NFL SEASON PREVIEW.(team-by-team analysis)

Philadelphia Eagles

DAN POMPEI'S PREDICTED FINISH 1st IN NFC EAST

SOURCES OF STRENGTH: The secondary is the NFC's best and could be the best in the league. CB Troy Vincent is a two-time All-Pro selection, and FS Brian Dawkins will try to get back to the Pro Bowl after being overlooked last season. Bobby Taylor is a solid No. 2 corner, and Al Harris is a tough, physical nickel back. SS Damon Moore is the least experienced member of the defensive backfield, but he is good in run support. Defensive line depth also is a strength. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson can mix and match his linemen depending on the situation, going from No. 1 to No. 8 without much of a dropoff. Backup DEs Ndukwe Kalu and Derrick Burgess and DTs Paul Grasmanis and Darwin Walker would be a decent starting front four for many teams. Offensively, the team will rely on QB Donovan McNabb to have another MVP-type season, although he should have more help this season. McNabb has been sharp throughout camp, and he demonstrated in the preseason that he still can win games with his arm or his legs.

SOFT SPOTS: The team's receivers are younger and faster than they were a year ago. But they also are less experienced, especially in the West Coast offense. Coach Andy Reid took a gamble when he released veterans Charles Johnson and Torrance Small in the offseason and replaced them with James Thrash and No. 1 draft pick Freddie Mitchell. Thrash, a good complementary player for the Redskins, has yet to show he can be a No. 1 receiver. He has good speed and shows toughness. The question is whether he will be able to take on double coverage. Mitchell has required the same time all rookies need to get used to the nuances of the West Coast offense. He will start the season as the No. 4 receiver. Second-year man Todd Pinkston, who looked better in camp than he did as a rookie, and third-year man Na Brown are being counted on to step up and have big seasons as the No. 2 and 3 options. If any of the top four receivers gets injured, there isn't much experience behind them. It seems odd a team with championship aspirations that runs the West Coast offense would go into the season so young at one of its most important positions.

 
2001 Schedule 
 
All times Eastern. 
 
Sept.    9   ST. LOUIS          4:15 
Sept.   16   at Tampa Bay       1:00 
Sept.   23   at Seattle         4:15 
Sept.   30   DALLAS             8:30 
Oct.     7   ARIZONA            1:00 
Oct.    14   Open date 
Oct.    22   at N.Y. Giants     9:00 
Oct.    28   OAKLAND            4:15 
Nov.     4   at Arizona         4:05 
Nov.    11   MINNESOTA          4:15 
Nov.    18   at Dallas          1:00 
Nov.    25   WASHINGTON         1:00 
Nov.    29   at Kansas City     8:30 
Dec.     9   SAN DIEGO          1:00 
Dec.    16   at Washington      1:00 
Dec.    22   at San Francisco   4:00 
Dec.    30   N.Y. GIANTS        1:05 

PIVOTAL PLAYER: A year ago, the team proved it could make the playoffs without KB Duce Staley. The hope this season is that with Staley back from the foot injury that sidelined him for the final 11 regular-season games and both playoff games in 2000, the team will go even further. Staley's presence as a runner and a receiver will take pressure off McNabb to make all the big plays. It also will make things a little bit easier for the inexperienced group of receivers. Staley might not be the 1,200-yard back he was before the injury. But he still could rush for about 1,000 yards, and 50-60 receptions could add another 500 yards to his total production.

ECKEL'S BOTTOM LINE: If defense still wins championships--and the Ravens last season showed it could--the Eagles could be in line for the first Super Bowl title in franchise history. The defense is that good and that deep. DE Hugh Douglas, DT Corey Simon, MLB Jeremiah Trotter, Vincent and Dawkins all are among the league's best at their positions. The team still has to score some points, but a McNabb/Staley combination could help. The Eagles should make it to the NFC championship game. A trip to the Super Bowl is not out of the question. --Mark Eckel