July

July 3, 2008   

Avant, Baskett, Lewis could have something to say about Eagles' passing game

Nearly a third of the Eagles’ completions were to running backs last season, and that number could actually go up with the addition of Lorenzo Booker. And the tight ends are sure to play a bigger role with L.J. Smith expected to be healthy and providing more of an impact on the passing offense. So where does that leave the wideouts? Well, Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown are expected to remain the starters, and rookie DeSean Jackson is guaranteed a roster spot, likely as a returner and slot receiver. But we hear that the Eagles have plans for their three other veteran receivers — Jason Avant, Hank Baskett and Greg Lewis. Avant won the No. 3 job last season but was bothered by a hernia season-long and never took the step forward the coaches had expected, but he’s a player they remain high on. Baskett has flashed big-play potential and has the size to play every WR spot, and Lewis finds a way to keep hanging on. It’s possible that the coaches opt to keep six wideouts, figuring that Jackson’s and Baskett’s special-teams value (Baskett is one of the team’s best coverage guys) would allow them to do so. Playing Booker and Brian Westbrook in the same backfield together, as the Eagles say they could do, might cut into the other receivers’ time. But don’t rule out Avant, Baskett and Lewis all making the team and having legitimately defined roles.

June

June 27, 2008   

Options might be running out for Eagles’ McDougle, Moats

The handwriting is on the wall for two former first-day Eagles draft picks. DE Jerome McDougle, a first-round pick in 2003, and RB Ryan Moats, a third-rounder in 2005, appear to be on the outside looking in as training camp approaches. McDougle, whose promising career has been derailed by injuries, now sits seventh on the DE depth chart following the offseason additions of free agent Chris Clemons and rookie Bryan Smith, who will be tried at end despite needing to bulk up (he’s reportedly up to 245 pounds and could weigh more when camp arrives). And Moats, who flashed ability as a rookie, averaging 5.1 yards a carry, essentially had a lost season in ’06, plagued by fumbles and an inability to master the offense in training camp, and then he was injured all of last season. The Eagles currently have Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter, Lorenzo Booker and Tony Hunt ahead of Moats at running back. McDougle is entering the final year of his rookie contract and most likely won’t make it out of camp. Moats could stick around longer if he shows he can help on special teams and beats out either Buckhalter or Hunt, but our sources say that isn’t expected.

June 20, 2008   

Eagles choose von Oelhoffen over Ramsey, others at defensive tackle

The Eagles made their final cuts before training camp, nine players in all, choosing to go with experience over promise. For parts of three years, the team has watched DT LaJuan Ramsey and believed he could blossom into a respectable rotation guy, but ultimately it decided that he could not provide enough consistent production to keep him over veteran DT Kimo von Oelhoffen. Ramsey, 24, flashed ability but often was left inactive on game days, playing only 15 games the past two seasons. By contrast, von Oelhoffen is 37 and is near the tail end of a respectable career. He no longer is a top run defender or the pass rusher he was with the Bengals and Steelers but the staff thought he would be the better option as one of the four defensive tackles who rotate in Jim Johnson’s system. This might be another subtle but clear indication that the Eagles are gearing up for a Super Bowl run this season rather than continuing to develop youth, as they have done in the past.

June 13, 2008   

Eagles brush off McNabb’s shoulder injury

The Eagles have said that QB Donovan McNabb’s shoulder tendinitis, which will keep him from throwing for at least two weeks, is not serious. McNabb has echoed that sentiment, saying, “It’s not a big deal.” The Eagles won’t restrict McNabb from throwing until training camp unless the injury gets worse, but McNabb thinks he can throw before the two weeks of prescribed rest are up. Still, the concern is a big one outside the organization. McNabb has had similar pain before, suffering tendinitis in his throwing shoulder in 2004. The team also made him rest then, but McNabb has a long recent injury history, which has caused him to miss 15 games with different ailments over the past three seasons. The last time McNabb was healthy for an entire season, in 2004, the Eagles played in the Super Bowl. The coaching staff feels this team has a chance to make it again this season, but losing McNabb might throw a wrench into those plans.

May

May 30, 2008   

Justice still in Eagles’ OT picture

There was a bit of a draft-weekend buzz that the Eagles’ selection of three offensive linemen, all of whom played tackle in college, was a statement about what the team thought of its OL depth, namely with OT Winston Justice, who has shown little of the promise he held as a 2006 second-round pick. But Eagles sources say they are far from ready to cut their losses with Justice, who has spent the offseason getting bigger and stronger. Justice does need to strengthen mentally, too, but he said recently during the team’s OTAs that head coach Andy Reid never challenged his toughness or anything like that. Instead, Reid prescribed more time in the weight room for his player. To be fair, Justice has received far more criticism for the 3½ sacks he allowed in one game to Giants DE Osi Umenyiora than Justice got credit for the fine job he did in replacing an injured Jon Runyan in Week 17, and Justice has his share of supporters inside the NovaCare Complex.

May 21, 2008   

Eagles’ Jackson appears happy with potential role

In his first test, during rookie minicamp earlier this month, WR DeSean Jackson caught almost everything thrown in his direction and showed good quickness and burst as a receiver. The problem was that PR DeSean Jackson wasn’t quite as flawless, dropping several punts that he appeared to misread. Jackson says he’s not concerned with his early flaws and thinks that he’ll improve his performance this week and for the next month through minicamp and OTAs. “It wasn’t too bad,” Jackson told PFW. “You just have to read them a little differently in the pros. They also go higher in the air. I feel like I have an opportunity to catch punts and kickoffs, and I intend to take advantage.” In fact, Jackson’s opportunity as a punt (and possibly kickoff) returner might be more significant than as a receiver right away, though Jackson says he thinks he can be a factor as a slot receiver — he’ll focus primarily on that position now — once he learns this complex offense. “I definitely felt like there was a lot going on,” he said. “It’s a great offense, there’s just a lot to know. It was hectic, but I felt comfortable just trying to go out there and have as much fun as I could playing. I play better when I have fun.”

May 16, 2008   

Eagles could add more 3-4 looks to defense

Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson never will be known as anything but a pressure-based 4-3 guy, but the Eagles might opt to work in a few more 3-4 packages this season. The Eagles are young and deep and linebacker, making it possible, and they also have added a few potentially versatile pieces who could offer interesting rush potential. Chris Clemons has spent his career as a down lineman, but Johnson will at least experiment with him as a stand-up rusher from time to time. A similar niche could be worked out with undersized rookie DE Bryan Smith. “I think it comes down to our linebackers and our depth at linebacker,” Johnson said at last week’s minicamp. “How much will we do it? We will do it some. We’ve done it a little bit before. It’s always kind of a mixture for us. … You have to be (creative) a little bit. Just like (LB) Chris Gocong last year, we were able to take advantage of his pass-rush ability and his drop ability. … The biggest thing I think we have is we are a faster team. We’re trying to get speed on the field. You want to be physical and you want to make sure you have speed. We’re still looking for that guy who can be that physical guy who has speed, who can rush the passer, but who can still drop. Those are the things that go into your creative packages.”

May 2, 2008   

Jaguars not hot on Sheppard, but he may be traded elsewhere

Multiple sources have shot down talk that the Jaguars have interest in making a deal for CB Lito Sheppard, but that doesn’t mean that he’ll be a member of the Eagles in the upcoming season. As it stands, he’s part of a good CB trio with Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown, but there are indications that Sheppard, who is unhappy with his contract, still could end up with a different address come September. It appeared that he’d be traded before last weekend’s draft, allowing the Eagles to boost an already strong cadre of picks. He visited the Buccaneers, but no deal occurred. And now, it’s not clear that the Eagles would be able to get much in the way of immediate returns for Sheppard and might have to settle for 2009 draft choices.

April

April 23, 2008   

Eagles seem happy with roster after shunning major Draft Day deals

Updated as of 8:00 a.m. EDT Monday, April 28

The Eagles thought better of trading CB Lito Sheppard on draft weekend, not getting the value they desired for a Pro Bowl-level cornerback. They also stood firm on not making a deal for a veteran wideout — the Lions’ Roy Williams was the hot name leading up to the draft. Head coach Andy Reid, it appears, was doing his due diligence on both fronts, examining all possibilities that might help his team. It’s clear that he doesn’t feel desperate to make a big-name splash and is comfortable with his team, though a deal could happen on either front before the start of the season. How satisfied was Reid in his team? He made a trade down and out of Round One, more than 20 slots, though the move looks potentially brilliant because he was able to add a player at a position of need that some feel carried a high grade in California WR DeSean Jackson.

