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Welcome to the offseason, one that is going to creep by very slowly for all of us who have just been dying, first down by first down, since the 2011 season ended with the win over Washington.

We have all expressed our feelings since then, some more outrageously than others. Upstairs at the NovaCare Complex, the Eagles are putting their plan in place for the offseason ahead, understanding that they have a lot of work to do to turn an 8-8 team into a Super Bowl champion.

What is the goal? That's easy to answer, in general terms. The Eagles want to win the Super Bowl. That is the goal for every NFL team. The task ahead is to put together a roster that is sound, deep, and dynamic at every position. Having a Pro Bowl player at every position just isn't a reality, but that's the goal.

In general, that's what you want to do: Build a great roster right now. Specifically, the Eagles have their work cut out, and from this perspective, this is what it could look like, position by position. Today: We look at the offense ...

QUARTERBACK

What does Michael Vick do to become an improved quarterback? He needs to turn the ball over less and we understand that. He needs to have fewer tipped passes, but didn't we just see Tom Brady have a handful of passes knocked down in Super Bowl 46?

Vick needs to stay healthy and he needs to make good decisions and improve his accuracy. He is an immensely talented player with a hunger to be the best in the league. He is the Eagles' starter and the franchise quarterback.

Behind him, there are questions. Does Vince Young move on and get a starting job elsewhere? Is Mike Kafka ready to be a No. 2 and win a few games in an emergency, if needed? Do the Eagles sign another veteran -- they are reportedly interested in added veteran Trent Edwards -- or use a high draft pick on a quarterback?

HALFBACK

How does it feel to have one of the game's best running backs who is just now entering the prime of his career? LeSean McCoy is in that space, and he is the Eagles' go-to player in the offense.

However, the ground game can't be all on McCoy's shoulders. The Eagles need a healthy and productive backup situation, and they may have it in second-year man Dion Lewis. Used sparingly for much of his rookie season, Lewis raced for 58 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the season-ending win over Washington. How many carries week after week could Lewis handle? He did it at the University of Pittsburgh and the Eagles would like to count on him for 6-10 every week.

Veteran Ronnie Brown is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. If he moves on, look for the Eagles to try to find a bigger back for short-yardage and pass-protection situations.

Graig Cooper was signed after the season ended after a good preseason. We'll see if he matures enough to make the team.

Don't expect the Eagles to throw a lot of money at an unrestricted free agent. Would they use a high draft pick on a running back? That's not likely if they think the fourth quarter against Washington is a true indication of how good Lewis can be.

FULLBACK

This is a strange position to figure. Owen Schmitt played a small number of snaps every game and he had very few touches in 2011. A good blocker, Schmitt filled the role the Eagles asked of him. But will he return? Schmitt is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent and he could have options.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are high on seventh-round draft pick Stanley Havili, who is recovered from a shoulder injury that bothered him late in his USC career. Havili is up to about 240 pounds, has a lot of athletic ability and could fill the all-purpose role for the prototype West Coast offense fullback.

The best guess here is that Schmitt returns, at the right price. If not, the Eagles will bring in some competition for Havili, whom they really want to blossom.

TIGHT END

Another really interesting spot. Brent Celek is a stud and a standout and you can expect him to play a huge part in the offense once again. Celek should be fully recovered from his post-season surgeries in time to participate fully in the late-spring Organized Team Activities.

Clay Harbor is a player to watch. He's very athletic and has greatly improved his blocking. Can the Eagles incorporate Harbor more into the offense and use a two tight-end set that is sure to spring up more around the NFL in light of New England's success?

Do the Eagles add to the position? Would a high-profile free agent like Jermichael Finley -- and I'm just throwing this name out there -- interest the Eagles? How much do they want to incorporate two tight ends down the field in 2012?

WIDE RECEIVER

All eyes are on the DeSean Jackson situation for many reasons. Can the Eagles sign him to a long-term deal? Do they consider using the franchise tag on Jackson? Would they let him test unrestricted free agency?

So much of the team's salary-cap strategy and personnel decision-making revolves around Jackson. If he is here, the Eagles have a home-run hitter who needs to be more of a week-in, week-out threat. If Jackson goes, the Eagles need to replace the speed and explosiveness that he brings to the table.

If there is any other kind of need at wide receiver, it is in the form of a big receiver. Is Riley Cooper the physical target who can be more of a weapon in the red zone? This offense, in the big picture, has all the elements, has all of the answers, except that it needs to minimize the turnovers and it needs to be more proficient in the red zone. A big wide receiver would help.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Coach Howard Mudd did great things in his first season with this group, with even higher expectations for 2012. The Eagles have a large question mark in the form of left guard Evan Mathis, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. It would be ideal to lock him up and keep the continuity up front.

The interior of the line should improve greatly as center Jason Kelce and right guard Danny Watkins mature into second-year starters. Right tackle Todd Herremans will have a full offseason working on his footwork. The line has a chance to be great.

There are some potential changes among the backups. Does veteran center Jamaal Jackson come back? How about right tackle Winston Justice, who would be an expensive ticket to back up? Do the Eagles retain swing tackle King Dunlap, who can be an unrestricted free agent?

If Mathis comes back, the Eagles are in terrific shape. If he moves on, the Eagles hope that second-year man Julian Vandervelde steps up, or they will have to add through the draft or in free agency.

Next: The defense and special teams