One bright spot of the season was special teams. Here Trey Burton scores the Birds 11th return TD of the season. This score against the Giants was their third from a blocked punt this season. Photo by Andy Lewis / contrastphotography.com

When their team’s record reached 9-3, most Eagles fans, observers, players and the coaching staff had bought into the belief that this was going to be a special season.

And for good reason.

Despite losing their starting quarterback, Nick Foles eight games into the season plus the services of linebacker DeMeco Ryans, the heart and soul of the Birds defense, in the same game against Houston, and despite losing five starting-level offensive linemen for significant time, including two (Allen Barbre and Todd Herremans) for the season, the Eagles still looked like they would take the NFC East and host a playoff game.

Turnovers, declining quarterback play from Mark Sanchez, a leaky secondary and a lack of contributions from this year’s draft, led to an Eagles collapse not seen around here since the last year of the Rich Kotite era.

Now that the season is over, it is time to look back, reflect and evaluate what went wrong and offer a few suggestions for the 2015 season….it has to get better, right?

OFFENSE
Quarterback: After a Pro Bowl season that finished with Foles as the No. 1 rated signal caller in the NFL, the third-year quarterback got off to a shaky start.

Questions about his health surfaced after a vicious hit by Washington defensive lineman Chris Clark after what first appeared to be a turnover.

Foles continued to struggle but the Eagles continued to win, getting offensive support from the defensive and special teams units.

In week eight against Houston, Foles was hit again, this time the injury would end his season.

Enter Mark Sanchez, a backup with a resume that included two appearances in the AFC finals as the starting quarterback for the New York Jets.

At first Sanchez did well lifting the Birds to a 9-3 record and visions of a February date in Phoenix. The ninth win in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day may have been his best as a pro going 20 of 29 for 217 yards, a touchdown pass, no interceptions plus 28 yards rushing and another TD.

But Sanchez could not keep it up.

Turnovers piled up as did the losses. Foles and Sanchez combined for 21 interceptions compared to nine (Mike Vick was backup) in 2013. Sanchez fumbled seven times in eight and a half games that
led to three losses in a row and then end of everyone’s dreams of a long playoff run.

Foles did not get the opportunity to adjust back to his 2013 form and it was not fair to think Sanchez could suddenly turn into a Pro Bowl quarterback.
With all the injuries and lineup changes, the Eagles still scored 474 points (29.6/g), good for third place out of the other 32 teams in the NFL.

Compared to needs the Eagles have in other areas, the Birds should go with Foles as the starter in 2015 and work on cleaning up the turnovers.

Offensive line: The Birds entered the 2014 season with six players they considered starters. From left tackle you had Jason Peters, Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Todd Herremans and Lane Johnson with Allen Barbre, who could fill in at any spot but center.

Only Peters made it through without missing significant time due to injury. Johnson missed the first four games of the season due to suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Herremans and Barbre were lost for the season. In all, the Eagles started 10 different linemen during the season and still set a franchise record for scoring and running back LeSean McCoy was third in the NFL in rushing with 1,318 yards.

Right guard is a question, but overall, this is still a solid line when healthy. Kelce and Peters made the Pro Bowl.

Running back: With all the speculation about “what’s wrong with LeSean?” the six-year veteran was still among the elite running backs in the NFL.

Having said that, McCoy had just five rushing touchdowns in 2014 and none via the air.

There were games at the beginning of the season where he just seemed to disappear. Chris Polk and veteran newcomer Darren Sproles did make up for the scoring with 10 combined rushing TDs and 501 yards. The big negative was the three running backs combined for nine of the team’s 25 fumbles. This unit had just one in 2013.

Again, the Eagles should just leave this group alone. With Foles back, a healthy offensive line, and an effort to stop the fumbles, this could be one of the top backfields in the NFL next year.

Wide receiver & tight end: Everyone assumes that with releasing DeSean Jackson, this unit’s production took a step back.

Actually the Eagles had 384 receptions in 2014 compared to 310 in 2013. The Birds accumulated 4,581 receiving yards in 2014 compared to 4,406 in in 2013.

They did score five less TDs in 2014 but defense and special teams more than made up for the drop off coming up with 11 Tds on their own.

Even with the better numbers, with the exception of Jeremy Maclin and rookie Jordan Matthews, this group underachieved.

There were too many dropped passes, several for touchdowns. Wide receiver Riley Cooper had three touchdown passes compared to eight in 2013, tight end Brent Celek scored just one touchdown in 2014 after finding the end zone six times in 2013.

