Eagles Blogger Room

Trott, Mays are middle linebackers du jour

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:52:00 +0000

As a middle linebacker, Chris Gocong did a pretty good job of setting up the defense.
But that's where the accolades began and ended
Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott obviously thinks the tag team of Joe Mays and Jeremiah Trotter might be a better match this weekend against the Bears and running back Matt Forte, second in the league in yards after the catch.
McDermott also couldn't take too many more busts from rookie linebacker Moise Fokou, who hustled on the strong side in place of Gocong but was more all-effort than all-pro.

Westbrook needs another 'concussion' opinion

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:12:00 +0000

If I was Brian Westbrook, I'd get at least one and probably a couple more medical opinions about the concussion issues plaguing him the past three weeks.
I would do so just to be a little surer, no disrespect to the guys who evaluated him Wednesday.
What stands out about concussions is that a lot is not known about concussions.
If, for example, Westbrook was fully cleared to play this past Sunday - and there is no reason to doubt that - is it just coincidental that he suffered another concussion in his first full game back?
Here's a guy who never had a serious concussion in his career, and just like that he gets dinged twice. Hey, I know any football player is at risk for a concussion any time they step on the field. But two in three weeks? That's after following all of the accepted procedures for concussion testing.
Walking around the NovaCare Complex Wednesday it sounded a lot like Westbrook's second concussion could be a career-wrecker.
Donovan McNabb was talking about quality of life after football. Other players shook their heads - no pun intended - and thought about their own mortality.
Later the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center put out a release suggesting Westbrook's second concussion was much milder than the first one, and that the Villanova University product could get back on the field providing his rehab goes well. They want to test him in two or three weeks,
Watching film of the most recent hit concussing Westbrook, I'm not so sure he's elusive enough to avoid a third concussion. It was a sandwich type of collision with multiple players that happens several times every game.
Getting back on the field seems like a leap of faith.

Herremans, not Peters at OLT (that's a good thing)

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:18:00 +0000

Jason Peters made the trip but was scratched due to a sprained ankle, enabling the Eagles to start Todd Herremans at left tackle. This is a positive move. Peters lately has been a liability whose moodiness is exceeded only by his penchant for underachievement.
The mild surprise of the resulting line shuffle is Stacy Andrews starting at right guard instead of Max Jean-Gillies, as Nick Cole moved to Herremans' slot at left guard. Andrews easily has had the worst season of any Eagles lineman on either side of the ball. That said you will see Jean-Gillies on this unseasonably cold 65-degree yet sunny day.
Linebacker Akeem iJordan (knee) and safety Quintin Demps (hamstring) are the only other other inactives of note. Expect Jeremy Maclin to field kickoffs.
Running back Brian Westbrook returned to the lineup for the first time in three games after sustaining a concussion.
Wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) sat out his seventh straight game.

No ankle issues for Westbrook

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:13:00 +0000

If you didn't know Brian Westbrook had an ankle problem - and the way the Eagle injury reports are these days, you really don't know - you would have wondered why the team bothered to list it.
Westbrook glided through practice Thursday with no issues. The concussion that sidelined him the last two games seemed anything but a problem as well. Barring another round of mysterious symptoms for a second straight Friday, he looks good to go for the Chargers this Sunday.
Left offensive tackle Jason Peters didn't practice for the second straight day due to a sprained ankle. Peters snapped off a no-comment and looked off his questioner when asked how he felt. It wasn't like he was limping.
Safety Quintin Demps (groin) didn't work after giving practice a try, and that could mean rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is the kick returner Sunday. It was the second straight practice Demps missed.

Reid: "We're trying too hard"

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:45:00 +0000

And you thought all of those close, mounting Eagles losses were because of quarterback Donovan McNabb, the run-to-pass ratio, brutal penalties and turnovers.

No, the Eagles simply are trying too hard in those conflicts.

That's what Andy Reid sold at his Monday news conference. And while some people were buying, come on, it is Reid who is trying too hard with such an explanation.

