Page to Start; Lewis Ready to Return Kicks (Or Not)
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Page to Start; Lewis Ready to Return Kicks (Or Not)
Les Bowen and DN staff
Some notes from today's media sessions with coordinators and then players:
* Free agent newcomer Jarrad Page will start at safety over second-year man Nate Allen, who missed the end of last season with a knee injury, and has struggled with tendinitis recently.
* DeSean Jackson really will be the primary punt returner, Bobby April said, that isn't just something they put on the depth chart. Jackson will return punts except when he is gassed from his offensive responsibilities. April said there are fewer options on the team this season, perhaps forcing Jackson into a heavier workload.
"He’s the primary guy as far as I’m concerned," April said. "Last year we had a couple of other guys that could and did return punts. I think when he gets replaced in a game it will be coach Reid’s decision that we need to give him a break right here, or I think he’s gassed, or maybe DeSean will even express it that he’s a little bit gassed or whatever. And that’s how that takes place."
* Rookie Dion Lewis will be the primary kick returner, although April conceded there will be fewer returns, especially Sunday in the dome in St. Louis. Riley Cooper is expected to line up with Lewis, because of Cooper's blocking prowess.
"I think he’s been really impressive," April said. " I think he’s going to be good on the kick returns."
April lauded the work that Duce Staley has done with the returners.
* Asked if he was nervious about where things stand going into the opener, Marty Mornhinweg said, "You can't play scared, man, you gotta go." He said the Rams' defensive scheme "looks and smells like Jim Johnson's." Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo was an Eagles linebackers coach under Johnson.
* Mornhinweg said the offensive line faces a great challenge, but they are "proud men" who will meet it head on.
* Wide receiver Steve Smith has showed enough to be able to play Sunday, decision will be made later in the week, Mornhinweg said.
* Kyle DeVan is still adjusting to the terminology but has looked sharp in practice, Morninhweg said.
"I’ve got great expectations for our offensive line and so do they," Mornhinweg said. "I would expect us to play at a high, high level Sunday in the dome there.”
* Juan Castillo said the teams that are in the best condition will win the first 3-4 weeks of the season. “We’ve gotten dealt the same hand, and we’ll be there with everyone else," he said. "The coaches have a great plan in place, and we’ll be ready to go play.”
* Asked about defending against the Rams' Steven Jackson, Castillo said, "I think the first thing you want to do is stop the run. That will be a great challenge for our guys. We have been working on the fundamentals for the run game, and that’s one of the things we do right after we tackle. Our linebackers work on working their hands, and that’s something that we’ll do every day.”
* Vince Young (hamstring) did not practice today. Listed on the injury report, S Nate Allen (knee), DT Antonio Dixon (back), TE Clay Harbor (shoulder), T Todd Herremans (back), S Jaiquawn Jarrett (quadricep), T Winston Justice (knee), DT Trevor Laws (hip), DE Juqua Parker (calf), WR Steve Smith (knee), G Danny Watkins (foot).
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Lewis wasn't the kick returner at Pitt, because the Panthers didn't want to risk their best back, but he was the backup, he said, so he practiced returns all the time, without ever making any. That might be the best possible preparation for being a returner in the NFL of 2011, where moving up the kickoffs 5 yards is going to mean more and more touchbacks, by design, because head and spine injuries happen so often on returns.
"I'm real comfortable catching the ball," said Lewis. That might be 90 percent of the battle, particularly in the Edward Jones Dome this weekend.
"It only takes one bad kick for there to be a good return," Lewis said. "I'm just going to be patient back there, not try to rush anything by taking it out."
Lewis said the rule of thumb is 5 yards deep in the end zone. Anything beyond that, you take a knee. He said you obviously also want to take the kick's trajectory into account as well, but there is no rule there.
"You can tell when it's just hanging in the air forever," he said.
Lewis said the most important thing, other than catching the ball, is "when you make a decision, stick with it. Go with it 100 percent."
Lewis said he'll also rely on Cooper to tell him how far back in the end zone he is, how close the tacklers are, and so forth.
