EAGLES Eagles News

[rich_one]

Eagles camp preview


By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.





Philadelphia Eagles Training CampSite: Lehigh University
Location: Bethlehem, Pa.
Start date: July 20 (rookies), July 23 (vets)
2005 Record: 6-10

Expanded NFL Training Camp Coverage

Three Burning Questions

Has the window closed on the Eagles, or are they still a playoff team?
Although injuries played a huge factor in 2005, the Eagles did not record one win in the NFC East last year. The Eagles have an outstanding quarterback in Donovan McNabb, and while they have a variety of weapons in the passing game on offense, they no longer have anybody who scares you or forces you to change a game plan. Defensively, they are still aggressive and have made dramatic improvements up front, but age is starting to be a factor, and this group needs to stay healthy to be a dominant force. The biggest challenge, as always, will be to have some kind of offensive balance. There is not much of a chance for the Eagles to have a legitimate running attack, so ball control will have to come from the short passing game. It is conceivable that the Eagles could improve and still finish last in a division that has three other teams that also got better in the offseason. Even if Philadelphia is competitive going into December, it has a three-week stretch at Washington, at the New York Giants and at Dallas -- a brutal way to wind down the season.

Camp battle to watchHank Fraley vs. Jamaal Jackson

JacksonFraleyHank Fraley has started at center for the Eagles for several years, but they would like to replace him if they have a better option. He is a finesse player who gets by on his ability to position himself and wall off. He is very smart and can make all the offensive line calls, and he is especially effective when uncovered, where he can simply use his ability to get good angles on his blocks and get his body in front of the defender. He is not pretty and is not strong, but he is efficient. Jamaal Jackson lacks the instincts and the ability to make the adjustments that Fraley has right now, but the coaching staff is hopeful that Jackson can grow into the position. He is younger, bigger and much more physical. He has the ability to hold up at the point of attack with a big nose tackle over him, while Fraley struggles in that area. This will be a good battle, and if Jackson looks like he has the instincts for the position and doesn't make a lot of mental mistakes in the preseason, he could steal the job from Fraley. After a down year in 2005, can the Eagles return to a dominating pass defense in 2006?
Ironically, three of the four starters in the secondary went to the Pro Bowl two years ago, but everything seemed to fall apart in 2005; a lot of that had to do with injuries, especially to cornerback Lito Sheppard. But this group just didn't make very many plays in 2005 and gave up 24 touchdown passes, although a lot of it was due to a marginal pass rush up front. Free safety Brian Dawkins is 32 and may have lost a step, but he can still play at a very high level. Strong safety Michael Lewis hits like a linebacker, and this duo intimidates anyone who comes over the middle. They are also great blitzers. Defensive corners Sheldon Brown and Sheppard can still cover man-to-man and play the blitz-happy schemes that defensive coordinator Jim Johnson loves to utilize. There is also good depth in the secondary, and with an improved pass rush up front, look for the Eagles' pass defense to return to elite status in 2006.

Will the Eagles generate a pass offense good enough to offset the departure of T.O.?
While the Eagles' chemistry, especially the offense, will be dramatically improved with Terrell Owens now residing in Dallas, the fact is the Eagles do not have a go-to guy in the passing game or an offensive weapon that really scares defenses. The closest thing is undersized running back Brian Westbrook, but he is not really a deep threat, and opponents can handle him with some bracket coverages by safeties and linebackers. None of Philadelphia's wide receivers are proven big-play guys, and there isn't really a vertical component to this passing game; so the reality is that Philadelphia's pass offense will rely on a committee approach, with McNabb spreading the ball around to a variety of targets. Although the coaching staff likes young wide receiver Reggie Brown, he is certainly not Owens and he won't require double-coverage schemes. The biggest problem with this group right now is that defenses can line up and play very straight coverage schemes and get the job done without many adjustments.

The player under the microscope

With Owens out of town, this is McNabb's team once again, and he is the key to success in 2006. McNabb would obviously like to forget the 2005 season, with all the Owens distractions and also a variety of injuries that finally forced him to the sidelines. McNabb now appears to be healthy and dedicated to turning this team around. With a lack of explosive weapons on offense, McNabb will have to carry the offense. But he is not the same running quarterback he was earlier in his career, and it will be interesting to see if he tries to test defenses by scrambling and making plays on the move. He doesn't have a legitimate running game or a great vertical threat in the passing game, so he will be asked to be almost perfect in the short-to-intermediate passing game, spreading the ball around and manufacturing yards while trying to avoid big hits. There is no question that McNabb is a warrior, and head coach Andy Reid truly believes in him, but he really has his work cut out for him. And the margin for error is really slim.

