Which new Eagle must make an immediate impact?

by JasonB on May 30, 2009 6:00 AM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

The National Football Post posted their list of players who must make an impact for their team to be successful in 2009. A former teammate of Jason Peters, Matt Bowen, took on the NFC East and singled out Peters as the guy who needed to make the biggest impact for the Eagles.

I was a teammate of his in Buffalo, and I can attest to his athletic ability for a man his size, but he still has to prove that he can handle the pressure defenses in this defense.

There were a lot of reasons why Peters’ game slipped in ’08, but when you command the type of salary he now possess, the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia are going to expect major production. This team should be considered one of the contenders to not only win the East, but to go deep into January – but that will only happen if Peters plays at a high level and gives McNabb time to throw.

Peters is a pretty easy choice for this list. He plays a premier position at LT protecting the QB's blind side, he's making a ton of money, the team gave up a lot to get him, and he's made two straight pro bowls. The expectations for him to make an instant impact are arguably greater than any player brought in during the Andy Reid era. Well, except one maybe...

With the way the Eagles run game struggled at times last year and the fact that several of the best pass rushers in the NFL are in the NFC East... Peters absolutely does have to make a big impact for the Eagles to be successful this year.

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My vote would be for McCoy

McCoy must have an immediate impact. There’s a clear defined role for him as the backup to Westbrook. Behind him our current depth is questionable best.

Buckhalter averaged 6.79 yards per touch last year as our backup RB. He fumbled zero times. Westbrook averaged 4.66 per touch.

McCoy has big shoes to fill, having averaged something like 5.2 yards per touch in college. He’ll be aided by a stronger offensive line and more potent offense on the whole. He’s probably looking at a max of 100 touches in this offense in 2008. He needs to be more effective with less touches.

College: ~27 touches per game
Pros: ~7 touches per game (educated forecast)

Anyone expecting McCoy to be a better backup than Buckhalter was better reign it in. 6.79 yards per touch is beastly.

by andyreidswaistline on May 30, 2009 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

Dude...

I loved Buck…all he ever did for the Eagles was his job, and he always did it like a freakin pro!

I have high expectations for McCoy, but I think you’re right…he’s probably not going to have Bucky’s impact unless this line with a real fullback make our running game stronger as an entire unit than merely relying on the talent of Westy or Buck, which we’ve had to do

"What did it feel like? That collision, I didn't feel nothing, because he was pretty much defenseless. It was like running through a cardboard box. Seriously. Cardboard box."- Sheldon Brown on his pounding of Reggie Bush in the '06 Playoffs

by jalarsen1 on May 30, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions

And Furthermore

I’m really rooting for Buck to win the starting job in Denver…he’s got Knowshon, Selvin Young, and JJ Arrington over there to beat out for it…

by jalarsen1 on May 30, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Me too

Buckhalter deserves to start after performing so well over here. I think he’s got a pretty good chance since Knowshon is a rookie and Young isn’t at the same level yet. They’ll both definitely give him a run for his money though.

Fly, Eagles, Fly...

by Bob_Q on May 30, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

JJ is cut

To me the Eagles are like that girlfriend that pisses u off, then u hate her, but the next morning you wake up and remember that thing u love so much about her

by XxBleedGreen5xX on May 30, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, i realized that as soon as i posted

but in my attempt to correct myself, I did not hit the “reply” button…sorta like your work around the block quotes…

to be uber-specific I should mention that Lamont Jordan is also in that running back mix

by jalarsen1 on May 30, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Ryan Torain too, depending on his rehab.

by andyreidswaistline on May 30, 2009 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Great point

Buck was always super under rated

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on May 30, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Ha, scratch Arrington

He got cut after failing a physical

by jalarsen1 on May 30, 2009 10:35 AM EDT reply actions

TO’s reaction to Jason not mentioning his name in this article

“Dude, I could care less,” Owens said with a laugh following the Buffalo Bills voluntary minicamp practice Wednesday. “I mean, he doesn’t mention my name, that’s fine. What about it?”

"If they end up 2-14 and both of those wins came against Dallas, that's a pretty good year."

by midnitegreen on May 30, 2009 12:29 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Its Bill Parcells all over again

To me the Eagles are like that girlfriend that pisses u off, then u hate her, but the next morning you wake up and remember that thing u love so much about her

by XxBleedGreen5xX on May 30, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I completely agree that Peters is the most important addition...

Ask Andy- Everything starts with the big boys up front. And the key to the front line is the Left Tackle. I like Peters, and it appears he has the skills to be, at WORST, NEARLY the pass blocker Thomas was. But it also appears he is so much better at run blocking, there’s no comparison. What will be the tell-tale sign is whether he can stand on an island and block the NFC East stud rushers, alone. I believe he can.

by meangreenmachine on May 30, 2009 1:00 PM EDT reply actions

He is an upgrade over Tra

Face it our run blocking was BAD last year and it’s a large reason why we couldn’t convert short yardage situations. With some young blood on the line and Shawn Andrews back I expect bigger things… We need it too because we’re going up against GOOD D-lines in the NFC E

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on May 30, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

our run blocking was so inconsistent

in the Dallas games we ran over there asses but in the Chicago game and so many others our line couldnt get a push up front at all

If our line can get a little push give Westy with his speed and explosiveness in all time to get tothe second level, our offense will be so nasty. Then if we establish the run we can start givin McNabb time to throw some fireballs to Jac and MAc

To me the Eagles are like that girlfriend that pisses u off, then u hate her, but the next morning you wake up and remember that thing u love so much about her

by XxBleedGreen5xX on May 30, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

As a Cowboys fan...........

I know nobody on here gives a damn what i think but…………
I think Lenard Weaver was a fantastic pick up for you guys. He does so many things well. He already knows the west coast offense, he can catch, he can lead block, he can pretty much do it all. i don’t know if he is getting a lot of love on this site or not but as great of an off season as i think you guys have had I think the signing of Weaver has been waayyyyy under the radar.

by TARHEEL PAUL on May 30, 2009 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

There’s no shortage of love on this site for Leonard Weaver. We dig him so much, we actually spell his name right.

by andyreidswaistline on May 30, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

wow.......

Eagle fans really are dicks. Even when your showing there team some love.

by TARHEEL PAUL on May 30, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

nah

we just enjoy giving cowboys fans a hard time (I’d be disappointed if cowgirls fans didn’t enjoy the same thing)

by eagleyosh on May 31, 2009 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions

So sensitive… All in good fun

by andyreidswaistline on May 31, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

LOL … we give each other shit for spelling players names wrong, why not opposing teams fans?

Lighten up bro.

"The 0-2 pitch, swing and a miss! STRUCK HIM OUT! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of baseball! And let the city celebrate! " - Harry Kalas 1936-2009

by Whodie126 on Jun 1, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions