Rookies Will Be the Key For the Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles reached the NFC Conference Championship game for the fifth time behind quarterback Donovan McNabb, but like most of the other times they lost. For the upcoming 2009 season the rookies will be the key.
The Eagles offense has several rookie starters that will make or break the season for them. The two main players are tight end Brent Celek and rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin
Celek will be a rookie starting tight end next year for the Eagles. That has happened, because in the 2008 post season Celek was a monster catching 19 passes for 151 yards with three touchdowns. His performance in the post season then led the Eagles to let starting tight end LJ Smith walk in free agency.
Maclin carries all the hopes that Eagles have been waiting for. That being a star wide receiver since wide receiver Terrell Owens left town, but even before that the Eagles have not had a wide reciever go to the Pro Bowl, besides Owens in 2005, since Fred Barnett in 1993.
The problem is that wide receivers usually take three years to develop, which may be too long since McNabb turns 33 in November.
Unfortunately, the 2009 season may be one where they come up just short again. That is unless these two rookies turn in solid years.