Who is the Eagles biggest first half surprise?
by JasonB on Nov 4, 2008 12:21 PM EST
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The Eagles have completed 8 regular season games and therefore have hit the mid point of their season... So I figured it would be a good time to take a little poll on who we think has been the biggest surprise of the first here. Here are the nominees.
Darren Howard - This is a guy whose place on the team was in serious doubt coming into training camp. Many fans wanted to keep Jerome McDougle over him... Fast forward to right now and Darren Howard is leading the team in sacks with 6.5. That's the 5th most in the NFC. Howard's versatility rushing the passer from both the inside and outside is exactly what the Eagles expected to get when they signed him to a big free agent contract in 2006.
Desean Jackson - A second round pick that's leading the team in recieving has to be considered a suprise. Jackson leads all NFL rookies in recieving yards and he's second in receptions. He also leads all rookies in return TDs and punt returns over 40 yards. Halfway through the season, Jackson is a legit rookie of the year candidate and a major weapon on this offense.
Sav Rocca - Last year we saw some promise from the Austrailian but we also saw quite a bit of inconsistency. Not this year... Rocca is in the top 5 in the NFC in punting average and punts inside the 20. He leads the NFC and is second in the NFL in punts placed inside the 10. Rocca has always had the big leg, but his directional punting and ability to place punts have improved by leaps and bounds this year.
Juqua Parker - Most of us were happy to have Juqua around as a backup or situational type defensive end... but how many of us can say we were comfortable with him as a starter? 9 weeks ago not all of us, but right now we all are. Juqua is having a career year with 4.5 sacks plus and INT for a TD. Aside from just the sacks, Juqua has brought constant pressure and has really become that threat opposite Trent Cole that we all wanted last year. Teams can no longer double team or pay attention only to Cole. Parker has become a legit threat on the other side of the line.
Those are my nominations for the biggest surprise of the first half. Did I miss anyone? Feel free to write in someone in the comments.
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I voted for Desean
because i didnt think he’d contribute that quickly
Although Howard would have also been a good choice.
Sav… I thought last years struggles were just getting into the flow of the NFL
and i loved Juqua from day one
"Watching Big Ben kiss the canvas nine times in Philly was like watching a guy fighting a school of sharks -- with everyone rooting for the sharks."
by 700 Level on Nov 4, 2008 12:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I had to go Juqua Parker
Like JasonB mentioned, his stats are misleading. He is supposed to be a “situational” player but has been consistently a dominant force on the edge. He looks 10-15 heavier and is moving around great.
by Joe_D on Nov 4, 2008 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I went w/ Howard
I was on keeping McDougle…
How ever I must warn, some of Howards sacks came in garbage time.
Philles (80 & 08)
Team of Destiny!
by yophillybro on Nov 4, 2008 1:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
How about Booker?
I’m surprised by how much he sucks! I’ll go w/ Jackson because I love me some impact player. Every time he touches the ball, my pulse jumps.
I bleed green and I piss silver and blue
by oldasquick on Nov 4, 2008 2:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
haahaa,
I want my 4th round pick back.
Philles (80 & 08)
Team of Destiny!
by yophillybro on Nov 4, 2008 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah seriously...
why were the Birds so high on that guy?
"Watching Big Ben kiss the canvas nine times in Philly was like watching a guy fighting a school of sharks -- with everyone rooting for the sharks."
by 700 Level on Nov 4, 2008 10:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I thought the same thing
For as much as the Eagles seemed to like this guy, I have been surprised that Booker barely even sees the field. This guy has contributed even less than Matt McCoy, another stiff that Tom Heckert loved.
All that said, I bet you they bring Lorenzo Booker back next year. Why? Because Reid has a history of staying with players that he loved, that he probably should have given up on. Billy McMullen, Na Brown, and to a lesser extent, Jerome McDougle come to mind. They seem to have a hard time moving on from a mistake when the believed they were right on that player. To be honest, I’d be interested to see what he could do if they actually played him. A lot of our frustration with Booker is really the result of him not even being on the field.
by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Nov 4, 2008 11:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
um Reno Mahe anyone … I can’t believe we kept that clown on this team for as long as we did.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
by Whodie126 on Nov 5, 2008 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
definitly howard
he was on the friggin chopping block for being cut in training camp
Howard is the choice easily
Hands Down
Why Can't Us
by XxBleedGreen5xX on Nov 4, 2008 2:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I agree it's gotta be Howard.
We knew Juqua was good, just not this good. We knew DeSean was good, but not this good and no one expected Andy to give him the time and probably wouldn’t have had Curtis and Brown not been injured. Sav is an interesting choice but I can’t give him the nod over Howard.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
by Whodie126 on Nov 4, 2008 5:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
i went with DeSean although Howard was tempting i would say they are about an eaven surpise, however Jackson is a rookie and is a wide reciver on the eagles… that gives him a plus
dont forget the bad surprissed……Andrews and LJ
Stew Bradley is great as well! i give 1 to him
by NickPampani on Nov 4, 2008 6:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Argument for DeSean
He was the real unknown commodity in terms of the NFL. Howard and Parker were at least semi-productive in the past. Was it really that much of a stretch for them to have a good half season thus far? But DeSean had never played an NFL game. He was universally considered too small to be this good. I’ve gotta say, he’s surpassed my expectations. Could use more touchdowns though…
by ajay on Nov 4, 2008 8:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think that most Eagles fans were optimistic about Jackson and thought that him getting playing time was going to be harder than him actually being good.
Howard has been a perrenial dissappointment in green and I think most were surprised he was still here so to see him performing is a bigger surprise.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
by Whodie126 on Nov 5, 2008 12:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
With all the whiffs the Eagles have had when drafting WR’s, I’d have to disagree. I figured that the pick was another fast, but undersized role player – the second coming of G-Lew. I only got optimistic about Jackson after seeing him in preseason.
I bleed green and I piss silver and blue
by oldasquick on Nov 6, 2008 1:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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