How Brian Westbrook Will Silence Critics Again and Make Eagles History

Brian Westbrook is closing in on the all-time Philadelphia Eagles’ rushing record.  He needs just 817 rushing yards to lay claim to the title.  Regardless of the final statistics, Westbrook has secured his position in the hearts of the contemporary Philadelphia loyalists as the all-time greatest back in Eagles history.

There have been many great Eagles’ running backs from Steve Van Buren and Timmy Brown to Wilbert Montgomery, Hershel Walker, Ricky Watters, and Duce Staley. 

In the end, there can only be one all-time rushing leader.

 

Steve Van Buren, an NFL Legend and Philadelphia Eagles All-Time Great

Steve Van Buren is arguably the greatest Eagles running back of all-time. Van Buren was the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 5,860 yards and 69 touchdowns when he retired in 1951 after an eight year career (12 game seasons). He played for two NFL Championship Eagles teams in 1948 and 1949.

Van Buren earned all-pro honors five times in his career.

 

Wilbert Montgomery, the Philadelphia Eagles All-Time Leading Rusher

Wilbert Montgomery broke Van Buren’s mark in 1983, laying claim to the Philadelphia rushing title in a season where he started only one game.  Perhaps it was a bit of an anticlimactic season for such an accomplishment. Nonetheless, it was a well-deserved accolade for a beloved Eagle who clinched the Eagles’ first ever Super Bowl appearance by breaking the backs of the rival Dallas Cowboys in the 1980 NFC Championship.

In 1979, his best season, Montgomery rushed for 1,512 yards.  He earned pro bowl berths in 1978 and 1979, and retired with 6,538 yards rushing as an Eagle.

 

Brian Westbrook’s Place in Philadelphia Eagles History

Heading into his eighth season as an Eagle, Westbrook has 5,721 yards rushing and boasts a 4.7 yard career average per carry.  He needs 817 more yards on the ground to become the Eagles’ all-time leading rusher.

In 2008, Westbrook increased his yards-from-scrimmage tally to 9,330  (the best mark in franchise history), surpassing Harold Carmichael’s franchise record of 9,042.  With just 670 more yards, he will cross a new milestone—10,000 yards from scrimmage.

The doubters and critics are coming out of the woodwork.  Pessimism regarding Westbrook’s multiple off-season surgeries (ankle and knee) have cast some doubt on his ability to perform at the same high level.

I will urge all true Westbrook enthusiasts to dismiss their concerns and remember the toughness and work ethic that Westbrook has displayed throughout his career.  His knee looked good in the OTAs so bury that issue. 

The timing of the ankle surgery is unsettling, but the rehab has already begun, and the procedure to remove the bone spurs was minor and represented no serious material damage to any tendons or ligaments above the level of a sprain.

Westbrook will be feeling great coming into 2009, and with the help of LeSean McCoy, Leonard Weaver, and a new look offensive line made of pure maulers, he could be poised to have one of his best seasons yet.

I expect Westbrook to put up over 1,000 yards on the ground and 1,500 yards from scrimmage in 2009.

He will become the all-time leading rusher in Eagles’ history this year. 

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More Analysis from Leo Pizzini at: http://eagles.sportsscribes.net/

Current features: Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Cornelius Ingram, Victor Harris, Brent Celek and Hank Baskett.

One Of The Great Players in Philadelphia Eagles History: Keith Byars

It’s time to show some love for former Eagles’ running back Keith Byars. 

He will never get the respect he deserves because he came out of college as a highly rated running back and he did not have the same conventional statistics in the NFL as he did at Ohio State.

But Byars was more like a tight end that lined up in the backfield.

Keith Byars was really an amazing player to watch on a very fun Philadelphia Eagles team.  Nothing was very conventional about the Eagles in that era and in form, one never knew what to expect from Byars.

At Ohio State, Byars dominated the football field as a running back and a kick returner. 

In 1984 he was runner up to Doug Flutie for the Heisman trophy.

In 1985 he broke his foot and reinjured it two more times that season as he prematurely returned to the field.  He had several corrective surgeries and his foot was never quite the same.

Prior to his first draft, cagey Buddy Ryan called Keith Byars a “medical reject” to throw off the NFL war rooms and never worked him out or spoke with Byars.

Ryan called Byars when the Eagles 10th overall selection came up and simply said, “I’m drafting you.”–to the surprise of everyone, including Byars.

Despite his foot injury, Byars found a great role with the Eagles.  He did just about everything.  He played running back, full back, tight end and lined up as a slot wide receiver.  He threw the ball, he made one handed catches and he decleated would be tacklers with some of the greatest blocks in NFL history.

In 2004, Jim Gehman of PhiladelphiaEagles.com interviewed Byars about what his versatile role in the offense was like.

Byars said, “The way our offense was structured, we didn’t have wholesale changes like they do now…. A lot of times we would go to our four wide receiver package with me and Keith Jackson out there. We would just do it, it was no problem… Most wide receivers don’t like to catch the ball inside the numbers, so me and Keith would take a lot of those passes. It was a lot of fun.”

