Fat Len on Eagles camp

[PhillyGirl]

Only skimmed through it, but already saw a major idiotic error that any simpleton could have caught had they checked their facts:

PHILADELPHIA -- Here are five observations on the Philadelphia Eagles, based on their practices Wednesday and Thursday:

1.
Near the top of the elements that have kept the Eagles among the NFL's most viable Super Bowl contenders is the continuity of the coaching staff. Andy Reid has assembled, and maintained, an all-star cast of assistants, and the big-picture significance of that cannot be overlooked. All three of the coordinators -- Jim Johnson (defense), Brad Childress (offense) and John Harbaugh (special teams) -- are among the league's premier coaches in their respective areas of expertise. Assistant head coach Marty Mornhinweg is a onetime head coach. The staff of assistants, hardly the league's biggest but undeniably among its best, averages 10 years of NFL seniority.

One guy who probably doesn't get enough credit, but whose unit has been consistently productive for the Eagles is offensive line coach Juan Castillo. His name is never mentioned among the top-line coaches, but a lot of the guys whose names are always raised in that group would love to have his recent track record. In his 11th season with the franchise, and one of the holdovers from the previous coaching staff of Ray Rhodes, Castillo had his charges working in a corner of the field during Wednesday afternoon's special teams practice, and it was obvious the man is a stickler for details. Which is what being a good offensive line coach is all about.

For an hour, Castillo had his linemen working on techniques. One drill in particular caught our eye. The linemen would extend their arms and lock out, simulating a pass-block technique aimed at maintaining a cushion with the pass rusher. So what was so unusual about that? The linemen were holding sandbags as they extended. In 28 years of observing practices, we had never seen that teaching method. The Eagles, who also use the old-fashioned seven-man blocking sled in camp at Lehigh University, are one of the few clubs that still employ it. Clearly, Castillo's methods are effective, because you can't have an offense as consistently productive as the Eagles have been without also having an effective offensive line.

"He's really good at the little stuff," former Eagles guard Jermane Mayberry told us in New Orleans last week. "He picks up stuff nobody else sees, and uses it to make you a better player."

Injuries forced some alterations to the Philadelphia line in 2004 and there are factors that will mean more changes this year. The defection of Mayberry allows '04 first-rounder Shawn Andrews, who opened last year as the starter but suffered a season-ending knee injury leg break in the first game, to move back into the lineup. No big deal there, because the Eagles feel Andrews is a future Pro Bowl performer. But the left tackle spot, where veteran Tra Thomas essentially missed the entire offseason because of blood clots, bears watching. The seven-year vet still has about another week on the blood thinners that had been used to treat his condition, and Thursday he practiced lightly in pads for the first time. He still is not ready to go hard and may not be able to play until the season opener -- maybe not even then.

The player currently working at left tackle with the first unit is rookie Todd Herremans, a fourth-round choice from Saginaw Valley State. Herremans is a big kid (6-foot-6, 321 pounds) with a promising future, but looks more like a right tackle candidate. The Eagles put him on the left side, in part, because he performed well in the spring and they didn't want to further disrupt the line by bumping left guard Artis Hicks outside to tackle. We suspect, though, that Herremans could struggle against the quality speed rusher every left tackle encounters at this level, and Philadelphia may hold its collective breath if the rookie is asked to protect Donovan McNabb's blind side in the regular season. Even if Thomas returns, his conditioning won't be optimum, given the extended time he has missed. But after watching Castillo work with his group, especially the young blockers, we figure things will somehow work out.

There are a ton of young linemen on this roster, and looking not all that far down the road, more changes are coming. Thomas is 30 years old now. Right tackle Jon Runyan, one of the first big free-agent acquisitions made by the current ownership, is 31 and in the final year of his contract. And the Eagles feel they have quietly assembled a group of really good youngsters who are going to push for playing time soon. Of the 15 linemen on the roster, 11 have two seasons or less of accrued tenure in the league. And Hicks is entering only his fourth season. In the not-too-distant future, names like Adrien Clarke, Trey Darilek, Scott Young, Brandon Hall and Herremans are going to be familiar around here. Even if Castillo's name doesn't sound a chord, with even the most knowledgeable Eagles fans.

2.
Last summer, Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown were first-year starters at cornerback, a couple of third-year veterans trying to replace the departed tandem of Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, one of the best duets in the league for about a six-year stretch. One year later? Make no mistake, Brown and Sheppard are confident, top-shelf cornerbacks, and are on the rise.

Sheppard earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2004, and there are many in the league who contend that Brown actually had a better season. A few weeks ago, when we were talking to Tampa Bay star Ronde Barber about some of the top all-around cornerbacks in the NFL, he cited the Eagles' youngsters. Watching the two in practice, it's easy to see why, because both exude the kind of playmaking skills and the moxie necessary to play the position. This is an excellent secondary, one that somehow doesn't get proper recognition despite the presence of three Pro Bowl performers (free safety Brian Dawkins, strong safety Michael Lewis and Sheppard) and with Brown a lock to earn a free trip to Hawaii at some point. And it's a unit that graphically demonstrates the foresight Philadelphia officials have displayed in replenishing the team's talent base.

