Should Westbrook enjoy one of his better years... I have him as my # 2He could go Friday, but Reid has no reason to risk him.He'll be fine and ready for Week 1.Moats is the handcuff, but C-Buck could steal short yardage and/or goal line plays.Moats was used in lieu of Westy last year, and C-Buck is just returning from multiple injuries that kept him out 2 years. I'd vote Moats for sure.
How is Tatum Bell not a serious guess? There have been rumors that Philly was after Bell and Den was willing to deal him.I wish people could be a bit more serious on here.... Tatum Bell.... Please Stephen Davis he did work out but nothing yet!
I'm guessing Westy comes back just fine. He has had trouble staying healthy though and Philly has shown a propencity to use multiple RBs in years past. So whoever is the RB2 in Philly could be a nice value play IMO.Sorry I guess your right.. So is Westbrook injury somethign that will affect him during th year or should he be ready to explode co,e week 1
Sorry guy... excuse me for trying to inject a little optimism into the situation. Unfortunately, the true handcuff to Westbrook is the electrifying Reno Mahe.Yeah. He's a real value play.I wish people could be a bit more serious on here.... Tatum Bell.... Please Stephen Davis he did work out but nothing yet!
-- Eagles Injury Update --Wed Aug 23, 2006 --from FFMastermind.comThe Philadelphia Inquirer reports the only Eagle who missed today's practice was S Brian Dawkins, who had a toe injury. Dawkins is expected back to practice tomorrow. There was no additional news on RB Stephen Davis, a day after the veteran running back worked out with the Eagles and took a physical, but left town without a contract. With RB Brian Westbrook still sidelined by a foot sprain that he suffered in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 6, the Eagles need depth at running back. RB Reno Mahe continues to run as the No. 1 back. RB Correll Buckhalter, who missed the last two years with a torn right patellar tendon, returned to action last week against Baltimore and says he is feeling good physically this week. RB Ryan Moats and RB Bruce Perry are the other running backs on the roster, but both have had issues with injuries and fumbling. Even if Davis isn't signed, the look for another running back is likely Does this mean Mahe is the true backup here over moats guys! I picked up Moats but now I feel I shoudl drop him for Mahethis is a good question.there are still 2 more preseason games left to play, so Buckhalter may not be in the picture if he sticks to his routine... but if he does make it to the season... i think he could provide some major FF value down the line.... correct me if i'm wrong, but wasn't he higher up on the depth chart than Westbrook at one point in time?.... i know that means zilch today and for this season.... but everytime this guy takes the field he has to be thinking that this could be his last chance to have any success in the NFL so he should be running balls outwith all that said... Moats is probalby the true handcuff regardless... i think Buck will be the secondary back w/ Westy... and if Westy goes down, Moats will probably take his place and Buck will still be the secondary back
No Moats was never ahead of Westbrook on the depth chart. He is basically a clone of westbrook, both are small and shifty with good receiving skills, and both had great college careers at smaller programs. Westbrook was just given a new deal. If you draft Westbrook, you should get Moats, though neither will probably get goaline carries. I am high on Westbrook this year as the offense will go thorugh him like LTII in San Diego.this is a good question.there are still 2 more preseason games left to play, so Buckhalter may not be in the picture if he sticks to his routine... but if he does make it to the season... i think he could provide some major FF value down the line.... correct me if i'm wrong, but wasn't he higher up on the depth chart than Westbrook at one point in time?.... i know that means zilch today and for this season.... but everytime this guy takes the field he has to be thinking that this could be his last chance to have any success in the NFL so he should be running balls outwith all that said... Moats is probalby the true handcuff regardless... i think Buck will be the secondary back w/ Westy... and if Westy goes down, Moats will probably take his place and Buck will still be the secondary back
I agree witih this. Although the situation is a lot more hazy than it should be. If Moats would stop fumbling, there would be no question at all. Put Mahe out of your heads.Amazed that Buckhalter is even playing football again...Moats is probalby the true handcuff regardless... i think Buck will be the secondary back w/ Westy... and if Westy goes down, Moats will probably take his place and Buck will still be the secondary back
