Players to worry about

by JasonB on Aug 28, 2007 4:06 PM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

In the course of perusing the news today I noticed a common thread that pops up this time of year. The preseason for almost every first string player is over and now is the time where people start to look at who stepped up in preseason and who has been a let down. Just to start off on a positive note, you won't find a member of the media, analyst, or fan that hasn't been truly impressed by what Brodrick Bunkley has done so far this preseason. Peter King recently singled out Bunk in his MMQB column.

Eagles defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, who was a waste of a roster spot last year in Philly, after being a mid-first-round pick. Now he's playing like the interior space-eater he was drafted to be. Embarrassed by his poor play and his weight last year, Bunkley reported in shape this year and is playing like a house possessed.

Not surprisingly, writers have tended to focus on the negative a bit more. There were a few I found particularly interesting,

First Gary Cobb has been critical of Jevon Kearse all offseason and preseason and he's concerned about the Phreak this year. He talks about how McNabb, despite all the stories written about him, was in Philly all offseason working hard and getting back into form.

On the other hand you can't say the same about Jevon Kearse, who has done virtually nothing in the games this preseason. Kearse was hurt in the 2nd game of last season. McNabb was hurt nearly two months later in week number 10, yet Kearse is the one having knee swelling and sitting out games. He has failed to make any big plays during the preseason. Plus, I don't see the sprinter speed any more when Kearse is pursuing the ball. I expected him to run down one of the screens or at least show up in the screen. Jevon was a non-factor. In fact, his backup Juqua Thomas has outplayed him.

Frankly, how can you argue with him? Kearse has done nothing this offseason despite that fact that he was claiming last year that if he wasn't on the IR he would have been able to play in the playoffs last year.

Did anyone hear Andy Reid's quote when asked about Jeremy Bloom?

Reid was asked to evaluate Jeremy Bloom's return work in the team's first three preseason games.

"He's done just OK," the coach said.

"Just OK" probably isn't good enough for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations, which makes you wonder if the Eagles would consider bringing someone else in for return duties before the Sept. 9 season opener at Green Bay.

Outside of that first game against Baltimore, I would characterize Bloom's play as "just okay." Honestly, I've just been chalking it up to poor blocking on the part of the kick return team. At least on TV I haven't seen all that many holes, but if Andy is unhappy with Bloom he must be seeing something I'm not.

Iggles Blog brings us maybe most the chilling example of a player to worry about with their video review of Chris Gocong's performance against Pittsburgh. Derek does a great job highlighting him play by play and the results aren't pretty.

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I tell ya what...

I'm almost to the point where I am not sure if Bloom is gonna make the team. Yout gotta figure buck makes the team as a 2nd or 3rd RB and hes done arguably as well as bloom in the return game. Bloom wouldnt make the team as a WR in my opinion. So do you cut him to save a roster spot

700 Level

by 700 Level on Aug 28, 2007 8:18 PM EDT reply actions

Give the guy a chance!

Returning kicks is a real team mechanism - no one person can really do it themselves. You'll see a lot of nothing until that one that breaks. I think Bloom has great potential. And I don't really want to see Buckhalter back there getting creamed. Let's be a little more patient.

by lbg on Aug 29, 2007 6:55 AM EDT reply actions

philly fans arent patient :)

but you do have a point

700 Level

by 700 Level on Aug 29, 2007 8:08 AM EDT reply actions

High expectations

When Andy Reid says a player is doing just okay people are reading too much into that. It doesn't mean Bloom is on the bubble. What's the alternative for kick returns, using up Buck or Westbrook? Or calling back Reno Mahe? Bloom has done at least as good a job as Mahe at taking care of the ball and he has a much greater upside. Reid's expectations are set high for a reason. Bloom still has to prove himself as an NFL player. Until he does great things consistently, he won't get praise from Reid, instead he'll get the motivational you-could-do-better.

Bleeding Green Nation

by Dire Radiant on Aug 29, 2007 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

Mahe sucked

Mahe couldn't hold on to the football. I don't know where this myth of his sure and steady hands started, but he fumbled a lot last year.

Mahe lost fumbles against Atlanta, the Redskins (game 2), the Titans. He also fumbled against the Colts (recovered by Tapeh). He also fumbled twice in the preseason against Baltimore (lost) and Oakland (covered).

Just by not fumbling, Bloom is a huge upgrade over Mahe regardless of whether or not he can figure out how to break a return for more than 30 yards.

by Andrew @ Bleeding Green Nation on Aug 29, 2007 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions