Eagles Chat: T.O., L.J., and other initial reactions

Ashley Fox:

What is up, Eagles fans? A ton of questions already. Let's get started

Omar:

with mcnabb coming off an acl injury, wouldn't it be beneficial to run a one-back spread offense, to limit his scrambling? A spread offense would be more efficient and keep the defense on their toes. Also, the eagles need to use more of a no-huddle offense.

Ashley Fox:

Thanks for the question, Omar. I don't think you're going to see McNabb scramble a whole lot, and I would think you'll see a heavy dose of Brian Westbrook early. McNabb will run when he has to, but at this point in his career, and especially coming off injury, he'll be content to sit in the pocket and throw it away when he has to, rather than run.

C.Q. McWilliams:

Living in San Antonio,I had the opportunity to attend the Cowboys' training camp. It seems to me that the camp was somewhat of a "joke". No real contact, and no real strenuous practices at all. As a lifelong Eagles fan this was OK with me. As a result, my guess is that the Eagles again will be the NFC East champs. This Wade Phillips guy is, in my opinion, just another Jerry Jones "yes man".

Ashley Fox:

For the first time in four years, I didn't hit Cowboys camp this year. I'm not picking the Cowboys to win the division, or make the playoffs. I'm not sold on Phillips, Romo, or their secondary.

Peter:

Did you read's T.O.'s comments to Time? Asked him why he's so self-centered. Said he misses Donovan, who's a "great guy." Said if he could have any QB in Dallas, it would be Peyton Manning, then McNabb. These two going to be pals again?

Ashley Fox:

Don and T.O. had some sort of make-up session at the Super Bowl. They smoothed things over, somehow. So I guess I'm not that surprised by T.O.'s comments. It's just a shame things had to get so out of control a few years ago.

Lorrie Wegrzyn:

It appears as though coaching staff has some degree of uncertainty with special teams and certain defensive positions with late names coming into camp. Were these positions thought to be solid maybe a few weeks ago. It seems like they are making too many last minute changes I thought should have been made 3 months ago. what's the story?

Ashley Fox:

Thanks, Lorrie. There has been a lot of shuffling recently, but that happens every year. That's the point of training camp, and of the preseason. But yes, you definitely would've liked to see the linebackers settled much earlier. The return game, too, but that's a little easier to pick up.

FXG0201:

Are the Birds real?

Ashley Fox:

We'll see in six days.

bigfan:

Will Reed be able to jump right in for us on speical teams? he's a player I really liked before his injury.

Ashley Fox:

bigfan, I'm real interested to see whether Reed still has it. He was so fast prior to that weird injury. He says he's back 100 percent, but I personally haven't seen him since he left the Eagles. Good kid, could help. We'll see.

Matt W:

How long or how bad does Omar Gaither have to be before being replaced with the 2nd best player in camp (see Celek), Stu Bradley?

Ashley Fox:

I think Gaither's going to have a pretty long leash. Bradley had a good camp, but I don't think we'll see him early this season, if at all.

Web Walker:

If you had to cut either Trotter or Kearse, who would you have chosen and why?

Ashley Fox:

Well, WW, I would not have cut either one, frankly. I guess if pressed I would've cut Trot, because of his wheels, but I also think Kearse, if he doesn't have a big year, will be on his way out after this season, too.

MS:

Do the Eagles have a practice today and wha's the status of LJ?

Ashley Fox:

No practice today, MS. It's a normal regular-season week -- finally -- with Tuesday as the players' day off. L.J. is up in the air for Sunday. He practiced yesterday, but said he won't commit to Sunday until after this week of practice.

Harris:

How did C.J. Gaddis go from a neck-and-neck competition to make the final roster to not even making the practice squad? And did the Birds make a mistake by trying to stash Barksdale on the squad, only to see him go to the Chiefs?

Ashley Fox:

Well Harris, this is one of those preseason things. The coaches talked up Gaddis, and I think really liked him, but you can't keep everybody. As for Barksdale, every year teams take risks about who to waive in hopes of re-signing to the practice squad. Look at the Patriots and Vikings. Belichick was negotiating with Childress trying to keep the Vikings from signing a player the Pats waived. It happens. (And Childress declined, for what it's worth.)

Peter:

Compared to all the worries before training camp, do the Eagles have more questions than you expected, or less?

Ashley Fox:

I'll call it a push, Peter. I think the biggest question -- McNabb's health -- was answered. He looks good. But, what about the middle? What about the return game? What about Smith? What about the run game. There are a lot of questions.

Peter:

What's the deal with Shawn Andrews? Was he pulling our leg before? Is he healthy now?

Ashley Fox:

Andrews' situation is interesting. So now he's saying he was pulling the media's proverbial leg when he said a previous doctor's evaluation was a tearjerker? I don't believe it.

Jeff:

Is Sampy practicing yet? I was surpised to see both he and Gasperson make the P-Squad over a Bloom, Gaddis or Ilaoa. Doesn't mgmt know what they have yet with a Gasperson? Why not see more from a draft pick, unless the Birds really regret their later round picks?

Ashley Fox:

I'm not sure the deal with Gasperson. This will be his third year on the practice squad. Obviously they like him enough as a practice squad guy, but not more than that, at least not yet. A late-round draft pick is expendable.

katemck:

what about the run game?? The eagles haven't closed that gap yet.

Ashley Fox:

I've got to think we'll see a lot of Westbrook on Sunday. At least we should. Then we can better evaluate whether they've "closed that gap."

CS (Philly):

How much was Akers' input really important in the punter decision? The general opinion was that Akers' comfort on who was the holder would be critical on who to keep between Rocca and Dirk. Was Rocca's issues just attributed to poor snaps from Dorenbos?

Ashley Fox:

I don't think Akers had any say whatsoever on Reid's decision about which punter to keep. They liked Rocca's leg, and I think they decided they could iron out the snap-holding issues. It'll be crucial they get that threesome clicking the way Akers-Detmer-Bartrum used to.

CS (Philly):

Follow-up on the practice squad ... how much of it is players with potential that they want to work on, and how much of it is simply certain positions are needed for (just talkin' about) practice? Murrell looks to be a good project, but the WRs seem to be just there to be used as rep fodder.

Ashley Fox:

CS, we're talking about practice. Seriously, I think it's a combination of both things you mentioned. All right, folks. I've got to fly. We'll do it again next week -- on Monday -- and dissect Eagles-Packers. As always, get your questions in early. Peace.