Here’s a look at what Byars did statistically as Eagle:

	Rushing			Receiving			Passing
Year	Att	Yds	TD	Rec	Yds	TD	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD
1986	177	577	1	11	44	0	1	2	50	55	1
1987	116	426	3	21	177	1	0	0	0	0	0
1988	152	517	6	72	705	4	0	2	0	0	0
1989	133	452	5	68	721	0	0	0	0	0	0
1990	37	141	0	81	819	3	4	4	100	53	4
1991	94	383	1	62	564	3	0	2	0	0	0
1992	41	176	1	56	502	2	0	1	0	0	0
	750	2672	17	371	3532	13	5	11	45%	108	5

Keith Byars 1988 effort was statistically his best season, but in the 1990 season he became more effective as the prime receiving target of quarterback Randall Cunningham.

In 1990, Byars also completed four out of four passes for four touchdowns–perfection.  He threw five touchdown passes with the Eagles and six in his career. 

I remember a play where Byars picked a wild pass out of the hands of an opposing cornerback that was already running for a pick-six.  I’ve never seen anything like that.  The cornerback was literally in the middle of embracing the ball and Byars just went “wooop, I’ll take that…” with a slight of hand magic trick kind of thing.

Byars finished his 13 NFL seasons with 8,770 yards from scrimmage and 54 touchdowns.  He played for the Eagles for seven years.  He also played for the Dolphins, Patriots and Jets.

He added a dynamic to football, not just the Eagles.  He was a worthy adversary of the best defenders in the NFL.

Byars didn’t make the pro bowl until 1993 when he was a Dolphin.  His performance that season was a very standard year for Byars and his pro bowl selection was a greater representation of his body of work in Philadelphia from 1986 through 1992 along with his 1993 season in Miami.

If Byars had been considered a tight end along with Keith Jackson, his receiving numbers alone would have garnered more respect.  He had the complete package to play the tight end position and at 6’1″ and 245 pounds, Byars could block, catch, and feel a play’s natural development at an elite level.

He was also the best running back on a team that couldn’t block and yielded the most sacks in the NFL almost every year.

Byars was a quality football player and is a quality person.

When asked what he was most proud of during his career, Byars said, “Giving everything I had on every play I was out there… I never took a play off; never ran out of bounds…”

PhiladelphiaEagles.com’s Dave Spadaro recently spoke with former Eagles running back Keith Byars who said, “Philly was great and it is always near and dear to my heart.  I loved my time there, those teams, the fans, my teammates and coaches. Every player should have the chance to play for the Eagles, for those fans. They were great.”

Byars continues to be involved with football as a commentator and high school football coach.

An often overshadowed component to the success of the Philadelphia Eagles during the Buddy Ryan, Randall Cunningham and “Gang Green” era, Keith Byars can never be forgotten by the Eagles fans who watched him compete in a fierce NFC East.

NFL Quarterbacks and Offensive Skill Positions: Names to Watch in 2009

Every season there are surprises. Players who underachieved will overachieve and stars will be born. Rookies will be thrust into starting positions and exceed their developmental expectations.

In 2008 running back Michael Turner burst into production with fellow Falcon Matt Ryan to create an elite offense in Atlanta.

Also in 2008, veterans Phillip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Cassell, Jay Cutler, Michael Turner, DeAngelo Williams, Thomas Jones, Steve Breaston and Vincent Jackson had break out performances.

Rookies Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Chris Johnson, Steve Slaton, Matt Forte Pierre Thomas, Eddie Royal and DeSean Jackson all made huge impacts for their teams in 2008.

There were plenty of 2008 rookies who appeared to be primed for an explosive season but fell short due to injury or circumstance. Felix Jones, Ryan Torrain and others look to capitalize on a fresh opportunity this season.

Who will be the biggest surprises and statistical ground-gainers on offense in 2009? Let’s take a look.

Year Two: LB Joe Mays’ Opportunity to Play for the Eagles in 2009

In the sixth round of the 2008 draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected linebacker Joe Mays from North Dakota State University. 

Mays is a guy that die-hard Eagles fans love to see on the field.  He’s not so big or fast but when he hits look for a flying shoe or helmet.

 

Linebacker Prospect Joe Mays

Joe Mays stands at 5’11” tall and weighs in at 245 pounds. The man is built like a statue chiseled from granite. He is, at times, a bit stiff in his actions, but his game is getting downhill on an appropriate angle, shedding blockers with his upper body strength and tossing a ball carrier to the ground.

Mays has been working on his coverage in the offseason—a questioned aspect of his game.

He has said that he’s improved in his ability to more effectively read a play as a pass or a run, a necessity for linebackers in the Jimmy Johnson scheme. 

In coverage over the middle of the field, wide receivers need to fear Joe Mays.

Exhibit A: Limas Sweed

In the 2008 preseason, Mays delivered what the fans wanted: A warrior.

Exhibit B: Preseason Highlights

Mays does not have elite speed (about a 4.8 second forty-yard dash) but he does explode out of his stance, read the play, take solid angles and utilize his incredible upper body strength very well.

He can sniff out and react to a run as good as anyone can. 

He tackles a bit high but that is to his strength.

Once he wraps his arms around a player or a part of a player, there is not much hope for escape—he is just too strong. Ball carriers don’t have a chance in Mays grasp. He can just lift them off of their feet and throw them to the ground. 

That is what he does.

Affectionately dubbed, “Head Buster,” Mays is a fan favorite who has the attention of the coaches and the respect of his team. He hits hard and fast, and wraps and twist slams ball carriers to the ground.

What’s not to love?

At North Dakota State, Mays was the top small-school linebacker prospect recording 285 tackles during his time there. He was a Division I-AA third team All-American and his conferences’ defensive player of the year despite being hampered by a hip pointer (if you have never had one, they heal well, but are very debilitating).

 

Setting Role Expectations for 2009

Mays was an excellent wedge-buster in 2008. It will be interesting to see what he does without a wedge to bust in 2009.

He will definitely be expected to play a big role on special teams.

Mays does not have a viable opportunity to supplant returning middle linebacker Stewart Bradley who appears to be in control of the position for the foreseeable future.

Chris Gocong has the starting strong side linebacker position locked up as well for now.

The weak side linebacker is still an open competition although the contest is currently between Akeem Jordan and Omar Gaither.

In a recent interview on PhiladelphiaEagles.com, Mays took a cue from Omar Gaither and said he just wants to get on the field and doesn’t care where. 

He also said that he wants to learn all the linebacker positions and further desires to be capable to step in for any of them.

I still wouldn’t expect to see Mays at weak side linebacker as a standard. It is a position of open field coverage in the J.J. scheme. He can cover well in the middle of the field because the receivers are coming to him. In open field coverage, Mays is unproven.

Unfortunately, I just don’t see Mays starting at any position in 2009 barring an injury to a current starter, so his contribution will be limited in a pool full of young promising linebackers. 

The Eagles will not likely play a 3-4 defense any time soon either.

How do Eagles fans get some “Head Buster 2009?”

Mays’ talent cannot be allowed to go unexplored in some fashion and the Jimmy Johnson tradition of creative defensive packaging will likely continue in the Jimmy Johnson-Sean McDermoot era.

I have to think that Mays will get time in the goal line package over Omar Gaither at some point. Mays’ downhill nature fits that bill very well.

Aside from getting goal line action, Mays may find himself in a position to play in some other run-stop situations.

A good opportunity to put Mays on the field would be in their 4-3 defense at weak side linebacker in the fourth quarter when the Eagles need to stuff the run to get the ball back.

If the Eagles are too concerned about his pass coverage to play him at weak side in the aforementioned scenario, Mays could be put in the middle or the strong side and shift either Bradley or Gocong to the weak side for a more dominant run stopping 4-3.

In the long run, that may be an eventual evolution.

Hopefully Johnson and McDermott find a way to get Mays on the field in 2009 in some capacity. He is an exciting player that brings-it game day. 

Mays inspires a higher level of game play from his teammates with his aggressive style. 

Joe Mays is in fan demand.

Year Two: DE Bryan Smith’s Opportunity To Play for the Eagles in 2009

In the third round of the 2008 draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Bryan Smith, defensive end from Division 1-AA McNeese State.  He was the 11th defensive lineman selected in that draft.

Smith is looking to prove he can bring some value to this team as he competes for a role in a very crowded meeting room for defensive ends.

 

Defensive End Prospect Bryan Smith

Bryan Smith stands at 6’2″ and weighs in at 250 lbs.  He has been trying to build more mass, but has also stated that he feels good about playing at or around 250 lbs.

Smith is a very interesting prospect. 

He is conventionally undersized for an Eagles’ defensive end.  In fact, Chris Gocong was converted to strong side linebacker from defensive end and weighs about 265 lbs.

When being prospected, many NFL scouts figured Bryan Smith would be converted to the popular defensive-end-linebacker-hybrid in the NFL, yet he has never played a down at linebacker at any point in his football career. 

He has also never played a down in an NFL regular season game.

At McNeese State, Bryan Smith was a two time Division 1-AA All-American and conference defensive player of the year.  He recorded 31 sacks and 187 tackles from 2005 through 2007. 

He completely dominated at that level of football and was ranked a top small school prospect along with Eagles’ teammate Joe Mays.

Smith is known for his burst and straight line speed coming off of the edge and rushing the passer.  At the NFL combine in 2008, Smith ran a somewhat disappointing 4.75 second forty yard dash. 

He has been rumored to run in the 4.5 second range.

 

Setting Role Expectations for Bryan Smith in 2009

Bryan Smith doesn’t appear to be getting serious consideration at any of the defensive end positions for this upcoming season.  Where he fits in the mix of defensive ends is not a very clear picture for Smith.

Trent Cole has been the total package on the right end, and the coaches are really looking to Victor Abiamiri to step up and be the playmaker on the left side.

In pass rushing situations, the Eagles have found some success with Darren Howard stepping into the interior line and using sack specialist Chris Clemons as an edge rusher at left end.

Smith could find himself in the Chris Clemons role in 2009.  Clemons had some success later in the season, but he also disappeared at times. 

This is an excellent opportunity for Smith to come in and produce.  Left end on third and long could be Smith’s shot at game time if he demonstrates that he can provide more reliable pressure during the preseason.

