OLBs Matt McCoy and Tully Banta-Cain (1 Viewer)

[TheCommish]

I have seen blurbs and depth charts on a number of web sites that say these guys have a chance to start this year. Any Philly or New England homers out there that have more insight on either of these two players?

I'm not terribly interested in fantasy potential ... just want to know if they will be solid players for their teams.

 

[fruity pebbles]

I have seen blurbs and depth charts on a number of web sites that say these guys have a chance to start this year.  Any Philly or New England homers out there that have more insight on either of these two players?

I'm not terribly interested in fantasy potential ... just want to know if they will be solid players for their teams.

Banta-Cain definitely has a chance to start. Bruschi, Vrabel and Colvin are locked in but the fourth starter is still up in the air. Job should be his unless they move Vrabel back outside.

 

[Pick]

Have heard/read the same blurbs. I believe McCoy needs to bulk up.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I have seen blurbs and depth charts on a number of web sites that say these guys have a chance to start this year.  Any Philly or New England homers out there that have more insight on either of these two players?

I'm not terribly interested in fantasy potential ... just want to know if they will be solid players for their teams.

Banta-Cain definitely has a chance to start. Bruschi, Vrabel and Colvin are locked in but the fourth starter is still up in the air. Job should be his unless they move Vrabel back outside.

Which is very possible if Beisel or Claridge step up at ILB.

 

[Weiner Dog]

Have heard/read the same blurbs. I believe McCoy needs to bulk up.

From what I've read, I think McCoy actually bulked-up too much last year. As a result, his speed was hampered. It was my understanding McCoy has actually lost 5-10lbs this offseason in an effort to regain his speed. The Eagles coaching staff says McCoy looks like a completely different player, as a result.

 

[dudaman]

I have seen blurbs and depth charts on a number of web sites that say these guys have a chance to start this year.  Any Philly or New England homers out there that have more insight on either of these two players?

I'm not terribly interested in fantasy potential ... just want to know if they will be solid players for their teams.

Banta-Cain definitely has a chance to start. Bruschi, Vrabel and Colvin are locked in but the fourth starter is still up in the air. Job should be his unless they move Vrabel back outside.

Which is very possible if Beisel or Claridge step up at ILB.

Word is that Claridge looks ready to step in. I just haven't sensed positive vibes whenever Beisel is mentioned.Tully still has a very good shot at (at a minimum) much more playing time. The Pats bolstered their special teams via the draft and FA, so Tully shouldn't be needed there so much.

 

[Pick]

Have heard/read the same blurbs. I believe McCoy needs to bulk up.

From what I've read, I think McCoy actually bulked-up too much last year. As a result, his speed was hampered. It was my understanding McCoy has actually lost 5-10lbs this offseason in an effort to regain his speed. The Eagles coaching staff says McCoy looks like a completely different player, as a result.

From a TSN team report from about two weeks ago:

Second-year LB Matt McCoy was so overwhelmed he was with coordinator Jim Johnson's defense that he could not even get on the field on special teams as a rookie. This season, with a better understanding of what he is expected to do, the team wants McCoy to be its starting weakside linebacker. The 2005 second-round pick is a bit undersized (6-0, 225). He's going to have to use his speed and develop good instincts to make an impact as a playmaker on the weak side.

TSN

 

[Weiner Dog]

Have heard/read the same blurbs.  I believe McCoy needs to bulk up.

From what I've read, I think McCoy actually bulked-up too much last year. As a result, his speed was hampered. It was my understanding McCoy has actually lost 5-10lbs this offseason in an effort to regain his speed. The Eagles coaching staff says McCoy looks like a completely different player, as a result.

From a TSN team report from about two weeks ago:

Second-year LB Matt McCoy was so overwhelmed he was with coordinator Jim Johnson's defense that he could not even get on the field on special teams as a rookie. This season, with a better understanding of what he is expected to do, the team wants McCoy to be its starting weakside linebacker. The 2005 second-round pick is a bit undersized (6-0, 225). He's going to have to use his speed and develop good instincts to make an impact as a playmaker on the weak side.

