Eagles Nest

Special Teams

Will special teams put the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl?  Andy Reid has put allot of energy into improving the special teams.  Draft choice punt returner DeSean Jackson looks to be a big improvement over Reno Mahe.  It's great to have a safe catch but it better to go fast up field.  The Philadelphia Eagles made trades for position players who have a special team's rep:  LB Rocky Boiman, TE Kris Wilson, FB Luke Lawton, bowling ball DT Dan Klecko.  These guys bring speed, heart and allot of hit to the special teams.  I got to give it to Andy Reid he adds depth to the squad and is always looking for ways to tweak the roster to get a better football team for less money.  A player who was a disappointment to me last season was punter Sav Rocca.  He had plenty of Australian rules football hype but we didn't see a consistent big boot.  I thought he cost the Eagles a couple of games with his shank punts.  I hope his rookie jitters are behind him and he buries the opposing team deep in their own territory.  Sav also needs to improve in the holding the football for one of my favorite Philadelphia Eagles, David Akers.  Here is a player who consistently good every season.  Akers always put points on the board.  Yes, special teams are going to win some games for the Eagles this year and maybe put them in the big game.   

Man in the Middle

For better or worse, richer or poorer, Donovan McNabb is our man in the middle of the mix.  He is the guy who touches the ball on every offensive play.  And for the better part of his career, the Philadelphia Eagles have soared when he is in the middle of it all.  The Eagles are a poorer team when he is out injured unless you signed Jeff Garcia as your back-up quarterback.  Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles front office didn't want to do that because they thought McNabb was Superman or they didn't want to hurt Superman's feelings.  Whatever the case, Donovan played himself into shape by the end of the season and showed the Donovan of old.  McNabb looks great when he is a scrambling quarterback or taking the football up field.  He makes the opposing defense cover him because of those playmaking abilities.  Personally, I am glad Donovan McNabb is a Philadelphia Eagle.  He has brought the Eagles to higher heights and if Donovan is healthy he will carry the Philadelphia Eagles far into the post-season with his legs and strong arm.  McNabb is of the age when it all comes together for quarterbacks.  Let it be here in Philadelphia.  Fly, Eagles, fly!

Eagles' pride

The Philadelphia Eagles don't keep many players around for a long time.  Since 1996, Brian Dawkins has been a disruptive force on defense, a playmaker, who brings out the best in other players.  Last season, he got banged up and was out for a number of games but that didn't keep him stirring up the team on the sidelines.  When Dawk came back, he seemed tentative at times.  This season he says he is all the way back and ready to play.  Good because the Philadelphia Eagles need the Brian Dawkins of old to be a difference maker on defense.

If Dawk is not ready, Quintin Mikell looks to step up and provide some big time plays.  Mikell played in 14 games (11 starts) and led the entire secondary with a career-high 98 tackles, while also notching a sack and interception. Said head coach Andy Reid of Mikell's development: "Quintin, by the end of the season, was playing at a Pro Bowl caliber level as a safety. We knew what a great special teams player he was, but he became an even better safety."

Since we are talking Eagles' pride, another guy I like is J.R. Reed.  I love it when he comes on the field because you know that he is going to hit someone.  The fact that he is overcoming an injury makes his story all the better.  You know that he playing the game for all its worth and going to use every bit of his body for the team.  That's Philadelphia Eagles' pride.

Help me please!

This is Donovan McNabb to the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver corps, "Get open.  I am behind a living 6'5" wall that is trying to keep 1200 pounds of man-eating flesh off me.  They give me 3 seconds tops.  It's first down.  OK, I am going to throw to a spot.  I believe in the West Coast Offense.  I can do this.  Here it goes.  Reggie Brown did you hold onto that one?  OK, let's try this again.  Second down, I drop back. Looking for Kevin Curtis. How are you doing with the press coverage?  Why couldn't we play the Detroit Lions every week?  Pick up Jason Avant.  Can't find him.  Why do we draft small receivers?  Why don't we play Hank Baskett?  He stands out in a crowd.  At least, Brian Westbrook is open.  Next play.  Let's make this a big one.  Third down.  Drop back. Run around to buy time.  I am getting to old for this.  DeSean Jackson let's see how fast you run or should I dump it off to Lorenzo Booker. Oh yeah, L.J. Smith is out there somewhere.  Time to let it fly.  I hope we got enough playmakers out there. And I am on my back, again.  I hear the crowd."

