Spreading Their Wings - The Philadelphia Eagles

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Rookie Report: Cornelius Ingram, TE

Rookie Report: Cornelius Ingram, TE


Cornelius Ingram's great route running skills may allow him to receive a lot of playing time.

First Impressions: Smooth on his routes, extremely athletic and soft hands that snatch the football, Ingram looked comfortable in the offense in the camp. Of course, that's what we saw on the sidelines. No question tight ends coach Tom Melvin picked apart Ingram's performance, understanding just how precise Ingram has to be in this offense. But for a player who saw his first practice action since suffering a major knee injury last summer, Ingram wowed a lot of folks watching.

Where He Needs Work: There is so much more to playing tight end in the NFL than playing all over the formation as Ingram did in Florida's spread offense. The technique required is another world compared to the college game. Ingram needs to show he can block at the line of scrimmage and that he can get off the line and into his routes quickly against defenders who are going to try to jam him off the snap. Routes, recognition and succeeding in small windows in the red zone are also part of Ingram's upcoming test.

How He Could Fit In: Ingram backs up starter Brent Celek and the Eagles clearly hope Ingram is ready for some early-season action. How much they run two-tight end sets largely depends on how quickly Ingram advances in a short period of time. He and Melvin are going to spend a lot of time together in the months ahead.

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Rookie Report: Macho Harris, S/CB

Rookie Report: Macho Harris, S/CB


Macho Harris could turn in to a solid swing corner.

First Impressions: Active defender, not afraid to call out formations and assert himself as the free safety. Good head on his shoulders and hungry to be in the NFL and to succeed. Other than that, it was impossible to tell for Harris, or any defender. There was no hitting at this camp, so a real gauge for Harris comes much, much later.

Where He Needs Work: Harris has to learn Jim Johnson's complicated defense and all of the signals and responsibilities that come with playing free safety. Harris also has to show he can play special teams and earn a spot on the roster that way.

How He Could Fit In: The Eagles would love to see Harris pick up the system quickly and also show he can cover well enough to be a swing cornerback. Harris could provide a lot of value as a player who can do both, similar to what Quintin Demps showed a year ago. Special teams are, obviously, a top area for Harris to show he can help.

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Rookie Report: Fenuki Tupou, OT

Rookie Report: Fenuki Tupou, OT


Tupou has an opportunity to show that he deserves to play in the preseason.

First Impressions: Big body, good feet and an eager learner under offensive line coach Juan Castillo. Tupou is likely to get a long look at right tackle, but not until the pads go on will we know how he handles the speed off the edge in the NFL.

Where He Needs Work: As with any lineman who comes to the Eagles, Tupou has to adapt to the tempo of Castillo and the coach's demand for perfection in his technique. Tupou also has to demonstrate that he is enough of an athlete to play at this level.

How He Could Fit In: The Eagles love to develop young linemen, so Tupou fits into the developmental category. Who is this team's backup right tackle? Heck, who is the team's starting right tackle? Tupou will get good tmie in the preseason to show what he can do and he will try to make this team as a backup tackle.

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Rookie Report: Brandon Gibson, WR

Rookie Report: Brandon Gibson, WR


Gibson has to work hard just to make the Eagles roster.

First Impressions: Really good hands, smart kid and good body control. Gibson is not a burner by any means, but he seemed to run good routes and get to his spots. Gibson made a tremendous catch in the back of the end zone during a Sunday morning drill, and he left Philadelphia feeling good about his performance.

Where He Needs Work: Can he run at this level? Can he separate from cornerbacks who are going to challenge him from the very start? Along with the normal learning curve and figuring out the offense and all of its adjustments, Gibson must show he is strong enough and fast enough to play here.

How He Could Fit In: It is a crowded, crowded field at wide receiver. Gibson has to stand out on special teams and make every play that comes his way in practice and in the preseason. Can he make the roster? Gibson is a long shot, but he certainly has a shot. The Eagles drafted him for a reason.

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Rookie Report: Paul Fanaika, OG

Rookie Report: Paul Fanaika, OG


Fanaika will be battling with a large group of offensive lineman for a spot on a team.

First Impressions: Another big body to work inside and provide bulk and some power. The Eagles like his feet and his punch. Hard to tell much more about Fanaika after a weekend of work and of learning Castillo's hand placement and foot positioning.

Where He Needs Work: Fanaika has to get the technique down and demonstrate that he has the power to deal with NFL defensive tackles and the games they play inside. He is going to enjoy the work with Castillo and see how quickly he improves.

