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Saturday, July 4, 2009
Do Eagles have best WRs in NFC East?

Who has the NFC East's best wide receivers?
Eagles
Giants
Redskins
Cowboys
View results

First of all, Happy Fourth to all the MTC readers out there.

Whether you're barbecuing, down the shore, taking in Phils-Mets, hope you have a great and safe holiday.

As you know by now, there are no holidays here, even during one of the slowest times on the NFL calendar. We're here to give you your daily football fix.

Today, we point to an item by Adam Schein of FoxSports.com. Schein makes the argument that the Eagles have the best receiving corps in the NFC East:

The Eagles' receivers are the best in the NFC East. For all of the question marks at this position through the Donovan McNabb-Andy Reid era, and all of the dropped passes by Todd Pinkston and company, finally Eagles fans can rejoice in the truth of the above statement. And actually, it isn't even close.

With Plaxico Burress and Terrell Owens out of the picture, it's an interesting argument.

DeSean Jackson was the standout for the Eagles last season with 62 catches for 912 yards and a pair of touchdowns. I think most fans will be content if he matches those totals in 2009. Kevin Curtis, given his health, is a question mark. We have no clue what to expect from Reggie Brown, and Jeremy Maclin is still a rookie.

Jason Avant is steady, and Hank Baskett tells us the fade is going to be a serious weapon this season.

Overall, I'm pretty comfortable with the receivers. I think the "spread the ball around" blueprint can work for the most part. Where I question its effectiveness is in crunch time. Time and again in the NFL, we see quarterbacks relying on the No. 1 guy during a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter. Can Jackson be that guy for Donovan McNabb? That's the leap it'd be nice to see him take in year number two.

As for the other teams in the division, the Giants' biggest question marks probably come at receiver. They'll rely on some young guys who are talented, but unproven.

You could certainly make the argument for the Redskins. Santana Moss is a proven veteran, who had a very good 2008 campaign, with 79 catches for 1,044 yards and six touchdowns. As Schein pointed out in his article, the overall success of the 'Skins' receivers probably rests on the shoulders of second-year guys Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas.

And finally the Cowboys. Can Roy Williams be the No. 1 guy? Dallas obviously thinks so, considering how much they gave up for him. And considering that they cut T.O. loose. It would be impossible for him not to improve from last season, but can he be the same guy who caught 82 balls for 1,310 yards and seven touchdowns with the Lions in 2006?

That's my take on the overall comparison. You could really make the case for the Eagles, Redskins or Cowboys. The Giants' receiving corps, at least at this point, appears to be a clear fourth.

Thoughts?

Other links to pass along:

** SI.com's Ross Tucker gives the Eagles props for having a great offseason:

The Eagles somehow managed to let go of a large chunk of the core of their team over the past six years and still come out the other side alive. Gone are Tra Thomas, Jon Runyan, Brian Dawkins, L.J. Smith and Lito Sheppard. All of them were replaced by younger players who may actually end up being upgrades in the 2009 season. So much for the window closing on the Eagles.

** CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco names an underrated and overrated player for each team. Overrated for the Eagles is Brian Westbrook:

He's a good player but some think he's great. He doesn't stay on the field, and for a guy who didn't rush for 1,000 yards last season, you'd think he was Adrian Peterson the way some talk about him.

Underrated, per Prisco, is Quintin Mikell:

