Avoiding the Wrong Lesson

I think if you asked Andy Reid, he would tell you the Eagles' acquisition of Terrell Owens before the 2004 season had nothing to do with the team's horrendous offensive performance in the NFC Championship Game debacle against the Carolina Panthers. 

I also think Reid would be lying.

It's true that Reid's offense works best when there's a spread-it-around approach that keeps opposing defenses off balance.  When defenses can't cover everything, all you have to do is find the weak spot and exploit it.  That's all fine and good.  And it works against bad teams.

The problem is that every now and then you run into a really good defense that doesn't mind spreading itself out, because their guys match up fine against your guys.  We saw that with the Bucs in 2002 and the Panthers in 2003.  In those cases, you need more than just a good gameplan and a great quarterback -- you need weapons.  You need guys who can't be single-covered.  Players who, when their number is called, you know won't be taken out of the play.  And the more, the better.

The Eagles had one of those guys in 2003.  Name of Westbrook.  But then Brian tore his triceps in the last game of the season against Washington and suddenly Reno Mahe was getting extended playing time on offense.  Season over.

My primary concern heading into the offseason is that the Eagles might draw the wrong lesson from the 2007 season.  What if they say, "Ok, look, we were only a couple of bounces away from 10-6, our quarterback is entering the offseason fully healthy (knock wood) for the first time in years, and with nothing to play for we still marched into New Orleans and hung up 38 points on a team many believed was playoff-bound.  Pick up a couple of spare parts to build some depth and we're there."

Wrong.  No.  Uh-huh.  Bad idea.

Right now the Eagles have one truly elite receiver/runner in Brian Westbrook.  That's it.  Kevin Curtis is a very good player, but he's not a game-breaker.  Reggie Brown hasn't progressed in two years. Brent Celek is a complete unknown.

And remember what happened when Westbrook got hurt before the Giants game?  Complete offensive shutdown.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, if Westbrook had missed significant time this season, the Eagles would have been lucky to win more than five games. 

That's way too little margin for error.  Reid, Banner, please don't get seduced by a couple of good performances.  Bring McNabb some help.

And if you plan on trading him anyway?  Well, Kolb won't mind having those guys around either.