How He Could Fit In: Lump Fanaika into a group with Mike McGlynn and Mike Gibson, a pair of draft picks from a year ago. There is excellent competition inside as the Eagles search for more depth at the guard and center spots.

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Rookie Report: Moise Fokou, LB

Rookie Report: Moise Fokou, LB


Moise Fokou will be looking for a spot on special teams.

First Impressions: Quick on his feet and active chasing in coverage, Fokou was around the ball quite a bit over the weekend. He showed good ball skills in his drills with the linebackers.

Where He Needs Work: Fokou isn't the biggest player on the field, so he will have to shed blockers and get to the ball quickly at this level. How well does Fokou drop in coverage? Is he fast enough to cover backs in the passing game? Playing linebacker is not an easy thing to do in this system.

How He Could Fit In: Fokou comes in looking for a job as a reserve among a talented group of players at linebacker. The key for Fokou is to earn a roster spot on special teams, first and foremost. Look for Fokou to compete with the likes of Joe Mays, Tank Daniels and Tracy White for a spot. We won't know much about Fokou until training camp comes.

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Ankle Injury Sidelines Westbrook

Ankle Injury Sidelines Westbrook



Two veterans were noticeably absent from the practice field as the Organized Team Activities (OTAs) got under way on Tuesday. Cornerback Sheldon Brown elected not to attend the first of eight days of voluntary workouts, while running back Brian Westbrook missed the workout because of a sore ankle.

This latest injury, head coach Andy Reid insists, has nothing to do with the chronic left knee soreness which plagued Westbrook last season. Westbrook underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee during the off-season.

"This past week, he got a hold of (head athletic trainer) Rick (Burkholder) and his ankle was bothering him, so we're checking it out," Reid said. "His knee is feeling good. He went through our last camp and was feeling good. It's just his ankle that's bothering him."

Westbrook set career highs and finished fourth in the NFC with 14 touchdowns in 2008, despite missing two games due to injury, including one he missed with a high ankle sprain. A healthy Westbrook is key to what the team does offensively. The all-purpose back is a go-to guy as a running back and as a receiver out of the backfield.

The team drafted LeSean McCoy out of Pitt to help shoulder the load in the backfield. And no Westbrook on Tuesday meant more reps for the rookie and Lorenzo Booker, who was acquired in a trade on draft weekend in 2008.

Brown, meanwhile, was present at the mandatory post-draft mini-camp, and at the time addressed the concerns he has about his interest in a new contract. At that time, Brown also stressed that he would not be a distraction or a problem for the team.

Reid said he didn't necessarily expect Brown to participate in any of the workouts.

"Sheldon's doing what Sheldon thinks he needs to do," Reid said. "I wish he was here. I want everybody here, obviously."

Ellis Hobbs started at right cornerback for the Eagles, opposite Asante Samuel, his former teammate in New England. The trickle-down effect of Brown's absence translates into more reps for guys like Jack Ikegwuonu as well. Ikegwuonu, a fourth-round pick in 2008, missed all of last season with a torn ACL.

"If you're not here then you give other people an opportunity to show it. I remember (free agent T) Jon Runyan saying that over and over ... He said I'm not going to miss one snap because it gives another guy a chance to step in there," Reid said. "I think that's how the guys think and really that's the truth. It's an obvious statement because it's the truth.

"I really just concentrate on those guys that are here. The guys that are here are obviously getting reps and doing what they need to do."

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A Look at LeSean McCoy

A Look at LeSean McCoy



LeSean McCoy had already made history before he stepped on the practice field for the first time as a Philadelphia Eagle. As a second-round pick, the 53rd overall selection in this year's draft, McCoy was chosen with the highest draft pick to ever be used on a running back in the Andy Reid era. Not even All-Pro Brian Westbrook, a third-round selection, was drafted that high.

The need for depth at the position in the off-season was apparent. Correll Buckhalter departed for a chance to start in Denver. The only other running back on the roster with experience in the Eagles offense was Lorenzo Booker.

"We drafted McCoy, obviously, for a reason, and that's to work in and play," head coach Andy Reid said. "And so, I think what I've seen from him, and these camps are good if you're looking at the skill position players, you get an idea of what they can do and see what their strengths and weaknesses are there. I like what I've seen from him."

So, what has he seen?

"Great change of direction, ability to catch the football." Reid added. "We're asking him to do a lot of things formation-wise; he's able to handle that. He wants to learn, and has enough aptitude to learn. And so, he's really done well."

The question now is how long is it before McCoy is expected to make an impact on the offense. Westbrook underwent ankle surgery earlier this month and the Eagles are optimistic that he will be fine for the start of the regular season. And as good as McCoy looked in the Organized Team Activities, he will need to prove it with the pads on during training camp and the preseason in order to earn playing time.

