Reid: More balance with Westbrook, McCoy in run game
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Reid: More balance with Westbrook, McCoy in run game
Daily News staff
Could the Eagles’ be heading to a two-headed monster at running back? Or at least lessening the load on Brian Westbrook after LeSean McCoy’s performance Sunday?
“I think that will take place,” coach Andy Reid said of the possibility of more balance between Westbrook and McCoy. “He will rotate in there. I don’t know exactly the rotation that we would do. We would work him in there.”
The bigger issue at the moment is Westbrook's ankle. He did not play yesterday against the Chiefs.
“I want to see how Brian does after this week and where he gets to healthwise,” Reid said. “It’s not going to hurt to have LeSean in position where he can get into a game and go and be a solid relief pitcher for Brian. The number of carries, we’ll see how it goes.”
Reid acknowledged that he should have used Correll Buckhalter more often last year as a running back to help give him more opportunities and to help take some of the burden from Westbrook.
“That can be done,” Reid said. “I think this game helped LeSean to see where he was at with protections. He did a nice job. That’s always a concern with certain guys. … I need to do a better job of mixing him in. I should have done that with Buck, obviously.”
“We knew Buck was a good ballcarrier. It’s just a matter of doing it and getting it done and working him in. These two are similar in that a lot of things they can do, LeSean and Brian. That should make it easier and do a little bit better job when they are both healthy.”
McCoy helped himself by hanging on to the ball after some fumbling problems.
“He did better in that area,” Reid said. “There were a couple where he had the ball up. He was much improved in that area. We’ll keep making that a point of emphasis and keep getting better at it.”
**
Reid was asked about DeSean Jackson’s flip into the end zone, especially given that he received a shot before the game for an injured groin. Center Jamaal Jackson was critical after the game of DeSean's celebration.
“I always tell the guys, act like you’ve been there,” Reid said. “He’s an exciting guy. He adds a little spice to things. He puts his little flair on it. It’s nice to get him in the end zone …
“I don’t mind a little personality. I think that’s good for the team. I know with DeSean when I tell him act like you’ve been there. He can tell me he has been there once or twice.”
**
On Donovan McNabb’s status, Reid said: “He will be working to get the soreness out, the muscles in between the ribs. The tightness in there, get it stretched out. Rick [Burkholder] has him on some things that loosen up those muscles. He will continue to throw.”
Reid said Todd Herremans will have a scan on his foot on Thursday. He said safety Quintin Demps’ hamstring strain is getting better. He said Kevin Curtis is rehabbing his injured knee and that Dimitri Patterson is getting better following hand surgery.
Kevin Kolb has inflammation in his knee and Max Jean-Gilles has shoulder inflammation. Both should be fine, especially with the players getting the entire week off. They return Monday, have Tuesday off and then begin normal game-week prep for Tampa Bay.
"Reid acknowledged that he should have used Correll Buckhalter more often last year as a running back to help give him more opportunities and to help take some of the burden from Westbrook". Another freaking lie from fat boy. He know exactly what he was doing.— Bob1- A win is a win. Let's take each one, each week, and when they beat the G-men, well, then we can boast. Agree that Curtis should come off the bench and I would like to see Gibson in real-game situation.— psuwelsh
Comment removed.- Please put a large comfy cushion in the endzone, so our next TD can be celebrated safely.— tommy_the_k
Don't look now but the Broncos with an injury prone career back-up running back and a too old safety are 3-0. Buckhalter highlights on Sportscenter are shaping up to be a regular feature every week. Could be an interesting and meaningful game at the Linc in early December.— tornadoh- It shows you how far Westbrook has fallen when the team barely misses a beat without him. That was inconcievable a couple of years ago. He has been a great player for a long time, but unfortunately, time is catching up to him. Running Back is one position where guys can be great one year and fall of a cliff the next year...see Westbrook, Shaun Alexander, LT (to an extent)....— Oak31
- I watched the game with a chiefs fan and all he said was, dont take anything from this game, thats how bad the chiefs are. I think I agree, they were pathetic.— peteike
- It matters to a degree what DJ does when he gets into the endone ONLY b/c of his injured groin. If he did that and injured it worse, people would be calling him stupid for his little circus flip. I am all for celebration, like the one he got fined for. Do that one again, less strenuous on the groin. Just think about what if he would have injured that groin worse, we cannot afford to lose our most dynamic player.— phigglesfan75
- Comment removed.
- Today at work I did a flip into my managers office after I got my work done. He then high-fived me for the great job i did, took my work, threw it on the floor and we both jumped backwards like a bomb went off. Then we went out and hushed my co-workers while doing the riverdance follwed by a few chest bumps. No thats unprofessional. SO WHO GIVES A FLYING FISH WHAT THESE ATHLETES DO IN A FOOTBALL GAME IN THE END ZONE. They are here to entertain and if they get hurt bring in the next guy.— vladamir
- I agree with a lot of the things JimG is saying....(here it comes!)BUT....because he had to get a "shot" for his groin, doesn't it make sense to limit the things that can cause an injury? I'm an old guy, so maybe I'm just jealous......I'd LOVE to be able to do that end zone flip!— TBear
- The Eagles stink! Get back with me when they beat a real NFL team. I wonder what chump had to sit in my $300 seats I had last year to watch the New Orleans fiasco. Beware, McNabb will be back next game throwing bounce passes all over the field.— Air Force One
- Agree with Jack V. Buckley should be used too, especially when Westbrook is out.— tacklinjoe
- JimG, I'm all for DJack having fun and celebrating, but come on. If you've got a groin injury, the last thing you should be doing is flipping into the endzone like that. Remember Gus Ferrotte? That Gramattica guy? You can be injured celebrating. Nobody said he shouldn't, but you gotta use some good ol'fashion common sense sometimes. Doing a flip into a partial split when you got a groin injury (shot up or not) is just not smart. If he fell over in agony then we'd be talking about how he still doens't get it yet. Thankfully though, he was alright. Let's hope he wises up a bit and does some more less-dangerous celebrations.— rabbititus09
- times here where coach reid should be thinking of buckley giving mccoy a breather. let's face it, westbrook didn't play any preseason games and after three games he has played one and a half before the ankle/knee has taken him out again. durning his 1&1/2 games he's showed little of his past speed or quickness. thank you brian westbrook for a great career.— JACK V
- Shoulda, coulda, woulda, andy....Buck had a great game yesterday (we always knew he could run but you were to stubborn) ....Your narrow minded use of him will extend his career and it has shortend BWests..— nuggett
- I do care that Kevin Curtis is getting better, but I don't want him starting at all. He should be coming off the bench. The starters should be Maclin and DJack with Avant in the slot.— Bigbadrookie
- Get off the Jackson end-zone flip thing. Man, you guys will dig for any negative angle you can find, won't you. We just beat the snot out of the Chiefs, and granted it was only the Chiefs, but we were playing with our back-up QB, back-up RB and a back-up rookie at starting WR. Most teams would be crippled playing without guys the caliber of McNabb and Westbrook. Jackson takes a shot to dull the pain so he can play hurt after not being able to practice all week, he makes tough catches in traffic, he puts points on the board and all you guys can talk about is a little flip he did in the endzone. He celebrated about 1/10 of what Favre does every time anyone on his team scores a TD. He didn't go into the stands or start pulling out props ala Chad Johnson or TO. The guy is a kid, he's excited to play the game and he puts a spark into the team. The NFL is truly becoming the No Fun League.— JimG
- McCoy ran hard and showed quickness and cut back ability but it was the pick-up of the middle blitz that will keep him on the field. Great job LeSean.— Denali
