EAGLES: Remember that guy Brent Celek?

You remember the game “Where’s Waldo?” where you have to look for Waldo amongst a crowd of people? Well on the football field there isn’t a crowd of people, but instead 22 players battling on the gridiron. However, throughout the entire Eagles season I have found myself playing a Philadelphia Eagles version of “Where’s Waldo?” to the tune of “Where’s Brent Celek?”

It was last season that Eagles fans watched Brent Celek break out of his shell and emerge as one of the most dominant tight ends in the game. He is a blue-collar player that prides himself on hard work and determination. He isn’t the biggest or the strongest at his position. He isn’t the fastest and doesn’t have the best hands. However, he will outwork and outhustle players in order to better his team. Those are the qualities that Eagles fans saw in Celek during his breakout Pro-Bowl caliber season in 2009.

As we sit here 11 weeks into the season, we have yet to see the Brent Celek that we were all so hopeful to watch this season. Many hoped that he was going to add a new dimension to the Eagles receiving core after last season and solidify himself as one of the top five tight ends in football. Instead, Celek has a mere 23 receptions for 237 yards and two touchdowns through 11 games. These numbers pale in comparison to 2009.

Which Brent Celek will we see in the closing weeks?

Last year, Celek had 22 receptions through the first three games. In those games he also recorded 245 receiving, which is 8 more yards than he has during the 2010 campaign. Through 11 games last season, his numbers were exponentially better than this year, as he had 54 receptions for 601 yards and five touchdowns. He eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark three times in 2009 and the 50-yard mark eight times. This season, his most yards in a game came against San Francisco when he finished with 47. In 2009, he had 80 receptions and had at least two catches in every game. In 2010, he is on pace for only 37 receptions and has been held without a catch in two games (Giants last week and Colts three weeks ago).

What has led to this sudden slump for Celek? Is he underperforming? Does a change of quarterbacks make that much of a difference? I believe it is a combination of both.

The different styles between Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick could definitely play a role in the lack of production by Celek. When Michael Vick is the starting quarterback, Celek has 9 receptions for 77 yards whereas when Kevin Kolb is the starting quarterback, he has 14 receptions for 160 yards (Not including the Packers game and the Washington Redskins game because they split time due to injuries). With Vick’s big-play style of offense that revolves largely around his legs, Celek becomes less of an option. Kolb, who runs more of a west coast style of offense with quick, short passes, often looks to Celek more over the middle. Much like Donovan McNabb, Kolb enjoys going to the tight end when in trouble and facing pressure. Vick on the other hand uses his legs to overcome pressure and does a better job finding his wide receivers on the run.

Another explanation for his low numbers could be the inconsistent play from the offensive line. Celek may not be targeted as often because he is forced to spend more time blocking and protecting the quarterback. When he releases after the initial block, his route is sometimes useless because Vick has already taken off running or Kolb was too quick to release the ball.

Looking at the positive, Celek’s lack of production has resulted in an increase in production from the Eagles wide receivers. DeSean Jackson is on pace to his first Pro-Bowl as a wide receiver, Jeremy Maclin has established himself as one of the most consistent young receivers in the league, and Jason Avant is getting a more expanded role in the slot.

Clearly the Eagles passing offense hasn’t been struggling this year, especially under Michael Vick. However, I believe the offense could be even more explosive if Celek can get more involved. The combination of getting more looks and Celek taking advantage of those looks will add an entirely new dimension to the already dominant Eagles offense. Can he rebound down the stretch or will Celek continue to be nonexistent on the stat line? Let’s hope it’s the former.

EAGLES: A Day at Lehigh

This morning, fellow Philly Phour writer Alex Cohen and I ventured to Lehigh to spend the day watching the Philadelphia Eagles partake in training camp. It was an early rise to ensure that we could get a good view of the main field, but it was certainly worth every second of it. I make an attempt to go to training camp every year and I can never get over great the atmosphere is day in and day out.

