The Eagles receiving corp. is probably the strongest it’s ever been. It’s a very talented group that has a good blend of speed and size.
I would like to see this unit become more efficient and not so reliant on the deep ball. Of course, a lot of that has to do with coaching and the team’s philosophy.
Behind closed doors, are the Eagles truly satisfied with their receivers or do they see any adjustments in the future.
DESEAN JACKSON
Jackson is a two time Pro Bowler with a lot of star power. He’s the league’s most dangerous deep threat. There are a lot of positives with DeSean’s presence on the field, but he does have his flaws.
Although he gain over 1000 yards receiving yards for the second year in a row, one statistic concerns me: 47 receptions out of 96 targets.
Those aren’t good numbers when it pertains to arguably your best receiver. Some of the passes were dropped. Others were forced and the chances of a 5’10” target winning a jump ball battle are very slim.
Having said that, you can’t deny the effect Jackson has on a defense’s gameplan. By forcing opposing safeties to pay attention to him, he helps open up the middle of the field for running backs and tight ends.
Going into the final year of his rookie contract, Jackson is anticipating a huge pay increase. The lack of a new CBA has prevented an extension thus far.
Once a new deal is reached, I’m curious to how much the Eagles front office values him. Jackson deserves a new contract but he’s not worth Larry Fitzgerald money.
JEREMY MACLIN
The 2009 1st round pick from Missouri has quietly turned into the Eagles most balanced and reliable receiver. Maclin was second on the team in receptions (70), had 10 touchdowns and was less than 40 yards shy of his first 1000 yard season.
It’s been stated that wide receivers usually get a full grasp of the offense by their third season. I expect an even bigger improvement 
from Maclin in 2011.
JASON AVANT
Every team should want a Jason Avant on their roster. He’s not concerned about statistics or being the highest paid player.
He understands his strength and weaknesses and plays to the best of his abilities. Avant is the receiver quarterbacks look for on third down because he has the best hands and he’s not afraid to go over the middle and take a hit.
RILEY COOPER
The rookie from Florida looked just that in 2010, a rookie. As noted on the season ending interception Cooper allowed against Green Bay, he has lot to learn.
At 6’3, 222lbs, Cooper has the potential to be a huge threat in the red zone. Then again, Eagles fans hoped Hank Baskett would do the same thing a few years ago.
At this point, the keyword for Cooper is potential. He has enough speed to go with his size to earn a lot of playing time. He needs to get stronger and more comfortable with the offense.
CHAD HALL
During Eagles games this past season, one sight that always made me cringe was seeing Chad Hall line up in the backfield.
I’m still trying to understand how Hall made the final roster last year and Kelley Washington didn’t.
SINORICE MOSS
The Eagles signed Santana Moss’ younger in January. After missing the 2010 season due to a sports hernia, he’s looked at as a low risk/high reward guy.
Moss was a 2nd round pick out of the Univ. of Miami in 2006 for the New York Giants. How he handles kickoff and punt returns will determine how long he’s an Eagle.
ROD HARPER/JEREMY WILLIAMS
Both players were signed days after the Eagles Wildcard loss to Green Bay. Williams and Harper are around the same size (6’0”, 205lbs).
I don’t expect to see much of them after the preseason.
2011 Forecast
I don’t expect any significant changes to the Eagles wide receiver unit. The key issue will be how DeSean Jackson’s contract is addressed once a new CBA is reached.
Outside of having someone like Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson or Calvin Johnson on their roster the Eagles receiving group is in pretty good shape.
I would love to see them pick up somebody like Randall Cobb out of Kentucky to be a more effective runner/receiver than Chad Hall.
I think the most overrated group on the team,,
Yes D-JAx is explosive and is a major weapon and big play receiver
But he adds nothing to the Red-Zone and obviously with his small size is not
going to do the short slants,drag routes too offten and doesn’t block too well in the running game… Maclin is a good all around REceiver who can run all the routes and has decent size and strength, I think he stepped up last season and really overcame his running in fear like he had his rookie season.. the Sky is the limit for him and he also has improved with catching the ball in traffic.. J Avant is a good Outlet & Possesion receiver, he’s a good blocker and can make the tough catches, he lacks any real speed to run away from anyone though.. Rile Cooper has potential to be that Red-Zone Target the Eagles have been missing for years.. I hope to see him on the field a lot more often and especially once they get within the 30 yard line of the End-Zone.. It should be Maclin,Cooper & Avant once inside the Red-Zone and D-jax should be off the field in my opinion..With thght spots and less room to run, it doesn”t make sense for D-Jax to be out there even for Decoy purposes since the field is limited to 20-30 yrads for the defenders to cover… C Hall is a nice story but does not belong in the NFL and I do like the pick-up of Siniorice Moss who has much more talent and speed as a return guy and a 4th/5th WR. If Moss’s knee is 100%, this could turn out to be a great off-season pick-up.
The Eagles should sign Plexico Burress…….. Look at Mike Williams for the Seahawks who had a great season under Pete Carroll……. Ink him in for a two year deal just like they did vick and just see how it would work out……. Make him the 5th wr and release all the other guys like Chad hall, Jeremy Williams, and Rod Harper…….. I’ll keep 6 wr’s on this roster this season with the addition of S. moss….. ANd Please Philly No and I mean NO MORE Hank Baskett….. PLEASE!!! GO EAGLES!!!
I heard thru a Washington SOurce of mine that Jason Werth misses Philly so bad that he will come to PHilly after the Nationals Season is over and try out
as the “big receiver” on the team and help out in the Red-Zone..
(you guessed it too, Lenny Dykstra will be his Football Agent..)
Chad Hall didn’t make the final roster over Kelly Washingon, he was brought up mid season.
For the record, Chad Hall was signed to Eagles Practice Squad 9/5/10 (after the final cuts) and then was activated to the big squad on 10/9/10 (before Week #5 Game) and was active for the remaining 14 games and 1 playoff game .
He was bascially with the team all season long…
Jroc, and that got the seahawks where? And the superbowl champ packers had which big receiver?
The goal isn’t to win Madden of fantasy, it’s to win a superbowl.
WR aint our problem. Period.
We should be even better at this position when the Eagles take the field. Cooper, I expect to be more involved and we should see him on some 3rd downs and red zone plays. Avant, was our big play receiver, not the big play for 100 yards, but the big 3rd down great catch type of receiver. Chad Hall, is more of an inspiration than anything else…good example for kids growing up not to give up no matter the odds…I like the WR group we have. The O Line is the only big concern I have on the offensive side of the ball!
***Trade Alert****
Eagles trade QB K Kolb,& DT Mike Patterson to the Seattle Seahawks
for thier 2nd Rd Pick (#49 Overall ) and OLB Aaron Curry (6-2 255lbs) and a
4th Round Pick in 2012, Curry was the 4th Overall Selection in the 1st Round for Seattle back in the 2009 Draft and hasn’t quite lived up to his All-World Talent but played very well down the stretch for them late last season
Seahawks need DT and Mike Patterson played for HC Pete Carroll at USC
while in College.. A win, win for everyone
I know the Eagles wouldn’t want to use an early to mid 2nd rd pick on WR Hankerson, but we could get the best red zone threat & possibly a better receiver then Andre Johnson. He broke the U’s single best season ever and had 14 touchdowns with a QB that’s not real good. Or in the 4th rd we could get 6’2″ 230lb Greg Little, the ex RB who catches everything and is fearless over the middle and after the catch. It would be great to have a real red zone threat like one of those two. Then we’d have 4 dif. types of WR to help bail out Vick when he needs to quickly get rid of the ball.
other than the contract issue with jackson , is avant had some critical ,very bad timed drops last year . yet the next series he will make a great grab. he just wasnt mr consistant as the year before.