Writing about the Eagles and other Philly sports topics...
The Eagles can start thinking about next year after their home loss to the Washington Redskins. Coach Doug Pederson will most likely return, but owner Jeffrey Lurie is getting older and wants a Super Bowl soon. You gotta ask yourself- is Pederson the right guy to lead the team to the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl? So far, the answer seems no.
Changing coaches every year would lower the Eagles into the level of a Cleveland Browns franchise, so I bet Lurie gives Pederson at least another season. Firing him after the season, unless the wheels really fall off, would admit that the Eagles front office has no clue what they are doing-which may be true anyway.
The bottom line is the team just isn't good enough. They need lots of help, starting with the secondary. They need to draft a young corner back and stop with the temporary free agent guys they go for. They need at least one, probably two wide receivers. They have the money, why not sign DeSean Jackson, Terrell Pryor as free agents and draft yet another young wide out. They need weapons, and even bringing in another running back or two wouldn't hurt, as I doubt Ryan Mathews will be back next year.
Chip Kelly continues to haunt the franchise, form his stupid trades to poor free agent signings to terrible player evaluation in the draft to bad on-field coaching. I fault Lurie for giving him so much trust, and that's why he hired a rookie like Pederson who doesn't want all that power and control. But again, is he a good coach or merely a puppet?
BY losing their last 3 games, the Birds would get an easier schedule next season, but it wouldn't improve their first round dratf pick next spring. Their pick goes to Cleveland, who should have the number one overall selection, plus a high pick form Philadelphia. The Eagles get the Minnesota Vikings pick, which now looks like it will be mid-round.
If the Eagles do change coaches again either this season or next, why not consider Seth Joyner? He brings fire and passion to a lackluster squad, toughness and discipline to a team that lacks both. He's an Eagle all the way, a smart football guy, starting with defense.
The Flyers have won 9 in a row with no end in sight.They are playing exciting, fun hockey, winning games 6-5 and 1-0. Rookie goalie Anthony Stolarz looks like a solid back-up to Steve Mason, and if Mason leaves via free agency after the season, Stolarz could be their man guy going into the future.
The kids aer playing great, and maybe this will give confidence to GM Ron Hextall to continue to have faith in the [top prospects, as the Flyers have more kids on the way, espcecially on defense.
The Sixers are winning a few more games,e specially on the road, but really who cares? What I want to see is Ben Simmons playing with Embiid, Okofor and Noel-all together.The Sixers need to see whta these young players can do before venturing out into free agency and selecting another high pick in the NBA draft next June.
The Phillies are in the same boat as the Sixers, as the Phils need to let their prospects play this year, if only to see what they have for the future. The free agent class in baseball after the 2017 and 2018 seasons is bigger and better, so the Phils will have tons of money to spend. By then, they need to know what free agents to go after and what young players they can count on for the long haul.
Plus bring up kids like J.P. Crawford, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro and Dylan Cozens give the fans some excitement and something to look forward to down the road. Fans need a reason to go out to the ballpark other than Dollar Dog night. Some will succeed and some will fail, but at least the Phillies will know what they have going forward.
Villanova Basketball is number 1 in the nation this week, with a record of 10-0. They play temple this week, looking to sweep the Big Five again and win their incredible 18th game in a row in the City Series. No team in the city has a better coach or recruits like the Wildcats and it could be that way for years to come. Who can beat them?
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