Dear Donovan McNabb,  Andy Reid, the wide receivers, and the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles wish a healthy and happy 2008 season.  Hope to see you all in Tampa Bay.  Signed, The Philadelphia Eagles faithful.

Pick-off artists

With the signing of Asante Samuel, the Philadelphia Eagles announced their intentions of getting more takeaways this season.  Yes, he plays Lito Sheppard's spot but I rather have two aces of interception than one.  How is Andy Reid going to get his two left corner backs on the field?  By stuffing the run and creating those long yard situations that Jim Johnson loves.  Or with so many pass happy offenses in the NFL just put your best players on the field and see what happens.

Another question that comes up is how are Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles going to keep the Lito Sheppard happy with his contract?  Win, baby.  Just win.  Winning keeps players around and attracts other players.  Winning is almost better than money to competitive player who is looking for the next make their mark on the game.  And besides Sheppard has a contract till 2011.  If the Philadelphia Eagles don't win the big one by then Lito or the other Philadelphia Eagles won't be around to sign another contract.

The NFL is about now.  Win or you are out.

The way I see it, the Philadelphia Eagles management has spent the money to make their fans happy.  Asante Samuel, Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown time to shut the other team's receivers down.  Better yet make them pay.  Pick off the ball and do the scoring for the offense then better days await you.

Is the three-headed monster back?

The Sporting News ranked team's running back and stated that the Eagles' corps rates second-best in the NFC, behind only Minnesota.

Here is how the scouting report reads:  Brian Westbrook is the NFL's most dangerous all-around back.  He's almost unstoppable in the open field.  Correll Buckhalter is a reliable power runner, and newcomer Lorenzo Booker is a pass-catching threat.

B-West is getting his props.  He is great to watch and anytime he touches the ball the end zone is a possibility. 

Buckhalter is a great hustle player.  I loved it when he snatched up an Eagle receiver fumble and kept running.  He averaged 5 yards a carry but to me he looked a step slow and I didn't see Buck carrying players.  Duce Staley might have looked slow but there was no stopping him when he got the ball.  Duce made tacklers pay.

I hope that Lorenzo Booker is everything they say he is.  It would be nice seeing the Eagle backs flying around causing mismatches over the field and eating up lots of yardage.  That would give Donovan McNabb and the offensive line the break they need.  It might even give the Philadelphia Eagle receivers enough time to get up.  The three-head monster lives again!

The Men of Winter-linebackers

Andy Reid said he wanted to throw fastballs at the opposing offensive and Jim Johnson finally got them lined up.  Youth is served at the linebacker position.  Gone are Takeo Spikes and Jeremiah Trotter.  Gladiators who served the Philadelphia Eagles well.  The NFL is a place for the quick and strong.  The shelf line of NFL player is 5 years tops.  The game wears a body down no matter how much the spirit is willing. 

I am excited to see what the linebackers will do this year.  Johnson has fresh young fast players who understand his pressure defense now all he has to do is cut them loose.  They all have shown glimpses of playmaking ability. 

In 2007, Omar Gaither led the Philadelphia Eagles in tackles (170) and hurries (14), while also ranking 2nd in knockdowns (14).  Chris Gocong is getting to be that hybrid linebacker who stops the run, lineups to blitz the quarterback, or drops back in pass defense.  Stewart Bradley had one sack and one interception in his first starting game.  He is being compared to Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears. 

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive line holds the key to the linebackers' success.  I think the Eagles have enough run stuffers and guys to get pressure on the quarterback to free up the linebackers. The defensive line is going to make these guys look even better.

I think we are going to see allot more takeaways from the linebacking spot.  The linebackers will make the difference between December and January football.  They will be the Men of Winter and take the Philadelphia Eagle fans to the big games played when the season stops for most other teams.  I can see them standing over the line, frozen breath poring out of their facemasks, ready to shut down anything that comes that comes their way.

