Who Will Get The Ball In 2009?
Despite all his greatness…Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was stuffed on a 4th and 1 late in a week 10 game last season by New York Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn. Chase Blackburn? Are you serious?
This 36 to 31 loss to the rival Giants was a difficult moment for the Philly faithful last season. Eagles fans have been distraught and weary from all the close calls and near misses suffered during the Andy Reid era in Philadelphia. The Eagles had run the ball only 16 times the entire game and netted a whopping 61 yards with quarterback Donovan McNabb leading the way with 35 yards on 3 carries.
One word to describe the Eagles running game last year would have been…Inconsistent! The explosive but oft-injured Westbrook was the only Eagle runner to gain more than 100 yards during any one contest last season and he only accomplished this feat three times in the 16 game campaign. Many believed the problem was Andy Reid’s reluctance to run the football often enough to establish balance in the offense. A few weeks later, the coaching staff changed gears by pounding the rock… this led to 4 wins in the team’s final 5 games.
The Eagles had finally found balance in their offense and rode this momentum all the way to the NFC Championship game where they came up short against the Arizona Cardinals. Nonetheless, the Eagles must do everything they can to make sure Chase Blackburn will not ever again make a stop on a 4 th and 1 to decide a close game.
It appears the Eagles front office believes they have solved the short yardage issue and improved the inconsistent running game. The moves to acquire top-tiered talent across the offensive line over the off-season will help improve on a rushing offense ranked 22 nd in the league last year. The short yardage carries may end up in the hands of versatile FB Leonard Weaver acquired from the Seattle Seahawks. Weaver fits the Eagles offense as a good run blocker; pass catcher and short yardage runner. Despite the move to acquire Weaver, the Eagles were met with a serious concern early this summer. Westbrook needed surgery to repair a bad ankle, which had been a terrible nuisance all of last season.
Westbrook is scheduled to be sidelined much of the pre-season and leaves uncertainty at the position leading into the regular season. Fortunately, prior to the news of his surgery, the front office had a plan to reduce Westbrook’s carries and keep him healthier in 2009. They selected tailback, Lesean “Shady” McCoy, in this past April’s college football draft. The 2 nd round pick out of Pittsburgh may be expected to carry a major load during the pre-season and may even start week one at Carolina if Westbrook is not able to go.
Many Eagles fans are hoping McCoy can help ease concerns over Westbrook’s injury and also be a steady lift off the bench throughout the season. McCoy’s talent is clear; he rushed for 2,816 yards and 35 touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons. Voted to the NCAA’s All Big East team during both campaigns, McCoy carried the ball time and time again for a team devoid of a credible passing game. But that was college and this is the NFL! Can the Eagles depend on a rookie runner to be the top guy until Westbrook’s return? It may be too much to ask of a rookie and that is why there have been rumors swirling around the Eagles off-season team activities in regards to a veteran being signed for insurance.
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Are the Eagles ready for another Deuce to don the white and green? At the end of last season, the New Orleans Saints decided former pro bowl running back, Deuce McAllister, to be dispensable. Another running back with a history of injuries, McAllister has been a proven commodity in the NFL. He will get the tough yards at 6’1 232 lbs. and despite his diminished role in the Saints backfield last year, he still produced 5 touchdowns in 13 games played.
The other possible addition could be another former pro bowler in Edgerrin James. The NFC Champion, Arizona Cardinals, released this grinder of a back earlier this year. His improved play and veteran leadership in the play-offs will garner much attention from Philly fans. The only question is how much attention he will get from the Eagles front office? Entering his 11 th season in the league, most believe James has lost a step but still has the toughness to be a short yardage complimentary back.
The Eagles would do well to sign either of these players who are both 30 years of age and should have a little something still left in the tank. Both backs have had 1000 yard seasons as recent as 2006. Each back has proven to be successful pass catchers out of the backfield, a skill much appreciated in the Eagles offense. More importantly, ask any Eagles fan about that week 10 loss to the Giants and whether they feel the Eagles could have won that game with either McAllister or James taking that 4 th and 1 carry on the final drive.
Lastly, the Eagles should avoid entering the season with the possibility of having Lorenzo Booker as the #2 back on their depth chart. If Westbrook cannot go week 1 at Carolina, Booker, the 3 rd year player out of Florida State, may be the only true backup to the rookie McCoy. Booker came out of high school as one of the most highly touted high school players in this decade. He was sought after by every major college football program but the hype never truly turned into on-field success. He never broke out as a true superstar at Florida State and it seems as if many people in football circles are still waiting for his true talent to emerge. This cookie cutter ‘Warrick Dunn’ clone simply does not have the toughness or instincts of Dunn and therefore was relegated to the bench last season with the Eagles. He only gained 53 yards on 20 attempts and does not appear to be a viable option in the Eagles backfield.
The 2009 Season and the Eagles running game all comes down to the Westbrook injury. Will the Eagles sign a solid veteran to start the season or will they turn to the rookie McCoy and hope the freshman jitters do not lead to the talented young back putting the ball on the carpet? Will new lead blocker and occasional running back, Leonard Weaver get a shot to carry the ball more than the 30 attempts he’s averaged over the past two years? Or will the Eagles front office sit on their hands, pray and hope Westbrook’s injury does not derail this great player. If they wait on Westbrook, will he be able to top the three 100 yard performances from last season? Many of these questions will be answered fairly shortly with the opening of training camp in late July. Whatever choices are made, no true Eagles fan will settle for a team not able to gain 1 yard over the carcass of linebacker Chase Blackburn. Bring in Deuce or Edge!
By
Tracy Lawrence
ProFootball-fans.com Philadelphia Eagles Correspondent