He was the Eagles' best safety last season, not Brian Dawkins. He's a good tackler who has improved in pass coverage.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia @ 11:21 AM  Permalink | 63 comments
63
Comments   
Posted 01:51 PM, 07/09/2009
nervegenerator
I think the Eagles offense looks unstoppable with a bunch of talented young receivers, as well as 2 good RB's, as well as an all-star FB to block. I even think Celek is going to be great this year. And to top it off, the Eagles added to the O-line. What more can you ask for? I'm more worried about the D this year with Johnson being ill.
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Posted 07:05 PM, 07/06/2009
philly sports
no i dont know much about sports. no i dont type 105 words a min iether but i make more since than ur haten a zz.
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Posted 04:49 PM, 07/06/2009
elektrika
hillgs - I think Celek will also be a force this season at TE...although it might happen because of our receivers, if they don't lead the league in dropped passes again. Either way, Dallas doesn't have the defense the Birds have and it's funny that all the McNabb talk (and moronic bashing) forces the city to forget about some of those off-season maneuvers they put together. We might see our entire secondary selected for the pro bowl. GO BIRDS!!!
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Posted 04:01 PM, 07/06/2009
LJL
"McNair No Rings and he wasnt half the QB Donovan is..."....Uh, McNabbb - no rings. And McNair hit his WR on the final play of the SB, instead of running out of gas and puking.
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Posted 01:40 PM, 07/06/2009
Digifant
slow news day everywhere..
Posted 01:29 PM, 07/06/2009
Moozsha
So, TheReck82, are you a Cowboys or a Giants fan???
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Posted 11:59 AM, 07/06/2009
philly sports
everyday that looneybin guy says something 2 get the philly fans all worked up i used 2 respond but it took me about 3 days 2 undestand hes not stupid hes just doesnt have a life beond these posts and just looking 4 attention.
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Posted 10:59 AM, 07/06/2009
tpizza
Apparently all one needs to win a SB is a D that couldn't stop the Pats or the Cards when it counted and one RB who is hurt all the time. I didn't think wiff could get more stupid and yet he succeeds on a daily basis.
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Posted 09:01 AM, 07/06/2009
hillgs
The Eagles have fine young receivers who are somewhat unpredictable. They could prove to be the class of the division, if they continue to develop and McNabb plays well all year, overcoming his consistency problems. I think the Cowboys have the best tight end in the division, however, in Jason Witten, and that makes Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams dangerous.
Posted 08:28 AM, 07/06/2009
Dierte
lonewolf you are seriously a worthless human being. A football player is murdered and you still find it necessary to bash McNabb at any chance you get. Too bad you weren't with McNair in Tennessee
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Posted 09:55 PM, 07/05/2009
Rombo
You might be able to argue that the Eagles have the best WRs in the NFC East this year, but I don't think it matters. The team with the best Defense and the best balanced attack will win the Super Bowl. (I'd like to think the Eagles can be this team but the coaching staff will have to prove it to me.) Please don't quote Pete Prisco. He is the most overrated sportswriter on the Internet, in my opinion. And most of his opinions about football are so stupid, they don't deserve repeating.
Posted 09:23 PM, 07/05/2009
jay johnstone
You're kidding, right?
Posted 08:35 PM, 07/05/2009
MFPhils
Are you kidding me? Is there really people complaining about slow news days for the Eagles on their off-season? Except for a few select dates, and any big events that come up, it's the freakin off season. How can anyone complain about anything written on this site when they can't grasp simple things like that. I got news for you who like to complain a lot about this newspaper...the intelligent people aren't so insecure that they need to point out mistakes, or rip writers every chance they get to make themselves feel better. They know this too...Me? I am just one of those people who is sick of having to deal with so many morons in the world. I am trying to make a difference...it's my good deed.
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Posted 07:40 PM, 07/05/2009
tpizza
Captmorgan, wiff never lets facts get in the way of a stupid comment.