TSN

There's no doubt that McCoy was fish outside of water last year. However, McCoy hit the "books" hard in the offseason and seems to have a much better grasp on the Eagles' complicated D.If memory serves me, McCoy played near 240lbs last year (which is good size considering he's only 5'11" - 6'0" tall). He has since lost 5-10lbs of this in an effort to regain his 4.6/40 speed. Here's a good article talking about the missing aspects of McCoy's game last year.

link:

http://www.nj.com/sports/gloucester/index....8450.xml&coll=8

Birds' McCoy a new man

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Second-year players in the Eagles' locker room use the word "swimming" most often to describe the sinking feeling they had in their rookie seasons.

Regardless of word choices, there always is a sense of clarity they project once they have a complete understanding of a system that often takes a year or more to learn.

Matt McCoy is the latest in a long line. Selected with the 63rd overall selection in last year's draft, the linebacker whose game is driven mostly by speed was always a step or two late when it came to making plays as a rookie.

That's the main reason he appeared in only four games last season.

Don't expect the same pattern to emerge this year.

"I've been working hard all offseason," McCoy said, "and it showed when I came in that first week (after this year's draft). ... I think my coaches got really confident because I knew what I was doing. I mean, they'd ask me questions and I'd be right on it. I wasn't really sure enough last year. Now I've gained their trust and that's why I think I'm here right now."

McCoy has come so far that the starting weakside job vacated by free agent Keith Adams is now his to lose.

Merit, not necessity, is why McCoy is now working with the first team, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson insisted.

"There is no question he's a much different player out there," Johnson said. "He's a lot more confident. He struggled last year, no question, and I think he will admit that, but this year he knows everything, is playing with a lot of confidence and, again, he has to take it to the field.

"He has some toughness and he's going to have plenty of opportunity to earn that starting spot. I don't know if it's a make or break year, but it's an important year for him. It's an important year for all of us, but it's an important year for him to show what he is. Right now, he is very comfortable, so we'll see what happens."

To his credit, McCoy views the promotion as something he hasn't earned yet.

Once the hitting starts in training camp and the preseason, McCoy knows he will have to prove all over again that he is better suited to start over 31-year-old Shawn Barber, a nine-year veteran in his second tour of duty with the Birds.

Barber was the Eagles' starter for the entire 2002 season, finishing second on the team with 119 tackles.

"It doesn't mean anything, it's not game time yet," McCoy said, "so I've still got to be humble about it. I mean, Shawn's a great player and I guess it's my job to lose and I've got to keep playing hard and be hungry."

This is in stark contrast to last season, which was spent learning everything about the Eagles' defense the hard way.

"There's just so many checks and so many line movements," McCoy said. "It gets really confusing. ... They can motion the tight end and then you've got to become a (strongside linebacker). It gets really confusing, especially when you're trying to be good. You're (as) mentally worn down as you're physically worn down."

Those days appear to be over.

Johnson and the coaching staff aren't the only ones pointing this out, either. Seems like everyone is noticing how much quicker McCoy is thinking on his feet these days.

"You can tell when he's out there he's comfortable," fellow linebacker Mark Simoneau said. "He knows where he's supposed to be, where he's supposed to hit on everything. So it's night and day compared to last year. I think his head was spinning the whole time he was out there last year.

"It wasn't until the end of the season last year that he kind of started to get a feel for everything. Then he had this whole offseason and worked really hard and really got the defense down and worked hard on his physical stuff as well."

What kind of player Matt McCoy will turn out to be remains a mystery.

How he will play this season is now a certainty: at full speed.

 

[Pick]

Have heard/read the same blurbs. I believe McCoy needs to bulk up.

From what I've read, I think McCoy actually bulked-up too much last year. As a result, his speed was hampered. It was my understanding McCoy has actually lost 5-10lbs this offseason in an effort to regain his speed. The Eagles coaching staff says McCoy looks like a completely different player, as a result.