OK, the Eagles don't appear to be in a Terry Murray type of "choking situation" in close games. But if they're not comfortably ahead, you can write them off in the fourth quarter. They're 1-8-1 in their last 10 games decided by four or fewer point.

“I’ve seen guys battling,” Reid said. “Maybe it’s the other end, we’re trying too hard. I’ve seen maximum effort out there and it looked like the guys were pretty focused.”

Trying too hard? Now that's maximum effort.

Westbrook 'out' update at 6:30

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:19:00 +0000

The Eagles wouldn't confirm or deny that running back Brian Westbrook (concussion) would be scratched for their Sunday night game with the Cowboys.
The formal announcement will be made at 6:30 p.m.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Westbrook (concussion) is not expected to play.
The Eagles beat the Giants last week with rookie LeSean McCoy and veteran Leonard Weaver carrying the football.

yo, Dribbons, Mustafa ... Stewart will make Cowboys pay

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:56:00 +0000

The Cowboys got rid of defensive coordinator Brian Stewart after their colossal collapse last year.
They took away his office, his computer password and his lunchroom priveleges.

But they couldn't erase his memory.

And I have a feeling they will pay for the unceremonious dismissal when they take on the Eagles Sunday night.
Stewart (pictured) knows the Cowboys inside-out. Can you se4e where this is going?
Around the second or third play quarterback Tony Romo is going to think the Eagles know his plays. Then again, I can tell you where Romo is going with the ball until he escapes the pocket.
Defensively it could be worse because the Cowboys really aren't that good on the side of the ball. That's why they got walloped, 44-6, in what became their season-ender last year in South Philly. It wasn't the coordinator.
If I'm wrong about this, I want to hear about it. Starting with Mustafa S. and Dribbons.
Have a great weekend, guys.

Romo & yards-after-breakdown

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Believe it or not the Eagles would feel a lot more comfortable if Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo stayed in the pocket this weekend.

That's because he makes a lot of what Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott calls "Brett Farve-type plays" with significant yardage after the breakdown.

The terminology McDermott invented for Romo's improvisational playmaking - yards-after-breakdown (YAB). I like yards-per-breakdown (YPB).

The key to defending Romo (pictured) in those situations is that whatever you do, follow through.

Halfway will get you embarrassed.

Scratch Westbrook for Giants

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:25:00 +0000

To no one's surprise the Eagles scratched Brian Westbrook, capping a turbulent week in which head coach Andy Reid tried to get the Giants - and the media - to believe the running back would play just six days after a lights-out concussion.
Don't be surprised if Westbrook next week when the Eagles oppose the Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field.

Activating Westbrook Sunday would have been a slap in the face of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who earlier in the week lectured Congress how seriously the league is taking concussions.
The Eagles also scratched safety Victor Harris (ankle), wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee), cornerback Dimitri Patterson (quadriceps) and offensive lineman Mike McGlynn.
Kevin Kolb (pictured) was designated the third quarterback.

The Giants scratched wide receiver Mario Manningham (shoulder), among others.

McNabb: "Phils in 6"

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:43:00 +0000

Donovan McNabb likes the Phillies, especially his bud Jimmy Rollins, the shortstop big on predictions.
McNabb stayed up late to watch the Phils 3-1 loss Thursday night to the New York Yankees evening the World Series at one game apiece. Oh, and he thinks Phils manager Charlie Manuel did the right thing taking out starter Pedro Martinez in the seventh inning.
McNabb (pictured in the grasp of Hollis Thomas) almost didn't have to be prodded to offer his prediction.
"Phillies in six," he said. "There will be a parade. The Yankees are going to have problems with their pitching. Look for (Ryan) Howard to hit a home run. Look for Jayson Werth and (Raul) Ibanez to homer. Look for Howard to hit his to right field and the other guys left field. I just have a feeling about it."
Rollins predicted Phils in five, and possibly six.