Posted 05:41 PM, 07/05/2009
elektrika
This is the same group that had the most drops in the entire NFL last season. Do I think they are going to come out more confident and better? yes. But that is simply speculation as well. Good work, Phils. Love that we own New York.
Posted 12:03 PM, 07/05/2009
tjpup
Hey Reck....Eat me....and don't ever call me a NEGGA again
Posted 12:00 PM, 07/05/2009
philly sports
i do agree they r the deepest. but as far as starters no i think washington has the best. and my man brook aint overrated. hes a TD waiting 2 happen. AP is a helluva back but yrds dont win games points do and brook has more than he does and AP played all 16 gms. so stop the overrated stuff with my man brook. hes dat work.
Posted 11:18 AM, 07/05/2009
craig123
Always extremes. Who really cares if they are "the best"? The Eagles have IMPROVED at WR and that is what matters. AND they did it without Boldin or some other selfish, over paid, jerk free agent. What has amazed me the most over the past 3 years is how Andy and the boys have rebuilt this team without anybody mentioning "Rebuilding". How often does a team pull that one off? Not only that, they got to the NFC championship game in the middle of the process. If you can't get excited about this team now there is something seriously wrong with you.
Posted 10:30 AM, 07/05/2009
boltfan
Guess we will have to wait and see.Doesnt mean anything if the D cant stop a team on the final drive to win the game.
Posted 10:13 AM, 07/05/2009
raoool
The 'six best' means nothing unless you get them all on the field at the same time. Top three is sorta relevant, top two more so and 'the one', the go-to guy, can make the difference at the goal line - sorely needed on this Eagles club. Baskett promises the emergence of the fade every year; Celek might have a 'breakout' season; Jackson could continue to surprise; Curtis might be healthy; Brown might 'work his way back into the picture'; Maclin could be a stud ... speculation indeed.
Posted 10:01 AM, 07/05/2009
fbpdplt
Don't start hanging trophies on them till they do something to earn them!
Posted 08:29 AM, 07/05/2009
Big Earn
So, I guess D-Jack is our "real number one" and we're supposed to think that he possibly won't have a sophomore slump this year???? Unless our draft pick comes in strong and Curtis' stomach doesn't empty out onto the field I can see us doing well with the receivers.....there are a few ifs in there. I'd love to see Celek continue to grow as well. A tight end that is good? Awesome.
Posted 08:29 AM, 07/05/2009
jblanken11
I love preseason assessments. They are almost never mentioned after October 1 because they are almost always wrong. Nostradomis Schein is not. Unexpected things always happen . Let's busy ourselves instead enjoying baseball , our families , time down the shore and the other things that occupy our time until Lehigh. Until then....
Posted 05:31 AM, 07/05/2009
FireChief
Overall I'd have to agree, certainly the best grouping of receivers in the east, they just need mr. high and outside and mr. low and behind to hit them in stride and we'll have it made...
Posted 01:52 AM, 07/05/2009
esesjay
Can't believe I even bothered reading this stupid "article."
Posted 12:09 AM, 07/05/2009
Phillymike77
Time will tell with the young ins. The future is bright but it is not here yet.
Posted 10:36 PM, 07/04/2009
maximus
JimG, you are wrong, there were black QB's before Moon... I can think of an Eagle, Johnny Walton.
Posted 10:33 PM, 07/04/2009
JimG
Warren Moon was definitely the best black QB to ever play in the NFL. If he hadn't had to waste those years in the CFL because NFL owners and GMs were afraid to have a black QB, then his career NFL numbers would have been absolutely ridiculous.
Posted 10:30 PM, 07/04/2009
JimG
I would not trade the entire group of Eagles receivers for the entire group of WRs from any other NFC East team. Pound for pound, top to bottom, our WRs are better as a group than the other NFC East teams now that TO and Plax are gone.
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Posted 10:18 PM, 07/04/2009
jimmy77
realllyy westbrook sucks???????????
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Posted 09:20 PM, 07/04/2009
sarah89
Hey "Reck"...go back to Cowgirls.com, your team has it's own issues...
Posted 07:00 PM, 07/04/2009
CaptMorgan
LoneWanker, wrong again. First, not sure why you need to catergorize QBs by race, but since you started ... McNair is at best, the 3rd best black QB. I think any intelligent fan would rank HOF Warren Moon (50K yards, 300 TDs, 9 Pro-Bowls) first, followed by McNabb. Like it or not, McNabb has almost as many yards, more TDs, better QB rating, and better W-L percentage than McNair (and McNair played 3 years more). Sorry dude, them's the facts. Do your homework next time.