Bulkhalter to start Friday for Preseason week 3..... Funny thing is that Mahe stated last week and now Bulkhalter this week.. Who is the # 2 here .. This is worse than playing the lottery...I agree witih this. Although the situation is a lot more hazy than it should be. If Moats would stop fumbling, there would be no question at all. Put Mahe out of your heads.Amazed that Buckhalter is even playing football again...Moats is probalby the true handcuff regardless... i think Buck will be the secondary back w/ Westy... and if Westy goes down, Moats will probably take his place and Buck will still be the secondary back
Im dropping Moats for Bulkhalter.... I think Bulk has won the #2 job.... I think hes the more logical choice right now for the # 2..... Moats doesn't seem to get any carries the last 2 preseason games..Bulkhalter to start Friday for Preseason week 3..... Funny thing is that Mahe stated last week and now Bulkhalter this week.. Who is the # 2 here .. This is worse than playing the lottery...I agree witih this. Although the situation is a lot more hazy than it should be. If Moats would stop fumbling, there would be no question at all. Put Mahe out of your heads.Amazed that Buckhalter is even playing football again...Moats is probalby the true handcuff regardless... i think Buck will be the secondary back w/ Westy... and if Westy goes down, Moats will probably take his place and Buck will still be the secondary back
Im dropping Moats for Bulkhalter.... I think Bulk has won the #2 job.... I think kes the more logical choice right now for the # 2..... Moats doesn't seem to get any carries the last 2 preseason games..Bulkhalter to start Friday for Preseason week 3..... Funny thing is that Mahe stated last week and now Bulkhalter this week.. Who is the # 2 here .. This is worse than playing the lottery...I agree witih this. Although the situation is a lot more hazy than it should be. If Moats would stop fumbling, there would be no question at all. Put Mahe out of your heads.Amazed that Buckhalter is even playing football again...Moats is probalby the true handcuff regardless... i think Buck will be the secondary back w/ Westy... and if Westy goes down, Moats will probably take his place and Buck will still be the secondary back
What do you think guys!Im dropping Moats for Bulkhalter.... I think Bulk has won the #2 job.... I think kes the more logical choice right now for the # 2..... Moats doesn't seem to get any carries the last 2 preseason games..Bulkhalter to start Friday for Preseason week 3..... Funny thing is that Mahe stated last week and now Bulkhalter this week.. Who is the # 2 here .. This is worse than playing the lottery...I agree witih this. Although the situation is a lot more hazy than it should be. If Moats would stop fumbling, there would be no question at all. Put Mahe out of your heads.Amazed that Buckhalter is even playing football again...Moats is probalby the true handcuff regardless... i think Buck will be the secondary back w/ Westy... and if Westy goes down, Moats will probably take his place and Buck will still be the secondary back![]()
I think Moats is hurt, hence he is not playing.What do you think guys!Im dropping Moats for Bulkhalter.... I think Bulk has won the #2 job.... I think kes the more logical choice right now for the # 2..... Moats doesn't seem to get any carries the last 2 preseason games..Bulkhalter to start Friday for Preseason week 3..... Funny thing is that Mahe stated last week and now Bulkhalter this week.. Who is the # 2 here .. This is worse than playing the lottery...I agree witih this. Although the situation is a lot more hazy than it should be. If Moats would stop fumbling, there would be no question at all. Put Mahe out of your heads.Amazed that Buckhalter is even playing football again...Moats is probalby the true handcuff regardless... i think Buck will be the secondary back w/ Westy... and if Westy goes down, Moats will probably take his place and Buck will still be the secondary back![]()
Interesting. Bucky is listed as the backup on the Eagles website. Got any links for this info? TIAAs someone who follows the team as a fan, I can tell you Reid isn't that high on Moats this year. He's had fumble and blocking issues all preseason which is a major no-no for Andy. And they've always harbored a secret love for Buckhalter. IMO the way this is going to play out is Westbrook will get 10-15 carries and 5-10 passes thrown his way a game and Buckhalter will scoop up about 10 carries a game, if healthy. If Westbrook goes down, then Buckhalter will get everything. The knock on him before was he wasn't a good receiving RB but he's looked fine doing that. I'm not sure Moats has much value at this point unless he makes a big comeback between now and the start of the season. Of course, all that could change if/when Buck gets hurt.
