No matter who your team is, Skins or Gentiles, we all know how massively talented a team lies in Philadelphia. The thing we can't seem to wrap our minds around is, why they can't seem to get it together right now.
One idea people are kicking around is that it's all Andy Reid's fault. Play calling. Coaching changes. All of it. In my opinion, if he doesn't do something with this group of super friends this year, he will be in the unemployment line himself.
Another idea people seem to have is that the fault is with star quarterback Michael Vick. He's the on the field leader, so he has to lead... right? Besides no one can catch the guy... well, unless your front five doesn't block for you (Need proof? Go find Jason Campbell or Donovan McNabb).
A third excuse is the hype surrounding the team sent over the moon after backup quarterback Vince Young's statement calling the organization "The Dream Team." After the team's fourth loss, Michael Vick allegedly cancelled the radio show appearances he had in Philly... seemingly to avoid exposure.
My assessment? Lack of chemistry.
On defense, there are only four returning starters; not to mention all but four players in the entire secondary (including bench players) are new. 7 out of 11 guys being new... that's a lot of change.
On offense, the story remains the same. There's just one guy on the offensive line who started last year that is starting this year at the same position (Dunlap). Herremans started last year as a guard and has moved to tackle (more change). Thus making room for two new guards (one of which is a rookie -- more change), and a new rookie center -- the guy who calls the blocking schemes (now if that's not a crap load of change in one position, I don't know what is). 60% change from last year.
I'm not saying that the players they have in the positions they're playing won't work. I'm just saying it requires time. Time that they didn't have. Time that no team had because there was no offseason. When you don't have time to allow your players to gel together as a unit (as important as it is on an offensive or defensive line), it could potentially create a problem. It's like these guys playing Mario Brothers, losing their last man on level 9 and then having to hit the reset button and start over at level 1.
Conversely, you do have a shot in this with no time if the guy who is stockpiling your talent chooses players who fit your scheme. Smart guys who know how to pull it together at the flip of a switch for the good of the organization. Guys who work really hard and go the extra mile to pull out the win even after giving up a lead or giving away points. These guys find a way to build chemistry. They find a way to work together.
For years, we ask the same puzzling question in Washington: "Why do all the players we pick leave town and play better someplace else??!"
The answer is, they just didn't fit here. Whether the disconnect was with the other players, or the with the coaching staff, there just wasn't enough chemistry for that person to excel and help our team win.
Now the adverse has happened with the same result: A bunch of great players leaving their teams and coming together and playing below average.
No chemistry.
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