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Room for improvement Surprise season has Eagles wanting more
Updated: Tuesday January 09, 2001 8:37 AM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia Eagles won't surprise anybody next season. They did enough of that this year. After winning just eight games combined over the previous two seasons, few expected the Eagles to do better than 8-8. By the time Philadelphia played its final game, only three other teams still were in the race for the Super Bowl. "I've been satisfied with what we've done to this point," coach Andy Reid said Monday, one day after the New York Giants beat the Eagles 20-10 in the NFC semifinals. "But if you don't win the Super Bowl, there is an empty feeling left in you. I think our players felt that. They went as far as they have and you get a little bit greedy. You want to keep on going. "It's very important that we take that into the offseason with us and guide us through the offseason and through the workouts and the mini-camps." The Eagles (12-6) took several positives out of the season, including the rapid development of Donovan McNabb. The second-year quarterback emerged as one of the league's top stars, finishing second to St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk for NFL MVP. McNabb threw for 3,365 yards and 21 touchdowns, and added a team-high 629 yards rushing and six TDs in the regular season. He set team records with 569 attempts and 307 completions, and accounted for 75 percent of the offense. But the Eagles' biggest priority in the offseason will be to surround McNabb with more talent. The team lacked a consistent running game after Duce Staley went down with a season-ending foot injury in Week 5 and the receiving corps is average at best. In three losses to New York, it was evident the Eagles had a one-dimensional offense. The formula for opposing defensive coordinators is simple: shut down McNabb and you shut down Philadelphia. After McNabb single-handedly beat Washington with a 125-yard rushing performance in a 23-20 victory on Nov. 26, Redskins cornerback Deion Sanders said it best. "He would be really scary if he had a great supporting cast," Sanders said. To his credit, McNabb never complained. He accepted his role as a leader and took full responsibility whenever the offense struggled. "I think we're very close," McNabb said. "If we can keep everyone in here and form a nucleus with the guys we have around here because we're all young and we're all going to continue to get better and gel on both sides of the ball, I think the sky is the limit for us. I think what you've seen this year is just a sign of what's to come." The Eagles have all their starters signed for next year except Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. The 23-year-old Trotter is a priority in free agency. Philadelphia also is expected to be a league-best $14 million under next year's salary cap and could make other significant signings. The offensive line, anchored by tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan, started all 16 games for the first time in team history. Tight end Chad Lewis had a career year and is headed for the Pro Bowl. On defense, Trotter will be joined by defensive end Hugh Douglas and cornerback Troy Vincent at the Pro Bowl. Defensive tackle Corey Simon had an outstanding rookie year and free safety Brian Dawkins again was solid. The defense did not allow a touchdown in two playoff games. "We had a great season and we will continue to be aggressive in the offseason," owner Jeffrey Lurie said. "We have a solid nucleus and I don't think there's a better foundation." And, it gets better. The Eagles soon will move into a $30 million training facility across the street from Veterans Stadium, the infamous turf at the Vet will be replaced by a newer, softer surface and a new stadium is scheduled to open in 2003. "We look forward to moving into the practice facility," Reid said. "Facilities don't win football games for you, but it will be a nice environment. This turf out here, I really won't be upset that it's gone. "The city of Philadelphia is a tremendous draw for people with the fan base that we have. When you add the other things to it, players talk and they tell each other what kind of environment they have and are working in. I think it becomes appealing to other players around the league."
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