National Football League

Boom or Bust: Eagles will still soar

Published Jun. 8, 2010 5:03 p.m. ET

foxsports

I live for this time of year in the NFL.

I love minicamp.

I love hyperbole.

I love potential holdouts, actual holdouts and demands for money.

I love to take stock of the league with a SCHEIN 9, Boom or Bust style.

1. The Eagles are on track to make the playoffs again.

This, my friends, is a huge boom.

I’m warning you right now. Do not overlook Philly. Do not buy into the rebuilding hype. And while Philadelphia lost a ton of offensive talent, leadership and legendary players in the City of Brotherly Love when the Eagles let both Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook go in the same offseason, they are more than ready to make up for it with Kevin Kolb and LeSean McCoy. Seriously.

There are those around the league who believe Kolb’s skill sets are even more suited for Andy Reid’s offense than McNabb’s. When I talked to Reid on Friday at length about his club, he said the Eagles would stay true to his pass-run ratio, slanted heavily favoring throwing the ball.

Reid said they would not ease Kolb into the system. They do what they do in Philly. And based upon a few games last year, a few years of practice and a great offseason program, the Eagles believe Kolb can do it incredibly well.

Kolb is a natural leader with great poise and great throwing accuracy. Teammates like Brent Celek and Jason Avant tell me he proved himself in those categories a long time ago. Like Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, the signs of being a strong starter bloomed in practice. And with DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Celek and Avant, Kolb has a plethora of weapons around him. I truly believe he is going to be a great quarterback, and I expect it sooner rather than later.

Reid loved his time with McNabb and Westbrook but seems rightly energized by the talent on offense. Reid isn’t remotely concerned about McCoy’s stepping up into a more high profile role because he ably handled the running back position when Westbrook was injured. The only area McCoy needed to improve on was his pass blocking, and Reid is pleased with that phase of his game now.

The defense is going to be much better than a year ago. Sean McDermott was thrust into an ultra-difficult situation last year when Jim Johnson passed away in late July. McDermott handled it with aplomb. This season counts as his first full year as the defensive coordinator. That’s a huge difference.

Linebacker Stewart Bradley missed last year, and that was a gigantic blow. He’s back, and the club smartly traded for linebacker Ernie Sims. First-round pick Brandon Graham is a playmaker with a knack for getting to the quarterback and will help right away.

Look, I acknowledge Dallas is the team to beat in the NFC East. The Giants should be better. Washington, with McNabb and Mike Shanahan, will at least double last year's four wins. And I think the Redskins can do better than that. And I concede you can toss a proverbial blanket over these teams.

But when you factor in how Reid gets teams to overachieve and the great talent, I am rolling with the Eagles.

2. San Fran is the team to beat in the NFC West.

Call this one a bust.

I still think it’s the Cardinals.

Arizona has the best offensive line in the division. After talking to Ken Whisenhunt on Sirius NFL Radio, I expect him to pound the ball more than he did when Kurt Warner was his quarterback. Look for a breakout season from Beanie Wells. I think Joey Porter, Kerry Rhodes and first-rounder Dan Williams all will help the team more than you anticipate. Larry Fitzgerald is an all-world talent. And give me Whisenhunt and his staff over Mike Singletary.

3. Cedric Benson will be even better this year.

This is a boom. In catching up with Benson on Sirius, we heard how much he learned from the Chicago experience. Benson had an intense training program this offseason in an effort to stay healthy for 16 games and surpass his total of 1,251 yards in just 13 games last season.

Lock him in for 1,400 this year, minimum.

4. The Broncos are again a second-place team.

Oakland is much better with the lazy and clueless JaMarcus Russell on the street. Russell had zero leadership, and his bad vibe permeated the building. Jason Campbell brings professionalism. New offensive coordinator Hue Jackson is beyond legit and has the track record in Cincy, Washington, Baltimore and Atlanta to prove it.

Todd Haley was raving to us about his all-star coaching staff with the appointments of Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis and the impact the work ethic of Thomas Jones is having on the team.

Say hello to the last-place Broncos? It’s possible. And second-place is a bust.

5. Jahvid Best is the next Chris Johnson.

Jim Schwartz made the comparison last weekend. I get it. Both guys were expected to go in the second round, only to be drafted in the top 32. Scouts wondered if these backs could carry on every down. Johnson has become a megastar. Best, with his speed, power, hands and ability to pass protect, has the same traits. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was effusive in his praise when we talked last week. Write this one down. It’s a boom.

6. Byron Leftwich will start Week 1 at quarterback for Pittsburgh.

Boom! We had a chance to chat with both Leftwich and Dennis Dixon on Sirius NFL Radio. Both guys agreed the reps will be divvied equally during training camp. During minicamp and OTAs, Ben Roethlisberger still needs work. I think the lack of chances to distinguish himself hurt Dixon. Leftwich’s experience will give him the edge.

7. Patrick Crayton will be traded.

This is a total bust. I’m not remotely surprised the Dallas receiver changed his mind and plans on attending Cowboys OTAs. With Roy Williams rightly in the dog house, Crayton is needed to win games in a year when the upside for the Cowboys is to make the Super Bowl.

8. Jimmy Clausen will start more games at quarterback than Matt Moore in Carolina.

This is a bust. Panthers star linebacker Jon Beason last week praised the practices Moore was putting together as the No. 1 quarterback. Moore was nothing short of fantastic down the stretch for the Panthers, especially against the Giants and Vikings. I love Clausen’s talent. He will be great. But it’s Moore’s team for 2010.

9. Miami can make the Super Bowl.

According to owner Stephen Ross, the Dolphins can. I have them as a playoff team with the additions of Brandon Marshall, Karlos Dansby, Mike Nolan, Koa Misi and Jared Odrick. Taking the temperature in June, I think the AFC East will have three playoff teams. Miami won’t be my Super Bowl pick, but I believe in the head coach and the quarterback. I didn’t laugh when Ross made those comments. I can’t rule it out. They are my surprise team in the AFC. It’s a boom.