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

[Rome]

I doubt your sincerity?

[ice grillin you]

oh werd? is the new I doubt your sincerity?

try to keep up dunn

[SunMo]

oh werd?

[Rome]

And what would be the proper response to "oh werd?"

[rjs246]

"Cram it."

[ice grillin you]

And what would be the proper response to "oh werd?"

hmmmm....good point

larry bird?

[Rome]

Best playa eva, ya hear?

[Feva]

And what would be the proper response to "oh werd?"

hmmmm....good point

werd to larry bird?

run it.

[sallad selgae]

Bird is da werd.

[Tomahawk]

I boo the last twenty posts on this thread, and much to your collective chagrin will not be opening it again.

[PhillyGirl]

McCoy is feeling at home
By Marc Narducci
Inquirer Staff Writer

Eagles linebacker Matt McCoy admits that last year, he knew where he wanted to go but didn't have the slightest idea how to get there.

A second-round draft choice from San Diego State, McCoy spent most of his time on the sideline, learning the complex defense.

He was inactive for 12 games and not very active even when he made four appearances. McCoy's highlight was a special-teams tackle against San Diego.

Still, the Eagles were committed to the 5-foot-11, 230-pound McCoy, opting not to re-sign Keith Adams, who had started all 16 games at weakside linebacker last season.

McCoy's second season had a much more promising start than his first. In Sunday's 24-10 victory over the host Houston Texans, McCoy was credited with eight tackles, seven of them solo. He also forced a fumble and broke up a pass. The only Eagle with more tackles was Jeremiah Trotter, who had nine.

"It was a great confidence game for Matt," said Jim Johnson, the Eagles' defensive coordinator. "He made some nice hits and read screens well."

McCoy, 23, played like someone who was much more comfortable in his environment.

"Last year, I didn't know what I was doing," he said. "I was freelancing, and this year I am staying within the scheme and making plays in it."

If McCoy had failed to pick up the system this year, the Eagles had a safety net in linebacker Shawn Barber, a nine-year veteran who was signed as a free agent from Kansas City.

Barber's initial message to McCoy was not to look over his shoulder.

"I told him they brought me here not to replace you, but to make you better and take you to the next level," Barber said. "I pushed him all training camp and all preseason."

Barber has been an invaluable resource, McCoy said. The two watch countless hours of film together, with Barber doing most of the talking.

"I think that last year, Matt was so fast and aggressive that he would overrun things," Barber said. "I told him to slow the game down and allow the game to come to you, and when you do that, you will be ready to make big plays."

McCoy's first big play came late in the first quarter with the Eagles trailing, 7-0, when he tackled Wali Lundy for a 5-yard loss on a short pass up the middle.

The Texans punted three plays later, and the Eagles scored the tying touchdown on the next series.

"He played the kind of game that showed why we drafted him," Johnson said. "He is a physical guy who we turned loose a couple of times, and he made some nice hits."

McCoy's teammates are impressed by his perseverance after a difficult first year.

"Coach Johnson's defense is not exactly easy to pick up," said Dhani Jones, the starting strongside linebacker. "It's a testament to Matt, the way he picked things up."

Barber laughed when it was suggested that he seemed like a proud parent watching McCoy's development. But Barber had an immediate message for McCoy after the game: A player is only as good as his next outing.

"When you do well, don't ever think you have arrived," Barber said.

Besides being the weakside linebacker, McCoy also participated on special teams. "I wasn't as tired as I thought I would be," he said.

What was really tiring was practicing all week and rarely getting the chance to play last season. But McCoy kept his nose stuck in the playbook.

"I would have indecision and get a little confused because there was so much going through my head last year," he said. "That is the big difference between this year and last year."

[ice grillin you]

ebony and ivoreeeeee.....

[PhillyGirl]

sounds like someone is conflicted

[Diomedes]

I always liked the Murphy's Law version of that song.

[rjs246]

Good ska band.