From a TSN team report from about two weeks ago:

Second-year LB Matt McCoy was so overwhelmed he was with coordinator Jim Johnson's defense that he could not even get on the field on special teams as a rookie. This season, with a better understanding of what he is expected to do, the team wants McCoy to be its starting weakside linebacker. The 2005 second-round pick is a bit undersized (6-0, 225). He's going to have to use his speed and develop good instincts to make an impact as a playmaker on the weak side.

TSN

There's no doubt that McCoy was fish outside of water last year. However, McCoy hit the "books" hard in the offseason and seems to have a much better grasp on the Eagles' complicated D.If memory serves me, McCoy played near 240lbs last year (which is good size considering he's only 5'11" - 6'0" tall). He has since lost 5-10lbs of this in an effort to regain his 4.6/40 speed. Here's a good article talking about the missing aspects of McCoy's game last year.

link:

http://www.nj.com/sports/gloucester/index....8450.xml&coll=8

Birds' McCoy a new man

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Second-year players in the Eagles' locker room use the word "swimming" most often to describe the sinking feeling they had in their rookie seasons.

Regardless of word choices, there always is a sense of clarity they project once they have a complete understanding of a system that often takes a year or more to learn.

Matt McCoy is the latest in a long line. Selected with the 63rd overall selection in last year's draft, the linebacker whose game is driven mostly by speed was always a step or two late when it came to making plays as a rookie.

That's the main reason he appeared in only four games last season.

Don't expect the same pattern to emerge this year.

"I've been working hard all offseason," McCoy said, "and it showed when I came in that first week (after this year's draft). ... I think my coaches got really confident because I knew what I was doing. I mean, they'd ask me questions and I'd be right on it. I wasn't really sure enough last year. Now I've gained their trust and that's why I think I'm here right now."

McCoy has come so far that the starting weakside job vacated by free agent Keith Adams is now his to lose.

Merit, not necessity, is why McCoy is now working with the first team, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson insisted.

"There is no question he's a much different player out there," Johnson said. "He's a lot more confident. He struggled last year, no question, and I think he will admit that, but this year he knows everything, is playing with a lot of confidence and, again, he has to take it to the field.

"He has some toughness and he's going to have plenty of opportunity to earn that starting spot. I don't know if it's a make or break year, but it's an important year for him. It's an important year for all of us, but it's an important year for him to show what he is. Right now, he is very comfortable, so we'll see what happens."

To his credit, McCoy views the promotion as something he hasn't earned yet.

Once the hitting starts in training camp and the preseason, McCoy knows he will have to prove all over again that he is better suited to start over 31-year-old Shawn Barber, a nine-year veteran in his second tour of duty with the Birds.

Barber was the Eagles' starter for the entire 2002 season, finishing second on the team with 119 tackles.

"It doesn't mean anything, it's not game time yet," McCoy said, "so I've still got to be humble about it. I mean, Shawn's a great player and I guess it's my job to lose and I've got to keep playing hard and be hungry."

This is in stark contrast to last season, which was spent learning everything about the Eagles' defense the hard way.

"There's just so many checks and so many line movements," McCoy said. "It gets really confusing. ... They can motion the tight end and then you've got to become a (strongside linebacker). It gets really confusing, especially when you're trying to be good. You're (as) mentally worn down as you're physically worn down."

Those days appear to be over.

Johnson and the coaching staff aren't the only ones pointing this out, either. Seems like everyone is noticing how much quicker McCoy is thinking on his feet these days.

"You can tell when he's out there he's comfortable," fellow linebacker Mark Simoneau said. "He knows where he's supposed to be, where he's supposed to hit on everything. So it's night and day compared to last year. I think his head was spinning the whole time he was out there last year.

"It wasn't until the end of the season last year that he kind of started to get a feel for everything. Then he had this whole offseason and worked really hard and really got the defense down and worked hard on his physical stuff as well."

What kind of player Matt McCoy will turn out to be remains a mystery.

How he will play this season is now a certainty: at full speed.

No question that having a year in the system helps. But if he's at 225, he's gonna get pounded. Sounds like there are conflicting opinions on what his weight is and where it should be.

 

[Pick]

FBG's player page has him at 220.

 

[Weiner Dog]

Have heard/read the same blurbs.  I believe McCoy needs to bulk up.

