Posted: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 11:03 AM | 54 comments |
 

The upside on Westbrook
options
 

Glass half-full time on Brian Westbrook.

It's bad that he needs to have bone spurs in his ankle cleaned out. But the timing is good. That is where you have to begin.

So what if he misses training camp? Honestly, in his case, training camp is just another place where Westbrook can get hurt. (And don't even mention these OTAs.) It is becoming clearer by the year, and by the day, that the truism about running backs is especially true about this guy; that is, that there are a limited number of carries in any NFL running back's body, and that Westbrook likely can see the end someplace on the horizon.

He does not need anything more than minimal practice time, as has been proven over the last couple of years. He's always in shape, so that isn't a significant issue and isn't likely to be one. The ideal is to get him on the field, full strength, for 16 Sundays. If this helps -- and, as a byproduct, a summer off of the practice field also helps -- then that's fine.

The other thing this does is give Shady McCoy everybody's undivided attention. The thought all along was that the second-round draft choice was the linchpin of the 2009 draft, and this is even more true today. He will get tons of practice reps. He will be given every opportunity to prove to himself and the coaches that he can pick up blitzes and otherwise handle the pass-protection load that is an essential facet of the position he plays. Westbrook receives little credit for how good he is at that part of the game -- but his ability to block makes a lot of other things go.

So McCoy will get the work and Westbrook will get the rest -- which is to say, while not ideal, this isn't all bad.
Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 11:03 AM  Permalink | 54 comments
54
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:16 AM, 06/04/2009
    I know that you can't take any team in the NFL lightly, but wouldn't it be a good idea to keep Brian out of some of the obvious wins? At least lower his workload.
    — ACBaughman
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:17 AM, 06/04/2009
    The Eagles have also gotten more offensive weapons like Weaver, Macklin, and Ingram plus McCoy to make them less dependent on a bang-up Westbrook ! He will be fine however and have a good season ...
    — Gringo4
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:29 AM, 06/04/2009
    I think he should miss all of training camp...At his age he needs to stay fresh for the season.
    — citysims
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:43 AM, 06/04/2009
    He just needs to be in shape when the regular season rolls around. This surgery will be a set back in that progress.
    — phigglesfan75
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:48 AM, 06/04/2009
    we maybe have 1 or 2 years with 36, that's all.
    — nobodycares
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:51 AM, 06/04/2009
    Brian...try this cushy reclining chair...put some ice on the knee and don't get up until week one of the regular season.
    — Bill N
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:53 AM, 06/04/2009
    Rest and get well B-West. We will need you by the time you get back at 100%. McCoy and Weaver will fill in while you're down.
    — Panthro22
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:56 AM, 06/04/2009
    there are no obvious wins in this league. you can't chance that. and he won't be held out all of training camp unless he's still hurt. he needs some reps and has to get into game shape before Game 1. this team needs another veteran as insurance for westy's injury history and in case mccoy's not ready to pick up the blitz and understand the offense from game 1.
    — The Boston Strangler
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:59 AM, 06/04/2009
    @ACBaughman...there are no obvious wins. Remember the Bengals game last year? That was an obvious win, yet we didn't win. If anything, you can get Westbrook rest by having a competent backup to take the load off of him, or pulling him late in games when they have already been decided. Let's hope McCoy can take the load off and we'll be nursing many big leads in the fourth quarter.
    — mikeyhigs
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:04 PM, 06/04/2009
    I love BWest and want him healthy, but any chance the eagles will pick up a vet rb like edge on the cheap to help with the workload just in case?
    — Iggles98`
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:07 PM, 06/04/2009
    I can't disagree with this. You certainly don't want to see him needing another surgery, but better it be now and get it out of the way. Also have to agree that giving McCoy the reps should help his development.
    — rwright611
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:07 PM, 06/04/2009
    1 year, maybe. You8 could see it at the end of last season. he needs a RB share situation now to stay viable.
    — SlinkTMP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:08 PM, 06/04/2009
    Training camp and preseason is meaningless for a guy like westbrook. Let him rest until the season starts.
    — arb


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About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles. E-mail Rich at hofmanr@phillynews.com

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