In the 2002 draft, Philadelphia invested its first three picks, in order, on Sheppard, Lewis and Sheldon, knowing full well that the three soon would move up into the lineup. Lewis made the jump first, full-time in 2003, and then the cornerbacks followed last year. Oh, yeah, about the corners: These aren't a couple of flag football-type cornerbacks, the kind of guys who just want to cover and make interceptions. Even in practices, Brown and Sheppard come up to support the run. The pair combined in 2004 for 153 tackles, seven interceptions, 24 passes defensed and four sacks. Consider the stat line put together by Brown, an active corner, and the perfect secondary perimeter player for Johnson's aggressive scheme: 94 tackles, two interceptions, three sacks. You're as apt to see Brown creeping toward the line of scrimmage, blitzing off the edge or out of the slot, as you are to see him covering a wide receiver 20 yards downfield. And in 117 attempts thrown at him in 2004, he surrendered just one touchdown and only four completions of 20-plus yards.

Not to be overlooked is Roderick Hood, who in his third season is fast becoming a top-shelf nickel back. And watch for rookie Sean Considine, a fourth-round pick, to carve out some playing time at safety this year. In typical Eagles fashion, team president Joe Banner, the guy we feel is the best cap manager in the league, has locked up his two young starting cornerbacks to long-term deals. Sheppard is signed through 2011 and Brown through 2012.

3.
McNabb continues to progress as a pocket passer, an accurate guy capable now of completing 60-65 percent of his attempts, and a few years ago we weren't sure we'd ever be able to say that. Coming off a superb 2004 campaign, inarguably his best as a passer, McNabb continues to make strides. The growth process is most obvious, at least in practices, on the throws that most often were problematic for McNabb in the past: the swing passes and timing routes that require great touch. McNabb has always had a strong arm, but now his velocity and ability to squeeze the ball into the small spaces have been augmented by touch.
   
But even with the leap McNabb has made as a passer over the last couple years, we're still wondering if the Eagles might need to go out and get themselves another veteran wideout in addition to Terrell Owens before the start of the season. Nothing against the youngsters here who will try to replace starter Todd Pinkston, lost for the season to an Achilles injury. But Greg Lewis, Billy McMullen and second-round pick Reggie Brown -- all of whom played well in last week's preseason opener at Pittsburgh -- might find things a little more difficult when the season begins. Lewis is an intriguing guy with big-play skills, for sure, but it remains to be seen if he can turn the part-time productivity that he has enjoyed in the past into full-time consistency now that he is likely to be thrust into the starting lineup. For all the nice things the staff has said about Brown, who will be good in time, young receivers have never prospered in Reid's offense. Eagles officials privately said they won't lean too heavily on him. So maybe getting a veteran wideout, not necessarily a big-timer but just a proven pass catcher who knows the ropes, could be in the offing here.

[PhillyGirl]

4.
As usual, the Eagles are about as deep as any team in the league, a testament to the organization's ability to identify, acquire and keep young talent. But that doesn't mean there aren't some areas of concern. And it appears a couple of positions that have been problem areas the last couple years -- tailback and right defensive end -- might once again merit scrutiny.

With the star-crossed Correll Buckhalter sidelined again by swelling in his right knee, there isn't a lot of experience behind starter Brian Westbrook, who can probably handle a bigger workload than some people think, but who isn't a back you want carrying the ball 300 times. Buckhalter is a heck of a back when healthy, but knee injuries have certainly derailed him. The four-year veteran missed the 2002 and 2004 campaigns because of severe knee injuries. His current problem is with his right knee, which required surgery last year to repair a torn patella tendon, and Philadelphia officials privately acknowledge they are concerned.

Third-round draft pick Ryan Moats has done some nice things in camp, certainly has talent, but needs more time to assimilate this complicated offense. Moats looks like a pretty accomplished receiver and made two grabs Thursday morning on balls that were thrown behind him. Buckhalter, though, is the Eagles' biggest and most physical tailback, a grinder who is really tough inside, and it would be a huge boost if he could ever shake his physical problems. Right now, he is rehabbing the knee and will be re-evaluated next week, but the team is not optimistic.

At right defensive end, the Eagles lost often-injured Derrick Burgess, who made himself a lot of money with a terrific three-game playoff stretch, to Oakland in free agency. Then former first-rounder Jerome McDougle, who had a very good offseason and seemed poised to maybe become the player the Eagles felt they were getting in 2003, was shot during a car-jacking. No one knows when he will return. So at right end now, Philadelphia is using the Kalu-and-Hugh combo, with N.D. Kalu as the starter and Hugh Douglas the top backup.