Breakout player

With Owens gone, Reggie Brown is now the go-to guy in the Eagles' pass-happy offense. Last year, as a rookie, he had 43 catches for 571 yards and four touchdowns; those numbers should go up dramatically with a healthy McNabb at quarterback. Brown does not have great size or speed, but he knows how to separate and get open, and he really works the sidelines well. He has good running skills after the catch and can turn a short grab into a big play, and he has earned the respect of the coaches because of his concentration and attention to detail. The Eagles run a very complicated pass offense, and many young players struggle to learn it, but Brown is way ahead of the curve. The Eagles threw the ball a whopping 620 times in 2005, so Brown surely will get a lot of opportunities.

Comeback player of the year

Sheppard is coming off a subpar 2005 season in which he had a serious ankle sprain in mid-November, and his loss to injury affected the secondary's schemes and Johnson's play-calling. Sheppard has excellent man-to-man cover skills and has a knack for being around the ball and making big plays, but he also will gamble at times and mysteriously give up some big plays that he should make. However, he will have an excellent defensive line in front of him to apply pressure, and he will line up in a lot of tight man-to-man schemes, which fit his turn-and-run skills. He should be a very strong part of an outstanding secondary and should make more big plays in 2006 than he did last year.

Offensive philosophy

Although offensive coordinator Brad Childress has moved to the Minnesota Vikings as their new head coach, the philosophy in Philadelphia will not change, as head coach Andy Reid has always run this offense. To be honest, Childress would have liked to run the ball more in Philadelphia, but Reid seems to believe that a short pass is just as effective as a running play. The Eagles don't have a group of backs who can provide a physical ball-control offense, so they play with what they have. In 2005, they threw the ball 64 percent of the time, but they would like to take that number down to 55 percent in 2006. Marty Mornhinweg is the new offensive coordinator, but nothing really changes, as Reid will still be in charge.
The Eagles will spread the ball around in the passing game, and they will use a lot of movement to try to create good matchups, especially with Westbrook, who can line up anywhere on the field. Even though they want to run the ball more, they just don't have a back who can give them quality carries between the tackles. The concern for this offense is that nobody, with the exception of Westbrook, really scares the opposition. Look for Philadelphia to use more two-tight end formations in 2006, which could help the running game, as the Eagles now have two quality tight ends in L.J. Smith and newly acquired Matt Schobel. They also may emphasize more quick slants and crossing routes to take advantage of the middle of the field. The reality is that this is still going to be a pass-first, run-second offense, and it will be up to McNabb to spread the ball around to a variety of offensive weapons in a somewhat safer passing game.

Defensive philosophy

Johnson is one of the most innovative and aggressive coaches in the league, and while the production for this unit dipped in 2005, the approach will remain the same in 2006. The Eagles used free agency and the draft to upgrade their pass rush, which wasn't good enough last year, as they only recorded 29 sacks. With new first-round draft pick Brodrick Bunkley at defensive tackle, and free-agent addition Darren Howard at defensive end, the defensive line is deep with a nice rotation that can come at opponents in waves. The mediocre pass rush of '05 really hurt a secondary that suffered through a lot of injuries; the defense gave up 24 passing touchdowns in 2005, which is simply too many for a group this talented.
Because of the injuries in the secondary, Johnson was forced to blitz less and play safer schemes, which is not his style. He played a lot of three-deep zones behind his zone blitz, but the secondary is at its best playing man-to-man and being very aggressive. They can even play Cover 1 or Cover 0 schemes and send everybody, putting their corners on an island. Although we expect the Eagles to go back to more blitzes this year, with a better pass rush up front, they could pull back on some blitzes, allowing their front seven to get the job done. The Eagles' defense went from 10th in 2004 to 23rd in 2005. While there is some age here, if the D stays healthy, it will go back to an attacking, one-gap philosophy with a lot of rotations up front and the element of surprise. Gary Horton has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called "The War Room."

[Monty]

Originally Posted by rich_one

Eagles camp preview


By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.





