Eight Key Questions That Will Define the Philadelphia Eagles 2010 Season

Part 4 of 9

4. Is LeSean McCoy ready to be "the man" in the backfield?

Rookie LeSean McCoy turned in a solid performance in 2009 after coming out of college early. He demonstrated the well rounded running and receiving skills necessary in an Andy Reid offense.

Because former mainstay Brian Westbrook saw limited action due to injuries, McCoy got the lion's share of work at running back.

With one quick call to Westbrook's cell phone in March, Shady officially became "the man." Although others like Leonard Weaver, Mike Bell, and rookie Charles Scott could see considerable action, McCoy's continued development should prove critical to achieving offensive success.

The big question is whether McCoy can take his game from "rookie solid" to become a true threat out of the backfield?

Gone is McNabb's improvisational and deep passing ability. Gone is Westbrook's explosiveness. A little more elusiveness out of the backfield would help to open the passing lanes in a more bunched up offense.

Eight Key Questions That Will Define the Philadelphia Eagles 2010 Season

Part 1 of 9

From the time that the team departed Dallas dazed from dual demolitions at the end of last season until now, the Philadelphia Eagles have engaged in a dramatic make-over.

High profile players exited, new blood was infused, and young players have been elevated to leading roles. With every "OTA", we get a little bit more data and insight that helps to highlight the keys to the upcoming season.

As mini-camp heads toward completion, there are eight key questions that will largely define success for the team in 2010. How these get answered will play a large role in determining whether the Eagles will be a legitimate contender, an also ran, or even a basement dweller.

1. Can Kevin Kolb be all that?

A much chronicled changing of the guard at the quarterback position is, of course, the biggest story of the offseason. And, it will continue to be the biggest storyline and key to the upcoming season.

Kevin Kolb, fresh off three NFL regular season starts, has been handed the role that had been held down for 10 plus seasons by Donovan McNabb.

There is considerable confidence amongst the team and fanbase that Kolb will more than adequately fill the shoes of the best quarterback in franchise history.

In fact, there is abundant sentiment that the team will be better off with the new signal caller as he might be a better fit for the "West Coast" scheme and considering the laundry list of McNabb transgressions, ranging from throwing accuracy to air guitar.

Bravado aside, Kolb is going to have to prove it between the white lines. Surrounded with an arsenal of weapons, Kolb will need to do more than rack up yards.

He will also need to avoid the turnovers that have dotted his NFL career thus far. There is no quicker path to the basement than a gratuitous ration of balls on the ground or passes to the wrong color uniform.

Forget the bag chips— the biggest question this year is whether Kevin Kolb will be all that?

Many Unanswered Questions on the Eagles Remain

As the Philadelphia Eagles prepare for their third pre-season game tomorrow night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, many questions still linger regarding the team and how they will fare in the upcoming season. By most accounts, the team had a very productive off season after a run to the NFC Championship Game in January, so on paper, the Eagles appeared to be a Super Bowl contender before training camp opened.

Now that a few weeks have passed, that assessment seems a bit more tenuous as several question marks still persist, while others have arisen. The biggest concerns surround the health of the team's offensive line. After all, as the NFL coaching fraternity tends to say, everything starts up front- and this is particularly true with the pass heavy Eagles offensive approach.

Concerns are not limited to the front line, though. Obviously, several emanate from a recent team addition as an hour does not pass without a TV or news blurb on the topic. Depending on how these lingering issues unfold, the fate of the team could vary widely. As testimony to the high competitive balance in the NFL, the Eagles season could range from disappointing to conceivably competing for the Super Bowl title.

Here are some, but surely not all, of the questions surrounding the 2009-2010 edition of the Eagles:

▪ Can Stacy Andrews and Jason Peters fulfill their advance billing and measure up to the team's commitment to them? At this point, even more pressing is whether they will see the field?
▪ Will Shawn Andrews find his way back onto the field on a regular basis? If so, will he return to the Pro Bowl form of the past?
▪ Can rookies Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy make the adjustment to the NFL well enough to contribute similarly to DeSean Jackson last season? Both show flashes of wonderful potential that needs to be consistently present as the team is probably relying on their contributions more than any rookies in previous seasons in the Andy Reid era.
▪ Will Bryan Westbrook come close to the form that he showed in the 2007-2008 season, or will he be last season's part-time, limited performer?
▪ Will Michael Vick add enough to the offense to compensate for the distractions and make his signing worthwhile? On a more basic level, will he fulfill his commitment to the team in regard to conduct and behavior?
▪ Can Donovan McNabb continue where he left off in January? Will he prosper or falter through the almost inevitable quarterback controversies that will ensue?
▪ Can Joe Mays or Omar Gaither step up to fill the big hole created by MLB Stewart Bradley's season ending injury?
▪ Will a true leader emerge on the defense to fill the vacated shoes of the former Eagles icon Brian Dawkins?
▪ Will the players and coaches respond well to the Michael Vick experiment by not allowing the distractions to disrupt team chemistry or game preparation?
▪ Can the secondary come together to once again become a team strength needed to make their defensive scheme work?
▪ Can Sean McDermott come close to replacing one the NFL's best and most beloved defensive coordinators, Jim Johnson?

Tomorrow night, Reid and his coaching staff hope to gain some valuable insight and possibly gather some answers. Certainly, other questions will remain that will only be answered under the spotlight of the network cameras, when the games count in the regular season. All teams have question marks as they head into each campaign, but this Eagles team would seem to have more than its fair share, particularly considering that they are widely viewed as Super Bowl contenders.