April 11, 2008   

McNabb's offseason routine focuses on developing more arm strength

Like many veterans reaching similar stages in their careers, QB Donovan McNabb sought a different training regimen this offseason. And unlike previous years, he has been able to do a full routine in Arizona, rather than have to rehabilitate an injury in Philadelphia. He thinks the results will be productive as he hits his 10th season. “I started earlier than usual to continue to make sure that I keep that strength there and flexibility,” McNabb told PFW this week. “It’s always good to … write down when you want to start (working out), what you want to do, knowing that you don’t have to be rehabbing for half of the offseason. With that, you’re trying to cram things in to be prepared for the season.” He’s working with a new trainer who has him going through a different series of workouts to help him improve his throwing and stamina. “I have been working with a new trainer (Brett Fischer) who is known for his rehab as well as preparing a lot of baseball players. We work mostly on arm strength, rotation, core, lower back, and being able to use your legs in a lot of different things that I do.”

April 2, 2008   

Special teams become area of focus for Eagles

The recent additions of TE Kris Wilson, FB Dan Klecko and LB Rocky Boiman represent a clear indication that the team is trying to shore up its coverage units on special teams. Last season, the groups suffered following the free-agent losses of LB Shawn Barber and CB Rod Hood, the injury to S Sean Considine and the promotion to the starting lineup of S Quintin Mikell, one of the best special-teams guys who had to commit more energy to defense. Boiman has excelled in coverage over the years. Wilson also has been a standout. And the team might have a spot for Klecko, who could make a heck of a wedge blocker on kick returns or as one of the linemen on the punt and field-goal teams, having played in the trenches as a defensive lineman before. But the Eagles aren’t done yet. In addition to seeking more coverage guys in the draft, the team also might be eyeing a move to secure one of the top return specialists — Troy’s Leodis McKelvin, who likely will be gone in the first 10 picks of the draft. The Eagles currently pick 19th in Round One but also possess a potential trading chip — CB Lito Sheppard — that a lot of teams might be interested in. The Eagles suffered last season with poor returners, and McKelvin is considered perhaps the best RS prospect to come into the league since Devin Hester. McKelvin also could be groomed as a nickel cornerback, an area the Eagles would like more help at.

March

March 28, 2008   

Blocking gets boost in size, versatility with recent additions

In Andy Reid’s offense, the fullback is almost always a blocker and receiver, seldom a runner. The TE position is also involved heavily in the passing game, all things being equal, but it hasn’t been the most creatively used spot on the field in recent years. That said, the team values those spots within the scheme of the offense and has added two players, Dan Klecko and Kris Wilson, who could improve the blocking up front. Getting bigger and better at the line of scrimmage — on both sides of the ball — has been an issue of preference this offseason. Though Klecko, a former defensive lineman who had moonlighted at fullback, won’t be handed the FB job, he has a chance to win it. And Wilson, who played tight end, H-back and fullback in Kansas City, could be a factor at both the TE and FB spots in Philly. Klecko and Wilson might also make impacts on special teams, so don’t overlook the potential of these moves.

March 19, 2008   

Klecko knows move to fullback is a risky experiment

Former DT Dan Klecko has moonlighted as a fullback before, with both the Colts and the Patriots, but the Eagles plan for him to switch to the position full time. If all goes right, he’ll be the most physical in-line blocker the team has had at the position since Jon Ritchie. At worst, he’ll be cut. Expect the team to bring in at least one more fullback, and certainly one who has done it longer by trade. Klecko expects to lose about 20 pounds to make the switch, putting him in the 260- to 265-pound range. He knows this is a risk, dropping so much weight and making it unlikely he could play defensive tackle next season, but the opportunity to start and lead-block for Brian Westbrook ultimately was too inviting. “When the Eagles called,” Klecko said Monday, “I said, ‘Let’s get this done if they think this is something we can do.’ ”

March 14, 2008   

Are Eagles thinking wideout early in draft? Maybe not

The Eagles certainly were interested in seeing how the Larry Fitzgerald situation played out in Arizona, just as they watched carefully with Randy Moss and the Patriots. And there’s no question that they at least will keep tabs on Chad Johnson in Cincinnati and any other high-profile receiver not named Terrell Owens who might want to leave his current team for whatever reason. But that doesn’t mean the Eagles — should they strike out in their attempt to acquire a veteran — are prepared to draft a wideout with their first pick in the draft. The team currently sits at No. 19 in the first round and has shown a willingness to move up or down in the draft to get whomever it wants. However, rookie receivers typically haven’t performed all that well in Andy Reid’s offense in Year One, and the feeling is that although it might be a deep draft at the position, it's perhaps not top-heavy enough at wideout to expect a receiver to come in and start right away.