Philadelphia Eagles Training CampSite: Lehigh University
Location: Bethlehem, Pa.
Start date: July 20 (rookies), July 23 (vets)
2005 Record: 6-10

Expanded NFL Training Camp Coverage

Three Burning Questions

Has the window closed on the Eagles, or are they still a playoff team?
Although injuries played a huge factor in 2005, the Eagles did not record one win in the NFC East last year. The Eagles have an outstanding quarterback in Donovan McNabb, and while they have a variety of weapons in the passing game on offense, they no longer have anybody who scares you or forces you to change a game plan. Defensively, they are still aggressive and have made dramatic improvements up front, but age is starting to be a factor, and this group needs to stay healthy to be a dominant force. The biggest challenge, as always, will be to have some kind of offensive balance. There is not much of a chance for the Eagles to have a legitimate running attack, so ball control will have to come from the short passing game. It is conceivable that the Eagles could improve and still finish last in a division that has three other teams that also got better in the offseason. Even if Philadelphia is competitive going into December, it has a three-week stretch at Washington, at the New York Giants and at Dallas -- a brutal way to wind down the season.

Camp battle to watchHank Fraley vs. Jamaal Jackson

JacksonFraleyHank Fraley has started at center for the Eagles for several years, but they would like to replace him if they have a better option. He is a finesse player who gets by on his ability to position himself and wall off. He is very smart and can make all the offensive line calls, and he is especially effective when uncovered, where he can simply use his ability to get good angles on his blocks and get his body in front of the defender. He is not pretty and is not strong, but he is efficient. Jamaal Jackson lacks the instincts and the ability to make the adjustments that Fraley has right now, but the coaching staff is hopeful that Jackson can grow into the position. He is younger, bigger and much more physical. He has the ability to hold up at the point of attack with a big nose tackle over him, while Fraley struggles in that area. This will be a good battle, and if Jackson looks like he has the instincts for the position and doesn't make a lot of mental mistakes in the preseason, he could steal the job from Fraley. After a down year in 2005, can the Eagles return to a dominating pass defense in 2006?
Ironically, three of the four starters in the secondary went to the Pro Bowl two years ago, but everything seemed to fall apart in 2005; a lot of that had to do with injuries, especially to cornerback Lito Sheppard. But this group just didn't make very many plays in 2005 and gave up 24 touchdown passes, although a lot of it was due to a marginal pass rush up front. Free safety Brian Dawkins is 32 and may have lost a step, but he can still play at a very high level. Strong safety Michael Lewis hits like a linebacker, and this duo intimidates anyone who comes over the middle. They are also great blitzers. Defensive corners Sheldon Brown and Sheppard can still cover man-to-man and play the blitz-happy schemes that defensive coordinator Jim Johnson loves to utilize. There is also good depth in the secondary, and with an improved pass rush up front, look for the Eagles' pass defense to return to elite status in 2006.

Will the Eagles generate a pass offense good enough to offset the departure of T.O.?
While the Eagles' chemistry, especially the offense, will be dramatically improved with Terrell Owens now residing in Dallas, the fact is the Eagles do not have a go-to guy in the passing game or an offensive weapon that really scares defenses. The closest thing is undersized running back Brian Westbrook, but he is not really a deep threat, and opponents can handle him with some bracket coverages by safeties and linebackers. None of Philadelphia's wide receivers are proven big-play guys, and there isn't really a vertical component to this passing game; so the reality is that Philadelphia's pass offense will rely on a committee approach, with McNabb spreading the ball around to a variety of targets. Although the coaching staff likes young wide receiver Reggie Brown, he is certainly not Owens and he won't require double-coverage schemes. The biggest problem with this group right now is that defenses can line up and play very straight coverage schemes and get the job done without many adjustments.

The player under the microscope

With Owens out of town, this is McNabb's team once again, and he is the key to success in 2006. McNabb would obviously like to forget the 2005 season, with all the Owens distractions and also a variety of injuries that finally forced him to the sidelines. McNabb now appears to be healthy and dedicated to turning this team around. With a lack of explosive weapons on offense, McNabb will have to carry the offense. But he is not the same running quarterback he was earlier in his career, and it will be interesting to see if he tries to test defenses by scrambling and making plays on the move. He doesn't have a legitimate running game or a great vertical threat in the passing game, so he will be asked to be almost perfect in the short-to-intermediate passing game, spreading the ball around and manufacturing yards while trying to avoid big hits. There is no question that McNabb is a warrior, and head coach Andy Reid truly believes in him, but he really has his work cut out for him. And the margin for error is really slim.

Breakout player

With Owens gone, Reggie Brown is now the go-to guy in the Eagles' pass-happy offense. Last year, as a rookie, he had 43 catches for 571 yards and four touchdowns; those numbers should go up dramatically with a healthy McNabb at quarterback. Brown does not have great size or speed, but he knows how to separate and get open, and he really works the sidelines well. He has good running skills after the catch and can turn a short grab into a big play, and he has earned the respect of the coaches because of his concentration and attention to detail. The Eagles run a very complicated pass offense, and many young players struggle to learn it, but Brown is way ahead of the curve. The Eagles threw the ball a whopping 620 times in 2005, so Brown surely will get a lot of opportunities.

