Not Having a Healthy Westbrook Should Not End the Season

by TheSportsWatcher on Jun 7, 2009 11:48 AM EDT

I really wouldn't be too concerned about Brian Westbrook not being healthy to start the season. They can definitely make it the first 4 games, if not the first 8 games, by just employing a running game by committee.

What some people are failing to remember is that this offense is not predicated around the game. Sure, the Eagles are a really good team when there is more balance in the offense, especially when you have an efficient runner like Westbrook in the backfield. But the offense has often thrived without a potent rush attack, and you don’t even have to look past last season to see it.

Last season, Westbrook had 12 games where he had less than 65 rushing yards or did not play, and the Eagles were 5-6-1. Not impressive in the least. However, 5 of the losses were 1 possession games, and the other was the notorious beat down in Baltimore where no phase of the Eagles game plan worked. Granted, maybe if the rushing attack was a little more potent in those 5 closes the Eagles might have won. But the Chicago loss was full of mistakes. The Washington loss was a porous effort by our run defense. The Dallas loss has another porous effort the defense. In the close to the Giants, the defense gave up 219 yards on the ground. And the loss to Washington near the end of the season was a dropped-ball palooza.

Look, you point to the running game in almost any game that a team loses, but I really don’t think the paucity of a running game hurts the Eagles that much during the course of a regular season.

If anything, Westbrook’s ability to block and pass receive will be missed more than anything, but Lorenzo Booker is a very talented running back who has been utilized in a lot of ways, and I think that he will finally get a chance to show his versatility if Westbrook is not back in the fold in time for the start of the season.

So in my opinion, the Eagles should rest Westbrook for as long as they can. Let him sit out 6, 7, 8 weeks if that’s what it takes to get him back to 100%. Because while the Eagles can probably go the regular season without him, not having a rushing game in the playoffs is whole other story.

Tweet Comment 5 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I agree borhter

LeSean could end up doing very well — we have one of the best offensive lines in the league.

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

by Joe_D on Jun 7, 2009 2:39 PM EDT reply actions

dont forget about Lorenzo :p

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 Jun 8, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

A lot of rookie backs

lit it up last year… and I hope Lesean does
However Westbrooks importance was not in his rushing or lack of it, like in his 65 yard games, it was that the defenses keyed in on stopping him. Which opened up other aspects. His flexibility creates mismatches all around the field and carried our sub par offense for whole games at a time. So don’t sell him short.

Astra Inclinant, Non Necessitant

by EagleGreeninMD on Jun 8, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

P.S>

I agree, he should rest till he is 100% and not rush back and create further damage to himself.

Astra Inclinant, Non Necessitant

by EagleGreeninMD on Jun 8, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I DEF agree

He brings so much to the table even when he’s doing nothing b/c teams have to account for him. I also agree that Weaver+McCoy+Eckel+Booker = Westbrook (or at least not too big of a drop-off)

"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 Jun 9, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions