Does all this mean we were right all along?

The news earlier this week that the Eagles are looking to trade Ryan Moats and replace him with the oft-requested "big" running back got me thinking. Eagles fans, even those who strongly support the team and the current coach/ownership group, have been clamoring for years for a few very specific changes:

1. Less emphasis on the passing game, greater commitment to running the football
2. Relatedly, a big running back to provide a change of pace to Westbrook and help grind clock and keep the defense off the field
3. Wide receivers who were more than just adequate system guys
4. A linebacking corps that made plays and didn't just take up space
5. Better clock management

I think that about covers it, even if it's not an exhaustive list. So here's what's interesting about that:

1. Last year, after McNabb got hurt and Reid handed over the playcalling duties to Marty, the Eagles shifted to a more balanced offensive attack that relied heavily on Westbrook and Buckhalter running behind that mammoth offensive line.
2. The current rumor has Moats out / big back in (please make it Tony Hunt, that's all I ask).
3. While proclaiming to anyone who would listen that they were completely, totally, utterly content with the wide receivers they had in-house, the Eagles have now brought in Terrell Owens, Donte Stallworth and Kevin Curtis over the past three season, along with drafting three guys over that same time period who currently sit #1(?), #3 and #4 on the depth chart.
4. After yet another poor showing for the linebackers in 2006, the Eagles tried to sign Ryan Fowler from Dallas, reportedly were engaged in talks with Denver regarding Pro Bowler Al Wilson and pulled the trigger on a deal that brought in former Pro Bowler Takeo Spikes. And they may not be done.
5. After Reid turned over the playcalling to Marty, he had more time to spend thinking about things like clock management. Whatever you may think of last year's infamous punt decision, it's clear the Eagles did a better job in the second half of last year not burning timeouts or putting themselves in tight time situations.

So, the question then becomes: Were the fans right all along?

Comments

[bakei]

give me a break with the eagles fans being right all the time. yes they've made mistakes, but heck, if you listened to the fans this organization would not be where it would be today. how do i know that?
think about this, all the crying we've done, the mcnabb draft, the eagles plucking a villanova guy(westbrook) and making him a star. giving in to the owens shit and that's exactly what we go, about 12 games an ok superbowl, and just more shit from the guy. the recievers were fine last year and they've even improved on that, getting rid of the oft-injured stallworth and picking up that rams receiver. of course the eagles aren't going to be right about everything, but 4 nfc championships, one superbowl lost by 3 points to a dynasty, thanks to a lot of guys, not just mcnabb. I think the eagles are already having a heckuva offseason and there's more to be done. sure their defensive secondary could be possibly an issue, but that's just possibly. dawk is older and the other guy is unproven at safety, but beats being any other team in this downtrodden division. let's roll, we should dominate this year, should the eagles keep the same system in last year that thay had after mcnabb went down. love this team, and have no question this is a superbowl contender.
thank you thank you very much