Sunday, June 6, 2010

Eight Key Questions That Will Define the Philadelphia Eagles 2010 Season

PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 20: Jamaal Jackson #67 of the Philadelphia Eagles Eagles lines up against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field on December 20, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Part 2 of 9

2. Will center be a fatal flaw?


The loss of center Jamaal Jackson happened to coincide with a total meltdown of the Eagles offense at the end of last season. Prior to the injury, the Birds were the most prolific scoring unit in club history, afterward not so much.


The team's 429 points after 15 games broke the franchise record set a season earlier, but the number did not move when the Eagles laid a goose egg in Dallas with the division on the line to end the regular season. They followed that up with a 14 point "outburst" in the Wild Card contest the following week.


Both games were marked by a total dominance by the Cowboys at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, but especially against the Eagles offensive unit. Donovan McNabb appeared to be accessorizing his midnight green uni with Cowboys players as they were draped all over him.


In light of this, it is surprising the Eagles brass has not placed higher priority on shoring up this position for the upcoming season. Jackson's knee reconstruction will likely keep him off the field until at least mid-season, but regardless of the timing, there is considerable question as to how effective he will be.


What is the plan? And, like the crash landing at the end of last season, will this be a fatal flaw that kills the overall offensive effectiveness?


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