Sounds like you are trying to convince yourself. If Westbrook goes down whoever is doing better. Both look good right now.He could go Friday, but Reid has no reason to risk him.He'll be fine and ready for Week 1.Moats is the handcuff, but C-Buck could steal short yardage and/or goal line plays.Moats was used in lieu of Westy last year, and C-Buck is just returning from multiple injuries that kept him out 2 years. I'd vote Moats for sure.
I believe the correct answer right now is "none of the above".Who is Brian Westbrook True HandCuff...
--------------------Here's MY take.Healthy Buckhalter eager to return to lineup
By LES BOWEN
bowenl@phillynews.com
CORRELL BUCKHALTER knew he was really ready to play football again one day last month at Lehigh, after the coaches finally let him into a full-contact workout.They were taking things slowly with the running back who'd missed three of the last four seasons with knee injuries, and who could blame them? But there were things they needed to know, things Buckhalter needed to know, and the only way to find them out was to watch him get hit.
The date was Sunday, Aug. 13, and Buckhalter remembered the events clearly yesterday as he tried on his new game jersey and began to prepare for Sunday's season opener in Houston, having survived the final roster cutdown over the weekend. It will be Buckhalter's first regular-season game since 2003.
"Lito [sheppard] came up and made a nice hit on me," said Buckhalter, who'd seemed frozen in an upright position when the corner came in low, knocking the much larger running back backward. "On that play, I think I had the jitters. I told Lito, 'You try that [bleep] again on another play, I'm gonna flatten you.' He got the best of me that play; I wasn't myself then... A few plays after that, J.R. [Reed] hit me and he bounced off me - I kept going. After that point, I was pretty much feeling like the old Correll again."
It took a strong performance, including a sharp cutback run, in the Aug. 25 preseason game against the Steelers to really convince the coaching staff, Eagles coach Andy Reid acknowledged yesterday. But by last week, everybody involved believed the guy coming off two successive seasons missed to right patellar tendon tears could help the Eagles this season. He is listed as the No. 2 running back on the depth chart, behind Brian Westbrook.
Reid said yesterday he certainly plans to play Buckhalter, though he obviously wouldn't give details. Buckhalter said the size of his role isn't really an issue right now.
"It's just a blessing," Buckhalter said yesterday. "Obviously, I couldn't have done this on my own. With the grace and faith of God, I'm able to be here, working hard in the offseason with [trainer Rick Burkholder] and the rest of my crew. I'm just going to take the same approach I've been taking - 1 day at a time, one game at a time... I have to make sure that all the other 52 players on this team can depend on Correll.
"Whether I'm playing for five plays or 15 or 20, when I'm in there, I'm going to give it my all. I'm going to make sure there's no mishaps on my part... I feel I can do anything that they give me, and whatever they give me, I'm going to make the best of it."
If he has learned anything, though a 5-year career that includes only two seasons actually on the field, Buckhalter said it is "to approach every play like it could be your last play."
Fellow running back Reno Mahe said he wouldn't say he was surprised, exactly, to have Buckhalter as a teammate again.
"It's one of those things where you're just in awe, it's so amazing," Mahe said. "All the stuff he's gone through, you're just so happy for the guy. I'm so proud of him... I think the guy still has a lot of football ahead of him."
Buckhalter wasn't the only Eagle who was thrilled simply to be in an NFL locker room yesterday. Hank Baskett, the undrafted wide receiver from New Mexico, turned 24 yesterday. He called making the team "the best birthday present ever."
Defensive end Jerome McDougle missed last season to complications from a gunshot wound, came back and started training camp really well, then broke a rib. McDougle is finally healthy again, and very much looking forward to Sunday's game. Like Buckhalter, he said he doesn't really care what his role is right now.
"I can't really even imagine it," McDougle said yesterday. "Just being out there is a plus for me."
Running back Bruce Perry seemed pessimistic heading into the weekend. His role dropped off considerably after he fumbled twice in the preseason opener. But Perry made the team, general manager Tom Heckert acknowledged, at least in part because he is the Eagles' kick returner, now that J.R. Reed has been cut.
Reed's valiant effort to return from peroneal nerve damage behind his left knee was thwarted by his apparent lack of the explosive returner's burst, and by the Birds' depth at safety. The Eagles essentially replaced Reed last year, when they drafted safety Sean Considine, not knowing whether Reed would be able to play again. When Reed returned, there really wasn't a safety spot open.
