With NFL training camps less than two weeks from opening, the excitement of the pigskin is starting to build in my gut. And, once again, my local team, the Philadelphia Eagles, are wondering if the window to win the Super Bowl has closed. With an aging and possibly fragile Donovan McNabb at the helm in the final year of his contract, it would seem that this season is do or die. But do they have enough pieces to make the move first to the top of the NFC East? A spot the NY Giants parlayed intoi a stunning playoff run, capped by a historic whupping of the heavily favored & unbeaten Patriots on the biggest of pro sports stages for the crown of pro football kinds for a season.
The University of California may have contributed a key cog to the Birds' machine in DeSean Jackson. The second round draft pick may feel as though he was slighted when he slipped from the big bucks of the first round to the waiting arms of Andy Reid and his "West Coast" offense. One complaint of the fans, and criticism by observers, was that Big Red's attack didn't have a vertical threat to open up the short passing routes and running lanes for Brian Westbrook. There's no question that the fleet feel of DJ can fill that role, IF he can get off the line against bigger cornerbacks. Being about 170 pounds soaking wet won't help Eagle fans rest assured he is strong enough to do just that, but all reports are that DeSean has been working his rear off to learn. He's missed mini-camp time with a balky hamstring - an injury that can really hamper a speed guy. But if he can shake that, he may be the rare rookie that Reid will give some key offensive duties. But even if he has spot appearances with the first team, his other specialty could be even more important. The Pac-10 record-holder with six punt return TD's could energize special teams that were lifeless in 2007 and cost them the opener in Green Bay, as well as held the team back in other games. College teams after watching him baffle Tennessee in the opener last season stopped punting within a full Zip code of Jackson - pro teams won't do that until he proves he can make them pay ala Devin Hester of Chicago. And his 4.2 speed is in Hester's realm, along with some major nifty feet, so it's possible.
So it could be, as DJ goes, so go the Eagles. And with Golden Bear teammate Mike Gibson also selected by Philly, adding depth to a thin and aging offensive line, who knows what can happen? Therefore fellow Cal fans, rooting for an Eagle Super Bowl run and an end to the endless disappointments the equally passionate Bird fans have felt in the last quarter century could coincide with our own angst about our long wait to return to the Rose Bowl... we'll be waiting on pins and needles to see if January 2008 will give us that chance! 