Unfortunately for Smith, the Eagles’ coaching staff is pretty happy with Clemons as they should be.

What seems obvious is that Bryan Smith needs to get some time on the field in 2009, and he claims he now has the understanding of the defensive scheme that he needs to be able to contribute.

I also can’t help seeing Bryan Smith in another position besides linebacker.  He appears to be formed in the raw mold of a Lawrence Taylor and Derrick Thomas. 

Not to say that his expectations should be set to those kinds of hall-of-fame and greatest-ever standards, but it’s fair to expect a shadow of their style of game from Smith.

There is a problem still.

In Jimmy Johnson’s defensive scheme, the linebackers are critically required to do a quality job in coverage.

Omar Gaither was a former starter at middle linebacker and was bumped from the weak side linebacker position (in 2008) by Akeem Jordan, largely for his pass coverage abilities.

Chris Gocong has been progressing in his coverage, and, toward the end of last season, he fared much better in his first starting season at strong side linebacker.

Bryan Smith has no pass coverage experience, which would be most important for the weak side linebacker duties. The WILL spot is being contested primarily by Akeem Jordan and Omar Gaither. 

A role for Smith may develop if Chris Gocong can’t get the pressure, that is expected of him, off of the strong side on passing downs.  Bryan Smith could come in to provide additional edge pressure in those situations.

I can’t help but feel Gocong (in 2008) was more of a solid overall strong side linebacker than the pass rush specialist he has been billed to be.

The one unquestionable hallmark of J.J.’s defense is the intrinsic design to get players who can get to the quarterback on the field and in a position to do so.

I can imagine Johnson or interim coordinator Sean McDermott pulling Brodrick Bunkley, Victor Abiamiri, and Chris Gocong on third and long and inserting Darren Howard, Chris Clemons, and Bryan Smith on the strong side to put massive pressure on the opposing quarterback. 

 

What if Bryan Smith Does Not Get on The Field in 2009?

In the NFL, anything can happen.

But, it’s not likely that the Eagles will let Trent Cole or Victor Abiamiri walk away easily at any point.

Jaqua Parker and Chris Clemons stand a better chance of being a lower priority in the Eagles’ long term plans, and Darren Howard is the oldest defensive end on the roster. 

He is still playing well, but his role was limited in 2008 despite his productivity.

If Bryan Smith can survive next year’s crop of defensive linemen or possibly Jeremy Jarmon in the supplemental draft, a position may open up for Smith to bump Darren Howard, Jaqua Parker, or Chris Clemons in 2010.

Brent Celek Is Going To Be a Favorite Target of McNabb in 2009

If you did not know, it is a brand new era at the tight end position in Philadelphia.

McNabb has always looked to his tight ends in clutch situations—partly because he had mediocre receivers, and partly as a primal instinct.

McNabb to Lewis and pre-sports hernia L.J. Smith was a staple of the Eagles passing offense.  In the 2008 regular season, the tight end was nearly invisible. In 2009, Eagles fans have a new look aerial group at tight end. 

Brent Celek emerged as the starter at tight end in the playoffs last season and led the team in receptions during that period. 

A familiar trend is becoming apparent and there are lots of reasons to get excited about this.

Brent Celek becomes a prospective X-factor in the Eagles offense, along with rookies Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Cornelius Ingram, and free agent acquisition Leonard Weaver.

It has been a couple of years’ worth of L.J. Smith ineffectiveness that lead the Eagles to the forward-thinking decision of passing the torch to the young Celek (aka “Magnum P.I.”)

Celek doesn’t have blazing speed. He runs a 4.7-second 40-yard dash, but he is elusive for his size and speed, and he runs and finishes hard. More than anything, he is an old-school prototype tight end in the vein of Chad Lewis, Jason Witten, and Chris Cooley.

Celek has nice hands and tremendous vision for the field and open space that transcend measures and statistics. This kid is a very good football player, and he produces.

“Once you get out there in a game and see some of the things you can do to a defense, you think I can do this week in and week out,” Celek said. “I think I had an opportunity there and took advantage of it. I played the best that I could. There were some situations where I was in good situations and I made some decent plays. I just have to do that on a continuous basis.”

McNabb now has a talented group of receivers, receiving backs and a go-to tight end that he had been missing during L.J. Smith’s most recent campaigns.

Celek is going to have a better opportunity to produce than Chad Lewis, as the 2009 corps of complementary targets at receiver and out of the backfield are potentially lethal to opposing defenses.

Defenses have to take care to watch Brian Westbrook, DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Hank Baskett and Jeremy Maclin whenever they are on the field. The player they will look past most often is Celek, and he has the game and quarterback respect to make teams pay.

Cornelius Ingram is the Eagles’ rookie tight end who may cut into the production of Celek just a bit.  He’s a monstrous athletic talent that the Eagles will look to take advantage of having on their roster.

Both Celek and Ingram are somewhat questionable in the blocking department, but they are in the good hands when it comes to blocking instruction.

Blocking is a combination of heart, athleticism and technique.  Celek and Ingram have the heart and athleticism and Andy Reid and offensive line coach, Juan Castillo, are the best in the business at developing technique.

Both players are aware that coming into this season, the No. 1 question on the minds of the coaches regarding tight end is, “Can these guys block?”

