Bad News is Good News

OK, that's an exageration, and the silver lining is paper thin, but today's game might reveal the shape of the Eagle's future in two ways:
1) If they lose, they'll be losing alot from here through the end of the season. That's bad news to season ticket holders, not so bad to people looking to next season. Remember the goal for this team is to win a Super Bowl. That's obviously not happening this season, but that does not mean the window is entirely shut. Eagles fans can expect a revitalized squad in 2006, liberated from the TO mess and renewed in their determination to prove they are a championship caliber team. The pride of the defense and Donovan McNabb requires no less.
The other pluses to losing out (I can't believe I have to write this, but here we are) are draft position and schedule. A pick in the top 12 could net either a stud at any position or a starter quality player at a need position. And there are now plenty of those: DE, T, WR, OLB, G, S, FB. The draft is a story for another day, though.
2) Today's story is the left side of the offensive line. With Tra Thomas and Artis Hicks out, the Eagles wil start two guys with little experience: at tackle 4th round pick Todd Herremans and at guard two year "vet" Adrien Clarke. With John Runyan's contract expiring at the end of the season, and Artis Hicks getting knocked around by DTs all year, these two will have a chance to make an impression on the coaches and enter next year with a shot at a starters job. If either can play at this level, that would be tremendous news for the Eagles. The offensive line is set for big time transition in the next couple seasons. Tra and Runyan will be phased out and Shaun Andrews should move to tackle. That leaves two or three spots to fill. If either Herremans or Clarke shows the accumen to fill one of those holes, that's money and draft picks saved for the future, or for one of those other holes listed in #1.
If they can't Mike McMahon may not make it out of 2005.