We arrived to the field about fifteen minutes before the start of the 8:15 practice. Soon we learned that we were on the later end of arriving, as there were close to 3,000 fans in attendance to watch the morning practice. We ended up standing along the front fence, practically ten yards from some of the players on the field. The thing that makes training camp so special for fans is that while it’s taken very seriously, all of the players seem so relaxed. Most of them constantly interact with the fans and aren’t afraid to pump up the crowd or give them a thumbs up. The fans entusiasm is felt by the players, in turn creating a great environment for the dedicated ‘Birds fans that made the trip on a Monday morning.

Analysis on Practice:

Practiced opened up with indidivual drills by positions. The quarterbacks and wide receivers worked together for awhile before the team moved into 7 vs. 7′s. From the beginning, it was was not hard to see a connection between Kevin Kolb and Jeremy Maclin. They clearly have something special working there and it was fun to watch them gel together so well. Michael Vick was a bit streaky on the day. His biggest problem is that he can make a 50-yard pass and then miss the next receiver by five yards on a simple route. Kafka seemed to have a similar problem with consistency.

Riley Cooper runs an out route in practice

The most interesting aspect of Monday’s practice was at the receiving positions. As I mentioned, Maclin looked sharper than every on both his route running and catching abilities. DeSean Jackson did not participate in camp, but I noticed him running on he open practice field alongside linebacker Stewart Bradley. Jason Avant also seemed to make no mistakes and looked comfortable being the second receiver with Jackson out. As I predicted, the fourth spot is going to be one heck of a battle. Hank Baskett didn’t seem to make many mistakes, but also didn’t really open eyes and make himself noticeable on the field. Riley Cooper, the rookie from Florida who has been hyped by the media, had a very hot and cold day. He dropped a total of three passes alone in the morning practice and heard a lot of criticism from the fans. He seemed to struggle making that burst that could get him past the cornerbacks and give him separation. Instead he seemed to take too many steps and rely too heavily on his 6-foot-4 frame to make catches. At the same time, the catches he makes are quite acrobatic and his size enables him to make catches that most wide receivers couldn’t dream of making. The big surprise at wide receiver came from Kelly Washington, who was acquired in the offseason. He has good experience in the NFL, which is something rare with this Eagles offense, and it was apparent in his playmaking on Monday. He made a couple of crowd-pleasing grabs and didn’t drop a single pass all day.

At tight end it was rookie Clay Harbor that stole the show. Brent Celek played well in the morning session, but left early due to dehydration problems. He came back for the afternoon practice and didn’t seem to lose a step. Coming into today, I was under the impression that Cornelius Ingram was far and away the favorie to be the second tight end. After watching Ingram drop a ball from five yards away, attention soon turned towards the rookie from Missouri State. Harbor caught almost everything his way, including the best catch of the day when he sprawled out and dove over the middle during the 7 vs. 7 drills. Watch out Ingram, the rookie is coming for you.

Not much to update about the running game. They only got a few looks during the scrimmage and after the initial burst there wasn’t much hitting. McCoy and Weaver both made solid catches and did a great job interacting with the fans and getting them excited about training camp. J.J. Arrington took a big hit in the middle of the morning practice when it looked like he was lost on the field. Charles Scott seems to throws his arms at the ball rather than cradling it for a catch, but he makes up for it with his powerful running. He is very stocky and his low center of gravity could be vital for third down plays (barring he makes the team, which seems like a long shot as a rookie).

Winston Justice, LeSean McCoy, Leonard Weaver, Brent Celek and Jeremy Maclin

The offensive line seemed to struggle the most at practice. Granted most of my attention was paid to the young offensive and defensive players, but based on the scrimmage plays there is a lot of work to be done. Left guard Todd Herremans didn’t put pads on but worked out on the side with Jamaal Jackson. Right guard Stacy Andrews left during practice with a shoulder injury that is only listed as day-to-day. With both of them banged up, Max Jean-Gilles and Mike McGlynn stepped in with the first team. It seemed like almost all of the offensive lineman struggled against the defensive line in the one on one drills. During the scrimmages, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott opened the floodgates and blitzed almost every other play. If Kolb/Vick/Kafka weren’t wearing the red jerseys, there would have been a lot of hitting going on. Tackle Winston Justice had back to back false starts, in turn forcing Andy Reid to give him the axe and sub him out for King Dunlap. The offensive line was one of the biggest question marks coming into the season and health is a big concern right now.

