2010 Philadelphia Eagles Preview: 4 Key Players to Watch

As the 2010 NFL Season approaches, there may not be a team in the league who has gone through as much transition as the Philadelphia Eagles. Gone are the likes of former Eagles stalwarts, RB Brian Westbrook, CB Sheldon Brown, LB Jeremiah Trotter, and TE Alex Smith. 
And let's not forget to mention that the former franchise quarterback and face of the team, Donovan McNabb, was traded to the Washington Redskins in a blockbuster move that sent shock waves throughout the entire NFL.

Though these former players were mainstays on a very successful Eagles team that went to a Super Bowl and a string of NFC title games, the new youth movement is fully underway in Philadelphia as the likes of Desean Jackson, Brent Celek, and Brandon Graham make up a young and talented nucleus. 



With the beginning of the 2010 NFL regular season approaching, there are four players who made hold the key to whether the Eagles continue their winning ways, or whether this upcoming season will serve as a rebuilding year. Each of these four players represent an area of the Eagles football team that must emerge if they are to compete with the likes of the NFC's Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Minnesota Vikings.
It is fair to say that the success of the Eagles in 2010 will depend heavily on how these four players perform.

My list of the 4 key Philadelphia Eagles of 2010 are::



4. Linebacker Stewart Bradley. The Eagles were manhandled by the Dallas Cowboys in their final two games of 2009, and it was apparent that the Middle Linebacker position was vital to the success of their defense. Recovering from a torn ACL that cost him the 2009 season, Bradley must return to his 2008 form when he anchored the Philadelphia defense, while placing second on the team with 151 tackles.

3. Center/Guard Nick Cole. Forced to play out of his natural position due to the injury to starting center Jamaal Jackson, Cole saw action at the center position at the end of the 2009 season and performed average. With Jackson's status unsure and with the advent of a brand new quarterback, it is imperative that Cole use the pre-season to hone his skills and utilize his great upside to become a steady option at the center spot.

2. Running Back Lesean McCoy. During the 2009 NFL season McCoy ranked third among NFL rookies in rushing with 637 yards, which broke the Eagles rookie record. He also ranked second in total yards with 945. After the departure of Brian Westbrook, the Eagles faithful are expecting even bigger things from the second-year back. His style and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield fit nicely into coach Andy Reid's offensive philosophy. For the Eagles offense to operate on all cylinders, they will need to improve their rushing attack.

1. Quarterback Kevin Kolb. This is a no-brainer. As the heir to one of Philadelphia's greatest and most successful quarterbacks in Donovan McNabb, there is much pressure on Kolb to step in and demonstrate why that dramatic trade was worthwhile. Kolb has an arsenal of talented young receivers along with the full confidence of his pass-happy head coach. Hopefully, he will build upon that foundation and play with the poise and accuracy that we've seen small glimpses of over the past few years. If Kolb plays anywhere near to above-average, then this Philadelphia Eagles team has a chance to compete with just about any team in the NFC. If he plays like an average first-year starting quarterback, then this season could turn out to be a bumpy ride, or one that features the re-emergence of back-up QB Michael Vick. Time will tell.

SOURCES

PhiladelphiaEagles.Com
ESPN.COM
Sports.Yahoo.Com
NFL.Com
Philly.Com