From what I've read, I think McCoy actually bulked-up too much last year. As a result, his speed was hampered. It was my understanding McCoy has actually lost 5-10lbs this offseason in an effort to regain his speed. The Eagles coaching staff says McCoy looks like a completely different player, as a result.

From a TSN team report from about two weeks ago:

Second-year LB Matt McCoy was so overwhelmed he was with coordinator Jim Johnson's defense that he could not even get on the field on special teams as a rookie. This season, with a better understanding of what he is expected to do, the team wants McCoy to be its starting weakside linebacker. The 2005 second-round pick is a bit undersized (6-0, 225). He's going to have to use his speed and develop good instincts to make an impact as a playmaker on the weak side.

TSN

There's no doubt that McCoy was fish outside of water last year. However, McCoy hit the "books" hard in the offseason and seems to have a much better grasp on the Eagles' complicated D.If memory serves me, McCoy played near 240lbs last year (which is good size considering he's only 5'11" - 6'0" tall). He has since lost 5-10lbs of this in an effort to regain his 4.6/40 speed. Here's a good article talking about the missing aspects of McCoy's game last year.

link:

http://www.nj.com/sports/gloucester/index....8450.xml&coll=8

Birds' McCoy a new man

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Second-year players in the Eagles' locker room use the word "swimming" most often to describe the sinking feeling they had in their rookie seasons.

Regardless of word choices, there always is a sense of clarity they project once they have a complete understanding of a system that often takes a year or more to learn.

Matt McCoy is the latest in a long line. Selected with the 63rd overall selection in last year's draft, the linebacker whose game is driven mostly by speed was always a step or two late when it came to making plays as a rookie.

That's the main reason he appeared in only four games last season.

Don't expect the same pattern to emerge this year.

"I've been working hard all offseason," McCoy said, "and it showed when I came in that first week (after this year's draft). ... I think my coaches got really confident because I knew what I was doing. I mean, they'd ask me questions and I'd be right on it. I wasn't really sure enough last year. Now I've gained their trust and that's why I think I'm here right now."

McCoy has come so far that the starting weakside job vacated by free agent Keith Adams is now his to lose.

Merit, not necessity, is why McCoy is now working with the first team, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson insisted.

"There is no question he's a much different player out there," Johnson said. "He's a lot more confident. He struggled last year, no question, and I think he will admit that, but this year he knows everything, is playing with a lot of confidence and, again, he has to take it to the field.

"He has some toughness and he's going to have plenty of opportunity to earn that starting spot. I don't know if it's a make or break year, but it's an important year for him. It's an important year for all of us, but it's an important year for him to show what he is. Right now, he is very comfortable, so we'll see what happens."

To his credit, McCoy views the promotion as something he hasn't earned yet.

Once the hitting starts in training camp and the preseason, McCoy knows he will have to prove all over again that he is better suited to start over 31-year-old Shawn Barber, a nine-year veteran in his second tour of duty with the Birds.

Barber was the Eagles' starter for the entire 2002 season, finishing second on the team with 119 tackles.

"It doesn't mean anything, it's not game time yet," McCoy said, "so I've still got to be humble about it. I mean, Shawn's a great player and I guess it's my job to lose and I've got to keep playing hard and be hungry."

This is in stark contrast to last season, which was spent learning everything about the Eagles' defense the hard way.

"There's just so many checks and so many line movements," McCoy said. "It gets really confusing. ... They can motion the tight end and then you've got to become a (strongside linebacker). It gets really confusing, especially when you're trying to be good. You're (as) mentally worn down as you're physically worn down."

Those days appear to be over.

Johnson and the coaching staff aren't the only ones pointing this out, either. Seems like everyone is noticing how much quicker McCoy is thinking on his feet these days.

"You can tell when he's out there he's comfortable," fellow linebacker Mark Simoneau said. "He knows where he's supposed to be, where he's supposed to hit on everything. So it's night and day compared to last year. I think his head was spinning the whole time he was out there last year.

"It wasn't until the end of the season last year that he kind of started to get a feel for everything. Then he had this whole offseason and worked really hard and really got the defense down and worked hard on his physical stuff as well."