Andy's favorites between the lines: Defense

Andy Reid's money is where his heart is.  The Philadelphia Eagles spend money for defensive line talent.  Jevon Kearse, Darren Howard, Montae Regor, Ian Scott, Juqua Parker, Chris Clemons, Kimo von Oelhoffen.  If they can't buy talent the Eagles draft them, always, often and in the first rounds.  Sorry Donovan McNabb but Andy Reid thinks defense first.

What have the Philadelphia Eagles got for the money?  On the free agent side, a bunch of players who have been place holders and three of them aren’t with the team anymore.  I hope Chris Clemons breaks the mold.  He is young, fresh and not rehabilitating from any serious injury. 

On the draft side, Trent Cole and Mike Patterson have proved themselves to be players.  Brodrick Bunkley shrugged off the freshman funk to turn in a good season.  Jerome McDougle.  Yah, Jerome McDougle.  He has yet to fulfill his promise as a number one draft pick.  But he is on the team and is going to fight Victor Abiamiri to make the team.  Newcomer Trevor Laws looks to make an impact. 

So what do we have on the defensive line?  Free agent hopeful Chris Clemons, two goods with Trent Cole and Mike Patterson, one solid Brodrick Bunkley, and a whole lot of others trying to make a difference.  That isn't a whole lot of fastballs to be throwing at the opposing offense.

Andy’s favorites between the lines. Offense

Andy Reid knows that the game of football is won in the trenches. 

Reid is sticking with what he got.  He is counting on his offensive linemen.  LT Tra Thomas and RT Jon Runyan have started 118 games together; the most by a tackle tandem in Eagles history.  Behind these guys are players that the Philadelphia Eagles are developing. 

Reid had a chance to draft an offensive tackle in the first round.  Andy didn’t see offensive lineman he liked and got what he called a sweet deal for a first round draft pick in 2009 and two picks:  second round, DT Trevor Laws, and a fourth round, S Quentin Demps.  He picked up 3 offensive line players in the later rounds, G Mike McGlynn, G Mike Gibson and T King Dunlap. They say that Offensive line coach  Juan Castillo has a good record turning later draft picks into NFL players.  OK, who are we talking about?  After couple years of grooming his charges, RG Todd Herremans and C Jamaal Jackson had one up year and then one down.  RT Winston Justice hasn’t shown the right stuff. On the other hand, John Runyan signed as a high priced free agent was well worth the price.  Tra Thomas and Shawn Andrews were first round draft choices and have not disappointed.

I appreciate Andy Reid’s style of trying to pick draft bargains.  I love draft surprises.   But if my little survey of the Eagles o-line is correct you got to draft high if you want top NFL lineman.or pay a free agent with a proven track record.  I am wondering out loud what the Philadelphia Eagles will do with that first round draft pick in 2009?  Because that guy isn’t going to help them this year.

Playmakers--defense

When Donovan McNabb said he wanted playmakers I thought he meant on the offense.  Andy Reid and Jim Johnson have been figuring out how to make the defense faster.  In Andy's words, he wants to throw fastballs at the opposing offense.  Like what happened to the Eagles during the first New York Giants game of last season.  The Eagles offensive line couldn't keep the Giants off of Donovan McNabb.  That was a painful game to watch. 

First fastball free agent signed was Asante Samuel.  He is a Pro Bowler and is known for making the big play.  They say that he needs the defensive line pressure to create opportunities.  So did the Eagles added anyone on the d-line?  They picked up DE Chris Clemons from the Oakland Raiders.  He had 8 sacks last year.  That would be a big help.  Next, the Eagles picked up DT Trevor Laws in the draft.  They say he will be the next Mike Patterson.  My question is when?  Because if the Philadelphia Eagles are doing to push for the NFC title we need impact now.

The big deal they did was the deal that they didn't do.  They held onto CB Lito Sheppard.  When healthy Lito is a player.  In this day of high power NFL passing offenses, the Eagles need all the quality cover people they can get.  Yes, I know that Sheppard wants a new contract.  Who doesn't?  I love the Philadelphia Eagles front office makes guys honor their word.  If the money was good enough when you signed then you should show up to work.  To his credit Lito Sheppard is a good working man.  He is showing up to do a job.  Other difference makers are Brian Dawkins and Trent Cole.  Those guys show up to play.

