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Brian Westbrook may be paying now for overuse in 2006-08, when the Eagles running back had 751 carries.
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Bob Ford: Westbrook's reality has been losing touches

The game against the Raiders last week had reached its final minutes and the costumed customers in Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum shook their plastic weapons and growled their meanest growls as Donovan McNabb took a shotgun snap and searched the stage for a redemptive exit.

On the sideline, Brian Westbrook watched the play along with the others. His chinstrap was still snapped in place, but he wasn't on the field for this third-down play that would end with McNabb scrambling for a few yards. One play later, a harried McNabb would underthrow DeSean Jackson and the Eagles were finished.

As often as not, Westbrook wasn't in the game during its most important stretches. Andy Reid would say that the running back was gimpy by halftime and needed to be used sparingly after that. Rookie LeSean McCoy, as he has all season, took away some of Westbrook's rushing touches, and Reid's pass-heavy play-calling removed most of the rest.

Tonight, as Westbrook returns home to suburban Washington to play the Redskins on Monday Night Football, he is quickly becoming an afterthought in the offense. Just two years after leading the NFL in total yards, and as he stands on the brink of setting franchise records that may never be broken, Westbrook's career arc has taken a sharp downward turn.

"I think I can play," Westbrook said this week. "I think I can make some plays when I have the ball in my hands. It's very hard to show people what you can do when you don't have the opportunities. I think as the season goes on I will get those opportunities, and when I do, I think I will show people that I can still play."

It is hard to know if Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg agree. The team drafted McCoy with an obvious purpose, and Westbrook, who turned 30 in September, continues to battle chronic knee pain and nagging ankle injuries. He didn't play a snap of the exhibition games, and has already been inactive for one game this season.

Reid has been careful in how Westbrook has been used so far, and it might be that the running back will get healthier and sturdier as the season progresses.

"There is a fine line there . . . we are trying to find where we're not taking steps back that next week," Reid said.

Still, it has been a sudden change for Westbrook. He gained 2,104 total yards from scrimmage in 15 games in 2007, saw that number dip to 1,338 yards in 14 games in 2008, and is on a pace to gain just 1,177 in 15 games this season.

In 2007, Westbrook had 278 carries and 90 receptions, 368 touches from scrimmage. This season, if he stays on his current pace, he will have 142 rushes and 63 receptions, 205 touches, a 44 percent reduction in just two years.

The question, and it is a good one, is whether this is being done for Westbrook's own good, to keep him healthy enough to contribute at all. While Reid is criticized for having an unbalanced offense (54 passes and 12 runs called against Oakland), it might be that he doesn't trust the fumble-prone McCoy yet, isn't impressed with Leonard Weaver, and doesn't want to beat up Westbrook.

"It's frustrating because you want to be able to help the team," Westbrook said. "I'm a positive person. I'm always thinking the next series I'll get the ball, the next play I'll touch it. . . . I really don't get too down during the game. Of course, after the game you look at the stats, you look at production . . . you kind of say, 'Wow.' "

Westbrook may be paying the price now for having been overused from 2006 through 2008, when he had 751 of his 1,285 career carries, nearly 60 percent of his eight-season total, and compiled 17 of his 20 hundred-yard games. Those productive seasons took a toll on his legs, even as they pushed him up the all-time leaderboards for the franchise.

He passed Harold Carmichael last season for most yards from scrimmage in Eagles history, and needs an additional 634 rushing yards to move past Wilbert Montgomery. With just 29 more touches, he surpasses Montgomery in that category as well. Not that long ago, he might have needed just one game to approach that number, but probably not any longer.

"I think I can carry the load. I think I have the ability to go out there and touch the ball 20, 25 times a game," Westbrook said. "I haven't had the opportunity yet, so you don't really know for sure."

What he knows is that he has already made history with this franchise, and that his name will stay in its record books. As he returns home tonight, a 30-year-old with aching legs halfway in and halfway out of an offense morphing into something new, what he doesn't know is how much additional history he will make.