The defensive line was highlighted by performances by rookie Brandon Graham and Trent Cole. Graham doesn’t ever seem to stop moving and seems eager to play every snap possible. His additional fifteen pounds he added since the draft make him a big threat on top of his speed off the line. Cole was relatively quiet but added good pressure during the scrimmages.

At linebacker, Omar Gaither filled in at middle linebacker with the first team defense. He intercepted a Michael Vick pass during the afternoon practice and did a great job covering the tight end. Akeem Jordan started at strong side linebacker for the second straight day instead of Moises Fokou. He did a solid job all day and Fokou quickly found himself in the backround as the favorite to start come opening day. Ernie Sims also made a few good plays on the ball. He is not a very tall guy, but he is speedy and shifty (Andy Reid’s favorite type of build for his defensive players). One thing that the offense exploited all day was the quick eight-to-ten yard passes. The linebackers seemed a step too slow and Kolb did a great job hitting his receivers on out routes and flag routes over the middle. Seeing as the linebackers biggest problem in the past has been covering the tight end, I still think the Eagles linebacker core needs to work on closing off the middle of the field.

Even though the receivers made some great plays, I thought the secondary was the strongest group on the field Monday (exactly what you all want to hear I’m sure). Ellis Hobbs struggled a bit covering Maclin, but he always had a hand in there and held great coverage throughout the day. Joselio Hanson also practiced with the first team and broke up a few pass plays. The biggest surprise of the day came from Macho Harris, who Reid and McDermott converted from safety heading into training camp. Harris made a ton of plays in the morning practice and the fans let him hear it. If he continues to progress, he could give Hanson a run for his money during Nickel packages.

7 vs. 7 drills

At safety, both Quintin Mikell and rookie Nate Allen worked well patrolling the backfield. Mikell blitzed a few times, one of which would have resulted in a sack if there were pads involved in the afternoon practice. Allen seems very comfortable with the first team and it’s exciting to see how far he has come in such a short amount of time.

Finally, there wasn’t much exciting action from special teams during either practice. They ended the afternoon practice with David Akers practicing inside field goals, but most of the special teams work was on the second field. Similar to Leonard Weaver, Akers does a great job interacting with the fans and even spent a few minutes throwing balls into the crowd before the afternoon practice.

Overall, Monday showed a lot of promise. Even though the Eagles are far from game ready, the first team offense and defense look pretty solid considering the number of injuries that have kept both sides from a full lineup. It’s always exciting to be at training camp and be able to watch the team improve firsthand and I look forward to being there in the near future.

Player of the Day: Kevin Kolb

He didn’t miss a pass until the middle of the afternoon practice. Enough said. He continues to improve every day and the fans are quickly becoming lovers of No. 4. He does a superb job finding his receivers on out routes and is very melodic with his delivery. The main concern I have right now is his skill throwing the long ball. Kolb only threw two balls longer than 25 yards on Monday.

Players to Watch: Clay Harbor, Kelly Washington, Macho Harris
All three of these guys were in the background heading into training camp. Harbor played twice as well as Ingram today, Washington was up there with Maclin and Avant, and Harris outplaed all cornerbacks all day. They are all struggling to make the 53-man roster and things should get interesting in the coming weeks.

Injury Update:
Did not practice: WR DeSean Jackson, LB Stewart Bradley, CB Asante Samuel, RB Mike Bell, DE Victor Abiamiri
Taken off: CB Macho Harris (Hamstring-DTD), DT Anthony Dixon (concussion), TE Brent Celek (dehydration by returned), Stacy Andrews (shoulder)

List of Tweets (most recent at the top)

What a great day at #Eagles training camp… I could do this every day
Ending practice with some field goals. Caps off a great day in Lehigh #Eagles
Things seemed a little too perfect with the lack of injuries today…the injury bug is always present in Lehigh #Eagles
Its Anthony Dixon, the DT…all play had to be stopped #Eagles
Defensive player collapses from dehydration..waiting to see the number #Eagles
Macho Harris limping of the field #Eagles
Just to give you a taste of how big King Dunlap really is #Eagles http://twitpic.com/2b1onv
Vick to Cooper for a 55 yard bomb…Looks like Cooper woke up for the afternoon practice #Eagles
Vick throws his second int of the day. Gaither makes a great play to come up with it #Eagles
First bad pass by Kolb all day. He’s about 49 of 50. I’ll take those odds #Eagles
7v7 drills with the first team offense #Eagles http://twitpic.com/2b1g29
Vick struggling with back to back throws against the defense…no hitting but still hearing helmets hit hard
Hobbs and Hanson starting at corner with the first team #Eagles
Ingram playing with second team even though Harbor outplayed him in the morning #Eagles
6000 people here for the morning session…only about half that now. Probably because they aren’t in full pads #Eagles
Riley Cooper brings in a pass http://twitpic.com/2b19ud
Charles scott makes catching a ball seem like a chore but man can he run through people #Eagles
Another fan favorite David Akers throwing some balls into the stands with the fans…longest tenured Eagle showing some love #Eagles
Weather dropped about ten degrees now that its overcast…some players starting to come put now for the afternoon practice #Eagles
@EaglesInsider Thanks for having us on fan forum today. Loved talking Birds…check out our blog http://thephillyphour.wordpress.com
Phillies writer @alexmcohen and I just got interviewed by Eagles writer Dave Spadaro…will be on @ThePhillyPhour later on
Philly football lovin in the parking lot in between practices http://twitpic.com/2azwsz
Heart of the #Eagles offense http://twitpic.com/2azp6t
Vick talking with Dave Spadaro http://twitpic.com/2azi01
Morning practice ending early…maybe Andy was getting hungry #Eagles
I asked Ellis Hobbs how many kick returns he was going to return for TDs: “I don’t predict, I just do”
Weaver cracking jokes with the fans…hes having fun out here #Eagles
Winston Justice subbed off for a false start…the defense is loving it #Eagles
Riley Cooper drops his third pass of the day…ironic enough all from Vick #Eagles
When I thought Riley Cooper was big, King Dunlap doesn’t even look human #Eagles
Man Kolb is clicking on all cylinders…him and Maclin work well together #Eagles
Mikell rushes the line and blocks a Vick pass. Going to need that pressure this year #Eagles
DeSean Jackson and Stewart Bradley running in no pads on the other practice field #Eagles Gaither starting at middle linebacker with the first team… Akeem jordan over fokou again. Sims on the weak side
Kolb has those ten and out passes down perfectly…something mcnabb never seemed to nail #Eagles
@movingthechains washington is making riley cooper look silly out there…on the fence in my black maclin jersey, feel free to come talk
Ellis hobbs gives a thumbs up @alexmcohen for feeling healthy and ready
No stewart bradley or asante samuel today
Vick is throwing a better long ball than a short one. Completed another long bomb after a ball that should have been picked off
Vick throws a perfect 30 yard bomb to Maclin much to the fans liking…fans are loving Weaver too
Andy Reid making an appearance from the breakfast table. Maybe he and Haynesworth should start conditioning together
Cooper and Ingram highlight the second team
Avant, maclin and baskett with first team. Cole with a botched snap that Vick can’t handle

EAGLES: Preparing for Training Camp; RB’s, WR’s, TE’s

In part two of the “Preparing for Training Camp”, let’s take a look at the Eagles running backs and receivers. Similar to the quarterback position, most of the depth chart is pretty self explanatory at these two positions. They are without question the youngest aspect of the team, as the average age for the starters is 23.8 (McCoy-22, Weaver-27, Celek-25, Jackson-23, Maclin-22). However, this is also the strongest and most reliable aspect of the team.

