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Source: Dave Spadaro, philadelphiaeagles.com [ Full Article ]

I'm not going to tell you everything in free agency is going according to plan. But I'm also not going to submit to the negativity coming from the airwaves about this football team.

The Eagles did not retain wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and they lost their bid for restricted free agent linebacker Ryan Fowler and now they must recover.

And they must do so as a team, together, with a singular focus in mind: The objective is to make this team as good as it can possibly be for September and beyond.

Here are the areas the team needs to improve, from this perspective.


RUN DEFENSE

This is the very first priority, and all along the idea was that the Eagles were going to primarily improve from within. Simply put, the Eagles are turning to their draft to get better.

Last year's draft, in particular.

Brodrick Bunkley has to be a man this year. He has to be a contributor. There is no defensive tackle on the market or in the draft -- at No. 26, anyway -- who has the upside Bunkley has. The Eagles, like every other NFL team, thought Bunkley had superstar ability 12 months ago.

But we know his rookie season was a washout: He missed 29 practices because of a contract holdout. He came in out of football shape. He gave nothing to this defensive line.

Is it risky putting so much faith in Bunkley? My answer is this: Isn't everything risky in the NFL? The Eagles invested a first-round draft pick in him and they have spent a full season with him. When the off-season conditioning program begins next week, Bunkley must be here and must be ready to be committed to becoming the best player he can be.

And, yes, the warning signal was sent out to the linebacking crew with the interest in Fowler. There is no denying that. The Eagles have to be better at linebacker, and they were willing to invest a sizable amount in a relatively unknown player to do do.

Next? There are going to be chances to acquire linebackers both in the draft, in trades, from players who have fallen out of favor with their teams.

Chris Gocong is going to get every rep needed to provide a complete picture to this team. Jeremiah Trotter is going to report to training camp in the best shape of his life and we will see if he can still play at a Pro Bowl level. Youngsters Torrance Daniels, Omar Gaither and Matt McCoy need to improve. Dhani Jones is still the starter at SAM at the moment, but clearly he is being challenged.

Stop the run. The Eagles know offenses are going to line up and try to smash-mouth this defense into the ground, as the Saints did in the playoff loss. The defense must become more stout at the point of attack.


IMPROVE DEPTH IN SECONDARY

By retaining William James and Quintin Mikell, the Eagles provided some veteran experience and quality depth at both cornerback and safety. Now they are going to have to turn to the draft and get even better back there.

Both positions are said to be strong in the draft, so why not add to these areas in the first day? Lito Sheppard is a Pro Bowl cornerback, while Sheldon Brown appeared to be on the cusp until an only-OK season last year. Brown needs to be better. Sheppard needs to be better. James must stay healthy and contribute and I'm all for adding a kid the Eagles think has the highest of upsides to this group.

At safty, Sean Considine is the starter at strong safety, with Mikell pushing. Brian Dawkins remains the game's elite at free safety, but the Eagles also have to look to the near future here and get younger.

Hey, they could go the free agent route here, too. There are a fistful of good safeties still out there. There always seem to be safeties out there. If the Eagles choose to sign a safety, they can do that, too.


WIN ON SPECIAL TEAMS

Maybe the addition of Bethel Johnson can add a fire to the special teams return game, although he hasn't been a punt return man for a long period of time in the NFL. Johnson is as fast as they come, and he will give Jeremy Bloom a run -- pun intended -- for his money.

The coverage units also have to be a whole lot better this year. The Eagles kept their special teams MVP, Mikell, and they retained Juqua Thomas, another good coverage player. But they must get better here, too, and that usually shakes out in the draft and post-draft period.

I like the fact that the Eagles have some experienced youngsters ready to go on special teams. They were very, very young last year. Those kids gained some valuable playing time and should be better now.


POWER RUNNING GAME

This goes hand-in-hand with the idea that there is no proven No. 2 running back behind Brian Westbrook. Free agency would seem the direction to take, and there remain plenty of good players still on the market, including Correll Buckhalter.

I think the Eagles are going to run the ball a lot this year. I'm not suggesting this offense will become Ground Reid, but the Eagles saw the benefits of trusting an outstanding offensive line and getting the ball into Westbrook's hands last year. That is going to continue. Westbrook is as valuable and as productive and, yes, as good as any back in the league (L.T. included, I'm saying and I mean it) because he has such incredible versatility.

But the Eagles need a different style of runner behind Westbrook. Could it be Buckhalter? Maybe. Another one from the decent-sized group still out there? Possible.

Wait and see. We should know in the next several days, I'm guessing.

Ryan Moats is a real mystery, as I've said many times. I am waiting to see how/if the Eagles can get him on the field and get the ball in his hands.


REPLACE STALLWORTH'S PRODUCTION

Here is what Stallworth brought to the offense last year: A weapon with a great burst and a deep threat. I am not buying all of this sky-is-falling junk because Stallworth is gone. He was a good player here. He helped.

But he is able to be replaced.

Now, I know the Eagles are high on their kids, and they should be. Reggie Brown is a fine receiver. Hank Baskett learned the offense quickly and caught 22 passes. Jason Avant didn't play as much, but he has excellent receiving skills. Greg Lewis plays his role well here.

Do the Eagles need more?

It wouldn't hurt. Hey, I think the offense is fine right now. The line is great. Westbrook is the bread-winner. Donovan McNabb is on schedule in his rehab and A.J. Feeley is a quality No. 2 quarterback. L.J. Smith is a good tight end and Matt Schobel showed last year, especially late, that he is an option down the field.

The Eagles could use a jolt at wide receiver, yes. Johnson has that top-end speed, but he has never demonstrated a consistent ability to be productive in the NFL. And judging the Eagles' interest in Kevin Curtis -- he came in for a visit last week and remained unsigned as of Tuesday morning -- the team appears to want to add to wide receiver.

So we shall see how it unfolds. Curtis is still alive. The draft is rich at the position. Teams are going to look to shed receivers, as New Orleans did with Stallworth. The Eagles will find their help, if they decide to go in that direction.

I know how it is for Eagles fans right now. On Friday, the Eagles appeared poised to strike. They had both Curtis and Fowler in and the players were smiling and shaking hands and playing the part. Stallworth was still on the market.

Now, the picture has changed a bit, right? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean the door has closed and the opportunity to improve has gone away.

What is means is that free agency is taking some turns that weren't expected. The outside world can say what it wants. Inside, the Eagles have to stay focused together and proceed through another day in an off-season that is still early in the making.