"It's hard to talk about whether I'm going to play immediately if I don't know what I'm doing," McCoy said. "We have to get that squared off first then further down the line we'll know more about it. I'm doing pretty good I think. Everyday I'm getting better and better. Fewer errors, especially mental errors."

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A Look at Kicker David Akers

A Look at Kicker David Akers



Did You Know?

Akers has been training with sports performance coach Kate Decker from Velocity Sports Performance in Cherry Hill, N.J. to improve the explosiveness in his hips and help him retain his power. Some of Akers' teammates recommended Decker after he injured his hamstring in 2005 and the two have worked together ever since.

By The Numbers

144 - Number of points scored by Akers in 2008, which was No. 1 in the NFC and it set a new single-season franchise record

17 - Touchbacks by Akers in 2008, a career high and the most by an Eagle since Roger Ruzek hit that many in 1992

15 - Number of consecutive field goals made by Akers at one stretch during the 2008 season which tied the second-longest streak in team history

51 - Length in yards of successful field goal in Wild Card win over Minnesota in the playoffs. It was the longest postseason field goal in Eagles history

What He Said

"I came in three days a week in the off-season with Sav (Rocca), Jon (Dorenbos) so Ted Daisher could get a feel for how we kick and our timing and what nuances make us tick. We're trying to hone it in so we can be better this year."

[Kia Kaha]

wow this looks great, great work flight
will follow

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Sav Rocca :D

Former Aussie Rules player. Dude has a hell of a leg and is pretty big (220+lbs, 6'5"-ish)

dude's leg is ridiculous, not the best control though.

wow this looks great, great work flight
will follow

thanks man

Looking good, but you need to give the authors credit for those articles because you didn't write them.

Other than that, I'm good, and I'll follow.

I hate the Eagles though... go Vikes!!!

...

Shut the fuck up dude, seriously. Does it really matter? You didn't write it, and he's not actually saying that he wrote it so...

+1. i guess if it's an issue though i'll start doing that.

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WR Jackson Heads List of Top 10 Prospects

WR Jackson Heads List of Top 10 Prospects
- Chris McPherson | philadelphiaeagles.com -


DeSean Jackson has high expectations this season.

Chris Steuber, who can be found on this site frequently around draft time, penned an intriguing piece for Scout.com. Steuber is analyzing the top 10 prospects for every team in the NFL. Prospects are usually discussed in baseball where teams have players honing their skills in the minor leagues before they move up to the big time.

You can't really hide a promising project like that in the NFL. If you think that a player has a chance to play, whether it's now or in a year or two, you have to keep them on the active roster. What exactly is Steuber's definition of an NFL prospect? Players who are either entering their third year in the league or who are under 25 years old.

Steuber ranked the Eagles' top prospects and on the list are six offensive players and four defensive players. There are two wide receivers, two tight ends, a quarterback and a running back on offense. On defense, Steuber has a middle linebacker, a defensive end, a defensive tackle and a safety.

I'm sure you can guess by this point who the players are, but here's the top 10 list with some of his notes about each player. If you are in the mood for putting things in order, check out our Pecking Order feature where you can rank the most difficult players to replace on the Eagles. If you want to tell Steuber what you think of the list, drop him a message here on the Eagles Message Boards.

1. WR DeSean Jackson - "With Jackson gaining more and more confidence each time he's on the field and his father's memory entrenched in his mind, the rest of the league is about to witness something special."

2. LB Stewart Bradley - "Judging from what he's displayed on the field so far in his young career, Bradley's ready to become a perennial All Pro."

3. QB Kevin Kolb - "Kolb is still a top prospect in the organization and should be considered that, because in reality he's one injury away from being a full time starter."

4. WR Jeremy Maclin - "The Eagles offense has plenty of weapons for McNabb to choose from, and having Maclin paired with Jackson makes for quite an interesting tandem that will be dynamic for years to come."

5. TE Brent Celek - "The Eagles will finally have a tight end that can compete with Jason Witten and Chris Cooley in the NFC East."

6. RB LeSean McCoy - "A perfect fit for the West Coast offense who brings a complete game to the field, McCoy is an outstanding receiver out of the backfield and possesses great vision and cutback ability as a runner. He's the heir apparent to Brian Westbrook"

7. DE Victor Abiamiri – See below.

8. DT Trevor Laws – See below.

9. TE Cornelius Ingram - "When healthy, he's a dangerous receiving threat with great upside as a blocker. If all goes well in training camp, look for Ingram to be Celek's backup this season."