Jim Johnson going to have a fun time with this new group.  I think they gave him plenty of speed on defense.  I would like nothing more than to see the opposing offenses stuffed.  Let the Philadelphia Eagles return to days of old when they survived on their defense because defense wins Super Bowls.

Playmakers--offense

Donovan McNabb told the Philadelphia Eagles to get some more playmakers.  Andy Reid and the front office have been busy in the off-season picking up free agents, trades and the draft.  Have they been busy enough?  Did they satisfy Donovan's need to be surrounded by playmakers?

Let's see who they have on offense and who they picked up in the off-season.  The two biggest stars in the Philadelphia Eagles universe in recent years are Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook.  No questions that B-West is a proven NFL star and gave the Eagles a fantastic year with record performances last year.  On the other hand, Donovan bravely came back from knee surgery.  He gave us a gutsy performance but he was step slow and the Eagle offense had problems scoring points.  This year Donovan McNabb is healthy and if he returns to the Donovan of old he is a Pro Bowl playmaker who has carried the Philadelphia Eagles on his broad shoulders to great heights.

I think Donovan was thinking of more offensive weapons.  I applauded Andy Reid for trying to pick up a Number 1 receiver a la Randy Moss but the NFL gods were cruel to the Eagles this year.  So Andy went the NFL draft with a long grocery list of needs.  He frustrated me by trading away the first draft pick for the second year row and passing on picking up a potential offensive tackle playmaker.  But Andy had something else in mind.  On the offensive side he picked up DeSean Jackson of California Berkeley and traded a draft choice for Lorenzo Booker of the Miami Dolphins.  DeSean Jackson was rated to go in the first round so I think the Eagles did well by picking him up in the second round.  Yes, the knock on him is small and won't beat the press coverage.  But hey that's why they still play the games.  DeSean has been a stand out player at every level and he has blazing speed that is something the Philadelphia Eagles have been missing.  I see him making an immediate impact on punt returns and giving the Eagles a shorter distance to go to the end zone.  I would love to see him line up as receiver and stretch opposing defenses but he has a big learning curve ahead of him.  The word on Lorenzo Booker is that he brings more speed to the team.  The Philadelphia Eagles want to put him on the field with Brian Westbrook to create mismatches that Donovan can take advantage of.  Sounds great.  I look forward to see how it works. 

As for more playmakers, L.J. Smith is healthy and looks to put up more points in the red zone.  As for the rest of the receiver corps, Donovan McNabb was asking for more playmakers.  It is time for the rest of the o-team to step up to the challenge.

Philadelphia Eagles Fan

Philadelphia Eagles Fan

I want to introduce myself.  My name is Mark.  I have been an Eagles fan as long as Philadelphia Eagles fans have been throwing snowballs at Santa Claus.   I was at the game with my Dad.  The Eagles were playing the Minnesota Vikings at Franklin Field.   The Vikings were pounding the Eagles.  That made the December 1968 day much colder.  My Dad was doing everything he could to keep me warm.  I must have drank a gallon of hot chocolate.  I remember Santa Claus getting up at half-time.  The crowd booed and and pelted him with snowballs.  The Philadelphia Eagles fans are a tough crowd.  We expect Santa Claus and the Eagles to deliver.

I have been waiting a long time since 1968 for a Super Bowl championship.  We had several good runs.  I still love Dick Vermeil for making Philly a winner again.  Yes, I can't get enough of the movie, Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg.  I loved the Buddy Ryan defenses with Randall Cunningham doing a magic show with the offense.

The question now is will the Eagles deliver the Super Bowl to Philadelphia in 2008-2009 season.  Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb have been the winningest combination in Philadelphia Eagles history.   I like to believe Donovan when he says the window of winning a Super Bowl is still "stuck open". 

That's the great thing about the pre-season.  Hope is renewed.  Everyone starts with a clean slate.  Games are to be played.  The Eagles will get their shot to win the big one.

