Westbrook top dual-threat RB ?
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Westbrook top dual-threat RB ?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
It's May, and that means new lists and rankings emerge on a daily basis as we kill time before training camp.
Matt Bowen of the National Football Post sparked a lively debate here earlier this week about whether Donovan McNabb is a franchise quarterback.
Bowen is back, this time ranking the top dual-threat running backs in the league.
Coming in at No. 1 is Brian Westbrook.
Writes Bowen:
Westbrook’s numbers were down last season because of injuries (he had 90 receptions in’07), but he still is considered the toughest match-up for defenses in the NFL. He can align in the slot and at the “X” position on the backside of formations. Five receiving TDs is a big number for a running back.
Statistically, Westbrook had his poorest season as a receiver since 2003, catching 54 balls for 402 yards and five touchdowns. His 7.4 yards per reception average was the worst of his career.
Westbrook ranked fourth among RBs in receptions and seventh in receiving yards.
In terms of rushing, he averaged 4.0 yards per carry, which ties the worst average of his career.
But those are all numbers.
Westbrook is still a playmaker, and he showed as much with the 71-yard TD reception in the wild-card win over the Vikings. How much will a real fullback and a revamped offensive line help his effectiveness? That's what we'll have to wait to find out.
Meanwhile, John Mullin of SI.com ranks the league's top backfields, and puts the Eagles at No. 5:
Who: QB Donovan McNabb; RB Brian Westbrook
Add/subtract: LT Jason Peters is a franchise addition in front of McNabb and Westbrook, and Stacy Andrews is another starter-grade OL addition. Drafting Jeremy Maclin in the first round this season and DeSean Jackson in the second last year does nothing but make McNabb and Westbrook more dangerous.
Questionable: The heavy load on Westbrook has worn him down and McNabb is high mileage at 32.
The Thought: With the draft of Pitt RB LeSean McCoy in Round 2, McNabb and Westbrook now may feel like they're in Kiddieland.
The backfields ranked ahead of the Eagles (from the top) are the Chargers, Giants, Cowboys and Patriots.
More later so check back.
been awhile since i seen loney post. i figured he was on his honeymoom with squiggy, but how long can a honeymoon last off a mickey d's paycheck? u cudnt even bag penny marshal so u turned gay and went for squiggy. truly pathetic!— iloveprimerib!- if wolfy is a birds fan i must be a cowboyz fan. am i a cowboyz fan? lets see......... what was my initial thought when hearing the facility blew up? i hoped jerry jones didnt die because that would me someday the cowboyz may get better. i hope jerry never retires and does what davis did to the raiders!!!!!!— iloveprimerib!
- JWood, I'm glad you clarified those names with, "only last year." For the upcoming season, how many of those backs would you prefer over Westbrook? I'm not asking specifically for the Eagles, because we know he fits the system. Let's say you were running any random team with your pick of those twelve backs you mentioned, plus B West. Where does B. West rank for the upcoming year?— dgreils
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- Hey give me a power back any day of the week. As far as my personal view for Westbrook in this upcoming year he is the 32nd ranked starting running back Week 1 until he proves otherwise. The NFL is a year to year business. What have you done for me lately. That being said I think he will recover nicely from the injury and benefit from the offensive line improvements. Live and die with what you got because it ain't going anywhere so I'll root for the success of Brian Westbrook until he stops wearing midnight green.— jwood
- Agreed. The NFL certainly is a year to year business, ask the Dolphins. Even with that, thanks for the vague prediction. As you know, his value isn't in stats, but in the headaches he'll give the opposing D Coordinators. I'll take Westbrook, and you can have Le'Ron McClain or LenDale White.— dgreils
- touche— jwood
- Jwood, you are a true FAN. While I don't agree with your assessment of 36 (I think he is a top 5 back, he had 14 TD's last year, in an OFF year), I heartily respect the last line of your post. "Live and die with what you got because it ain't going anywhere so I'll root for the success of Brian Westbrook until he stops wearing midnight green." That, my friend, is what it is all about. You may not like what every person in the organization does, but you support it. You don't take every chance you get to take shots at Super 5, or 36, or AR, or whoever you may hate. FANS SUPPORT THE TEAM. Express your opinion, yes. But personal shots? No need. We are better than that. We are the beast fans in the world. We are PHILADELPHIA EAGLES fans.
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