Celek and Ingram have been proactive in working on this aspect of their game and Eagles fans will be treated to a substantial improvement over L.J. Smith and Matt Schobel’s lackluster blocking efforts.

Additional points of interest with blocking at tight end include the promising progress of converted defensive end from Purdue, Eugene Bright, who I expect to supplant the relatively ineffective Matt Schobel at the third tight end position.

When thinking about a blocking tight end, I can’t leave out the formidable option of lining up Jason Peters tight and eligible to receive.  The Eagles are deep enough on the offensive line to slide a depth lineman like Max Jean-Gilles onto the field and let Jason Peters play his original position—yes, that’s right—tight end.

One last wild thought is bulking up Hank Baskett.  His speed and blocking technique with an extra 20 or 25pounds would make for an incredibly dangerous tight end and more repetitions for the under-used receiver. 

For now, the picture is clear. Celek is the man at tight end and McNabb has gone to him frequently when he has been in the game before.  We will see a lot more of Brent Celek with the ball in 2009.

Expect Celek to have a tremendous season, most likely accounting for 600 to 800 yards receiving, and five to eight touchdowns as McNabb seeks him out.

Read more of my favorite B/R articles.

Dirty Words: What if Terrell Owens Was Still a Philadelphia Eagle?

How could any so-called Eagles fan have any love left for Terrell Owens?  He was possibly the biggest tease in Philadelphia sports history. 

I kept trying to delete this article, but time and again, it appeared in the writing box. So I’ll finish it.

I had planned on talking about the good things and the bad things, what was said and what wasn’t.

I’m not going to go there. I will confess, I wish T.O. was still an Eagle, and despite his rhetoric and braggadocios mannerisms, I love me some T.O. I’m going to get it for that, I know.

The guy can play football, and he made this team better when he was here.

I don’t want to talk about his intangibles, the negatives, his relationship with his teammates, or how the whole mess went down. 

I’m going to pretend he would be happy to be an Eagle, whether true or false.

I am moreover going to paint a picture of what the Eagles would have been like with T.O. from 2005 to 2008.

For the record, I also enjoyed chanting, “Teee-OOOH-T-O-T-O-T-OOOOOH-Teee-OOOOOH-Teee-OOOOOH” at the season finale against the Cowboys (to the tune of ole-ole-ole-ole-we are the champs, we are the champs – if you didn’t know).

Owens was the only Cowboy that played well in that game.

 

How Terrell Owens Positively Affects His Team

With Owens, Donovan McNabb easily would have manufactured at least one 4,000-yard passing season and 30 or more touchdown passes per season as he did with Owens in 2004. It would have remediated all Donovan McNabb doubters. 

I’m sure the Eagles would have reigned in at least one Superbowl title with Owens as well.

In 2004, Todd Pinkston started 16 games opposite of Owens and averaged a career-best 18.8 yards per reception, which is 3.5 yards better than his career average. Freddie Mitchell averaged 17.1 yards per reception, which is three yards better than his career average.

Those guys weren’t the worst receivers of all time, but they were never that effective before T.O. 

So I’m going to say that he makes the players around him better, too, not just by drawing additional coverage, but even more so by elevating the practice levels and providing inspirational production on the game field.

 

What if Terrell Owens was an Eagle for all of 2005?

Well, he had more than 750 yards in seven games with six touchdowns. I’ll do the math for us here:

Average per Game: 107 YARDS, .86 TD

For 16 Games: 1712 YARDS, 14 TD

It hurts to think about what could have been.

Of course, McNabb struggled and eventually succumbed to a sports hernia that season. He may have battled through it if there was an opportunity to make the playoffs.

The Eagles were 4-2 that year before falling to a 6-10 fate without Owens or McNabb down the stretch—basically out of ammo even though Westbrook was emerging.

If Owens was an Eagle in 2005, emerging youngsters L.J Smith, Reggie Brown, and Greg Lewis would probably have been able to pull their load and get the Eagles into the playoffs with either a physically struggling Donovan McNabb or a plain old struggling Mike McMahon.

 

What if Terrell Owens was an Eagle in 2006?

In reality, it would have ultimately been some kind of disaster with McNabb and Jeff Garcia throwing the ball to T.O., but I’ll not get hung up on that fact here.

Despite the franchise quarterback going down, Jeff Garcia led the Eagles into the playoffs with an NFC East-best 10-6 record. Throw T.O. in the mix, and who knows.

Reggie Brown averaged 17.7 yards per catch and had 816 receiving yards; Donte Stallworth averaged 19.1 yards per catch and had 725 yards; and rookie Hank Baskett averaged 21.1 yards per catch. smith was in his prime, hauling in 50 catches for 611 yards.

Westbrook averaged 5.1 yards per carry and caught 77 passes for 1,916 total yards from scrimmage. Correll Buckhalter and Ryan Moats were also on the depth chart at running back.

In 2006, Terrell Owens on the Eagles equals championship—NFC championship at least. McNabb or Garcia throwing the ball would not have mattered as much as having T.O. to get the Eagles past the Saints and the Bears.

The Colts in the Superbowl would have been a challenge, but I would have enjoyed watching that game. 