Philadelphia Eagles training camp starts on July 21 with rookies and selected veterans reporting at Leigh University. The first practice is set for July 22 and the remainder of the team is due into camp on July 24.

I want to wish the team good luck and remember by December we will have the snowballs ready.  We are expecting good things this year.

NFL Owners Opt Out of Labor Deal

The NFL owners voted 30-2, with the Philadelphia Eagles being in the majority, to opt out of the current labor deal two years early.

This means the 2010 season will be played with no salary cap and there could potentially be a lock out after the 2010 season.

The move didn't sit well with Gene Upshaw;

"If nothing is done by then and we go through an uncapped year, I'm not going to try and sell the players on a cap again," Upshaw said on a conference call Tuesday. "I don't know who will, but it won't be me. Once we go through the cap, why would we agree to it again?"

While it is a long ways off the hope is that they will come together prior to 2010. Experience tells me that nothing will happen until the last minute however.

The NFL owners voted 30-2, with the Philadelphia Eagles being in the majority, to opt out of the current labor deal two years early.

This means the 2010 season will be played with no salary cap and there could potentially be a lock out after the 2010 season.

The move didn't sit well with Gene Upshaw;

"If nothing is done by then and we go through an uncapped year, I'm not going to try and sell the players on a cap again," Upshaw said on a conference call Tuesday. "I don't know who will, but it won't be me. Once we go through the cap, why would we agree to it again?"

While it is a long ways off the hope is that they will come together prior to 2010. Experience tells me that nothing will happen until the last minute however.

Where will the Eagles finish in the NFC East?

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As we await the start of the 2008 NFL season, and now have the draft as well as the meat of the free agent signing period over, it is a great time to look forward to the upcoming Eagles season.

The best place to start that in my opinion, is by looking at their place in the division. I feel that once again, the NFC East, from top to bottom, is the toughest in Football. Last season all four teams finished at .500 or better. (Compare that to the AFC East where the New England Patriots get six automatic wins against Pop Warner level Football teams). The NFC East featured the 13-3 Dallas Cowboys who had the best record in the NFC and haven't dropped off at all this off season. The Super Bowl  Champion  New  York  Giants..how the  hell  did that  happen,  by  the  way??  And the  Washington  Redskins,  who  always  seem to be  a  factor, although I really get the  feeling that  new head  coach Jim Zorn is a bit on the clueless side .

That said, these teams will  beat  the **** out of each other all season. But I honestly feel the  Eagles  are  in  position  to  battle  for  the division crown. What  killed  us  last   year  was  injuries, mainly  to  Donovan  McNabb.  When he  got  healthy  late  in the  year, the Eagles were one of the hottest teams in the NFL. We closed out with a three game winning streak, including a butt whipping of the Dallas Cowboys.   A healthy Donovan McNabb is the key to success in my opinion. He should be healthy. I also like the offseason..a  very impressive draft class (potentially), coupled with  a  great  signing, Asante Samuel, puts the Eagles in position to make a run at the NFC crown.

Philadelphia Eagles 2008 draft selections

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Well Eagles fans, the 2008 NFL draft is behind us. As we all eagerly await the start of the season...only four months now, I figured I would run through this years draft. The choices are:

Round two:
                  Trevor Laws, defensive end, Notre Dame
                  Desean Jackson, wide receiver,  California
                  
Round three:
                   Bryan Smith, defensive end, McNeese St.
                  
Round four:
                  Mike Mcglynn,guard, Pittsburg
                  Quentin Demps, safety, UTEP
                  Jake Ikegwuono, corner back, Wisconsin

Round six:
                 Mike Gibson, offensive tackle, California
                 Andrew Studebaker, defensive end, Wheaton

Round seven:
                  King Dunlap, offensive tackle, Auburn

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Philadelphia Eagles 2008 Rookie Free agent signings

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The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms with the following 2008 Rookie free agents:

CB Kyle Arrington from Hofstra, FB Jed Collins from Washington State, T Franklin Dunbar from Middle Tennessee State, WR Terrell Golden from Penn State, WR Frantz Hardy from Nebraska, WR Shaheer McBride from Delaware State and Justin Roland from Kansas State

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