HOUSTON — If the Eagles are going to make a Super Bowl in the near future, former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci believes Howie Roseman, Doug Pederson and Co. would be wise to follow the blueprint of this year’s NFC representative, the Atlanta Falcons.
Three Eagles storylines at Super Bowl 51
“You can go one path and make sure your offensive line is fantastic,” Mariucci, an NFL Network analyst, told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday, when asked what he believes it will take for the Eagles to build a team capable of competing for championships. “That’s how the Falcons got better this year. They added Alex Mack, a Pro Bowler at center, and then all five of them started the whole year and played very well most of the time. You have the Dallas Cowboys who have drafted first-rounders along the offensive line. They make a rookie quarterback look great because they run the ball, they pass-protect. It starts there. That’s one thought.
“Another thought is to add some weapons like Julio Jones. But, if you’re under duress as a quarterback all the time weapons can’t get the ball very often. I think there’s a little bit of that at play with them, too. They had some offensive line issues with Lane Johnson getting suspended … Then Big V gets hurt. They had some problems with that right tackle position and pressure in the face of a right-handed quarterback and that’s an issue. Some of those things get shored up in Year 2.”
How does Eagles D stack up to Falcons, Pats?
The Eagles will likely make adding offensive firepower around Carson Wentz a top offseason priority much in the same mold of the Falcons aggressively trading up in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Jones, drafted in Matt Ryan’s fourth season, certainly exemplifies the value of having a play-making wide receiver at the disposal of a young quarterback.
Fast forward to Ryan’s tenth NFL season and the Falcons enter Sunday’s showdown against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI led by the NFL’s highest rated offense.
Even after finishing 7-9 and watching Wentz go through some growing pains in the second half of the season, Mariucci says he believes that the Eagles have a sturdy foundation to build on.
Comparing Eagles offense to Falcons, Pats
“You know, they started out great and then I suppose reality sets in,” Mariucci said. “There’s a process that a young quarterback has and goes through. Carson Wentz is the exact right guy over there. They’ll be better on both sides of the ball next year since it’s the second-year in. They know what they need. They know how to improve that team. I think they’re doing a heck of a job. They’re right on course. They’re right on track.
“I think they’ll add a receiver or two, they’re going to bolster their offensive line, they’re going to add some help in the secondary to keep the games closer. A little here, a little there, but with Doug Pederson they’re on the right path.”
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardo975.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