 

What if Terrell Owens was an Eagle in 2007?

This was the end of the McNabb injury plague. Westbrook carried the work load in 2007, and the receivers played well. But McNabb was shaking off the rust and didn’t have the weapons he was looking for to win games.

The Eagles finished 8-8 in 2007.

Stallworth was replaced by Kevin Curtis, but Smith was struggling, and although Brian Westbrook posted over 2,100 yards from scrimmage and Kevin Curtis went over 1,100 yards receiving, the Eagles could not establish a consistently effective passing attack.

Sprinkle some T.O. in the mix, and McNabb could have led the Eagles to victory in at least two or three of the five games they lost by four or fewer points during the regular season.

If my assumption is correct, the Eagles go 11-5—or to be conservative, I’ll say 10-6. 

That’s a playoff-bound record, and the NFC was not as stacked as it is heading into 2009. 

The Giants were hitting their stride as the season wound down, but so was McNabb.  McNabb looked really good at the end of the season, showing the return of his mobility and toughness.

The Eagles won the last three games, but fell short of the playoffs.

In 2007, If Owens was a Philadelphia Eagle, they would have made the playoffs. The Eagles would have challenged the Giants and Cowboys for the NFC crown and possibly defeated the allegedly undefeatable New England Patriots in the big show.

 

What if Terrell Owens was an Eagle in 2008?

The 2008 season was so full of ups, downs, and drama, I think T.O.’s head would have exploded.  

To be fair, it would have been a different kind of drama with Owens because the Eagles would have won more regular-season games—like the Bengals game.

Without considering stats, Owens, Desean Jackson, and McNabb—playing as well he did—would have been explosion enough to get the Eagles ahead against the Cardinals and never look back.

The Eagles also were looking at a great match-up with the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

Put T.O. on this team, and the Eagles win three and a half more games easily and go 13-3 to win the Super Bowl, hands-down.

Then again, that’s what the Cowboys thought.

 

More of my favorite offseason articles – updated weekly: Click Here to Read More

Eagles Offseason Articles: The Ultimate Guide

There has been a lot of excitement amongst Eagles fans this offseason. In the last few months, some really good Eagles articles have been written on Bleacher Report.

With that in mind, I submit this list of links as homework for anyone in need of catching up with the 2009 Eagles season outlook and offseason developments.

 

I. Divisional, Conference, and League Outlook

Pizzini’s NFL Power Poll by Leo Pizzini

NFC Outlook by Anthony Williamson

NFC East Outlook by Brian Joseph

NFC East Outlook by Brian Hagberg

Beast from the East by Leo Pizzini

 

II. Offseason Review and Predictions

Eagles Offseason Review by Anthony Williamson

Eagles 2009 Draft by Dan Pharzych

Eagles 2009 Draft Picks by Cody Swartz

Eagles Season Preview by Bryn Swartz

Eagles Season Preview by Anthony Williamson

Eagles Season Preview by Geoff Crawley

OTA Wrap-Up by Leo Pizzini

Reasons for Success in 2009 by Cody Swartz

Eagles New Offensive Twists by Brian Joseph

Eagles New Offensive Twists by Leo Pizzini

Offseason Defensive Review by Paul Dowds 

 

III. Coaches

Coaching Profile by Bob Cunningham

Coaches Profile by Bryn Swartz

Andy Reid’s Window of Opportunity by Brian Joseph

Andy Reid by Leo Pizzini

Jimmy Johnson by Kevin Noonan

Sean McDermott by Dan Bandekow

Brian Stewart by Bob Cunningham

 

IV. Quarterbacks

Donovan McNabb’s New Deal by Bob Cunningham

Donovan McNabb by Anthony Williamson

Comparing McNabb to Other NFL Quarterbacks by Bob Cunningham

Kevin Kolb and the Future at QB by Leo Pizzini 

 

V. Running Backs

The Eagles’ Running Backs by Leo Pizzini

The Brian Westbrook Injury by Leo Pizzini

LeSean McCoy by Leo Pizzini

Booker and McCoy by Travis Boyer

 

VI. Wide Receivers

Eagles Receivers by Dan Pharzych

Make a Move for a Receiver by Dan Pharzych

Wide Receiver by Leo Pizzini

Hank Baskett by Leo Pizzini

Jeremy Maclin by Leo Pizzini

Jason Avant by Dan Bandekow

 

VII. Offensive Line

The Eagles’ Big Offensive Line by Kevin Noonan

New Look Offensive Line by Kevin Noonan

New Look Offensive Line by Matthew Wysocki

 

VIII. Tight End

Need for a Blocking Tight End by Bob Cunningham

Cornelius Ingram by Leo Pizzini

Eugene Bright by Leo Pizzini

 

IX. Defensive Secondary

The Defensive Backfield by Leo Pizzini

Brian Dawkins by Bryn Swartz

Sheldon Brown by Leo Pizzini

Victor Harris by Leo Pizzini

Sean Jones by Orlando Morales

 

X. Linebackers

The Eagles’ Linebackers by Leo Pizzini

 

XI. Defensive Line

Trent Cole and the Defensive Line by Leo Pizzini

 

