The global pandemic has been at the heart of all things 2020 and has taken a lot of the air out of the sails of the NFL season. Usually riding a high at this point in the year with training camps ramping up and preseason on the horizon, this year just doesn't feel the same. The whole process has overshadowed a lot of exciting moves and adjustments the Eagles have made this offseason. Combined with some of the developing storylines from last season, there is a ton of intriguing storylines to follow for Philadelphia's 2020 season. Let's count some of the most exciting for Eagles fans to look forward to - starting with number five:
5) Captain Carson
Bidding adieu to Nick Foles before last season, after inking Carson Wentz to a big-money contract, the Eagles made it clear that this was Wentz' team. Yet some were still on the fence. There were murmurs inside and outside the locker room that not all the players, nor Eagles fans, were completely on board. Now in his second season under his new contract, Carson will look to cement his place and entrench himself as the hands-down leader of the Birds.
The young players seem to already have bought in. Greg Ward and Miles Sanders -- as well as possibly every member of the offensive line -- went out of their way to praise Wentz's leadership in 2019. Off the field, it seemed as if the team was slowly getting more comfortable with Carson at the center of it all. Then came the playoff bid.
Wentz almost single-handedly dragged a beleaguered offense to the playoffs. We all know about the numbers he put up and the records he set. What was more impressive was the team banding around him. Once a man knee-deep in controversy, he pulled up his bootstraps and made something out of nothing. In 2019, Carson became the clear leader of the Eagles.
A leader is something the Eagles will need in 2020. Malcolm Jenkins and Nigel Bradham are gone, Brandon Brooks is out and Lane Johnson has already come into conflict with something that may become a recurring issue this season. With the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, the faith that Wentz can lead any group of players to a winning season is paramount.
Now in his fifth season, coming off an incredible season and an NFL Top 100 Players snub, I am very excited to see how Carson can bring this group together.
4) DT Dominance
The general consensus was that any team with Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson in their defensive tackle rotation couldn't possibly need more star power. Howie Roseman disagreed; and so the Eagles added 27-year old stud Javon Hargrave. When the news broke, Eagles fans licked their chops as opposing interior offensive lineman shuddered. That combination is a nightmare, and there's no way around it.
After two straight seasons of almost 80% of the defensive snaps, Fletcher Cox actually had a down season in 2019. That didn't stop him from being the second-best pass rusher at his position or cracking the NFL Top 100 list. The truth is he's been working with mediocre help on the inside. The Eagles had hoped that Malik Jackson would be able to provide some aid before he was lost for the season in Week 1. This season, Jackson will be the third option.
Having Jackson return from injury and adding Hargrave doesn't just give the Eagles the deepest DT group in the league, it also allows them to do something most teams can't -- switch it up. How many teams in the league have three starting-caliber defensive tackles? Frankly, it won't be that surprising to see all three guys on the field at the same time, with Jackson bumping out to a 5 or 7-tech. It gets me giddy.
A DC's fantasy, as well as an OC's nightmare, this defensive line will be one of the most exciting to watch in 2020. If any of the young defensive ends can develop into legitimate stars, it may be one of the best defensive lines we've ever seen.
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Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
3) Speed Kills
Howie Roseman set out on a quest to make the Eagles a faster team in 2020. There's no question that he accomplished this on both sides of the football. The Eagles draft class, which included three linemen, was the most athletic of any team. They will welcome back DeSean Jackson and also added Marquise Goodwin (a track star -- who we won't see until 2021), Darius Slay (ran a 4.36 coming into the NFL), Jatavis Brown (85th percentile speed, ran a 4.49) and Nickell Robey-Coleman (89th percentile agility score).
The defense may be one of the most athletic in football. Paired with a group of physical monsters on the defensive line, the back seven will be made up of players that are among the quickest at their position. Along with Slay and NRC, Avonte Maddox (99th percentile agility), Rodney McLeod (98th percentile agility), and Jalen Mills (87th percentile agility) will be the presumed starters in the secondary. Nathan Gerry (100th percentile agility) and Duke Riley (87th percentile agility) will likely play alongside T.J. Edwards - who is the only player of the bunch that isn't in the top percentile in that category. Good luck pulling a fast one on that group.
On offense the Eagles will come stocked with burners all over the field. Rookie Jalen Reagor will spell DeSean Jackson on the outside, with Miles Sanders and Boston Scott rotating in the backfield. Any of those players can take it to the house. The loss of Marquise Goodwin is nothing to scoff at but allows opportunities for the other speedsters the Eagles added in the draft. John Hightower (4.43) and Quez Watkins (4.35) will compete for depth spots at receiver. Whoever wins that battle, there will be no shortage of speed on offense for the Eagles.
To Howie Roseman: mission accomplished. To Eagles fans: Buckle your seatbelts.
2) The Eagles have a Special Secondary
Speaking of that defensive back seven, it will be a fascinating group to watch in 2020. In addition to the athletic potential of the group as a whole, almost every player brings a heap of versatility to the table. Outside of Darius Slay, every player has spent some time in their career playing all over the field.
Nickel Robey Coleman will likely exclusively play in the slot, but has spent time on the outside as well. Will Parks lined up at almost every position imaginable in Denver. The Eagles have used Rodney McLeod all over the formation. Avonte Maddox has played slot, outside corner, and safety for the Eagles. Even Jalen Mills will look to transition to safety after spending his NFL career at corner. Eagles fans have endured years of heartbreak thanks to the secondary, but that may all be in the past now.
This leaves a whole lot of options on the board for Jim Schwartz, who has always loved to play the match-ups game. We may see the Eagles on the verge of positionless football in 2020 -- at least in the secondary. It will be an incredibly difficult task to game plan for this bunch.
Sure the Eagles will miss Malcolm Jenkins, but the possibilities that this secondary brings to the table are endless. Movement, mismatches and mischief will be all over the field on defense -- and I'm all for it.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
1) MVP Miles
How could Miles Sanders not be number one on the list? After exploding onto the scene midway through last season, putting up numbers only a handful of other backs have ever accomplished, Miles is back -- this time with a new goal in mind. In May a video circulated of Sanders' offseason training titled MVP year.
A running back hasn't won the NFL MVP award since Adrian Peterson in 2012, but that won't stop Sanders from speaking it into existence. While he may not reach that plateau, what he could mean for this offense is immeasurable. There's simply not much the man can't do. Seeing what Christian McCaffery has been able to do with the Carolina Panthers, it seems the time is now for do-it-all backs in the NFL. Miles Sanders could easily follow in his footsteps and Eagles fans would be purring to see him do so.
The Philadelphia offense, led by the beautiful mind of Doug Pederson is just as equipped to make a star out of the young RB, but won't be as dependent on him. That means fresher legs for Miles, who knows exactly how to take advantage. Flashes of the 65-yard touchdown in Buffalo should have fans chomping at the bit for 2020. It's a scene that could become commonplace in the upcoming season.
It may not mean an MVP award, but you can write Miles Sanders as a top ten running back in 2020 in pen. It's happening.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