What kind of player Matt McCoy will turn out to be remains a mystery.

How he will play this season is now a certainty: at full speed.

Sounds like there are conflicting opinions on what his weight is and where it should be.

True dat. I've read various reports stating McCoy weighed between 234-236 entering the draft last year. GOD knows what he weighs now. At the end of the day, if he can start at WLB and play the nickle for the Eagles, he has a legit chance of being a Top-30 LB. Trotter is not destined to play passing downs; therefore, if McCoy starts, he shouldn't leave the field.

 

[Pick]

Have heard/read the same blurbs. I believe McCoy needs to bulk up.

From what I've read, I think McCoy actually bulked-up too much last year. As a result, his speed was hampered. It was my understanding McCoy has actually lost 5-10lbs this offseason in an effort to regain his speed. The Eagles coaching staff says McCoy looks like a completely different player, as a result.

From a TSN team report from about two weeks ago:

Second-year LB Matt McCoy was so overwhelmed he was with coordinator Jim Johnson's defense that he could not even get on the field on special teams as a rookie. This season, with a better understanding of what he is expected to do, the team wants McCoy to be its starting weakside linebacker. The 2005 second-round pick is a bit undersized (6-0, 225). He's going to have to use his speed and develop good instincts to make an impact as a playmaker on the weak side.

TSN

There's no doubt that McCoy was fish outside of water last year. However, McCoy hit the "books" hard in the offseason and seems to have a much better grasp on the Eagles' complicated D.If memory serves me, McCoy played near 240lbs last year (which is good size considering he's only 5'11" - 6'0" tall). He has since lost 5-10lbs of this in an effort to regain his 4.6/40 speed. Here's a good article talking about the missing aspects of McCoy's game last year.

link:

http://www.nj.com/sports/gloucester/index....8450.xml&coll=8

Birds' McCoy a new man

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Second-year players in the Eagles' locker room use the word "swimming" most often to describe the sinking feeling they had in their rookie seasons.

Regardless of word choices, there always is a sense of clarity they project once they have a complete understanding of a system that often takes a year or more to learn.

Matt McCoy is the latest in a long line. Selected with the 63rd overall selection in last year's draft, the linebacker whose game is driven mostly by speed was always a step or two late when it came to making plays as a rookie.

That's the main reason he appeared in only four games last season.

Don't expect the same pattern to emerge this year.

"I've been working hard all offseason," McCoy said, "and it showed when I came in that first week (after this year's draft). ... I think my coaches got really confident because I knew what I was doing. I mean, they'd ask me questions and I'd be right on it. I wasn't really sure enough last year. Now I've gained their trust and that's why I think I'm here right now."

McCoy has come so far that the starting weakside job vacated by free agent Keith Adams is now his to lose.

Merit, not necessity, is why McCoy is now working with the first team, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson insisted.

"There is no question he's a much different player out there," Johnson said. "He's a lot more confident. He struggled last year, no question, and I think he will admit that, but this year he knows everything, is playing with a lot of confidence and, again, he has to take it to the field.

"He has some toughness and he's going to have plenty of opportunity to earn that starting spot. I don't know if it's a make or break year, but it's an important year for him. It's an important year for all of us, but it's an important year for him to show what he is. Right now, he is very comfortable, so we'll see what happens."

To his credit, McCoy views the promotion as something he hasn't earned yet.

Once the hitting starts in training camp and the preseason, McCoy knows he will have to prove all over again that he is better suited to start over 31-year-old Shawn Barber, a nine-year veteran in his second tour of duty with the Birds.

Barber was the Eagles' starter for the entire 2002 season, finishing second on the team with 119 tackles.

"It doesn't mean anything, it's not game time yet," McCoy said, "so I've still got to be humble about it. I mean, Shawn's a great player and I guess it's my job to lose and I've got to keep playing hard and be hungry."

This is in stark contrast to last season, which was spent learning everything about the Eagles' defense the hard way.

