Archive: October, 2008
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Brian Westbrook isn't practicing today, as the Eagles begin preparing for this Sunday's visit to San Francisco, and there are indications the Birds understand their franchise running back almost certainly won't be able to play effectively this week.
Fullback Tony Hunt said he has been told he will take his practice reps at running back, where he played before being switched near the end of training camp. Defensive tackle Dan Klecko, signed last spring with the idea he would be a fullback, has been reissued his old No. 49 jersey and apparently will play an expanded role at fullback while still participating in the defensive tackle rotation. Defensive end Victor Abiamiri, out since early in training camp following wrist surgery, was to participate in his first full practice today, and Abiamiri said he had been told he would work some inside at defensive tackle -- something he assumes reflects Klecko's decreased availability on defense. It isn't clear that Abiamiri will be ready to play by this weekend.
It is clear the Eagles have a lot of work to do to turn around their 2-3 season. Quarterback Donovan McNabb called a players' meeting Monday, in addition to the regularly scheduled session presided over by the coaches. McNabb and other players said he was critical of his own play and he emphasized that, as McNabb told reporters Wednesday, "everyone has to understand the situation we're in."
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Your Eagletarian has some thoughts on the debate.
No, not that debate. The one about whether Philadelphia is "red" or "green" right now, with the Phillies in the NLCS and the Eagles taxing everyone's patience at 2-3 after a promising start.
Daily News staff
Sometimes the trends go in the Eagles' favor, and sometimes they don't ...
Here is one that doesn't look so good -- assuming you believe in these things -- and it looks even worse when you consider how bad the Birds are scuffling right now.
The Eagles are 3-6 in the week before the bye under Andy Reid. That includes losses in six of the last seven.
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
On why, after 10 years, it’s still so difficult putting players in the right position to make plays:
What Andy said: ``It’s a challenge every week. That’s what makes it such a great job.’’
What he meant: ``I don’t want to talk about that. I want to talk about taxes. And cheeseburgers.’’
On the Redskins running nearly twice as many offensive plays in the second half as the Eagles:
What Andy said: ``Anytime you end a game with 47 offensive plays and 75 defensive plays, there’s a problem. We had way too many three-and-outs on the offensive side. In particular at the start of the second half when we had four consecutive three-and-outs.’’
What he meant: ``I’m going to try something really radical this week. I’m going to script the first 15 plays of the SECOND half instead of the first. We’re gonna just wing it at the beginning of the game. Or I might have Christina Lurie call the plays.’’
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Brian Westbrook said he was doing his ESPN 950-AM radio show last night on about an hour of sleep since Sunday's game, courtesy of the two fractured ribs he sustained on the first drive of the Eagles' 23-17 loss to the Redskins.
Westbrook, who took a painkilling injection and missed only a series, said his participation this week at San Francisco probably would be a gametime decision. But the way Westbrook talked about the injury made it seem less than likely he will be able to play effectively. The Eagles have their bye week next.
Westbrook said he wanted to clear up the misconception that a pain shot in the ribs really numbs the area.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
A bad Eagles weekend got worse today when Andy Reid, droning through the injuries in his usual day-after news conference, casually mentioned that Brian Westbrook has broken ribs. Two of 'em, Reid eventually acknowledged. He wouldn't speculate on Westbrook's availability for this weekend's game at San Francisco, but it would seem really unlikely that Westbrook will play, and even more unlikely that he will be effective.
Westbrook was the best player on the field on the Birds' opening drive Sunday against the Redskins, but suffered the rib injury on the eighth play of the game, Reid said, and though he left the game only briefly, he was not nearly as effective the rest of the way.
The rest of the news conference was Reid's usual mea culpa. He called the confused collapse on third and 1 from the Redskins' 2 late in the game "completely a coaching error on my part," and "unacceptable."
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
After the early trick plays and the punt return touchdown, the Eagles had nothing for the Washington Redskins, who dominated both lines of scrimmage in a 23-17 upset at the Linc.
Andy Reid added one little thing to his usual postgame refusal to engage in any sort of meaningful discussion of what went wrong: In the midst of repeating his mantra about needing to put players in better positions to make plays, Reid added: "and when (the players) are in those positions, we have to make sure that plays get made."
After starting out 1 for 4 on third down conversions, the Redskins converted 11 of their final 15. They took apart what had been the league's top rushing defense, running for 203 yards (to the Eagles' 58). They ended up with 75 offensive snaps, to the Birds' 47, 22 first downs to the Eagles' 14.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Update: The defense has worn down, because the offense can't get out of its own way. Or you could say the offense is messed up because it goes half an hour between series. Whichever is the chicken and which is the egg doesn't really matter, the Eagles are blowing a game they led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter They are being beaten in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Clinton Portis is the best running back on the field, and Jason Campbell the best quarterback. Jim Zorn very definitely seems to be the best coach on the field.
If the Birds, down 23-17 after a confused third down play led to a field goal instead of a touchdown, don't come back to win, this will be a defining early season loss, leaving them 0-2 in the NFC East.
IWorst 2-minute drive ever? Well, the Eagles have bumbled through some memorable ones. But their attempt to seize back momentum late in the first half was a worthy addition to the chronicles.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Brian Westbrook keyed the Eagles' opening touchdown drive, cutting and looking like his ankle wasn't bothering him a bit. Westbrook scored the TD on a draw right up the gut, going in standing from 9 yards out.
He left early in the next series -- which came after rookie DeSean Jackson gave the Eagles a 14-0 lead with a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown. Westbrook, who might have had a problem with his chest, jogged up the tunnel. He returned for the Birds' first series of the second quarter.
David Akers missed another 50-yard field goal, again wide right -- that's nine in a row he's missed from 45 yards and longer, if you're counting, which obviously, Andy Reid isn't --- and the Redskins used the short field to drive for a 41-yard field goal, making that a 6-point swing and a 14-3 Birds lead.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
OK, now it's official: Brian Westbrook is active for today's game against the Redskins. What we don't know is what sort of Westbrook we'll see; he did not seem to be cutting much on his strained right ankle in practice late last week.
The Redskins, as expected, are without corner Shawn Springs (calf) and defensive end Jason Taylor, who had emergency surgery for bleedin near his ankle.
It's a little more than an hour before gametime. A little warmer down on the field than you'd think, very sunny. Most Eagles have completed their warmups and headed into the tunnel. Donovan McNabb and the field goal unit are still on the field, and Donovan has Reggie Brown out there to throw to. And Reggie is actually catching the passes.