One has to wonder how effective the combination will be. Douglas is 34 now, Kalu is 30, and the two have combined for 20 seasons. But Kalu missed all of last season with a knee injury and Douglas totaled just 19 tackles and three sacks. The Eagles' defense is such that the pass rush comes from all over the place, so maybe the unit can get by without a big-time sack threat at right end. But you still want pressure from the open-end position, and Kalu and Douglas may be past their primes as legitimate sack threats. Douglas has only 6½ sacks the last two seasons. Kalu had 13½ sacks total in 2002-03, but tends to get them in bunches. In 32 games over those two seasons, for instance, he posted sacks in just 12 contests. Only three times in his career has Kalu registered sacks in consecutive outings.

It looks like Johnson will not flip ends this season, as he did at times in the playoffs, which means Jevon Kearse will primarily rush from the left side. As thin as the Eagles are at end, though, the opposite is true at tackle. In fact, if Corey Simon doesn't sign his one-year qualifying offer as a franchise player soon and get into camp, he may find it difficult to get playing time. The coaches love third-year pro Sam Rayburn, a former undrafted free agent. Darwin Walker, while often hurt, is solid. First-rounder Mike Patterson has shown flashes of the trademark inside quickness he demonstrated at Southern Cal, Hollis Thomas remains an effective, wide-bodied run stuffer and Paul Grasmanis could make many teams' rosters.

5.
During a Thursday morning "team" drill, Dawkins intercepted an overthrown pass that was intended for Owens. On the next snap, the 10th-year veteran free safety crept up into the slot and blitzed from the right side, quickly disrupting the pocket. So which of the plays in that two-snap sequence was more meaningful? We're guessing the second one.

Look, no one will ever accuse Johnson of not being aggressive, of not attacking the line of scrimmage from every conceivable angle. But there were times last season, it seemed, when Johnson held back some. In part, perhaps, because he was playing with a pair of first-year starters at cornerback and had to protect Sheppard and Brown. So, while Dawkins did have three sacks in 2004, after netting only one-half sack the previous year, he didn't blitz quite as much. For all the talent around him, Dawkins remains the Eagles' most critical provocateur on defense. First, because even at age 31, he remains a superb all-around player. Second, because the innovative Johnson keeps finding ways to use Dawkins to wreak havoc. So the guess here is, with the cornerbacks established as big-time players now, with Jeremiah Trotter back as the starting middle linebacker, and with strong safety Michael Lewis having developed into a Pro Bowl performer, Dr. Johnson is going to be back in his laboratory again, conjuring up ways to turn Dawkins loose and attack the line of scrimmage.

Look for Kearse, too, to be deployed in a number of places, even though he won't move over to right end as often as he did in the playoffs last season. "The Freak" hasn't registered a double-digit sack season since '01, and 2005 could end that three-year streak.

Since there's no other place to squeeze in this final defensive observation, we'll tag it on here: Two young linebackers to watch for, maybe in the second half of the year, are Jason Short and Martin Patterson. These two just look like football players, and if they are, Johnson will find a way to use them. The linebacker spot in Johnson's defense takes some time to assimilate -- second-round pick Matt McCoy, for instance, is struggling right now -- but Short has been around here for two years now and Patterson seems to have picked things up surprisingly fast

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

He obviously pulled some of that stuff (especially on the LB's) straight from Spadaro.  That's hilarious.

[General_Failure]

At least he had to good sense to not copy anything about bubbles or washboard abs.

[shorebird]

Hey GF, what the big difference in the Eagles D this year that will make them awsome from the start and all year long that they didn't start out with last year??

[PhillyGirl]

Hey GF, what the big difference in the Eagles D this year that will make them awsome from the start and all year long that they didn't start out with last year??

[General_Failure]

Hey GF, what the big difference in the Eagles D this year that will make them awsome from the start and all year long that they didn't start out with last year??

Simon won't start.

[shorebird]

WRONG

Lemme' give you the slightest of hints...

with Jeremiah Trotter back as the starting middle linebacker,

[General_Failure]

C. Dillon   18 att   75 yards   1 td   long of25
K. Faulk   8 att   38 yards   0   long of 12

Trotter is the aweseomest.

[shorebird]

C. Dillon   18 att   75 yards   1 td   long of25
K. Faulk   8 att   38 yards   0   long of 12

Trotter is the aweseomest.

Alright, I'll shut up. Those are really allsome stats. 

[shorebird]

Seriously though. I don't don't know why this isn't getting more attention, wait, yeah I guess I do. (TO)
With Trotter starting at MLB, and a possible pro bowl defensive backfield, this defense is going to kick some serious ass, imo. We're loaded. I'm thinking there aren't gonna' be many teams scoring more than 20 pts. against this D.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Right tackle Jon Runyan, one of the first big free-agent acquisitions made by the current ownership,

That should read: "one of the first big free-agent acquisitions made by Andy Reid".

Lurie and Banner have been around since 1994. Ricky Watters was their first big acquisition and Troy Vincent came a couple years later.

[General_Failure]

Kevin Turner could be considered a big acquisition, too.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Yeah, I forgot about him.

But he's not as big as the signing of Richard Cooper.

[General_Failure]

Let's not forget Steve Everett.