— Contrary to the overreaction being heard throughout the talk-radio airwaves of discontent, turning the Philadelphia Eagles into championship contenders again can be achieved in one fundamentally sound offseason.
Granted, that's much easier said than done, but the Eagles have many superb players who can and will win in a different environment that has to be created by the next head coach and/or defensive coordinator.
Heck, had they not lost their three best offensive linemen to injuries, they might be in command of the mediocre NFC East by now instead of in the cellar, and all talk of replacing Andy Reid would have been temporarily suspended at least until the Eagles lose the next conference championship game.
I remember speaking to Joe Banner, then the team president, in the offseason.
"The only thing you can't plan for or really help once it happens is a bunch of injuries at one position," he told me. "There's only so much you can do there."
The words have never proved more prophetic, although Banner and successor Howie Roseman failed badly in rebuilding the line by being too quick to jettison proven competent players.
But that shortcoming has been covered ad nauseum.
Fact is, this dysfunctional group can be fixed to overcome the mistakes of the past in time to make it to the playoffs by the end of next season.
First, the new staff must include one or more persons who can coach winning defense in their sleep, not guys who might be able to be good by getting up earlier than anyone else (Juan Castillo) or definitely don't do it as well as just about anyone else (Todd Bowles).
Without at least one proven defensive mind who can double as a motivator, the Eagles actually will be much worse next year than this one.
Keep in mind that much worse than this year is pretty much an impossibility. But it can be achieved with the precise wrong moves.
Second, they must take some of the money they've seemingly been printing 24 hours a day for the last 15 years and spend it on players as much as windmills for their stadium.
Even Don Quixote would be realistic enough to admit this team is deficient in areas (besides offensive line) that could have been fixed last winter.
This includes safety. This year, they messed up bad, real bad, for counting on Jaiquawn Jarrett to make a quantum leap in his second season — after showing no reason to believe he could do it throughout his first year, after being drafted 54th overall in the biggest leap of faith since ... naming Castillo defensive coordinator two months earlier.
Had they suspected like they should that Jarrett would flop — as any person who used to be able to watch this team practice could have told you — they might have taken a free-agent run at LaRon Landry or some other safety who actually has proved he can play at this level.
One thing is certain now: Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman don't cut it as a regular starting duo. There's a place on the team for the both of them, to be sure. But for both to continue as starters next year would be dangerous. Maybe Allen can keep going, but Coleman should not.
This also includes linebacker, the second least-valued position on the defense (behind safety).
Based on past experience, it would seem this arranged marriage with DeMeco Ryans is doomed for failure, not because of any real shortcomings on the field but in his contract. It calls for him to be paid too much: $6.6 million next season, to be precise.
Assuming they hold on to him beyond this year, not a guarantee in the tight-cap world of the Eagles, they can build with him and Mychal Kendricks and hopefully add the final piece, perhaps a strong-side player who will allow Kendricks to switch to the weak side, where he belongs.
Somewhere out there in next year's draft crop also exists a better punt returner than they have now, although that might not even be necessary if a more sensible coach takes over and realizes the team already has one in DeSean Jackson.
Some tweaks on defense, an offensive line restored to full health and a coaching staff who can install or instill some leadership back into the locker room will make the Eagles playoff qualifiers again in 2013.
How far they go will depend on the quarterback.
Just because Vick has proved he cannot thrive in the system devised by Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, it doesn't mean he couldn't be better in one that puts the football in the hands of LeSean McCoy and the other running backs more.
Vick as a game manager with a less-complicated offense such as the one run by Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco, could finally become a consistent winner, just like the 49ers with Alex Smith.
This is brought up because Harbaugh's successor as head coach at Stanford, David Shaw, will be mentioned for every job except President of the United States in these next couple months. He has plenty of NFL experience and he would run a similar, if not identical, offense when he gets back to the NFL as head coach.
Don't sell the 2013 Eagles short just yet. They have many issues, but none that can't be adequately addressed by the time of their next minicamp in May.
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