Excuse me, but what does having a bunch of "proud men" have to do with knowing a person's blocking assignm— BigLadd- Excuse me, but what does having a bunch of "proud men" have to do with knowing a person's blocking assignment— BigLadd
- Eagles are the DREAM TEAM...and Vick was voted in Forbes magazine poll as "Most Hated Sports Person in America"....now Eagles are the most hated team in America.— frank105
- ...and? It's football, not thin skin ball. I'm sure all Eagle fans are afraid of getting their feelings hurt.— tpizza
The reason why everyone (media) is down on the Eagles is because they hate to see Mike Vick actually triumph over the troubles he's had and is actually a better person and player for it. The only reasons I can think of that the Rams are getting picked for the upset is because they are at home in a dome and sport a knockoff version of Jim Johnson's defense. They don't have Osi and Justice isn't protecting Vick's blind side. Our o-line has gone through changes and "based" upon the Rams defense doing well at the end of last season (their rookies and second year players from last season SHOULD have "break out years" this year) will be able to get to Vick. The reality.... we face a team that can't deal with the weapons we have and actually signed a guy who couldn't cover at the safety position. It won't be an easy win, but a win nonetheless for the Eagles. Actually, that's being kind, I think we will crush the Rams. Our LBs and FS might be young but the overall defense is stout and the run game isn't enough to keep pace when we can score from anywhere on the field. Remember, there is no tape other than preseason and Andy's preseason has not been what teams see in the regular season, so the Rams have no clue what to expect on defense or offense. We have the advantage because they aren't going to change much. Bradford still has fresh milk on his breath and there's a new OC out there. The Defense isn't going to change much because they are still young.- The only punks scared of getting hurt should be HATERS! Haters of Mike Vick and haters of the Eagles! Watch your backs, punks! The Mike Vick Experience is about to be felt by everybody in the city of Philadelphia! Desean will play like a man who doesn't have a deal should. Tentative. ANd I don't blame him one bit. In my job, if I'm not paid or appreciated, all work effort gets eased back until I recieve a bonus or an increase in pay. Desean should do the same darn thing! If the Eagles aren't going to pay up, then the Eagles should suffer!! PAY THE MAN and we could get past all of this. GO MIKE VICK GO! E-A-G-L-E-S...................EAGLESSSS!!!!!!— Panthro2011
- Rams stink, they were 7-9 last season...Vegas has the Eagles as favorite to beat the Rams.....Of course Eagles will beat the weak Rams and other weak teams to pad their record....then Eagles will lose against GOOD team in playoffs...again.— frank105
- so their first 2 picks from last year and this year are not working out --and supposedly this coach is supposed to have a clue?— warbiscuit
- Dion Lewis may be comfortable catching the ball, but catching it and then holding onto it is another issue. Fumbled kick and punt returns cost teams games. Of all people, Andy Reid should be acutely aware of that.— SteveS11
- If the Eagles hold Steven Jackson under 100 yards they will win the game. If they don't, its going to be a long afternoon for the Birds. I don't see Bradford ripping up the Eagles' pass defense, so the key is for the Eagles to stop the Rams' running game.— SteveS11
- Good thing for Reid that he can use Nate Allen's knee injury as an excuse for why he never works out. He was never that good. Neither he nor Graham should have been drafted by the dopes in the front office. Earl Thomas is going to be a stud.
As for the media picking the Rams to win, Vick is going to be on his back a lot. The offensive line is probably not going to be good. You have a rookie at center, a guy they picked up off the scrap heap at RG, a guy with 22 starts at LG, a giant turd at LT, and a guy at RT who I don't think has ever played the position. It is going to be a very long day for Vick. And on the other side of the ball, Stephen Jackson is probably going to have a big day running all over our LBs.
There are very good reasons to pick against the Eagles and they don't have anything to do with race like some of you blindly think.— jlcharles - Rams have a new OC with a new offense that had to be implemented in the same time every other NFL team had. Do you really think the RAMS will beat us?They have a rookie starting at LT so ummm isn't that Cole's side? It might be Bradford going down and not Vick.
Comment removed.- whatsthe411..Since 2000, Patriots have won THREE Super Bowls....Steelers have won TWO Superbowls...even the Giants have won ONE Super Bowl.....Reid has ZERO Super Bowl wins..ZERO, and Eagles have not won NFL Championship in over 50 YEARS......If you ain't the lead dog, the view always is the same.— frank105
- About the only thing the Rams got going for themselves is Steven Jackson. Does any of their WRs scare you with the corners we have? Holt is an analyst now Do you haters actually think the Rams will run the ball when that's all the Eagles have to concentrate on? What good is running the ball when you are down by 3 touchdowns? The only game that concerns me before the bye week is next week at Atlanta. Eagles worst case, 5-1. We have an awesome record for the second half of the season.