"There's just so many checks and so many line movements," McCoy said. "It gets really confusing. ... They can motion the tight end and then you've got to become a (strongside linebacker). It gets really confusing, especially when you're trying to be good. You're (as) mentally worn down as you're physically worn down."

Those days appear to be over.

Johnson and the coaching staff aren't the only ones pointing this out, either. Seems like everyone is noticing how much quicker McCoy is thinking on his feet these days.

"You can tell when he's out there he's comfortable," fellow linebacker Mark Simoneau said. "He knows where he's supposed to be, where he's supposed to hit on everything. So it's night and day compared to last year. I think his head was spinning the whole time he was out there last year.

"It wasn't until the end of the season last year that he kind of started to get a feel for everything. Then he had this whole offseason and worked really hard and really got the defense down and worked hard on his physical stuff as well."

What kind of player Matt McCoy will turn out to be remains a mystery.

How he will play this season is now a certainty: at full speed.

Sounds like there are conflicting opinions on what his weight is and where it should be.

True dat. I've read various reports stating McCoy weighed between 234-236 entering the draft last year. GOD knows what he weighs now. At the end of the day, if he can start at WLB and play the nickle for the Eagles, he has a legit chance of being a Top-30 LB. Trotter is not destined to play passing downs; therefore, if McCoy starts, he shouldn't leave the field.

A quick look at a few WLBs shows D. Brooks, D. Johnson, and some others at 235. So it's not like McCoy is way underweight anyway. Personally, I'll take lighter/faster over heavier/slower at WLB.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Have heard/read the same blurbs.  I believe McCoy needs to bulk up.

From what I've read, I think McCoy actually bulked-up too much last year. As a result, his speed was hampered. It was my understanding McCoy has actually lost 5-10lbs this offseason in an effort to regain his speed. The Eagles coaching staff says McCoy looks like a completely different player, as a result.

From a TSN team report from about two weeks ago:

Second-year LB Matt McCoy was so overwhelmed he was with coordinator Jim Johnson's defense that he could not even get on the field on special teams as a rookie. This season, with a better understanding of what he is expected to do, the team wants McCoy to be its starting weakside linebacker. The 2005 second-round pick is a bit undersized (6-0, 225). He's going to have to use his speed and develop good instincts to make an impact as a playmaker on the weak side.

TSN

There's no doubt that McCoy was fish outside of water last year. However, McCoy hit the "books" hard in the offseason and seems to have a much better grasp on the Eagles' complicated D.If memory serves me, McCoy played near 240lbs last year (which is good size considering he's only 5'11" - 6'0" tall). He has since lost 5-10lbs of this in an effort to regain his 4.6/40 speed. Here's a good article talking about the missing aspects of McCoy's game last year.

link:

http://www.nj.com/sports/gloucester/index....8450.xml&coll=8

Birds' McCoy a new man

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Second-year players in the Eagles' locker room use the word "swimming" most often to describe the sinking feeling they had in their rookie seasons.

Regardless of word choices, there always is a sense of clarity they project once they have a complete understanding of a system that often takes a year or more to learn.

Matt McCoy is the latest in a long line. Selected with the 63rd overall selection in last year's draft, the linebacker whose game is driven mostly by speed was always a step or two late when it came to making plays as a rookie.

That's the main reason he appeared in only four games last season.

Don't expect the same pattern to emerge this year.

"I've been working hard all offseason," McCoy said, "and it showed when I came in that first week (after this year's draft). ... I think my coaches got really confident because I knew what I was doing. I mean, they'd ask me questions and I'd be right on it. I wasn't really sure enough last year. Now I've gained their trust and that's why I think I'm here right now."

McCoy has come so far that the starting weakside job vacated by free agent Keith Adams is now his to lose.

Merit, not necessity, is why McCoy is now working with the first team, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson insisted.

"There is no question he's a much different player out there," Johnson said. "He's a lot more confident. He struggled last year, no question, and I think he will admit that, but this year he knows everything, is playing with a lot of confidence and, again, he has to take it to the field.

"He has some toughness and he's going to have plenty of opportunity to earn that starting spot. I don't know if it's a make or break year, but it's an important year for him. It's an important year for all of us, but it's an important year for him to show what he is. Right now, he is very comfortable, so we'll see what happens."

