NFC East: Eagles aren’t as good without a new T.O.
Bob Grotz , Times Sports Columnist
05/19/2006
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was in rhythm during the first minicamp practice last weekend when he was tested. His No. 1 receiver, Reggie Brown, tried to run through the double coverage of the first-team defense minus injured cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown. Reggie Brown, unfortunately, couldn’t get to the deep ball partly because he expended a lot of energy trying to angle away from his defenders and partly because the throw went in another direction.
You remember the last time they tried to hook up. It was last November at the Linc when McNabb threw short while Brown broke deep and Roy Williams returned the interception for the late touchdown that produced a dramatic 21-20 Dallas Cowboys victory. McNabb’s season ended when he whiffed trying to tackle the Cowboy. Legend has it that’s when T.O. decided he had to play for Big D.
Now, one throw at a non-contact practice does not equal an I-told-you-so; much less warrant a 911 call. There’s plenty of time for McNabb and Brown to get on the same page. There are going to be growing pains as the multi-talented Brown is beginning just his second NFL season.
To be fair, Brown had his moments at the minicamp. Just not a lot of them as the Eagles spread the ball around to everyone, including the tight ends in the retro-Green Bay Packers offense. That’s the way it’s going to be in 2006.
Despite Brown’s upside, it was painfully obvious from a spectator’s standpoint the Eagles haven’t come close to replacing superstar wide receiver Terrell Owens.
It’s becoming increasingly clear Owens hid a multitude of day-to-day inadequacies at wide receiver including route running in addition to supplying the swagger that helped the Eagles reach their only Super Bowl in the McNabb-Andy Reid era.
With 20 touchdowns in 22 games, Owens drew so much attention from the opposition he created opportunities for teammates. The ultimate competitor, he also got the best out of teammates at practice. No one knew how to run routes better. Owens was a real-time instructional tool for the coaching staff that’s sorely missed.
The only Eagles wide receiver with a firm grasp of the offense and the ability to run it is Todd Pinkston, and he bypassed the minicamp to strengthen his surgically repaired Achilles’ tendon. Pinkston probably knows more about the passing game than the rest of the receivers combined, and that’s not necessarily a good thing for a rhythm offense where timing is everything.
Though the Eagles like Brown and are intrigued with Jabar Gaffney, the possession receiver who wasn’t re-signed by the cellar-dwelling Houston Texans, it didn’t prevent them from trying to dramatically upgrade the position during the offseason.
The Eagles put in a strong bid for wide receiver Javon Walker, the Packers’ No. 1 receiver coming off major knee surgery. The Eagles brought Walker in for a physical the morning of the NFL Draft but the Pack dealt him to the Broncos for a choice second-round pick.
The Eagles also acknowledged in the offseason they would bring Eric Moulds on board for the right price, another less than glowing endorsement of their wide receiving corps.
There are reports they are one of the teams interested in Broncos wide receiver Ashley Lelie, who wants out of Denver.
The Eagles have a go-to guy in running back Brian Westbrook. The four-year veteran, for all of his explosiveness and class, must prove he’s durable enough to play a full NFL season.
The plan for 2006 is for the Eagles to get the ball into the hands of Westbrook, Brown, Pinkston, Gaffney and tight ends L.J. Smith and Matt Schobel, the latter an interesting compliment.
The plan is for Westbrook and running backs Ryan Moats and Bruce Perry to run the ball; something the Eagles didn’t do often enough or effectively enough until they got rid of Owens last year. Westbrook didn’t last long in that setting, however, landing on injured reserve with a sprained foot.
The plan also is for the running backs to catch the ball.
McNabb should feel more comfortable working the pocket as the Eagles fortified the offensive line at tackle and guard with rookies Winston Justice and Max Jean-Gilles, respectively.
If left tackle William "Tra" Thomas can’t make it all the way back from lower back surgery, the Eagles would have no problem inserting Justice. Likewise, if Todd Herremans doesn’t work out at left guard, the Birds would like nothing more than to plug in Jean-Gilles, a 350-plus pound oversized load.
The Eagles aren’t as happy about the situation at center, as they courted Pro Bowl pivot LeCharles Bentley before deciding to let veteran Hank Fraley and Jamaal Jackson compete for the position.
Until McNabb is under live fire and the Birds actually line up, it will be tough figuring out how Andy Reid really wants to connect the dots.
There’s something to be said for involving a lot of players in an offense.
The flip side is the players have to be able to make the most of limited opportunities, which is to say they all have to be at the top of their game, and they must stay healthy. That’s asking a lot.
