Hank Baskett Hysteria

[Rome]

Aren't you willing to at least give the rookies a chance to show what they have?

Or would you rather continue bemoaning the fact that the Eagles didn't get an established #1 in the offseason?  You know, because that's really making good use of your time.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Maybe Baskett has actually earned it?

Maybe he's better than all the experts on this board would believe?

Nah... that's crazy talk.

So an undrafted rookie, who's original team traded him away is a better WR than the veterans and drafted rookies on the team and has 'earned' a starting spot? And none of that bothers you?

ALL'S WELL! NOTHING TO SEE HERE!

No.

[rjs246]

Aren't you willing to at least give the rookies a chance to show what they have?

Or would you rather continue bemoaning the fact that the Eagles didn't get an established #1 in the offseason? You know, because that's really making good use of your time.

I would rather see my favorite team actually make any effort to improve their most glaring offensive weakness rather than relying on retreads and other teams' cast-offs. But you know, Go Hank Baskett!

[hunt]

put me down for more bemoaning.

[Drunkmasterflex]

I really hope all the hype that is following this guy is true, but history is not on his side.  If Baskett is a starting WR on opening day it is definately a reason for concern. 

[Magical_Retard]

considering they didnt go after a FA WR or get Walker, and pretty much assuming they wont get Lelie or Porter......knowing where we are I am excited to see Basket work with the first team tonight to see if the practice praise translates into in game.

am i dissapointed about the WR situation on this team? yeah. but am i panicking that we will could be any worse on offense than what we have been in the past? no.

and its not like its final that Basket is #2 or a starter for good now. if he stinks it up tonight and rest of pre season we did get Gaffney to be the #2 to Brown.

[Beermonkey]

I really hope all the hype that is following this guy is true, but history is not on his side.  If Baskett is a starting WR on opening day it is definately a reason for concern. 

I'm not on his bandwagon yet, but if the guy performs as well as they think he can, why does it matter whether he was undrafted or not?

[Rome]

Aren't you willing to at least give the rookies a chance to show what they have?

Or would you rather continue bemoaning the fact that the Eagles didn't get an established #1 in the offseason? You know, because that's really making good use of your time.

I would rather see my favorite team actually make any effort to improve their most glaring offensive weakness rather than relying on retreads and other teams' cast-offs. But you know, Go Hank Baskett!

They did make an effort.  They drafted two wide receivers, signed a free agent and acquired another player via trade.

So they didn't get an established NFL star in the offseason.  So fargin what?  That automatically means that the guys they got in the offseason will be busts?

If you say so...

Personally, I'm going to see how the preseason games play out first.  If the players they've brought in here aren't up to snuff, then yeah, I'll be concerned.  Unlike you, though, I'm at least going to wait and see how things go before I make assumptions on the success or failure of the moves they made.

[Feva]

Aren't you willing to at least give the rookies a chance to show what they have?

Or would you rather continue bemoaning the fact that the Eagles didn't get an established #1 in the offseason? You know, because that's really making good use of your time.

I would rather see my favorite team actually make any effort to improve their most glaring offensive weakness rather than relying on retreads and other teams' cast-offs. But you know, Go Hank Baskett!

That's BS man.

We all would have loved to see Javon Walker here or something like that... but guess what?  The shtein didn't happen.  There's no point of sitting here whining about it now.  We got what we got.  That's it.  Also... who says Baskett is a castoff?  Baskett never took snap one with the Vikings so it's not as though they determined he wasn't shtein and decided to rob us of Billy McMullen.

Nobody's relying on this kid either.  There's obviously been a whole lot of talk about this kid in camp so Reid's giving him a live shot to see if all the hype is warranted.  What's wrong with that?  It's the 1st preseason game.  If he gets out there and chokes, so what... he'll fall to the bottom of the depth chart and no harm done.  But if he keeps on showing signs that we've come across something good... again, what's wrong with that?  Gaffney isn't much of an unknown... it's all about the knowledge of the system, which he'll get plenty of opportunities to show where he is with that anyway.  He is what he is... a slot possession receiver.  Avant and Bloom haven't even been on the field long enough to warrant giving either of them this shot.  Baskett has impressed so far... he's earned it.  It's not like the playoffs are on the line.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Spad's Daily Vomit:

Some Things To Focus On In Tonight's Opener
August 6, 2006


CANTON, Ohio -- This is one I would like to watch with five sets of eyes. I want to see every player on every play and then rewind and watch more. It's a preseason game and the lineups will change so often, and amid the chaos the stories will unfold. Has there ever been so much intrigue and, from this perspective, interest in the first preseason game of the year? Pick a player, any player, and you have an angle here. Donovan McNabb? Obvious. Brian Westbrook? He's returning from injury. Shawn Andrews? Mr. Slim. The rookies? Don't get me started. Here are some of the things I'll be watching tonight ...

