 owner Jeffrey Lurie can do what needs to be done and turn this franchise around.
-HP 48
State 48 Sports 