It’s a lot easier connecting the dots when you have the game-breaker.
05/19/2006
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was in rhythm during the first minicamp practice last weekend when he was tested. His No. 1 receiver, Reggie Brown, tried to run through the double coverage of the first-team defense minus injured cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown. Reggie Brown, unfortunately, couldn’t get to the deep ball partly because he expended a lot of energy trying to angle away from his defenders and partly because the throw went in another direction.
You remember the last time they tried to hook up. It was last November at the Linc when McNabb threw short while Brown broke deep and Roy Williams returned the interception for the late touchdown that produced a dramatic 21-20 Dallas Cowboys victory. McNabb’s season ended when he whiffed trying to tackle the Cowboy. Legend has it that’s when T.O. decided he had to play for Big D.
Now, one throw at a non-contact practice does not equal an I-told-you-so; much less warrant a 911 call. There’s plenty of time for McNabb and Brown to get on the same page. There are going to be growing pains as the multi-talented Brown is beginning just his second NFL season.
To be fair, Brown had his moments at the minicamp. Just not a lot of them as the Eagles spread the ball around to everyone, including the tight ends in the retro-Green Bay Packers offense. That’s the way it’s going to be in 2006.
Despite Brown’s upside, it was painfully obvious from a spectator’s standpoint the Eagles haven’t come close to replacing superstar wide receiver Terrell Owens.
It’s becoming increasingly clear Owens hid a multitude of day-to-day inadequacies at wide receiver including route running in addition to supplying the swagger that helped the Eagles reach their only Super Bowl in the McNabb-Andy Reid era.
With 20 touchdowns in 22 games, Owens drew so much attention from the opposition he created opportunities for teammates. The ultimate competitor, he also got the best out of teammates at practice. No one knew how to run routes better. Owens was a real-time instructional tool for the coaching staff that’s sorely missed.
The only Eagles wide receiver with a firm grasp of the offense and the ability to run it is Todd Pinkston, and he bypassed the minicamp to strengthen his surgically repaired Achilles’ tendon. Pinkston probably knows more about the passing game than the rest of the receivers combined, and that’s not necessarily a good thing for a rhythm offense where timing is everything.
Though the Eagles like Brown and are intrigued with Jabar Gaffney, the possession receiver who wasn’t re-signed by the cellar-dwelling Houston Texans, it didn’t prevent them from trying to dramatically upgrade the position during the offseason.
The Eagles put in a strong bid for wide receiver Javon Walker, the Packers’ No. 1 receiver coming off major knee surgery. The Eagles brought Walker in for a physical the morning of the NFL Draft but the Pack dealt him to the Broncos for a choice second-round pick.
The Eagles also acknowledged in the offseason they would bring Eric Moulds on board for the right price, another less than glowing endorsement of their wide receiving corps.
There are reports they are one of the teams interested in Broncos wide receiver Ashley Lelie, who wants out of Denver.
The Eagles have a go-to guy in running back Brian Westbrook. The four-year veteran, for all of his explosiveness and class, must prove he’s durable enough to play a full NFL season.
The plan for 2006 is for the Eagles to get the ball into the hands of Westbrook, Brown, Pinkston, Gaffney and tight ends L.J. Smith and Matt Schobel, the latter an interesting compliment.
The plan is for Westbrook and running backs Ryan Moats and Bruce Perry to run the ball; something the Eagles didn’t do often enough or effectively enough until they got rid of Owens last year. Westbrook didn’t last long in that setting, however, landing on injured reserve with a sprained foot.
The plan also is for the running backs to catch the ball.
McNabb should feel more comfortable working the pocket as the Eagles fortified the offensive line at tackle and guard with rookies Winston Justice and Max Jean-Gilles, respectively.
If left tackle William "Tra" Thomas can’t make it all the way back from lower back surgery, the Eagles would have no problem inserting Justice. Likewise, if Todd Herremans doesn’t work out at left guard, the Birds would like nothing more than to plug in Jean-Gilles, a 350-plus pound oversized load.
The Eagles aren’t as happy about the situation at center, as they courted Pro Bowl pivot LeCharles Bentley before deciding to let veteran Hank Fraley and Jamaal Jackson compete for the position.
Until McNabb is under live fire and the Birds actually line up, it will be tough figuring out how Andy Reid really wants to connect the dots.
There’s something to be said for involving a lot of players in an offense.
The flip side is the players have to be able to make the most of limited opportunities, which is to say they all have to be at the top of their game, and they must stay healthy. That’s asking a lot.
It’s a lot easier connecting the dots when you have the game-breaker.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:19 PM
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