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- Paul Domowitch: LeSean needs to get a handle on things
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- Eagles' LB Gaither is loss for season
- Eagles Notebook: Westbrook eager to run more for the Eagles
- Herremans likely to play when Eagles face Redskins
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- Eagles Notes: Eagles' Westbrook wants increased workload
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Paul Domowitch: LeSean needs to get a handle on things
ON THE Eagles' fourth possession of Sunday's ugly 13-9 loss to the Raiders, LeSean McCoy committed the Two Deadly Sins for an Andy Reid-coached running back.
He fumbled and he blew a blitz-pickup.
Took a handoff from Donovan McNabb at his 11 and cut through a hole on the left side of the line, only to have Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour circle around behind him and knock the ball from his grasp. Much to his relief, center Jamaal Jackson fell on the loose ball.
Four plays later, on a third-and-2 at the Oakland 27, the rookie failed to pick up Raiders linebacker Thomas Howard on a blitz. McNabb had tight end Alex Smith open for what would have been a first down on the play. But the unblocked Howard hit him just as he was releasing the ball, forcing an incompletion.
It wasn't a coincidence that McCoy, who had been rotating with Brian Westbrook, spent a lot more time on the sideline than the playing field the rest of the game.
"They're big on those things," the rookie said. "Any back can run the ball. It's what else can you do. They care a lot about [pass] protection and ball security."
Officially, Sunday's fumble was McCoy's first of the season. But he also put the ball on the ground in Week 1 against Carolina on his first NFL carry. Reid challenged the call and it was reversed after the replay showed McCoy's knee had touched the ground before the ball came loose.
"I've just got to change my [ballcarrying] style a little bit," McCoy said. "I always took it for granted that I wouldn't [fumble]. I need to focus on it, work on covering it up and holding it tight. Remembering the importance of protecting it."
He has an excellent role model. Westbrook is one of the best nonfumbling backs in the league. Since 2004, he's fumbled just seven times in 1,513 touches.
"I've talked a lot to LeSean about ball-security," Westbrook said. "I was told early on in my career that if you don't secure the ball, you won't be playing a lot. I think he understands that."
Westbrook said the way McCoy holds the ball is conducive to fumbling.
"He swings the ball a lot when he runs," he said. "In college, you can get away with that a little bit because you're a lot faster than the other guys and the defense isn't attacking the ball as much. They're just trying to make a play.
"But in this league, the guys are too fast, too strong, and they're constantly trying to get the ball out of your hand."
Tackling Dummy
Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel already has four interceptions in five games. That's the good news. The bad news is he has at least twice that many missed tackles.
Had a costly one Sunday when he whiffed while allegedly trying to tackle Raiders tight end Zach Miller on his 86-yard touchdown catch-and-run. Miller beat Jeremiah Trotter on the play, but if Samuel had done his job, it would have been just a 30-yard gain rather than seven points.
Making matters worse, Samuel not only missed the tackle, he also managed take down Trotter, who was about to catch Miller from behind.
Asked yesterday if Samuel's lame tackling is just something he has to swallow hard and accept in exchange for the guy's ball-hawking skills, Reid said: "He's going to keep working at that. And we'll keep working with him as coaches. He'll get better with that part of his game."
Yeah, right. Maybe next time he won't close his eyes when he tries to bring somebody down.
