Five Eagles I’m Excited to Watch at Training Camp

With training camp just a few mere weeks away up in Lehigh, it is time to get the juices flowing. So the time to start thinking about which players you are most interested in seeing is now. Below are the five Eagles that I am most looking forward to watching when camp starts.

 

LeSean McCoy, running back

With the uncertain status of Brian Westbrook as camp draws near, the rookie McCoy will see a lot more playing time in camp and in the preseason.

What McCoy brings to the table is a swift running back with the ability to dodge tackles and find the end zone.

A stand out at Pitt, McCoy can do a lot of the same types of things that Westbrook can do. If Westbrook should go down at any point then McCoy could be the first back up, as he should be.

 

Leonard Weaver, fullback

It has been a long time since the last time the Eagles had a full fledged fullback that brings the kind of game that Weaver is expected to have.

If Eagles fans had been clamoring for a return to a physical game, the acquisition of Weaver may be a sign of good things to come.

The 6′-0″, 250 pound fullback will not only provide some quality blocking in the backfield for Donovan McNabb, but he can also pound out some much needed short yardage.

 

Victor Abiamiri, defensive end

Call it a gut feeling, but I think that Abiamiri may have as quiet a break out season as there is.

Entering his third season, Abiamiri finds himself sitting behind Juqua Parker at left defensive end as training camp opens up. But a good preseason could help him see more time in the rotation at the position.

The former second round pick out of Notre Dame recorded just 22 tackles in 2008, but I have high hopes for him this season.

 

Omar Gaither, linebacker

When camp commences at Lehigh, the logic seems to be that Gaither will remain second at his position behind Akeem Jordan. I am hoping that means that Gaither comes in motivated and fired up to retake the starting job. Will he do it? Only time will tell.

If Gaither comes in poised to prove he is worthy of being a starter though it should make for an interesting training camp battle in the hot days of summer. I expect that to result in some good hard hits from the linebackers.

 

Donovan McNabb, quarterback

Perhaps this is a cop-out, but with the events of the offseason, I am expecting McNabb to come out with a new enthusiasm for the game. 

After losing in the NFC Championship game, McNabb made it clear that he wanted the team to make some significant moves. 

The Eagles did just that in replacing aging veterans on the offensive line with a Pro Bowl caliber lineman and a massive body on the other side. In the draft, the Eagles picked up McCoy and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. 

While Maclin may not be ready to make an immediate impact out of the huddle, he can spark things with a good kick return. Add in the return of Westbrook and the steady crop of receivers, including flashy DeSean Jackson, and there are reasons to be optimistic and excited.

 

There you have it, the five Eagles players I am most looking forward to checking out at training camp. Who are your five players on your must-see list?  Go ahead and leave your thoughts in the comments field.

Eagles Can Look to Phillies To Become Gold Standard

 

When you think about the gold standard in sports, what franchises come to mind?

The New York Yankees, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Red Wings, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely some of the names that first pop in your head. The term “gold standard” is used to define the elite organizations who have gone about their business in such success that other teams find themselves molding their plans in a similar fashion.

Jeffrey Lurie, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, once used that choice term to describe his team, stating that the way they handle their business had become the role model for the rest of the NFL.

To be fair in some ways he was correct, but critics, including the frenzied Eagles fans, are quick to point out that to use the “gold standard” label your team must win at least one championship in your sport. As we all know the Eagles have won exactly zero Super Bowls.

While the Eagles have enjoyed a sustained level of success that has never before been seen in Philadelphia the frustration of not winning “the big one” leaves Eagles fans somewhat on nerve when the faces in the front office proclaim the way they run the business as the best around.

Financial terms and company surveys do little to satisfy the general football fan, who traditionally judges their success by performance on the field. So what can the Eagles do to make amends and back up their “gold standard” level of achievement?

Win the Super Bowl, of course.  But how exactly can they lay the framework to bring home the team’s first Lombardi Trophy? Perhaps they should take a page from the boys across the street, the Philadelphia Phillies.

I am of the belief that conversations should never compare sports of different orientation. You will never find me debating whether Jimmy Rollins is better than Brian Westbrook or if Scott Rolen deserved a second chance more than Terrell Owens. However, it seems that there is something the boys in green can learn from the boys in red. Here are three key ingredients to winning the championship.

 

Home Grown Talent

Last season the Phillies won the World Series and the key players were mostly brought up from within the farm system.  Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and World Series MVP Cole Hamels all made their strides to the big leagues coming up through Clearwater, Reading, and Scranton.  If you take any one of those players out of the mix and the Phillies would take a serious hit in production.