XII. Special Teams

Kick and Punt Return by Cody Swartz

 

XIII Fantasy Football

Fantasy Predictions by Leo Pizzini

Eagles Receivers by Taylor Rummel

 

XIV. Historic Teams

2006 Eagles by Dan Pharzych

2001 Eagles by Orlancdo Morales

2000 Eagles by Travis Boyer

1988 Eagles by Lloyd Vance

1995 Eagles by Todd Orodenker

1991 Eagles by Geoff Crawley

1990 Eagles by Leo Pizzini

1988 Fog Bowl by Kevin Noonan

1960 Eagles by Bryn Swartz

Trent Cole is a Man on Fire and a Leader in the Trenches

Defensive end is a position in which Eagles fans have become accustomed to seeing nothing but greatness. From Reggie White and Clyde Simmons, to William Fuller, Hugh Douglas, Jevon Kearse and now Trent Cole; are all in a long line of dominating defensive ends. 

 

The Leader in the Trenches: Trent Cole

Trent Cole has been excellent and with four seasons under his belt, he is planning to bring it harder than ever in 2009.

The 26 year old 6’3″ 270-pound Cincinnati Bearcat was drafted in the fifth round of the 2005 draft. As a rookie, Cole accounted for 46 tackles, five sacks and forced one fumble.

In 2006, Cole accounted for 62 tackles, eight sacks, forced four fumbles, recovered one, and returned an interception for a touchdown.

In Cole’s 2007 pro bowl campaign, he accounted for 70 tackles, 12.5 sacks, force four fumbles and recovered one.

In 2008, Cole accounted for 77 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles as he battled double teams all season.

In 2009, Cole enters his fifth season in prime condition and poised to exploit the maturation of fellow defensive linemen and linebackers who will require more attention themselves and help draw off double teams.  

When asked what he was working on to improve his game for 2009, Cole said, “add a little more size…coming off the ball a little bit faster…using my hands a lot more.”

Cole is always working to improve his game and he has commented that the all the way down the line, the players have improved and they are loaded with prototypical talent.

That is the kind of speech that the leader of this defensive line needs to carry on and off the field.

Comparing Cole to some of the recent greats at defensive end for the Eagles, William Fuller really stands out as a similar player. They are of similar build and they both dominated as well rounded run stopping and pass rushing defensive ends.

There is nothing fancy about Trent Cole. He’s kind of an overachiever. He’s quick and strong, but not exceptional in those areas.  

He’s not famous for his swim move, bull rush or a forearm club—nothing like that. He just plays hard-nosed-down-hill fundamental football. 

Cole does have elite instincts and he moreover plays with a heart felt passion that Eagles fans and players are inspired by.

I believe Trent Cole will have a Pro Bowl worthy season again in 2009.

 

Defensive Tackle

The returning starters at defensive tackle were the Eagles 2005 and 2006 first round draft picks. Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley are both 25 years old and capable of playing at a Pro Bowl level. They have excelled at stopping the run and are a handful of sacks a piece away from being viable Pro Bowl candidates.

These guys are 300-plus pound monsters that log jam the middle of the line. They also showed that they had some wheels in the season finale against the Cowboys, returning fumbles for touchdowns from one end of the field to the other.

Everyone likes to see a big man sprint.

Look for Patterson and Bunkley to continue to mature this season and post career bests in most of their statistical measures.

2008 first round draft pick Trevor Laws, and the recently re-converted tackle Dan Klecko have played well with limited opportunity. They haven’t been needed, but if called upon, they are capable stand-ins with upside.   

Unfortunately Amon Gordon is lost for the season with a ruptured achilles. 

 

Defensive End

One of the interesting traditions of the Jimmy Johnson defense, that either he or interim coordinator Sean McDermott will likely carry forward into 2009, is the use of a quicker defensive end as a tackle in passing situations to generate more pressure.

In 2008, the reserve defensive linemen accounted for 18 sacks. Darren Howard and Chris Clemons recorded 14 of them as Howard often came in at tackle and Clemons on the end, spelling Bunkley and Parker.

Jaqua Parker played the left end position well in 2008, but the maturation of the Eagles 2007 second round draft pick, Victor Abiamiri, and sack specialists Darren Howard and Chris Clemons will put up a stiff competition for that position in training camp.

The training camp battle for left end should make for an outstanding talent to emerge and be awarded with the starting role. All of the candidates for left defensive end are very good football players with something to prove.

Bryan Smith is another interesting defensive end on the Eagles roster that will survive the roster cuts. He will more than likely transition to a strong side linebacker if he doesn’t gain mass, but he has the instincts and the quickness to play well at the NFL level.

The Eagles made no real additions to the defensive line in the off season. Considering all of the front office activity, that is a strong testimony to their confidence in the players they have.

Eagles Linebackers | Eagles Secondary

Lost in the Shuffle: A Closer Look at Eagles Receiver Hank Baskett

Prior to the draft, Hank Baskett appeared to have a very good opportunity to play a much bigger role in the 2009 Eagles passing attack.  How does he fit in with the Eagles offense now?

Eagles fans have mixed and completely divergent opinions on Baskett.  There is a large community of Eagles enthusiasts that believe Baskett could be an extremely productive receiver. 