To his credit, McCoy views the promotion as something he hasn't earned yet.

Once the hitting starts in training camp and the preseason, McCoy knows he will have to prove all over again that he is better suited to start over 31-year-old Shawn Barber, a nine-year veteran in his second tour of duty with the Birds.

Barber was the Eagles' starter for the entire 2002 season, finishing second on the team with 119 tackles.

"It doesn't mean anything, it's not game time yet," McCoy said, "so I've still got to be humble about it. I mean, Shawn's a great player and I guess it's my job to lose and I've got to keep playing hard and be hungry."

This is in stark contrast to last season, which was spent learning everything about the Eagles' defense the hard way.

"There's just so many checks and so many line movements," McCoy said. "It gets really confusing. ... They can motion the tight end and then you've got to become a (strongside linebacker). It gets really confusing, especially when you're trying to be good. You're (as) mentally worn down as you're physically worn down."

Those days appear to be over.

Johnson and the coaching staff aren't the only ones pointing this out, either. Seems like everyone is noticing how much quicker McCoy is thinking on his feet these days.

"You can tell when he's out there he's comfortable," fellow linebacker Mark Simoneau said. "He knows where he's supposed to be, where he's supposed to hit on everything. So it's night and day compared to last year. I think his head was spinning the whole time he was out there last year.

"It wasn't until the end of the season last year that he kind of started to get a feel for everything. Then he had this whole offseason and worked really hard and really got the defense down and worked hard on his physical stuff as well."

What kind of player Matt McCoy will turn out to be remains a mystery.

How he will play this season is now a certainty: at full speed.

Sounds like there are conflicting opinions on what his weight is and where it should be.

True dat. I've read various reports stating McCoy weighed between 234-236 entering the draft last year. GOD knows what he weighs now. At the end of the day, if he can start at WLB and play the nickle for the Eagles, he has a legit chance of being a Top-30 LB. Trotter is not destined to play passing downs; therefore, if McCoy starts, he shouldn't leave the field.

A quick look at a few WLBs shows D. Brooks, D. Johnson, and some others at 235. So it's not like McCoy is way underweight anyway. Personally, I'll take lighter/faster over heavier/slower at WLB.

Me too. A lot of LBs in that size range. Julian Peterson, Will Witherspoon etc.

 

[Weiner Dog]

Another tidbit I found interesting is the fact that McCoy was not invited to the NFL Combine in '05. The guy was flat-out snubbed.

McCoy played alongside Kirk Morrison. Everybody labelled Morrison as the stud LB of the team, but McCoy was draft before Morrison. As of today (...and as of last year's play), I would say the Eagles have been wrong thus far. Morrison was very productive his rookie season while McCoy...well...McCoy was barely a special team contributor.

I guess we'll know more in 3-4 months.

 

[Pick]

Another tidbit I found interesting is the fact that McCoy was not invited to the NFL Combine in '05. The guy was flat-out snubbed.

McCoy played alongside Kirk Morrison. Everybody labelled Morrison as the stud LB of the team, but McCoy was draft before Morrison. As of today (...and as of last year's play), I would say the Eagles have been wrong thus far. Morrison was very productive his rookie season while McCoy...well...McCoy was barely a special team contributor.

I guess we'll know more in 3-4 months.

I remember hearing that. I was very surprised. I saw a lot of McCoy in the MWC and figured he'd get at least a sniff.

 

[tazmantiny]

Another tidbit I found interesting is the fact that McCoy was not invited to the NFL Combine in '05. The guy was flat-out snubbed.

McCoy played alongside Kirk Morrison. Everybody labelled Morrison as the stud LB of the team, but McCoy was draft before Morrison. As of today (...and as of last year's play), I would say the Eagles have been wrong thus far. Morrison was very productive his rookie season while McCoy...well...McCoy was barely a special team contributor.

I guess we'll know more in 3-4 months.

But to be fair here, Oaklands defensive scheme was no where near as complex as the Eagles. Oakland basically uses a read and react defense, while they Eagles will use multiple scheme packages.