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Posted 05:44 PM, 07/04/2009
allfillyphan
we only have the best wide recievers if they include westbrook into the mix.
Posted 05:30 PM, 07/04/2009
Onlineps2beast
rip air mcnair
Posted 03:42 PM, 07/04/2009
TheReck82
Doesn't matter what some junk writer has to say. The NEGGA-Delphians will say something negative anyway. Eagles could win 4 Superbowls in a row and the Neggadelphants will find something to complain about. JLurie should just move the team out of this ghetto of a city and go someplace where the team will be appreciated. STUPID FANS.
Posted 03:15 PM, 07/04/2009
TBear
Under Andy, rookies seldom shine. Jackson was given a chance because of injuries, plus he had the most speed. I still yearn for a TRUE go to guy close to the goal line. That will become increasingly important late in the season when teams have plenty of tape to watch regarding tendancies. Just because this is a really GOOD roster now, nowhere does it say this will be a GOOD team.....that must be shaken out in training camp and proven on the field early in the season.
Posted 02:23 PM, 07/04/2009
maximus
idiots again... speculation? If they arent speculating then there would be nothing to report...
Posted 02:10 PM, 07/04/2009
PhillyTrue
On paper the Eagles receivers look to be the best in the NFC east. Curtis has to be healthy, Jackson has to continue to develop and Maclin has to contribute something this year. Avant is steady but not great. Brown has disappeared and has to work his way back into the picture. Baskett is more of a role playing type receiver at this point. There are a lot of pieces to work with here. It's not likely that every thing will go right (receivers developing, O line jelling, running game working) but if we get 75% of the potential we will be tough to cover. That's all you can ask for at this time of the year.
Posted 02:01 PM, 07/04/2009
calm weather
I was surprised that Tucker's SI article left Weaver off the list of significant Eagle upgrades and included Greg Lewis as an important upgrade for the Patriots. Kind of hurts the credibility of the rest of his article. SK - thanks for putting the links in here. you do the research and let us do the reading - very nice service!
Posted 01:26 PM, 07/04/2009
jimmyeagles
Here's hoping the coaches in the NFL agree with Pete Prisco. Yeah guys, Westbrook sucks. I'd ignore him.
Posted 01:18 PM, 07/04/2009
Onlineps2beast
Yes, the Philadelphia Eagles not only have the best 1-6 wr corp in the division, but the entire national football league. Now I'm stating the obvious to keep the hatoids at bay, that Fitzgerald and Boldin are clearly better than our top 2, but if you go down the line, I'd put Jackson, Curtis, Maclin, Avant, Baskett, Brown against any top 6 in the world.
Posted 12:57 PM, 07/04/2009
#1EaglesFan1973
Eagles do by far!! Those who clicked on those other teams are clueless & a Joke!!!!
Posted 12:55 PM, 07/04/2009
PhillyHouse JayDuce
The Eagles' WR definitely have the most "upside" (and I hate that word). Santana Moss is the best individual WR, but even he's inconsistent. And Romo will be exposed this year, unless their idiot coach runs the ball regularly. Roy Williams is very overrated.
Posted 12:46 PM, 07/04/2009
nuggett
a very slow news day........until they prove it they are just the old eagles......
Posted 12:39 PM, 07/04/2009
chandler561
Hey Captain Obvious (drnnat), of course it's all speculation!! So is the draft and signing free agents. For that matter, anything a writer writes about any upcoming season in any sport is speculation. I agree with you completely that "sportswriters have to write something." What insight you have! I admire your in-depth analysis and the skill you have in being able to cast aside all the fluff and get down to the nitty gritty. You've got a future, kid. Keep it up!!
Posted 12:10 PM, 07/04/2009
sedale
and Phladelphia posters have to respond with something negative about the writers. Kinda silly if you ask me. Let them do their jobs and if you don't like it, read the Globe or some other rag.
Posted 11:56 AM, 07/04/2009
drnnat
at this stage its ALL speculation. Sportswriters have to write something.
About Moving the Chains
Sheil Kapadia is a sports producer for philly.com. His earliest memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with his dad, most of which turned out disappointing results. He's here to discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or by clicking here

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