Reed apparently plans to continue his comeback bid. Agent Jonathan Kline said over the weekend in an e-mail that he has fielded inquiries from the Falcons, the Seahawks and the Rams. "J.R. Reed should have a new home very shortly," Kline said.
Perry, meanwhile, said he was "very excited" about the kick-return role. "I didn't think it was going to be this difficult," he acknowledged, to earn a job, after running for 74 yards on 16 carries and returning 10 kickoffs for a 27.3-yard average last season, but "like I've always said, things happen for a reason."
The biggest surprise when the Birds whittled down to 53 players was that they opted to go with only five wideouts, keeping 10 offensive linemen, including four rookies. None of the backup o-linemen has ever played in a regular-season NFL game. Most observers had thought two undrafted rookies, offensive tackle Pat McCoy, from Division II West Texas A & M, and center Nick Cole, from New Mexico State, were bound for the practice squad. But management was afraid someone would claim them if they were put through waivers. McCoy probably accounts for the sixth receiver spot. Cole gained his role when Hank Fraley was traded to Cleveland Saturday for a 2008 draft pick.
Every undrafted rookie who makes it has a story, it seems, and Heckert said the reason teams didn't know much about McCoy (6-5, 328) was that he kept leaving games with dehydration problems. His senior year, the trainers discovered that chomping on a handful of jellybeans an hour or so before the games helped McCoy, but Heckert said the Eagles had more high-tech ways of keeping him on the field. McCoy never missed time because of dehydration during training camp, even on the warmest days.
McCoy acknowledged yesterday that coming from Division II, when camp started he didn't think he'd make the roster.
"I'm definitely surprised, man, probably about as surprised as you guys are," McCoy said. "Coming in, I thought the playbook was so hard. I guess it kind of overwhelmed me, until I relaxed, and said, 'It's just like taking a class. You have to learn your stuff.' "
Cole, meanwhile, is 6-foot, 350, with a massive chest. Starting center Jamaal Jackson said Cole is one of the Birds' strongest linemen.
"He's a short, stubby little so-and-so, but he's solid," Jackson said.
Cole's fortunes took an uptick a few weeks ago when the coaches decided to work him in as a goal-line fullback, an unusual move to make with a player who isn't going to be on the team.
"You could look at it like that, but I didn't want to look at it like that," Cole said. "Sometimes you get disappointed [when you infer too much]."
Cole was a guard at New Mexico State who played just one game at center in college, when the regular center went down.
"You've got to be a lot quicker," to play center, he said.
Birdseed
Andy Reid said wide receiver Donté Stallworth will start in Sunday's opener... Reid said if running back Reno Mahe (ankle) isn't available to return punts Sunday, either cornerback Lito Sheppard or running back Brian Westbrook will do it. Mahe said he hopes to be ready... The Eagles named seven players to their eight-man practice squad yesterday. Wide receiver Bill Sampy, linebacker Torrance "Tank" Daniels and wide receiver Michael Gasperson were with the team through training camp. Fullback Zach Tuiasosopo was cut by the Raiders, tight end Tim Day was cut by the Bears, center Jasper Harvey was cut by the Redskins, and safety Dustin Fox was cut by the Vikings, who drafted him in the third round in 2005 out of Ohio State. Tuiasosopo is the brother of Raiders quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo and the son of former Seattle and San Francisco defensive lineman Manu Tuiasosopo.
Buck has been in the offense far longer. It's not like he just came off the street. I see Moats as more of the 3rd back.Moats knows the offense better, but it sounds like Reid likes what he sees in C-Buck.
The Eagles are not running a new offense.One thing that noone mentioned is the new offense that the Eagles are planning on running this year. Last years OC, Brad Childress, is now in Minnesota. For the first time in several years, the Eagles will be running a new offense. New OC Marty Morningweg wants a more smashmouth style of play, which no doubt coincides with Buckhalters recent climb up the depth chart. Point is, Im not sure how much of a role Moats will have this year, even in the event that BW goes down. In this case, looking at last years trends may not be an accurate indication of how the Eagles rorate/substitute their backs this year.Any updates here from Eagles camp?
I understood that they want to run the ball much more this year. Is that just coachspeak? The players sure seem to be buying it.http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.com/v...ox.asp?ID=36413The Eagles are not running a new offense.One thing that noone mentioned is the new offense that the Eagles are planning on running this year. Last years OC, Brad Childress, is now in Minnesota. For the first time in several years, the Eagles will be running a new offense. New OC Marty Morningweg wants a more smashmouth style of play, which no doubt coincides with Buckhalters recent climb up the depth chart.
