True Story

[MURP]

maybe some positive news from McDougle, finally. 


article

True story: McDougle looking good
By LES BOWEN
bowenl@phillynews.com

The scar runs vertically down Jerome McDougle's stomach, his navel turning it into a sort of jagged exclamation point. The whole thing is framed by a tattoo, one word on each side of the incision: TRUE STORY.   

"You go through something like that, life-changing, it's something besides the scar to remind me of what I went through,'' McDougle said over the weekend, as he participated in the Eagles' first minicamp of 2006. "Everybody loves a story, everybody has a story... You tell people what you've been through, and they're like, 'For real?' 'Yeah, true story. For real.' ''

The true story is the one of how McDougle, a defensive end the Eagles traded up to draft 15th overall in 2003, was poised to start heading into the 2005 training camp, after two disappointing, injury-marred seasons. The night before he was scheduled to travel from his Florida home to Lehigh, McDougle was shot in the stomach in an apparent robbery attempt in Miami. He recovered, but on Oct. 17 - the day he was supposed to return to practice - McDougle instead underwent emergency surgery for a hernia caused by scar tissue and adhesions. His season was over. A lot of people wondered if his career was, too.

The Eagles certainly didn't go into their offseason counting on McDougle. Their top free-agent signing was defensive end Darren Howard, from New Orleans. Howard has a 6-year, $30.5 million contract. Jevon Kearse, on the other side, is entering the third year of his 8-year deal, worth more than $60 million. They are the starters this year, no matter what McDougle does. Trent Cole, last year's fifth-round rookie surprise, also figures to get some playing time.

But McDougle, 27, listed at 6-2, 264, seems to be in the best shape of his career. He says he has regained all the weight he lost after being shot; when he was trying to return last season, he often looked more like a safety or a linebacker who somehow had wandered into the row of defensive-line locker stalls.

Saturday, when McDougle practiced for the first time since last year's minicamps, Eagles coach Andy Reid felt he stood out.

"I thought Jerome looked good today,'' Reid said. "It looks like he was getting off the ball really quickly. He looked very explosive out there. It was good to see.''

Yesterday, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson endorsed that view.

"So far, right now, he's one of the bright spots in minicamp,'' Johnson said. "He looks like the McDougle we talked about [when trading up to draft him]. He looks quick, he's a very smart football player... He just looks like a different person. If we get him on the field, that's a big improvement for us, no question... He's playing like we thought he would play.''

For McDougle, the focus isn't yet on what might happen in September or October, what kind of role will be available. For now, practicing is an accomplishment.

"It feels good to be back in the swing of things. It feels real good, after everything I've been through, to get back out there and get that behind me,'' McDougle said.

Johnson reiterated yesterday that the key to his defensive schemes is the line, which last year wasn't quick enough, tough enough or deep enough. The Eagles' total of 29 sacks was their lowest since 1978. They've added Howard and first-round rookie defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley. There is a new D-line coach, Pete Jenkins, who is said to be a teacher in the mold of offensive line coach Juan Castillo.

Johnson said he believes the Birds need to move Kearse around more, to make it harder to devise blocking schemes that will neutralize him. He said he was reluctant to do that much last season, since flipping Kearse often would have meant moving Cole, a rookie who was just learning the complex defense.

"It's my job and Pete Jenkins' job to get [Kearse] moving around a bit more and give him more opportunities... He's too good of a football player not to take advantage of his ability,'' Johnson said.

Johnson clearly expects his line to lead his defense back to respectability. "It all comes down to our front,'' he said.

Johnson said he definitely expects a better pass rush.

"We've seen Howard play and we know he's a good pass rusher,'' Johnson said. "That's an upgrade right there. We think that Jevon is a guy who will still get double-digit sacks. He should, and he knows that... We have McDoug-le coming back and we have Juqua Thomas and Trent Cole... I see a lot of good quickness. We're just talking, they have to prove that on the field. But right now, we have enough good bodies out there... there is no reason we should expect that we won't get back to pressuring the quarterback.''