Others believe he would have been lost to free agency and produced bigger numbers by now if he were the real deal.

Both point seem to have validity.

 

Who is Hank Baskett?  A History

Hank Baskett is a 6’4″, 220-pound receiver who ran a 4.5 second 40 yard dash at his combine workout.  He definitely continues accelerating with long strides after 40 yards.

Baskett was also a high school basketball standout and seven foot collegiate high jumper at New Mexico.  Baskett leaped 39.5″ in his pro day workout.

Baskett is an intelligent football player who graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA and maintained 3.36 college GPA while playing football and competing in track and field.

Hank Baskett had two very solid years at New Mexico where he ranked 13th in the nation as a senior and earned all-conference honors.  Baskett also measured up with some pretty impressive numbers during his combine and pro-day workouts.

2004: 54 catches for 906 yards and 3 touchdowns.

2005: 57 catches for 1,071 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Pro-day results: 4.55 in the 40-yard dash…39.5-inch vertical jump…315-pound bench press…435-pound squat…309-pound power clean…328-pound incline press…32 7/8-inch arm length.

Combine results: 4.50-second 40-yard dash. … 35-inch vertical jump. … 9’11” broad jump. … 4.22-second shuttle run. … 6.80-second three-cone drill. … Did not participate in 225-pound bench press.

Baskett’s 6.8 second 3-cone would have tied him with Darrius Heyward-Bey at ninth among receivers, his 39.5″ vertical would have put him at 5th among receivers again just over Heyward-Bey.

His workout measures up with the best prospects at wide receiver in the 2009 draft class.

Baskett went somewhat surprisingly undrafted, then signed with the Minnesota Vikings and was later traded for Philadelphia Eagles receiver, Billy McMullen.

He enters his fourth season with the Eagles in 2009 at 26 years old.  He is signed to a one-year contract.

Baskett has only started in 11 games in his three-year tenure with the Eagles and has been very productive with limited opportunities.

In Baskett’s 2006 rookie season, he caught 22 passes for 464 yards and two touchdowns, boasting a 21.1-yard average per catch as he scored twice from beyond 85 yards in that season.

Baskett earned rookie of the week honors twice in 2006.

In Baskett’s 2007 season, he caught a disappointing 16 catches for 142 yards and one touchdown.  He definitely should have had more opportunity on the field in 2007.

In Baskett’s 2008 season, he caught 33 passes for 440 yards including a 90 yard touchdown which was one of his three on the season.

Baskett has made some clutch plays when given the opportunity.  Unfortunately for Baskett fans, it’s a crowded receiving group that will not likely yield more targets for him in 2009.

 

What does he do well?

Baskett is a good special teams player, blocks well, moves well, has explosive running ability, good hands, he is a big red zone target and has good instincts to come back to and be aware of his quarterback’s situation.

Baskett is what I would describe as a play-maker.  Good things happen when the ball moves in his direction and when the ball moves towards him, he moves to the ball. 

Exhibit A: 3 touchdown receptions of 85 yards or more in as many seasons. 

 

What does he do poorly?

Not much. 

He has been called too stiff, considered to have questionable hands and been called a bit slow at times.

I don’t think the charges of suspect agility and hands stick. 

In 2008, Baskett caught 64.7 percent of the passes thrown at him with only 4 of his 51 targets being considered drops.

Compare Baskett with two of the best receivers in the League:

Larry Fitzgerald caught 62.3 percent of his 154 targets and was charged with two drops.

Andre Johnson caught 67.6 percent of his 170 targets and was charged with five drops.

These two players are possibly the most reliable weapons in the NFL and Baskett’s hands measure just a class below.  Receivers like Terrell Owens, Brandon Marshall and Braylon Edwards are elite receivers that average more drops than Baskett.

So I’m not concerned about his hands.

As far as concerns about his agility go, I just don’t see it.  He’s agile enough.

What about his speed?  A 4.5 second 40 yard dash is respectable and his three 85 yards touchdowns are proof that he can run.  It may take him an extra step to get to top speed, but don’t doubt that this guy can move.

 

How does he fit in with the Eagles in 2009?

Unless something unexpected happens, Baskett will more than likely be a reserve and situational role player.

He can do some things that the other very good 6’0″ receivers can not.

Baskett can go up higher for the ball and cover fairly well on special teams. 

He would do very well if afforded an opportunity to start across from DeSean Jackson as he adds a new dimension to the Eagles passing offense.

Eagles fans should get excited when Baskett is on the field.  He has the potential to break a big play on any down.

DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jeremy Maclin, and Hank Baskett are four game-breaking threats who can all be on the field at once. 

It’s not likely that we will see too much of this offense with the talent expected at tight end and fullback.  Also, Jason Avant figures to get his share of reps as a slot possession receiver.

Baskett has some distractions coming up with his celebrity relationship and his forthcoming fatherhood could either inspire or trouble the young receiver. 

He still has to earn a spot on this team. He is not a lock, but he does provide a lot of unique value to this offense and his only verifiable limitation to his production is his opportunity. 

We will not know how good Hank Baskett is until he gets 70 to 100 targets in a season and that may never happen for him as an Eagle.

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