The Eagles have had some decent success with their own players as well, drafting players like Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Shawn Andrews, and Stewart Bradley.  The jury is still out on DeSean Jackson, who enters his second season in 2009 and there are reasons to be optimistic about rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin down the line.

Under Andy Reid the Eagles have always been pretty good of developing most of their young players. While there have been some exceptions to the rule (Jeremy Bloom comes to mind) the younger players have always made somewhat of an impact as they get time to grow.

Just look what Donovan McNabb has done under Reid.

A controversial pick at first when he was drafted, McNabb has developed in to one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Though he is no longer among the top elite in the league (Peyton Manning, Tom Brady) he is still worthy of a top five or top six ranking among NFL quarterbacks.

Westbrook surprised the NFL world with his talent.  The third round draft pick out of Villanova gets overshadowed when discussing running backs but Westbrook is explosive and can hurt defenses two ways.

The Phillies have gone from a perennial NL East cellar dweller to the top of their sport. They did so by giving their top prospects time to develop. They were patient and ended up having two players who have the National League MVP (Howard and Rollins) and one player who many believe will win one some day (Utley) and have a top of the rotation pitcher in Hamels. 

But they also had guys like Brett Myers, Ryan Madson, and JA Happ step up and contribute in key roles. The Eagles have players who can do the same.

Tight end Brent Celek may be the most important home grown player. With a comparable tight end McNabb can be very effective. Jason Avant emerged last year at the wide receiver position and could continue to receive more playing time in 2009 while Maclin gets acclimated in the offensive system.

The home grown talent on the defense though will be the most important in 2009. Quintin Demps and Quintin Mikell must step their game up after the departure of Brian Dawkins, one of the best players to ever be drafted by the Eagles himself. Akeem Jordan will look to contribute more solid defensive play at weak side linebacker, next to Bradley and Chris Gocong or Omar Gaither.  Each of the top linebackers on the Eagles were draft picks.

 

The Right Acquisitions

When assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. worked out a deal with the Houston Astros to acquire closer Brad Lidge, the path to the World Series title was created. With the Phillies welcoming Lidge to the closer role they could put Myers back in to the starting rotation, though Myers may have been hesitant at first.

Not many off-season moves wok out as well as that one did. Myers struggled early but came back in the second half as though he was another player. Lidge, as has been well documented, had a perfect season in save situations.

Don’t expect the Eagles to make a move that can work out that well, but they have made some terrific moves of their own. Gone are fan favorite Jon Runyan and perennial Pro Bowler Tra Thomas, but making a home in Philadelphia are Pro Bowler Jason Peters and Stacey Andrews (brother to Shawn) on the offensive line.

Losing two long time franchise players is hard, especially on the offensive line, but the additions of Peters and the elder Andrews brother figure to give McNabb some good protection as well as open up plans for the running game.

Adding Leonard Weaver could be the final piece of the puzzle for Eagles fans having a desire for an improved running game. Weaver was a veteran free agent acquisition that may fill the hole at fullback.

In a similar way the Phillies made a trade for Jamie Moyer during the season in 2006. Moyer provided the Phillies with not only a reliable player in the middle of the starting rotation, but veteran leadership for younger pitchers like Hamels. Weaver may also help players like LeSean MCCoy learn the nuances of the backfield at the pro level.  McCoy would be wise to listen to Weaver’s lessons, as Weaver reached the Pro Bowl in 2008.

Asante Samuel was the big name free agent acquisition prior to the 2008 season, giving the Eagles a true play maker in the defensive backfield. But big name players are only half of the strategy.  Players likeJuqua Parker provide solid defensive play even though he is not a big star.

Trades in the NFL rarely happen for significant players, so a deal similar to the Phillies trading for Joe Blanton and Moyer are not likely to happen. But the Eagles should keep an eye for players who get cut and are available as the season progresses. You never know when a Blanton will come along.

 

Lock Up Core Players

The Phillies have the mainframe of their championship team locked up for a few years. Phillies fans can look forward to a few more seasons of Rollins, Utley, Howard, and Hamels for sure. The Eagles usually do a good job of locking up their players as well.

The Eagles just restructured a deal to ensure McNabb is around for two more seasons. After trading for Peters, the Eagles worked out a four year deal. They also have worked on deals with Brian Westbrook and young defensive and offensive line players through the years.

The Eagles usually do a good job of locking up younger players early on, though at times it backfires. Take for instance Sheldon Brown, who had signed a contract and now wants to a new deal. This sort of issue is nothing new in pro football. The Eagles though pick and choose who they want to do battles with financially. The Phillies have sort of done the same thing though, with Ryan Howard being the prime example.

Howard won a record arbitration case prior to the 2007 season, and before Howard and the Phillies went to arbitration in 2008 the two agreed to a deal to keep both sides happy for a few years.