[SD_Eagle5]

If McDougle can manage to stay healthy and have an impact than I don't see a deeper DE rotation in the league with maybe the Giants being an exception.

[rjs246]

So if I understand this correctly we are rooting for a dude who can't feel his foot and only played one season, a dude who dislocated his hip like a nursing home resident and only played in a couple of games and a dude recovering from a gunshot wound who has been the biggest first round dissapointment for this team over the past 7 years?

If any of these players are going to be counted on to contribute this team is in for a long farging season.

[SunMo]

well...when you say it, it seems so negative.

[SD_Eagle5]

So if I understand this correctly we are rooting for a dude who can't feel his foot and only played one season, a dude who dislocated his hip like a nursing home resident and only played in a couple of games and a dude recovering from a gunshot wound who has been the biggest first round dissapointment for this team over the past 7 years?

If any of these players are going to be counted on to contribute this team is in for a long farging season.

If he's healthy and looks good then where's the problem?

But McDougle, 27, listed at 6-2, 264, seems to be in the best shape of his career. He says he has regained all the weight he lost after being shot; when he was trying to return last season, he often looked more like a safety or a linebacker who somehow had wandered into the row of defensive-line locker stalls.

Saturday, when McDougle practiced for the first time since last year's minicamps, Eagles coach Andy Reid felt he stood out.

[ice grillin you]

the good thing is they dont need mcdougle...in fact i wouldnt be surprised to see him cut...anything they get from him is gravy

i cant believe hell be 28 before the end of the season

[MadMarchHare]

He'll make the team.  If anyone gets cut it's Juqua.

[rjs246]

The problem, SD, is that this team has these guys competing for spots in the first place. JR Reed can't feel his goddamned foot! But our beloved Eagles said, "Hey, maybe we should invite this guy to try out for our team. We'll give everyone the warm and fuzzies and take practice reps away from someone who might actually have a chance to play in the league." It's ridiculous. McDougle has run into some bad luck, no question. But christ, the dude is turning 28 and has never done shtein in the NFL. Time to cut bait.

[reese125]

you'd be foolish to cut depth...especially with the Eagles injury history on the DL year in and year out...knock on wood

[MURP]

The problem, SD, is that this team has these guys competing for spots in the first place.

I fail to see a problem with anyone competing at camp.  If they are still injured or suck they wont make the team.  If they are past the injuries and are better than the players they are competing against then they make the team and hopefully contribute.   It's a win/win either way.   

[reese125]

JR Reed can't feel his goddamned foot!

This comment seriously made me fall off my chair

[Diomedes]

You left our favorite Brokeknee Runningback off your list of fuzzy wuzzies, Jerk.

I'm not feeling great about McDougle.  He is depth, though.  So what the hell.  We'll see.

[rjs246]

You left our favorite Brokeknee Runningback off your list of fuzzy wuzzies, Jerk.

Jesus, you're right. How could I forget the people's running back champ? Mister "I can't block or catch, but I had a good first half against the Rams 4 years ago before destroying both of my knees so I should definitely be invited to a professional football team's camp" himself. Ugh. Sometimes I think this team is trying to farging drive me to drink. More.

[Diomedes]

I fail to see a problem with anyone competing at camp. If they are still injured or suck they wont make the team. If they are past the injuries and are better than the players they are competing against then they make the team and hopefully contribute. It's a win/win either way.

Spots at camp may seem unlimited, but time is not.  You could have three healthy guys at camp instead of three charity cases.  It's nice that the Eagles will string along the miracle comebacks, but I'd rather they were spending their scarce attention looking at healthy athletes.

edit: to be fair, only Buck and Reed are charity cases.  McDougle might actually be able to play...no one knows yet.

[ice grillin you]

westbrook isnt making the cover of means health anytime soon either...and pinky is one cut away from blowin up his achilles