Second year tight end Zach Ertz is too talented to have just 58 catches and three touchdowns.

One reason these three underachieved was dropped balls. Jackson had nothing to do with that.

Eagles must resign Maclin (he is now a free agent) and replace Cooper, who does not act like he wants to be here.

DEFENSE

Front seven: This group was probably the strongest part of the team. Defensive end Fletcher Cox is one of the best defensive linemen in the game today. And at 23 years of age, his future is bright.

Cox is the cornerstone of the Birds defense and was robbed of a spot in the Pro Bowl.

Nose tackle Bennie Logan and defensive end Cedric Thornton combined for 109 tackles…Thornton and Cox both recovered fumbles for touchdowns this season.

Several players had terrific seasons including Connor Barwin who notched 14.5 sacks and a spot in the Pro Bowl, Vinny Curry, who carded nine sacks, Casey
Matthews who found redemption after Ryans went down for the season in week eight.

The much maligned Matthews had 53 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. Equally maligned outside linebacker Brandon Graham earned a contract extension after recording 46 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and four fumble recoveries.

Trent Cole continued his excellence in his tenth season producing 52 tackles, 6.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries.

Inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks, despite playing in just 12 games led the team with total tackles with 83.

The Eagles run defense was outstanding.

Obviously Ryans’ health status will weigh heavily into any decisions made about this unit in the off season. Cole wants badly to remain an Eagle and you would think earned an extension. But he is 32 years old and this is a business.

Brandon Bair and rookie Beau Allen provided solid depth along the defensive line that lacked any contribution from first round pick Marcus Smith and fifth round pick Taylor Hart, a defensive end out of Oregon.

Secondary: This unit was at the scene of the crime almost every time an opponent made a big play. While you can argue that is the nature of the beast about every secondary in the NFL, the play and decisions made by the corners and safeties had probably the biggest impact on the Eagles three-game losing streak at the end of the season.

Doug Baldwin (Seattle), Dez Bryant (Dallas), Jackson (Washington), Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona), John Brown (Arizona), Allen Hurns (Jacksonville), Jordy Nelson (Green Bay) and Odell Beckham, Jr. (Giants) all were able to spice up their 2014 highlight reels after their performances against the Eagles secondary.

The Eagles came up with just 12 interceptions as a team on the season. There were 20 other clubs with more interceptions than the Birds in 2014.
With the exception of safety Malcolm Jenkins and nickel back Brandon Boykin, the Eagles could use an upgrade at every other position and its backup.

Special Teams: Those in the know say that Kelly spends as much or more time with the Special Teams unit and it paid off.

The Eagles got three touchdowns from blocked punts this year. Kelly got four more from kick returns. That is as dramatic a turnaround as there has ever been in the NFL. In 2013, the Eagles got zero TDs from those spots.

Trading for rookie kicker Cody Parkey may have been Kelly’s most productive move to date. Parkey was 32 of 36 on field goals and hit all 54 extra points. Parkey was an incredible 4 of 4 from beyond 50 yards. Except for his two misses against Washington, which may have been because of a pulled groin, Parkey had one of the best seasons ever by an Eagles kicker.

Punter Donnie Jones continued his consistent play that kept offenses pinned inside the twenty-yard line.

The addition of Darren Sproles produced two punts returned for scores and his first trip to the pro Bowl after a decade in the League.

Josh Huff made some bone-headed decisions out there this year but showed flashes he can be an impact player on special teams as a kick returner.

Kelly brought in Bryan Brayman and Chris Maragos plus rookie Trey Burton to compliment ace James Casey and the result is one of the best seasons for special teams in club history. No changes here.

Coaches: It is hard to criticize Kelly and his staff after posting back-to-back 10-6 seasons in your first run in the NFL.
Kelly has proved to be an offensive innovator and done an amazing job with special teams and training techniques and philosophy.
Obviously he and defensive coordinator Billy Davis need to get together to improve the secondary. Clock management and time of possession – particularly with the effect it has on the defense being on the field so long- have got to be addressed.
Only Matthews and Allen from this year’s draft made significant contributions and that can’t happen in 2015.

Conclusion: A rookie head coach comes in, takes over a 4-12 team and goes 20-13 (including a playoff loss) in his first two seasons and wins the NFC East his first season.
I think we need to back off as fans and observers, listen to what Kelly says and not how he says it. And give him some room to breathe.