10. FS Quintin Demps - (On Abiamiri, Laws and Demps) "All three players are expected to be major contributors this season, but Demps is the only one currently listed as a starter and finds himself as (Brian) Dawkins' replacement at free safety."

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The Great Westbrook Debate

The Great Westbrook Debate
- Bob Kent | philadelphiaeagles.com -


Brian Westbrook is in search of a productive season.

As part of NFL Network's 32 teams in 32 days series, airing daily on Total Access, NFL.com takes a look at a key question facing each NFL team. NFL Network analysts Brian Baldinger and Rod Woodson discuss the Philadelphia Eagles. The question: Is running back Brian Westbrook still the key to the Eagles' offense?

Both Baldinger and Woodson agree that No. 36 does indeed play a key role in what Philadelphia likes to do on offense.

Westbrook's recent ankle surgery and potential missed practice time in training camp, Baldinger says, could be a blessing in disguise. In fact, he has high expectations for Westbrook in 2009.

"I expect a very good year out of Westbrook, too. I think missing training camp could be the best thing for him. His whole game is quickness, and if his ankles or knees aren't right -- as we saw in the middle of the season last year -- he's a pretty ineffective player. But when he has his legs underneath him, he's as good as anyone in this league.

"The Eagles really don't need Westbrook during the preseason. Andy Reid runs the toughest training camp in the NFL, and Westbrook doesn't need to be hit or tackled. Westbrook just needs to be ready on Sept. 13 against the Panthers."

Said Woodson: "Running backs do take a beating, but it depends on the type of back. Westbrook doesn't take a lot of big hits and doesn't get a lot of carries. It's not like he's a pounding back, so it's a little different with him because of the system he plays in. I also like rookie LeSean McCoy, who will take some of the burden off Westbrook."

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i'll have a bunch of updates tomorrow

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The Passing of Jim Johnson

The Passing of Jim Johnson
- philadelphiaeagles.com -



The Philadelphia Eagles are saddened to announce Jim Johnson has passed away Tuesday afternoon at the age of 68 after a courageous battle with cancer.

A veteran of 22 years as an NFL assistant, Johnson is regarded as one of the top defensive masterminds in National Football League history. Over the last decade, he gained a great deal of praise as the orchestrator of the renowned Eagles defense. His aggressive style kept Philadelphia at or near the top of the NFL in nearly every major defensive category since joining Andy Reid's staff on January 22, 1999.

From 2000-08, Johnson's units ranked second in the NFL in sacks (390), 3rd down efficiency (34.0%) and red zone touchdown percentage (43.9%), and fourth in fewest points allowed (17.7 per game). During his 10-year tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles earned seven playoff berths, five trips to the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl appearance (following the 2004 season).

As the Eagles' defensive chief, Johnson's defense has produced 26 Pro Bowl selections: Brian Dawkins (7), Troy Vincent (5), Jeremiah Trotter (4), Hugh Douglas (3), Lito Sheppard (2), Asante Samuel (1), Trent Cole (1), Michael Lewis (1), Corey Simon (1), and Bobby Taylor (1).

Four of his defensive assistants have gone on to successful careers with other NFL franchises: Steve Spagnuolo (head coach of the St. Louis Rams), John Harbaugh (head coach of the Baltimore Ravens), Ron Rivera (defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers) and Leslie Frazier (defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings).

Prior to his tenure in Philadelphia, Johnson served as the linebackers coach with Seattle in 1998. That year, Johnson helped the Seahawks register 10 touchdowns on defense, including eight interceptions returned for scores, second-most in NFL history. He arrived in Seattle after a four-year stint in Indianapolis, the last two as defensive coordinator. While with the Colts, Johnson helped them secure a berth in the AFC Championship game at Pittsburgh in 1995.

Johnson spent eight seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (1986-93). After overseeing the Cards defensive line for four seasons, Johnson excelled as their secondary coach, helping Aeneas Williams become the first rookie cornerback to lead the league in interceptions (6) since 1981.

Johnson began his coaching career as head coach at Missouri Southern (1967-68), before serving four-year tenures at Drake and Indiana. From 1977-83, Johnson served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Notre Dame, a stint that included a national championship in 1977.

An all-conference quarterback himself at Missouri (where he played in the same backfield with long-time NFL executive Bill Tobin), Johnson went on to spend two seasons with Buffalo as a tight end (1963-64).

A native of Maywood, IL, Johnson (born 5/26/41) earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in physical education from Missouri.

Johnson is survived by his wife, Vicky, two children, Scott and Michelle, and four grandchildren, Katie, Justin, Brandon, and Jax.