DeSean, Maclin and the WR Worries
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
DeSean, Maclin and the WR Worries
Bob Ford, Inquirer Sports Columnist
It’s been nearly two weeks since Vince Young showed up at Eagles training camp and declared his new employer a “dream team,” and Vince still hasn’t been right about anything else, either.
As we head into the first exhibition game on Thursday night vs. the Ravens, the Eagles have a lot of question marks, including whether Young will ever throw an accurate pass while wearing their uniform. If you hated it when Donovan McNabb threw the ball into the ground, wait until you see Young throw it sidearm into the ground.
Leaving that where it is for the moment – because Mike Kafka is having a great camp as Michael Vick’s backup – there is still the matter of the offensive line and a few other areas of concern. The starting right tackle is on the PUP list, the starting right guard is a rookie and the center is coming back creakily from microfracture surgery. The first two of those are the main blind-side protection elements for a left-handed quarterback. It might be that Ryan Harris fills in admirably for Winston Justice and that first-round selection Danny Watkins picks up the game seamlessly. That’s a “we’ll see,” however.
Elsewhere, in an Inquirer column today, we took a look at the wide receiver situation. While the DeSean Jackson holdout and his appearance on Monday with agent Drew Rosenhaus was certainly dramatic, it is the absence of Jeremy Maclin that might most trouble Eagles fans.
Comparing Jackson and Maclin, it’s fair to ask which is really the No. 1 receiver, a point the Eagles will bring up in contract discussions with Rosenhaus. Maclin caught 70 passes in 2010. Jackson caught 47. Maclin caught 60 percent of the passes thrown his way. Jackson caught 48 percent. Maclin caught 10 touchdowns. Jackson caught six.
Now, Jackson was the more dynamic player. He broke bigger plays and racked up more yardage, averaging an amazing 22.1 yards per catch. If you take away just two plays, however – give the opposing team a better rush, or better coverage or whatever you like – and his season was still great but not otherworldly. Remove an 88-yard pass from Vick against Washington and a 91-yard pass from Vick against Dallas, and Jackson caught 45 balls for 877 yards.
Just two plays from a whole season changes the look of everything. Of course, that’s like saying that except for the Walt Whitman and the Ben Franklin there aren’t any decent bridges across the Delaware, but still.
Trust that the Eagles will make that point when Rosenhaus wants them to match what Santonio Holmes got from the Jets (5 years/$50 million/$24 million guaranteed). And that’s for a guy who only played 12 games last season, gained 746 yards, has had one decent year in his career, and is always an unannounced traffic stop from being suspended.
The Eagles will, however, be able to use the standard rebuttal: “Yes, but the Jets are crazy.”
Maclin isn’t DeSean Jackson, but the same is true the other way around. Jackson is nowhere near as steady as Maclin, who has great hands, and became a first-down machine for Vick.
Jackson’s situation will be solved. The Eagles better hope the same goes for Maclin.
Although it's limiting, keep jackson going vertical and you still have a player there. Now with a fixed up Oline (hopefully) celeck will thrive as teams try to cheat keeping on top of desean. Plus Maclin is no slow poke himself. But if desean gets just the right step (and he will) Reids successful quick strike offense will flourish.
Dr Bri -- only 200 fans? i guess you didnt see the excitement for the team when they started to win some games when the attendence rose. keep hating because YOU dont like them . anyway, we need maclin this year. him and dj are a good combination on the field. hopefully he'll be good to go by the 1st game of the year. go birds!! im so excited for this year. feels like 2004 all over again.- It cracks me up when people look at stats and say..."yes they are good, but if you take away this, and take away that, they aren't as good." The point is, Jackson made those big catches and they count.— ej610
- I'm wondering why you wrote, basically, the same article with two different headings. Kind of reminds me of telling the same joke twice, but changing the names.— toadwart
- I say we add one of the d-backs to the mix. Imagine Samuel or DRC lining up on the other side of the field from Djax. With that speed it would be flag football out there.
Remember 'Prime Time'.— Jaxfan - Jackson's coming off microfracture surgery? Didn't he have a torn tricep (or bicep)? The knee injury, which I thought was an ACL not microfracture was a year and a half ago?— dawk2020
- Glad to see the shout out to Kafka in the opening. He is developing into a capable backup. He is smart has a great arm, and can make plays. Would not surprise me if he is the one Big Red chooses to use if he needs extended play from his backup.
- Taylor Mays is being waived by the 49ers. He was a second round pick last year and plays linebacker and safety positions. Will someone who has decision powers look at this kid. He is an absolute stud. Fast strong smart and would fit perfectly with the eagles defensive scheme. Remember the name Taylor Mays. He fell out of favor with the 49ers and now they want to unload him. Can someone tell the Eagles to pick this guy up. Even if it costs a sixth round pick. Get him he is great. Runs a 4.3 reminds you of a young Brian Dawkins but bigger.— anthonyy15
Comment removed.- Mays couldn't tackle a paper bag. Get over it. He has all the physical gifts and absolutely no desire or heart. Two words: Mike Mamula. — coloradoeagle
- The eagles are fine. Macklin looks like he's 13 yrs old, but he'll be ok. he's still bigger than d-jax. it's all part of mad andy's plan.— Tyrone Biggums
- Jackson and Maclin remind me a little of Swann and Stallworth. Swann made the spectacular catches but Stallworth was the go-to guy. Hopefully Jax and Maclin will reach that standard some day.— esesjay
- Eagles wouldn't have any problems if they would have kept Kevin Klutch Kolb— lonewolf100
- If Maclin doesn't get healthy I got a feeling that the Eagles can pull Randy Moss out of retirement.— Philly Dom
