Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 3:22 PM | 16 comments |
 

GOING SOUTH WITHOUT WESTBROOK?
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The likelihood that the Eagles will be without Brian Westbrook for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens increased today when the Pro Bowl running back missed his second straight practice because of knee and ankle injuries.

Westbrook admitted Wednesday that he has not been able to make cuts as crisply as usual because of the high ankle sprain that has bothered him since a Week 3 game against Pittsburgh. The Eagles have gone 1-1 in the two games they've played without Westbrook this season.

Even with Westbrook it's going to be difficult to run the football Sunday against a Ravens defense that is ranked third overall and against the run. The Ravens aren't bad at pass defense either. They rank eighth in the NFL in that department and are tied for second in the league with 15 interceptions.

 
Posted by Bob Brookover @ 3:22 PM  Permalink | 16 comments
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:09 PM, 11/20/2008
    DMACRULES - Westy was #1 in yards from scrimmage last season. His yards per carry for his career are one of the highest of all time. How can you hate on that? Go pick on LJ Smith if you need a replacement for Reno Mahe to complain about
    — JeffA
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:27 AM, 11/21/2008
    dmacrules: you an idiot
    — bleed green forever
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:50 AM, 11/21/2008
    JeffA I wouldn't go as far as DMACRULES - and declare that Westbrook sucks but I do agreee with him on one implied point and that is Westbrook is not a tough between the tackles runner in the mold of ,say , Brandon Jacobs when it comes to picking up the tough short yards needed in third and one situations. That is one very important part of the Eagles failure to dominate in any game and why , even in the games they win, they struggle mightily. A runner of Jacob's caliber combined with Westbrook and Buckhalter (Booker would then become expendable) would present the running game threat needed to force defenses to bring a safety up in run support and open up some downfeild passing lanes. Reid's inexplicable stubborness is definitely a contributory factor in the Eagles rapid descent into irrelevancy.
    — essell
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:19 PM, 11/21/2008
    Good, now we can finally run the ball with buck.
    — The Blueprint
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:59 PM, 11/24/2008
    demacrules?before u judge westbrook look at his carrer stats andy reid calls the f....d up plays if donovan mcnabb goes so should andy don't put the blame all on him look at his carrer stats also he did better stats over all then any quarter back we ever had.he just needs 2 calm down he be 2 hype and ancious take his time andy call better plays the nfl is hip to your play calling 80% your gonna throw daaaaa.
    — fiqsue2
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About Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari






Jeff McLane (left) began covering the Eagles in April 2009 after covering college sports and Penn State football in particular. Before that he wrote about high school sports and before that he worked in the mailroom (not quite). Find Jeff on Facebook and follow him on Twitter for instant updates on the Eagles.

Jonathan Tamari (right) began covering the Eagles in April 2010. He previously covered New Jersey state government and politics, reporting and writing about elections, policy debates and the many personalities that drive the Garden State, from three recent governors to the many musicians bidding to write the state song. He has been at the Inquirer since June 2008. Follow him on Twitter at @JonathanTamari.

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