JJ- McCoy - plenty of opportunity to earn that starting spot.

[MURP]

maybe im also starting to be brainwashed by the fluff on the Eagles site.  It just seems that after McCoy sucked terribly last year that there has been nothing but great news about him since.  What is the deal with this guy.   Who believes McCoy is going to be a good player next year?  He has shown nothing, yet the coaches all love the guy.   Is it really just as simple as getting in shape and knowing the playbook a bit?  Training camp cannot come soon enough.

With a shot at winning the WILL linebacker spot, second-year man Matt McCoy obviously has a lot to play for this off-season. That's why he'll spend a few hours Tuesday reviewing mini-camp tape with linebackers coach Steve Spagnuolo.

McCoy ran with the first-team defense during the post-draft mini-camp and appears honed in on what he needs to do to put himself in position for 2006.

"In the off-season program, I've been training how they want me to train and studying how they want me to study," McCoy said. "It's helped a lot. You can tell when you watch practice.

"I'm pretty confident in what I'm doing right now. I feel pretty comfortable."

McCoy admittedly had no clue what was going on last year. Two things, he said, hampered him a year ago were his weight (he says he came in at about 245 pounds) and the playbook.

Now he has defined his body, made it a more lean 225 pounds. He's also getting in some mental conditioning, working with Spagnuolo three times a week.

McCoy knows he has to convince the coaching staff that he is good enough to play and to do the right things on the field. And for at least one mini-camp, that mission has been accomplished.

"There is no question he's a much different player out there. He's a lot more confident," said defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. "He struggled last year, but this year he knows everything and is playing with a lot of confidence. He's going to have plenty of opportunity to earn that starting spot.

"I don't know if it's a make-or-break year, but it is an important year for him. It's an important year for all of us, but it is an important year for him to show what he is."

Unlike so many of his 2005 draft classmates, McCoy struggled to show much during his rookie season. He played in just four games, mostly on special teams. All told, he finished the season with six special teams tackles and 34 special teams production points. He was also credited with 30 blocks.

However, the coaches did get a glimpse of what McCoy can do on defense in the season finale against Washington as he got on the field for a few snaps in the second quarter at the WILL linebacker position.

It was a frustrating time for the second-round draft pick.

"It was tough. I spent the year trying to learn the defense and I wasn't in the kind of shape I wanted to be in," said McCoy. "I didn't play as much as I wanted."

McCoy began his training five weeks before the team's off-season conditioning program officially began. He has remained in Philadelphia to dedicate himself to learning and mastering the defense.

"I've been getting into it and working to be bigger, stronger and faster," McCoy said. "I've been working my core, working my feet and getting in the playbook."

Standing at 5-foot-11, what McCoy lacks in size he makes up for with the speed and quickness needed to play a spot that requires a player to read and react and play with instincts, to have great cover ability and to play tough against the run.

It takes linebackers time to learn Johnson's scheme and to play well within it and McCoy is making good use of his time, conditioning both mind and body.

He believes it will pay off.

"I just expect to come in and compete and battle for the starting position," McCoy said. "I think my time's going to be this year."

[ice grillin you]

sounds eerily similar to the sim spin of a few years ago

doesnt mean mccoy wont win the job...but i dont ever see him being anything more than a minimally productive nfl starting linebacker...and i certainly dont believe a word anyone in the eagles camp says about him...id be more than happy if he turns into a solid back-up LB and a great special teamer

[SunMo]

id be more than happy if he turns into a solid back-up LB and a great special teamer

which would make him a bust.

[ice grillin you]

well i hated the pick from day one...so in my mind its a foregone conclusion thats hes a bust/bad pick...anything positive they get out of him is a bonus and will make me happy at this point...im very easy to please

[Mad-Lad]

Are his eyes always like this, or was one dialated for some reason?

[Diomedes]

Jesus Christ that's farged up.

The coaches will pimp almost anyone.  I don't believe a word of what they say.  It would be great if McCoy turned into something, but I'm not holding my breath.

[SunMo]

it probably has something to do with why he wears a visor.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

it probably has something to do with why he wears a visor.

I always assumed it was just to make him look tough.

[ice grillin you]

lol...wtf?

[SunMo]

I always assumed it was just to make him look tough.

i think you need to have a medical reason for it.  that was my assumption anyway.

[SD_Eagle5]

I see McCoy making the pro-bowl this season.

[SunMo]

i have a pitcher on my softball team who only has one eye.  i make fun of him routinely.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I see McCoy making the pro-bowl this season.

Maybe you should get your vision checked out.

[NGM]

it probably has something to do with why he wears a visor.

I wonder if he got McMahoned...the decent one not the slightly less gay the Garcia one. 

[MURP]

Are his eyes always like this, or was one dialated for some reason?

wow.  dude is a terminator.   secret weapon status gained.