March 7, 2008   

Pursuit of Moss tips Eagles’ hands about need at receiver

Though head coach Andy Reid said he knew that WR Randy Moss would return to New England all along, there clearly was interest — very strong interest — by the Eagles wanting to upgrade at the position. That’s why there has been the connection to Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald and Lions WR Roy Williams, two top receivers who might be on the trade block. No other remaining free-agent wideout comes close to the talent of Moss, Fitzgerald or Williams. That said, a deal appears unlikely. The Cardinals appear committed to work something out, and the Lions have shot down the Williams talk. A wild card in the trade derby might be Bengals WR Chad Johnson, who appears to be trying to talk his way out of Cincinnati, but that is another situation that appears unlikely. The Bengals continue to say that Johnson will be on the team in 2008.

February

Feb. 29, 2008   

Eagles release Kearse on eve of free agency

The Eagles were willing to bring back DE Jevon Kearse — at a highly reduced salary. However, Kearse thought he deserved more and asked to be released. The move is not a surprise. Team officials have hinted it will invest heavily in its defensive line this offseason in order to improve the team’s pass rush and, in turn, its secondary with the added pressure. Adding to the intrigue is the Mike Patterson situation. The standout defensive tackle, coming off his best season, was charged with possession of marijuana and could be suspended by the league. The depth up front already was thin before this incident, so expect the team to add an inside player, as well. Vikings DT Spencer Johnson is a name to keep an eye on. But the biggest need remains at left end, with Juqua Thomas playing best in a rotation. The Eagles will open the free-agency period looking for someone to contribute more at that spot. The timing of Kearse’s release appears to suggest the team is confident it will come to terms with one quickly.

Feb. 22, 2008   

Eagles not dealing Sheppard, but changes will happen in secondary

Eagles GM Tom Heckert did his best to put out the fire that was the growing story about CB Lito Sheppard’s desire to play elsewhere and that the team had granted Sheppard and his agent, Lamont Smith, the right to work out a trade with another team. But this much is believed to be true: The Eagles feel they cannot count on a healthy Sheppard, even if he is their best cover corner. His injury troubles last season highlighted what scouts have said for years — that he’s too thin to play the way he does and stay on the field. That’s what makes the Eagles very likely to upgrade both at cornerback and safety this offseason. With Brian Dawkins and Sean Considine also battling injuries, the depth at the DB positions was exposed. The Eagles know they can’t go another season with that thin a group back there.

Feb. 15, 2008   

Franchising of Smith indicates Eagles going for one more run

The Donovan McNabb rumors mostly have been put to bed. All indications are that he’ll be the Eagles’ starting quarterback next season. And with TE L.J. Smith likely locked up for at least one more season after the team placed the franchise tag on him, it appears that the team is poised to load up for one more shot at a title. Head coach Andy Reid entered last season believing he had one of his most talented teams since coming to Philadelphia, and he might believe that this club has at least one more run in it with veterans such as McNabb, William Thomas, Jon Runyan and Brian Dawkins reaching their critical mass — either in Philadelphia or in the NFL. Expect a concentrated effort by the team to improve a couple more crucial areas, such as the defensive line, the secondary and wide receiver, and load up for a Super Bowl run next season. After 2008, you could see a flood of new faces on the Eagles.

Feb. 1, 2008   

Offensive line an area to watch for Eagles

The Eagles have enjoyed a good deal of continuity on the offensive line, but more so in 2006 than they had last season when a few starters missed games with injuries. That said, the Eagles have taken strides to protect themselves with depth at the position as well. The biggest-name reserve is OT Winston Justice, who came to the team young, talented and hyped but since has seen his stock drop — with one real game’s worth of experience. It was Justice’s horrible struggles in the Week Four matchup with Giants DE Osi Umenyiora in which Umenyiora had six sacks, and at least four of them were credited to Justice. His struggles likely mean that the team will pay starting OLT William Thomas, the man Justice was replacing in that game, in the neighborhood of $6 million to stay with the team this season. One reserve who handled his pinch-hit duty well was Max Jean-Gilles, who stepped in for an injured Shawn Andrews and handled himself quite well. So much so, team sources say, that Jean-Gilles could vie for a starting spot at left guard, battling with Todd Herremans, who wasn’t as good in ’07 as he was in ’06.