J.R. Reed is the kickoff return man to start, and I want to see his burst and hard-charging style again. Reed looked like the pre-injured Reed in training camp. A game situation is different. The tempo is just a bit faster. The hitting is live. The holes shrink much faster. Reed has his chance to take a large, large step back in this amazing story.

Is he the real McCoy? Matt McCoy is the starter at the WILL linebacker position. There is no disputing that. The coaching staff spoke highly of him in camp. Now he goes against a good offense that can hurt a defense in a variety of ways. McCoy has to get off blocks, make the right reads and tackle well. He has to play fast. Everyone agrees that McCoy is a completely different player from the rookie who hardly played last year. The Eagles think their second-round draft pick of a season ago is ready to be the man.

How is William Thomas? On and off the practice field at Lehigh, Thomas had a good week of work leading into this game. He is so important to this offense. So is the guy next to him, left guard Todd Herremans. Oakland has some juice up front. It will be a good test.

Wide receivers are, of course, an important part of the focus tonight. Hank Baskett is expected to be on the field with Reggie Brown in the two-wide receiver sets, with Jabar Gaffney as the third receiver. Then it's Greg Lewis and Darnerien McCants - big game vaults him up the depth chart, doesn't it? - and Jason Avant and Justin Jenkins.
There are a whole lot of other receivers who want time. It won't be easy getting 10 receivers game reps, but the Eagles will try to do so. They want to get a look at everybody.


The defensive line has been impressive through the summer, so let's see how it goes against the Raiders. I want to watch everybody, but I want to first focus on Darren Howard and his explosiveness, Jerome McDougle and his quickness and LaJuan Ramsey and his push inside.

I don't know how it is going to shake out up front with the roster, but the way I see defensive tackle, one or two good linemen won't make this team. So it's important that players like Sam Rayburn and Keyonta Marshall and Ramsey and Ed Jasper get some good, productive reps. No way all four of those players make this team, not with Mike Patterson, Darwin Walker and Brodrick Bunkley atop the depth chart at the moment.

The pass/run ratio will be interesting to gauge, too. Maybe we get a bit of a feel for what kind of offense Marty Mornhinweg is planning to run. I don't know. These games are 60 minutes of experiments. The coaches want to see players in certain situations. I sure would like to see the Eagles devote a series or two to the running game to give the big offensive line a chance to use its muscle.

I want to watch Winston Justice closely when he is on the field. His athletic ability is very high, and he seems to be learning quickly what Juan Castillo wants. Is Justice ready if he has to be ready?

Donovan McNabb isn't a mystery, because I think he's one of the very best quarterbacks in the league. He has some kids he's throwing to, some new players up front along the line, so I want to see his comfort level right away. I also want to see him break the huddle with 15 or more seconds left on the play clock, giving him a lot of time to get the play off. No delays of game, please.

Jobs are going to be won and lost on special teams. That's why I'm disappointed that Chris Gocong isn't playing. He may not be ready at SAM linebacker, but he can make a difference on special teams. Not tonight, though.
There is just so much to see, so much to study. The preseason, usually an exercise in drudgery until the regular season gets here, starts tonight with a ton of interest. I'll be watching everything.

Wow about Baskett. I can understand him wowing the coaches and bumping himself up to number three, but ahead of Gaffney? I don't know. Gaffney is not a world class WR, but he has produced at this level decently for years. Guess we'll have to see...

Awesome for J.R Reed. He has to have shown to be like his old self to get the tap to return the kickoffs. Good for him, hope he does well and comes back like his old self.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Like I've said, the Eagles think Gaffney has found his niche in the slot, so he won't be out there in sets with 2 WR's on the outside... but in sets with one inside and one outside, he might see some time.

Being the #3 doesn't reflect poorly on him, except that it means he's less than ideal to play the outside.  Which we knew before he was signed.

[shorebird]

Hank Baskett is expected to be on the field with Reggie Brown in the two-wide receiver sets, with Jabar Gaffney as the third receiver. Then it's Greg Lewis and Darnerien McCants - big game vaults him up the depth chart, doesn't it?

If being the no. 4-5 doesn't fire Lewis up, nothing will.

[Drunkmasterflex]

Like I've said, the Eagles think Gaffney has found his niche in the slot, so he won't be out there in sets with 2 WR's on the outside... but in sets with one inside and one outside, he might see some time.

Being the #3 doesn't reflect poorly on him, except that it means he's less than ideal to play the outside.  Which we knew before he was signed.

Word.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Hank Baskett is expected to be on the field with Reggie Brown in the two-wide receiver sets, with Jabar Gaffney as the third receiver. Then it's Greg Lewis and Darnerien McCants - big game vaults him up the depth chart, doesn't it?

If being the no. 4-5 doesn't fire Lewis up, nothing will.

Lewis is a 4-5.  That's just what he is.  So, sure... I hope he'll be fired up to be the best 4-5 he can be.

[shorebird]

Nope, don't agree there. I like him. But I know there are more people here than not who would start Pinky over him. I just don't agree with that.