1 Their defense is a mess » It’s not because the Eagles added high-priced talent and suddenly the chemistry is out of whack. It’s because they changed their coordinator, putting a former offensive line coach in charge. And they went to a system in which the ends are split wider than usual, which has helped the pass rush (16 sacks) and little else. In this system, the linebackers must be fast and experienced at avoiding blocks. The Eagles lack good and experienced linebackers. They signed one of the top two man-to-man cover corners in Nnamdi Asomugha and have him playing more zone coverages than he had in the past. Their defensive approach makes little sense for the talent they have.
2 The offensive talent remains dangerous » The Eagles rank third in the NFL in total yards because they have explosive talent that few teams can match. Receiver Jeremy Maclin is their most dangerous wideout after the catch, while DeSean Jackson is their scariest. Running back LeSean McCoy is underrated and averages 5.8 a carry (the Eagles spread the field and run often vs. nickel defenses). And though Michael Vick has turned it over 10 times — one more than in 2010 — he’s still capable of huge plays.
3 They turn it over too much » The Eagles average three turnovers a game. Though Vick is the biggest culprit, he’s far from alone. He has had at least two interceptions because the receiver had the ball stripped from him just after the pass arrived. The turnovers are one reason the Eagles rank only 11th in scoring despite ranking high in total yards a game.
4 The offensive line is an issue » The Eagles went to a smaller interior line — with talent considered subpar — to help on screens and draws, but that’s greatly affected their performance in short yardage and red zone situations. The Eagles are tied for second in the NFL with 24 red zone possessions, but they’ve only scored 10 touchdowns on those trips. They lack the ability to power up the middle. That has cost them in several losses.