Offensive coordinator: Donovan played very smart Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Donovan McNabb didn't make excuses for his second straight substandard game.
But in so many words, Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg (pictured with McNabb) did just that Thursday.
Mornhinweg said McNabb "played very smart" in the second half of the 27-17 win over the Redskins, even if it wasn't reflected in the stats.
McNabb completed just five of his last 11 passes for 38 yards after connecting with DeSean Jackson for a 57-yard touchdown.
"Three or four of those were throwaways," Mornhinweg said. "The only way (the Redskins) were going to win was if we made mistakes. They needed two or three of them. Donovan played very, very smart."

Runyan won't be back to save the day - or the line

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:41:00 +0000

The roster spot to open when linebacker Omar Gaither goes on injured reserve after foot surgery could go to an offensive lineman.
But it won't be veteran Jon Runyan, who played for the Eagles from 2000-2008.
The Eagles are happy with right tackle Winston Justice, and encouraged enough with the progress of King Dunlap to respectfully pass on Runyan, who is on the mend from knee surgery.
It's a shame because the O-line could use a little more stability, what with Shawn Andrews in and out of the big picture so often and injuries hitting both sides of center Jamaal Jackson.
And the Birds never can have enough leadership, which is what Runyan supplied almost every minute he was on the team payroll.

Curtis wanted surgery a month ago

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:35:00 +0000

Eagles veteran wide receiver Kevin Curtis underwent a surgical procedure on his ailing left knee Saturday - more than one month after he suspected it would need repairs.
At the Eagles' urging the 31-year-old Curtis tried to practice through the pain and swelling that surfaced the work week after the regular season opener.
After Curtis (pictured) finally got the Eagles to sign off on a second opinion, voila - surgery. He hasn't played since the second game.
Andy Reid blamed the delay for the surgical option on inconclusive MRI's. Reid still is hopeful Curtis - the team's only reliable route runner with game-breaking speed - can return this season.
"I think time will tell here but I think so,” Reid said.
The Eagles also reported that middle linebacker Omar Gaither had surgery Saturday for a Lisfranc sprain of the left foot.
The good news is Gaither had just one pin, not two inserted to correct the gap in the bones of his foot.
Gaither, however, still is likely to go on Injured Reserve, meaning his season would be over.

Gaither out for the season; Abiamiri out for Redskins

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:57:00 +0000

Eagles middle linebacker Omar Gaither, as reported here, has a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot that Andy Reid said will “most likely” end his season.
 

Reid said Wednesday that newly acquired linebacker Will Witherspoon would start in the middle when the Eagles oppose the Washington Redskins Monday night at FedEx Field.

Witherspoon, obtained from the Rams for rookie receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round pick, also will play a little weak side linebacker. 

Veteran Jeremiah Trotter and possibly Joe Mays could get snaps in the middle, as well, according to Reid.

Gaither injured the foot late in the 13-9 loss to the Oakland Raiders this past Sunday. He exited the locker room in considerable pain. This could be the end of his career with the Eagles as his contract expires after this season.

Also on the injury front, wide receiver Kevin Curtis, as reported here, will have another doctor evaluate the knee that’s been swelling up on him the past month. Curtis has been frustrated trying to work through the pain.

“MRI’s don’t always tell everything,” Reid said. “He’ll get a second opinion and we’ll go from there.”

Defensive end Victor (knee sprain) and cornerback Dimitri Patterson (strained quadriceps) likely are out this week according Reid.

The good news is left offensive tackle Jason Peters (knee, ankle) was at the walkthrough Thursday morning and is slated to practice, as is guard Todd Herremans, who has missed all five games with a stress fracture in his left foot.

“I think it’s good for him and it’s good for our team,” quarterback Donovan McNabb said. “We’ve kind of just talked about getting out and getting back to old form. He’s excited about it and I think it will help our O-line.”

Reid said Herremans would work at both guard and tackle.

