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.
one more hit and Jackson will be sitting in the stands with his agent. I love his big plays but I hate his big mouth. Quit showboatin' and take a lesson from Maclin about how to be a professional. Yes, he's fast. Yes, he's a game changer. However, once he slows down with all that money in his pocket I question his long term durability. Next man up.— greenmachine
Comment removed.- Jealous Loser 11 — phillyroni
- Lurie and Banner are not Philly guys....they are Boston billionaires.
They brag about their gold standard and character...yet after 15 years they have never even won a superbowl, and now they are bringing in thugs and convicts and selling their souls, and they still won't win the Superbowl.
PHILLIES ARE THE REAL CHAMPIONS...with great talent and great people that the fans love.
— frank105 - Frank: 1. All owners are billionaires. 2. These are different times then when you grew up - this is a global economy and world.
CEO's of American companies are from around the globe. Owners of businesses aren't mom and pop from down the street. You sound like an 80 y.o. Phillies fan - stay on the Phillies website and you'll be fine. Here, you are a petty nuisance.— Dr Bri - Can we stop with the "Gold Standard" comments? It is so old and tired. The guy said something kind of dumb that was taken out of context, and it won't die. If any of us were taken to task for the rest of our lives for the dumb things we have said we would go nuts. Move on, people.
- Maclin's the top receiver on this team. Jackson's ego will never allow him to accept that. I say trade Jackson for a top draft pick or top line linebacker. The Eagles can always go sign Iverson to replace Jackson.— dapmman
- You're insane. Seriously, Jackson changes the way teams defend the Eagles. You never know where its coming from but a big play is right around the corner with him on the field. Stop hating him, pray the Birds extend him and celebrate the elite talent he is. — paulNC
- Thats hilarious, Sign Iverson to replace Jackson!!! — dycenyne
- I have a fear that Maclin is going to miss significant time this year, perhaps the whole year. Hope I'm wrong...
And frank105, chill out. Your comment is inappropriate to this article.— dlscholt - They'll never let Vince live down the "Dream Team" thing. It was an off-the-cuff remark. He was half-joking when he said it. He didn't "declare" anything.— jayheezy
- Jackson is not a #1 receiver in the NFL and is not worth $10M per. Give him a contract, no doubt, but he is not worth Santonio Holmes money. Santonio Holmes is not worth Santonio Holmes money.— mknphotos
frank105: I'm sick of all you front-running fair-weather bandwagoneers. LET'S GO SIXERS! The only fans with any heart in this town are SIXERS fans! Forget the Eagles and Phils. It's all about the SIXERS.— Leegles- Sixers fans - you mean all 200 of them. You are in an elite club - that nobody else is ready to join. — Dr Bri
- The head injuries are what worry me the most. He'll be a drooling Lindros-like numbscull by the end of the season.— blueye7
- 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
- Philly.com censored my comparison the Phillies and the Eagles, what a shame.— beerflow
- I don't know who's better, but I think they are a great tandem. The Eagles need to consider if Maclin would be as good if Riley Cooper was lining up instead of Jackson.— tbone pickins
- Bob, I totally disagree with your claim that if you take away two passes from Jackson's year, everything changes. Take away those two long passes and his average yards per catch drops from 22.1 to 19.5. That's not that big a deal.— phillyborn4
- Gotta love it....Bob reinforces "Negadalphia's" image. Just goes to show how bad Philly sport's writers really are!— gmtsr
- sign Moss...i know he probably won't show until after the 3rd preseason game but I think he'll stay in shape regardless and be ready for the season. I don't mind waiting as long as I get to watch Vick throwing to Moss, Maclin and Jackson at some point this year.— sedale
- Trade for Lee Evans now— fman727
- who is lee evans?— sedale
- Comment removed.
- Young will never get his feet under him. What you have seen this week is what you get. Side arm, scatter shot, a taller more athletic McNabb with a much lower completion percentage. Some gambles don't work. This one will not. — coloradoeagle
- Bob, I'm proud to say that I told everybody who wanted to listen that Vick was going to take over as the starting quarter back for last season, in March of 2010. Now I'm going to tell you that when Vick goes out injured in the 2011-12 playoffs, Young is going to win us the superbowl. Go ahead and laugh, like they all did when made my projection for Vick.— my3cents
- Good article, most people would not be under the impression that Maclin had many more receptions than DJ. Of course DJ can always argue the fact that he is the best punt returner in the league and he is head n shoulders above Maclin running reverses.— Mugwumps88
- I love these writers gall... if you just remove two plays... give me a break. He earned his numbers. Let's just remove one article...— Ron2andia
- I honestly feel that DeSean isn't a true No. 1 receiver, but that doesn't matter. He has more influence on the outcome of a game than Maclin, whether it be Wildcat formation plays, special teams, or simply making the run game and other receivers better. Maclin fits the mold of a No. 1, he gets the majority of receptions (other than McCoy) and TDs, and he was the main red-zone target of 2010. I wouldn't be devastated if Maclin misses some games, although it would suck. Brent Celek was a forgotten man in the offense unless Kolb was under center. Our team doesn't suck if Maclin's not in the lineup. We had too many weapons LAST YEAR that were under used.
Santonio Holmes should probably have gotten 5 year $30 million contract, and Jackson's should receive a 5 year $37.5 million contract.— colahead420 - assuming dj is playing, and past history repeats itself, the squeaky wheel will eventually start complaining that he is not getting the ball enough. which will lead m.vick to try and oil said wheel instead of going to better options.— macadittles
- since the Eagles are going all in with all these signings, wouldn't it be entertaining if they also signed TO and Moss to join Maclin and Jackson? Vick might throw for 50 tds— sedale
- I;m tired of Eagles fans complaining. Sure the Eagles were Super Bowl machines prior to Lurie and Banner, jeez we won 7, 8, oh that's right NONE. And how much better Buddy was than Reid, I mean he has only 9 less playoff wins that Reid. For true Eagles fans this is the gold standard time, 9 winning seasons out of 12. I remember 9 straight losing seasons.— mjposner
- plaxico burress sure would look nice right about now— ihatenewyorkers
- Jackson will get a great new contract if Rosenhaus is fair minded....the kid's a major threat every time he touches the ball...Get R Done!— greenbloodVAEagle
- Jackson is our top big play WR and punt return man and Maclin is our top possession receiver. We need them both. When will we hear what's wrong with Maclin?— Tar Heel 1
- I am amzed by all of th negative comments on this board...and you people are Eagels fans?
First of all, DJ is an elite receiver who deserves to get paid as such. Does anybody really believe that Maclin (who I think is GREAT) would have as many catches as he does if the opposing defenses didn't have to worry about Desean Jackson on the other side?
The Eagles know this and they will pay Jackson.
They didn't go through all of this offseason frenzy only to let their big play guy walk.
— gianno