Comeback player of the year

Sheppard is coming off a subpar 2005 season in which he had a serious ankle sprain in mid-November, and his loss to injury affected the secondary's schemes and Johnson's play-calling. Sheppard has excellent man-to-man cover skills and has a knack for being around the ball and making big plays, but he also will gamble at times and mysteriously give up some big plays that he should make. However, he will have an excellent defensive line in front of him to apply pressure, and he will line up in a lot of tight man-to-man schemes, which fit his turn-and-run skills. He should be a very strong part of an outstanding secondary and should make more big plays in 2006 than he did last year.

Offensive philosophy

Although offensive coordinator Brad Childress has moved to the Minnesota Vikings as their new head coach, the philosophy in Philadelphia will not change, as head coach Andy Reid has always run this offense. To be honest, Childress would have liked to run the ball more in Philadelphia, but Reid seems to believe that a short pass is just as effective as a running play. The Eagles don't have a group of backs who can provide a physical ball-control offense, so they play with what they have. In 2005, they threw the ball 64 percent of the time, but they would like to take that number down to 55 percent in 2006. Marty Mornhinweg is the new offensive coordinator, but nothing really changes, as Reid will still be in charge.
The Eagles will spread the ball around in the passing game, and they will use a lot of movement to try to create good matchups, especially with Westbrook, who can line up anywhere on the field. Even though they want to run the ball more, they just don't have a back who can give them quality carries between the tackles. The concern for this offense is that nobody, with the exception of Westbrook, really scares the opposition. Look for Philadelphia to use more two-tight end formations in 2006, which could help the running game, as the Eagles now have two quality tight ends in L.J. Smith and newly acquired Matt Schobel. They also may emphasize more quick slants and crossing routes to take advantage of the middle of the field. The reality is that this is still going to be a pass-first, run-second offense, and it will be up to McNabb to spread the ball around to a variety of offensive weapons in a somewhat safer passing game.

Defensive philosophy

Johnson is one of the most innovative and aggressive coaches in the league, and while the production for this unit dipped in 2005, the approach will remain the same in 2006. The Eagles used free agency and the draft to upgrade their pass rush, which wasn't good enough last year, as they only recorded 29 sacks. With new first-round draft pick Brodrick Bunkley at defensive tackle, and free-agent addition Darren Howard at defensive end, the defensive line is deep with a nice rotation that can come at opponents in waves. The mediocre pass rush of '05 really hurt a secondary that suffered through a lot of injuries; the defense gave up 24 passing touchdowns in 2005, which is simply too many for a group this talented.
Because of the injuries in the secondary, Johnson was forced to blitz less and play safer schemes, which is not his style. He played a lot of three-deep zones behind his zone blitz, but the secondary is at its best playing man-to-man and being very aggressive. They can even play Cover 1 or Cover 0 schemes and send everybody, putting their corners on an island. Although we expect the Eagles to go back to more blitzes this year, with a better pass rush up front, they could pull back on some blitzes, allowing their front seven to get the job done. The Eagles' defense went from 10th in 2004 to 23rd in 2005. While there is some age here, if the D stays healthy, it will go back to an attacking, one-gap philosophy with a lot of rotations up front and the element of surprise. Gary Horton has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called "The War Room."

Live 5 minutes away from camp...plan to spend at least 3 days there this year.

[eoeleven]

McNabb is now a problem, his failure to be grown up, move on, and be a leader about the TO thing

Sure TO is a loud mouth and an idiot but int he end he is a WR and means nothign more than how much the QB looks to him. McNabb you are a QB the face of a franchise and supposed to be a leader by stooping to that level you and not letting that crap go you are losign what little grasp you had on the locker room.

I thought things were rollign down hill when so many Eagles went to TOs party now it looks like a snow tide against McNabb. Pro Bowl QBs lose teams over these ask NFC East mates Bledsoe and Brunell the only difference in their lack of leadership and McNabbs was the presence of Brady and Leftwhich behind them on the bench.

McNabb will not ralley his troops for battle any more so if raw talent does not get ti done then the Eagles will suffer having such an immature veteran in their drivers seat.

Don you have some motivation because a poor finish this year will enable the Eagles to put a Quinn, Brohm, Smith, Palmer, Leak, or Stanton behind you.