 


Bob Ford:

Brian Westbrook's Declining Numbers

Season   Rushing   Receiving   Total   Touches   

2007 (15 games)   1,333   771   2,104   368   

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Comments   
Posted 05:34 AM, 10/26/2009
Seed
Westbrook proved in last game that he has plenty of gas left in his tank. Reid needs to establish the physical game early and set tone for the game with extensive use of Westbrook and McCoy. Let's get the ground game going!
Posted 06:51 AM, 10/26/2009
Panthro22
If Andy Bleed hasn't figured out the offense in all this time, he never will. Why continue throwing the f'n ball if its not working? Why run the f'n ball if its not working? In 10 years he still hasn't figured out his personnel enough to know how to mix up the plays, and now how to incorporate the VickCat. It sure worked to profection against the Saints even though Miami still lost. I feel Bleed doesn't have a clue yet and if that keeps up he SHOULD NOT get an extension.
Posted 07:29 AM, 10/26/2009
Voytas
Brad Childress must have had a case of "Andy Ball" yesterday against the Steelers. He has Peterson in the back field and is still pass happy as well. I see Andy made the "Top Ten Coaches To Never Win A Championship" on the NFL Network he came in at No. 7. Great job Andy!! Outstanding in every way. Lastly, of course Westbrook should get the ball more, but we need a QB that can get it to him.
Posted 07:36 AM, 10/26/2009
warbird
Oakland Raider gamer 14 rushing attempts, we need change now.
Posted 07:40 AM, 10/26/2009
aNutterInDgutter
You can't use Brian WEakbrook too much. He's like a Porsche. Looks great, runs fast but it's not an every day car.
Posted 07:41 AM, 10/26/2009
mikeyhigs
Last week Andy passed the ball 46 times and ran it 16 times and lost to the Raiders. This week, the Jets passed it 15 times and ran it 54 times for 317 yards and crushed the Raiders. If Andy would have fed the ball to Westbrook a little bit more, he would have had 100+ yards and a victory.
Posted 07:52 AM, 10/26/2009
iladelph
I don't get this article one bit. Andy doesn't call running plays, he calls passing plays. It is the play calling, not Westbrook's ability keeping him off of the field.
Posted 08:51 AM, 10/26/2009
mikey48
Brian is still exposive, if the idiot would use him! Between Reid and Marty there is not a brain? The Jets blew Oakland out 39-0 with a rookie QB in a slump? Reid has been lucky enough to be blessed with Jim Johnson's genius all those years, he needs to retire!
Posted 09:08 AM, 10/26/2009
mikedi08
Of course they need him in the game but they continue to monitor his cronic knee/ankle problems to make sure he doesn't regress. They don't have the luxury of having him rest his body for a year and then come back fresh. BWest is one of my favorite players and it is frustrating that he isn't playing more, but the team is protecting him. Like it or not. They want him when(if) the games get important in Nov/Dec. Unfortunately, the team goes as Mcnabb goes. He's so erratic it kills a drive when he is off his game. Let's see them pound it on redskins and then open up the passing lanes to celek, jackson, etc. COME on #5!
Posted 09:25 AM, 10/26/2009
philly499
The Jets score yesterday sealed the deal on one thing....Reid does not have it. What seems pretty obvious to the fans and other analysts (former NFL players) doesn't even register with Reid. I can't stand him anymore....the players and fans deserve better!! Give me an innovator and motivator without an ego for the head coach.....please, Lurie!!!
Posted 09:34 AM, 10/26/2009
Relocator
Jets 38 Raiders 0
Posted 09:36 AM, 10/26/2009
Tar Heel 1
Question: How did the NY Jets do yesterday v.s. that powerhouse Raiders team? How many times did NY run the ball??? Great work Andy Reid, you deserve a contract extension. SICKENING!
Posted 09:47 AM, 10/26/2009
coachbarnes10
hells yeah
Posted 09:51 AM, 10/26/2009
jsindaco
Serious guestion......Does anybody really care about tonight's game ?
Posted 09:58 AM, 10/26/2009
starbird
Where will Westbrook play next year? Cause it ain't in Philly....
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