Conclusion

It seems as though the Eagles and Phillies are using essentially the same playbook when it comes to putting their team together. The truth of the matter is sometimes you have to have some things fall your way.

Both teams last season took advantage of a late season collapse to get in to the playoffs.  The Phillies took advantage of a second straight collapse by their rivals to the north and the Eagles were fortunate enough to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers blow a shot at the playoffs on the final day of the NFL season.

The problem seems to be in game situations. When Geoff Jenkins is kicking off a resumed game with a hard double, Donovan McNabb is throwing a ball at the ground. When Chase Utley is making a pump fake and throwing home, the Eagles are trying to recover from a critical roughing the passer and subsequent deep floating pass to Larry Fitzgerald.

The Eagles have what it takes to make it to the Super Bowl. The question is whether or not they can do it.  Until they do the gold standard label will have to remain in Citizens Bank Park.

 

Five Questions for Donovan McNabb

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has been around for a long time now.  Nobody on the roster has seen the highs and lows of football in Philadelphia like he has. 

Sometimes McNabb opens up and tells you how he feels and other times it seems as though he responds to questions with the company line.  He is funny—at least he tries to be—and usually very genuine in his responses.

If I could lock McNabb in a room and assure him his privacy when responding, these are the five questions I would ask the star quarterback.

 

Do you feel that you have reached your potential with Andy Reid as your head coach?

This questions is not designed as an attack on the all time winning-est coach in Eagles franchise history but is intended to gauge McNabb’s thoughts on whether or not he can achieve more under a new, or modified, offensive system.

I would expect that McNabb would express gratitude for everything Reid has done for McNabb’s career because, face it, Reid has done much to develop McNabb to what he is.

Under Reid McNabb has appeared in five NFC Championship games, more than any other quarterback in their time together besides Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick.  Once in those five trips to the conference finals did they advance to the Super Bowl. They have also engineered five NFC East championships, and McNabb has been sent to five Pro Bowls.

It would be difficult to say Reid had nothing to do with those accomplishments, but it is equally difficult to imagine “What if…”.  What if McNabb was playing under a different style of offense?  Would he be better?  Worse?  About the same?

The day you were drafted there were a bunch of Philadelphia fans heard booing.  The common misconception is that they were booing you.  What is your official take on that instance?

Look, I hate to bring this area of conversation up but as a Philadelphia area native I know that the fans were not specifically booing McNabb.  What could 30 Eagles fans have against a player coming out of college?  McNabb had not said anything negative about the Eagles to give fans the reason to greet him with boos.

The reason the fans came off the way they did is because they were organized to go up to New York on draft day and welcome their most prized possession in draft history with a raucous greeting in his support. 

The idea was to show just how good Eagles fans can be.  The player they thought they were going to greet was Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams from Texas.  Instead the selection was made for a quarterback out of Syracuse and the fans were thrown off guard.

Anybody would tell you that it was a huge misunderstanding however the perception given off my the McNabb supporters, and critics alike, is that he has never let that moment go.  Sure it stings, but does he really care about that incident on draft day?

 

I am giving you a chance to play with any team in the history of football (professional or college) as the starting quarterback for one game.  What team would you want to play on and why?

Growing up in Chicago I would think that McNabb would lean towards the great Bears teams of the 1980’s.  Imagine the Super Bowl Shuffle squad with McNabb replacing Jim McMahon.

Or would the Syracuse alum want to go back deeper in history and play alongside Ernie Davis on the Syracuse teams of 1959-1961?  I am guessing he would not surprise me by saying he would want to play on the Tennessee-Chattanooga team between 1993 and 1995.

 

Who are your biggest football influences?

I would like to know what players McNabb watched and aspired to be like as he grew up playing football.  What players does he mold his career after?  Was he a home town guy and worshipping Walter Payton?  Chicago does not have a great history of quarterbacks so perhaps he studied other passers in the league. 

I would be curious if Randall Cunningham would be on his list because for a long time McNabb made some plays that would have Eagles fans questioning who was better?

What do you want your legacy to be when you retire from playing the game?

Every player must think about their legacy at some point.  I would expect that the answer would be that McNabb was the quarterback to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia, but I would want more information.

Does he want to be remembered as a play making quarterback?  Does he want to be remembered for the division titles or appearances in the NFC Championship games?  Surely he does not want to be remembered for the bad losses in those games, but there will come a time when he is respected for the achievements he has received.

Perhaps McNabb will want to be remembered as a fun loving teammate who would always crack jokes.  That is the beauty of this question to McNabb.  You have no idea what he will say.

 

There are many more questions I would ask McNabb if I knew he would answer them honestly.  What would you ask him if given the opportunity?

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