Point is, Im not sure how much of a role Moats will have this year, even in the event that BW goes down. In this case, looking at last years trends may not be an accurate indication of how the Eagles rorate/substitute their backs this year.
Any updates here from Eagles camp?
Last year, the Eagles rushed the ball 365 times, the fewest in franchise history for a 16-game season. Only the Raiders (361) and Cardinals (360) attempted fewer running plays.
Beginning with the first off-season minicamp, Westbrook has seen a change in the offense’s focus. He credits Marty Mornhinweg, who has replaced Brad Childress as the offensive coordinator.
Childress had asserted that any team with a 50-50 run-pass ratio was bad at both. Last year, the Eagles run-pass ratio was 35 percent run, 65 percent pass (including sacks as pass plays).
“Marty brought the attitude that we’re going to run the ball,” Westbrook said. “I think Coach Reid knew last year that we needed to run the ball more, but at the point we were at, it was too late to turn back a little bit. I think we will focus on running the ball a lot.
“It’s going to translate into W’s. I think when Coach Reid sees that we’re going to have success in the running game, I think he’ll be more capable of calling more run plays. We’ve practiced it enough. We’ve done a lot of work on it.”
Last year, the Eagles averaged 89.5 rushing yards per game. Only four teams averaged fewer.
Last year, the Eagles threw the ball 38.8 times per game. Only the Packers (39.1) and Cardinals (41.9) chucked it more.
“I’m excited about [this year],” Westbrook said. “The approach to the game is a little bit different
Andy Reid's offense will remain the same, but he's acknowledged that he needs to run more than last year. He says this just about every preseason.I understood that they want to run the ball much more this year. Is that just coachspeak? The players sure seem to be buying it.http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.com/v...ox.asp?ID=36413The Eagles are not running a new offense.One thing that noone mentioned is the new offense that the Eagles are planning on running this year. Last years OC, Brad Childress, is now in Minnesota. For the first time in several years, the Eagles will be running a new offense. New OC Marty Morningweg wants a more smashmouth style of play, which no doubt coincides with Buckhalters recent climb up the depth chart.
Point is, Im not sure how much of a role Moats will have this year, even in the event that BW goes down. In this case, looking at last years trends may not be an accurate indication of how the Eagles rorate/substitute their backs this year.
Any updates here from Eagles camp?
Last year, the Eagles rushed the ball 365 times, the fewest in franchise history for a 16-game season. Only the Raiders (361) and Cardinals (360) attempted fewer running plays.
Beginning with the first off-season minicamp, Westbrook has seen a change in the offense’s focus. He credits Marty Mornhinweg, who has replaced Brad Childress as the offensive coordinator.
Childress had asserted that any team with a 50-50 run-pass ratio was bad at both. Last year, the Eagles run-pass ratio was 35 percent run, 65 percent pass (including sacks as pass plays).
“Marty brought the attitude that we’re going to run the ball,” Westbrook said. “I think Coach Reid knew last year that we needed to run the ball more, but at the point we were at, it was too late to turn back a little bit. I think we will focus on running the ball a lot.
“It’s going to translate into W’s. I think when Coach Reid sees that we’re going to have success in the running game, I think he’ll be more capable of calling more run plays. We’ve practiced it enough. We’ve done a lot of work on it.”
Last year, the Eagles averaged 89.5 rushing yards per game. Only four teams averaged fewer.
Last year, the Eagles threw the ball 38.8 times per game. Only the Packers (39.1) and Cardinals (41.9) chucked it more.
“I’m excited about [this year],” Westbrook said. “The approach to the game is a little bit different
He does seem to say this every year, doesn't he?As for Buck, I give the guy a lot of credit for fighting back multiple times, but I wonder how effective he'll be when the games really matter. Moats is a guy that seems more intriguing if Westbrook goes down.Andy Reid's offense will remain the same, but he's acknowledged that he needs to run more than last year. He says this just about every preseason.
Eagle Eye said:If Westbrook goes down you'll see a 50/50 RBBC with Buck getting most of the TDs and Moats catching lots of passes.