[Monty]

THE NEWS
Eagles head coach Andy Reid assured members of the media Thursday that quarterback Donovan McNabb won't be restricted during training camp. McNabb underwent surgery on November 28, 2005 to repair a sports hernia and a groin tear. "We're going to let him go," Reid informed the Philadelphia Inquirer. "He was able to do everything during the minicamps. He felt very good about the progress he had been making, and the doctor that had done the surgery checked him and felt he was full-go."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE NEWS
The Eagles placed wide receiver Jason Avant on the physically-unable-to-perform list Thursday. The rookie wide receiver underwent arthroscopic surgery June 20 to repair torn cartilage in his knee, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Avant hyperextended the joint during a special teams practice. He's not expected to miss a large portion of camp.

[clarke]

Originally Posted by eoeleven

McNabb is now a problem, his failure to be grown up, move on, and be a leader about the TO thing

Sure TO is a loud mouth and an idiot but int he end he is a WR and means nothign more than how much the QB looks to him. McNabb you are a QB the face of a franchise and supposed to be a leader by stooping to that level you and not letting that crap go you are losign what little grasp you had on the locker room.

I thought things were rollign down hill when so many Eagles went to TOs party now it looks like a snow tide against McNabb. Pro Bowl QBs lose teams over these ask NFC East mates Bledsoe and Brunell the only difference in their lack of leadership and McNabbs was the presence of Brady and Leftwhich behind them on the bench.

McNabb will not ralley his troops for battle any more so if raw talent does not get ti done then the Eagles will suffer having such an immature veteran in their drivers seat.

Don you have some motivation because a poor finish this year will enable the Eagles to put a Quinn, Brohm, Smith, Palmer, Leak, or Stanton behind you.

you are way off here. I would say more but my keyboard is broke and I have to copy and paste each letter and word.

[becky-mom]

Originally Posted by Monty

Live 5 minutes away from camp...plan to spend at least 3 days there this year.

Oh what fun.... and I mean REALLY!!! I would LOVE it......

[eoeleven]

Originally Posted by clarke

you are way off here. I would say more but my keyboard is broke and I have to copy and paste each letter and word.

and in 2002 81% of fans polled by the Sporting News thought Bledsoe was the best choice for QB in New England with only 19% thinking Brady.

took the 81% about 2 seconds to get over being wrong

[becky-mom]

Originally Posted by eoeleven

and in 2002 81% of fans polled by the Sporting News thought Bledsoe was the best choice for QB in New England with only 19% thinking Brady.

took the 81% about 2 seconds to get over being wrong

oh brother.....

[eoeleven]

the national media is already treatign McNabb like a cry baby, and every time he gets called out for not letting this go on TV his teammates distance more. Everytime they re play the games where McNabb was sitting in the luxury suite in a mink coat with the owner instead of on the sidelien with his teammate the wedge grows deeper.

McNabb is about to fall, it has happened too many times in much the same way. Namath was allowed to leave because no one wanted him around.

Look it is not that bad a thing to say but it is none the less the way of the world in the NFL.

When Leonard Marshall broke Montana he also sat with the owner and immediately the team rallied towards Young. Even when he got healthy again and lit up the Lions on Monday Night Football it was clear the player prefered Young. Prior to his mistake Montana was maybe the most respected leader in NFL history.

Mark my words this is the begining of the end of the MNabb era in Philly 2 years tops

[rich_one]

Originally Posted by eoeleven

the national media is already treatign McNabb like a cry baby, and every time he gets called out for not letting this go on TV his teammates distance more. Everytime they re play the games where McNabb was sitting in the luxury suite in a mink coat with the owner instead of on the sidelien with his teammate the wedge grows deeper.

McNabb is about to fall, it has happened too many times in much the same way. Namath was allowed to leave because no one wanted him around.

Look it is not that bad a thing to say but it is none the less the way of the world in the NFL.

When Leonard Marshall broke Montana he also sat with the owner and immediately the team rallied towards Young. Even when he got healthy again and lit up the Lions on Monday Night Football it was clear the player prefered Young. Prior to his mistake Montana was maybe the most respected leader in NFL history.

Mark my words this is the begining of the end of the MNabb era in Philly 2 years tops

maybe its me, but it sure seems like everytime McNabb is talking about it, it is because the media is asking him questions now that TO has released his book. in fact, I have seen them ask McNabb multiple times on multiple networks, as Reid, ask Dawkins... etc.

not sure what McNabb is doing any different that has him not letting it go?