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Let's not forget the architect.
In an Eagles season that went from disappointing to suddenly exhilarating and meaningful in a matter of weeks, credit is being handed out left and right.
Doug Pederson deserves his share. As does Carson Wentz. Throw in the leaders, assistant coaches and resolve in the locker room. The ingredients of an improbable division-winning team are vast.
And that includes the man responsible for every single one of those ingredients: Howie Roseman.
It's been an odd year for Roseman, an executive that went from fully trusted to ripped in a matter of months. After pointing out all the ways that the Eagles offseason plan failed to produce a team capable of dominating the NFC and criticizing the typically-aggressive executive for showing rare resolve at the trade deadline, it's time to say this: Roseman was right more than he was wrong. Roseman's been ripped a ton (including by me), so it seems only fair to even the score as we get set to watch the Eagles in the playoffs for the third straight season.
Here's where Roseman was right when building the 2019 NFC East champions:
-The pass rush was good enough without Jadeveon Clowney, and surrendering high draft picks and 2020 cap space (Clowney's deal wasn't eligible for a restructure at the time he was dealt) would have been shortsighted for the production (3.0 sacks, 31 tackles) the former top pick provided this season.
-Jalen Ramsey was a luxury item for a team that needed to save its draft capital. Los Angeles missed the playoffs after dealing a top pick for Ramsey. The Eagles made it in, with young cornerback depth playing well down the stretch.
-The pass catchers were good enough without a big-name upgrade. Somehow, someway, the Eagles moved the ball just fine without adding a big-name wide receiver at the trade deadline.
-Yes, it's frustrating to think about how much time players like Boston Scott (three touchdowns in the clincher) and Greg Ward (28 receptions in seven games) spent on the practice squad. But they wouldn't have been on the practice squad to begin with if not for Roseman and his scouting team. That also applies to Joshua Perkins (four receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD), Deontay Burnett (two receptions, 48 yards), T.J. Edwards, Matt Pryor (more than capable fill-in snaps for the injured Brandon Brooks) and Anthony Rush, all of whom played a real role in the clincher. Sunday's 34-17 win over the Giants included 272 yards of offense and four touchdowns from players Roseman stashed away for a worst-case scenario. That worst-case scenario occurred, and the team still found a way to win.
-Halapoulivaati Vaitai's presence on the roster seemed superfluous after Andre Dillard's selection in the first round of last spring's draft. When trade winds were blowing in the summer, holding on to Vaitai seemed like a silly Roseman proposition. Lane Johnson's injuries and Dillard's inability to handle right tackle made Roseman look prescient. Much like pitchers in baseball, you can't have too many capable offensive linemen.
-Miles Sanders (second-round pick), Jordan Howard (acquired for a conditional sixth-round pick) and Scott combined to form one of the best ground games in the league.
-Brandon Graham bounced back from an off 2018, and rewarded Roseman for a new contract by posting 8.5 sacks and having an outstanding season vs. the run.
Roseman's initial plan and vision for a dominant, high-octane offense went awry when injuries wiped out the entire receiving unit. The plan for a dominant inside pass rush ended with Malik Jackson's early-season foot injury. But it didn't end the season, rather just changed its course.
The 2019 Eagles were often (and logically) compared to the disappointing and mediocre 2019 Phillies. But what that comparison failed to account for was the thing that separates the Eagles from most of the NFL (and certainly how the Phillies are currently run): A front office in constant search of capable depth and a team that realizes it's only as strong as its weakest link.
That's a major testament to Roseman, the architect of a team that just kept coming up with answers to a seemingly-impossible test down the stretch of this season.