The Big Guy expects a gut check as the Eagles (3-2) face the roughest stretch of their schedule to date. After the Redskins (2-3), who look every bit as desperate as the Raiders, the Birds take on the NFC East-leading Giants (5-1).

X-rays negative on Peters' knee; Bunkley's ribs hurt

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:20:00 +0000

LOT Jason Peters was helped off the field with a strained left knee in the first quarter, his replacement King Dunlap.

The Eagles said X-rays were negative.

DT Brodrick Bunkley may have cracked a rib in the second quarter. The Eagles would not confirm if he'd been X-rayed. Luckily they activated five defensive tackles.

Curtis on the trade block; Kolb is 3rd QB

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:55:00 +0000

The Eagles had a pretty good reason to scratch wide receiver Kevin Curtis for the third straight game.

Curtis is on the trade block according to reports.

With more than enough wide receivers to get the job done against almost any team, much less the clumsy Oakland Raiders, it made no sense to subject what could be a valuable commodity to injury.

Curtis probably wouldn't bring the Eagles a first-day despite the league-wide demand for fast, veteran wide receivers. But it helped that he practiced all of last week.

The Baltimore Ravens are looking for help on the outside. They're coached by John Harbaugh, who previously worked for the Eagles.

Also, the Eagles made Michael Vick the backup quarterback implicitly by designating Kevin Kolb the third quarterback. The Eagles kept three quarterbacks active the past two games. If the third quarterback plays, the other two canot return to the game.

Abiamiri, Gaither and Samuel will appeal fines

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:27:00 +0000

All of the Eagles billed by the NFL for excessively rough play plan to appeal. Not that anything good is going to come of it, as one player said.

If you look at the hits that got the players fined it's like going back in history. For one afternoon the Eagles played like those warriors archived on NFL Films.

Those were the days tacklers got away with putting their man on the ground long after he'd gone out of bounds or the whistle had blown.

The days when the facemask was part of the player. And the face of a quarterback was fair game just as it is with the other players.

Doink! Here's the latest dose of financial reality for these very aggressive and extremely picked on Eagles:

Victor Abiamiri: $5,000 for roughing the passer (struck opposing quarterback in head area).

Omar Gaither: $5,000 for unnecessary roughness (unnecessarily struck opponent late and out of bounds).

Asante Samuel: $5,000 for unnecessary roughness (grabbed opponent by facemask in attempt to tackle him).

Herremans doesn't want to rotate

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:39:00 +0000

Left guard Todd Herremans, out nine weeks with a stress fracture, thinks he can be back in the lineup when the Eagles play the Redskins in two weeks at FedEx Field.

But the veteran really doesn't want to be start of a rotation at the position he's ruled the past three seasons. Nick Cole has played left guard and Max Jean-Gilles and Stacy Andrews have manned right guard.

"I would hope not," Herremans said. "I don’t think I’d really like to play in a rotation. But it’s not my decision. I would prefer not to."

Herremans (pictured in spike form) said that while the foot feels fine he's had an issue with the accompanying ankle.

"It feels a little tired," he said.

Herremans cuts short his workout

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:47:00 +0000

Eagles veteran guard Todd Herremans got on the field in pads Wednesday for the first time since training camp.

It was supposed to be a 15-minute session. It ended after 10 minutes. Herremans wants to return for the Monday night game Oct. 26 at Washington.

"This is the first step here," Andy Reid said. "I don't know how it's going to turn out."

Herremans and nickel cornerback Dimitri Patterson (wrist, groin) won't play against the Raiders.

Reggie Brown's breakfast interrupts Vick

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Winning cures everything, with one exception - flatulence.

To give you an idea of how loose the Eagles are, Michael Vick was in front of his locker Wednesday telling the media there would have been a quarterback controversy had he wound up in Oakland when a teammate passed by - and passed something else. The noise was so loud Vick began laughing.

"We've got to find the culprit," Vick said.

It was Reggie Brown (pictured in a more stable moment).

Walking the hall moments later with a grin on his face, Brown was asked if he felt OK.

"Man," he said. "I don't know."

Hey, life is good for the Eagles, who are off to their third 3-1 start with Andy Reid.

The Eagles are favored by 14 points against the Oakland Raiders (1-4), whom they oppose Sunday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Curtis and Laws scratched by Eagles

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:22:00 +0000

Wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) was deactivated along with defensive tackle Trevor Laws, among other players as the Eagles again kept all three quarterbacks active.

The way rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin played, catching touchdown passes of 51 and 40 yards in the first half, you can safely assume Curtis won't be rushed back on the field.

Curtis loses starting job to Maclin

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Omar Gaither isn't the only starter to lose his job over the bye week.

Rookie Jeremy Maclin is the guy at wide receiver, not veteran Kevin Curtis.

It's the second straight year a veteran has lost his starting job to a rookie basically because of an injury. Call it the Reggie Brown treatment. Enamored with second-round pick DeSean Jackson last year, the Eagles quickly fell out of love with Brown, who was managing groin and hamstring injuries.

First-round pick Maclin has remained the starting wide receiver although Curtis is practicing this week.

"Jeremy did a good job the last game," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "He played well so we'll keep him going and try to get Kevin healthy as quick as we can. And Kevin is doing better. That thing is feeling a little bit better."

Maclin is confident he can keep the job.

"I'm happy to be in this situation now," he said. "I've got to continue to make the best out of this opportunity."

Gaither keeps swinging

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:41:00 +0000

For the third time in three years the Eagles have taken Omar Gaither's starting job.

Jeremiah Trotter likely will be the middle linebacker on first and second downs, Gaither (pictured) the man in passing situations.

"Do I think I could have done the job? Yes," Gaither said. "But they brought him in and there's nothing I can do about that now. Obviously there's a lot of things that happened to me here that I have no control over. But I just keep rolling with the punches."

Andy Reid isn't sure how much football Trotter has left after basically two years away from football. And he talked about spotting Trotter to make maximum use of his size and skills sets.

At this point the Eagles want Trotter - who weighs 20 pounds more than Gaither - to penetrate the backfield and take on blockers including fullbacks.

Andy crushes rookie head coaches

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Something to keep in mind when Andy Reid takes on the Buccaneers this weekend - and for all practical purposes the Raiders in two weeks.

Reid is 17-6 (.739) against rookie head coaches. That includes an almost flawless 11-2 (.846) mark in South Philly which is where rookie coach Raheem Morris brings his Bucs this weekend.

The last rookie schooled by Reid (pictured) was Todd Haley, whose Chiefs suffered a 34-14 defeat at the Linc which was much worse than the math.

Obviously a lot of rookie head coaches step into rebuilding situations. Basically that means a lot of bad teams.The Bucs and the Chiefs are a combined 0-8.

That said, Reid enjoys beating them up and then praising them for the privilege of allowing him to do so.

Next week the Eagles could find themselves taking on an interim head coach because Raiders coach Tom Cable could be suspended for reportedly slugging an assistant. The Raiders are 1-3.

Before signing Trotter, workout Bergey, Kirkland and Gardner

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging the Birds) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:18:00 +0000

Bringing back Jeremiah Trotter at the expense of a veteran who could be more useful to the Eagles - Jon Runyan and Jeff Garcia immediately come to mind - is another installment speaking to the arrogance of the Eagles.

Linebackers have to be able to run, and I'm sorry but it's hard to believe Trotter suddenly can turn back the clock on the creaky knees so full of arthritis he himself said they couldn't pass anyone's physical. I'm sure he feels better after recent knee surgery. I know he can play with pain. But again, linebackers have to run to be useful and there is no reason to expect him to be able to do so consistently enough to help.

If the Eagles are dead set on bringing back relics of the past I'll bet middle linebackers Bill Bergey (pictured top, Levon Kirkland (bottom) and Barry Gardner would like a call.