Can McCoy handle the pressure of starting every game?

Barring any injuries, these five players will keep their starting roles come opening day. McCoy set the Eagles rookie rushing record last year with 637 yards (955 from scrimmage puts him second all time in franchise history as a rookie). Coming into the 2009 season he was expected to share a workload and take a backseat to Brian Westbrook, but injuries quickly catapulted the former Pittsburgh Panther into the starting role for the remainder of the season. A combination of Andy Reid’s west coast offensive mind and the lack of supporting cast behind Shady was one of the biggest problem areas the Eagles faced in close games down the stretch. Since the Duce Staley era when the Eagles had the infamous “three-headed monster” in Staley, Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter, Reid has been hesitant to turn to his running game.

This offseason, Reid made a great acquisition in signing former Saint’s running back Mike Bell. Last year with the Saints, Bell led the team in carries (172) and finished the year with 654 yards and five scores. At the age of 27, Bell has a lot of experience in the league and should be able to take a lot of pressure off of McCoy in both training camp and during the regular season.

The addition of Bell also enables fullback Leonard Weaver to focus more on his blocking and short yardage plays rather than have to worry about taking 12+ snaps every game. Weaver was one of the few Eagles to make the Pro-Bowl last season, in turn leading to a three-year contract extension for $11 million this offseason.

Aside from McCoy, Bell and Weaver, there are a lot of new Eagles waiting to prove themselves starting Monday. At the running back position, Eldra Buckley is going to be battling with Martell Mallet (second season- claimed off waivers) and former LSU standout Charles Scott (selected 200^th overall in the 2010 draft). Buckley made the final roster last season for his hard work during training camp and ability to help out on special teams, but failed miserably at the running back position during the regular season (averaged 2.9 yards per carry). I think Reid is hoping the Mallet or Scott can end up filling or taking over Buckley’s spot as a running back on the 53-man roster.

Wide Receivers:

Coming into training camp, there are 10 wide receivers listed on the depth chart: DeSean Jackson (3^rd year), Jeremy Maclin (2^nd year), Jason Avant (5^th year), Hank Baskett (5^th year), Riley Cooper (R), Chad Hall (1^st year), Jordan Norwood (1^st year), Dobson Collins (1^st year), Blue Cooper (R), and Kevin Jurovich (R).

Hank Baskett vs. Riley Cooper- who will take it?

Jackson, Maclin and Avant are obviously all locks at their starting positions. Jackson had a Pro-Bowl caliber season last year (which is still not deserving of a new contract for some odd reason). He tied the NFL record for most TD’s of 50 yards or more with eight and finished the year with 1,156 yards. Maclin settled in and had some big games as a rookie, grabbing 56 receptions for 773 yards (fourth among rookies last season) and five touchdowns (fifth among rookies last year). Avant set personal records in all three categories last season and was elected to the 2009 USA Today’s All-Joe Team, which is given to NFL players whose “work doesn’t necessarily garner headlines, but is integral to the success of the team”. The Eagles awarded him with a five-year contract on March 8^th.

The matchup between Hank Baskett and Riley Cooper is going to be the main position battle at Lehigh. They both have very similar statures, but Baskett’s main advantage is that he’s been in the league for four years and with the Eagles for three of them. Cooper is coming in as an unproven Florida Gator, who had a breakout senior season and finished his collegiate tenure with 81 receptions for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns. While Cooper was catching passes, Baskett was balancing a football career with the Indianapolis Colts (where he only caught 5 receptions for 36 yards) and his celebrity lifestyle with his Playboy bunny wife Kendra. As of now, Baskett has the edge based solely on experience in the NFL and with the Eagles, but don’t be shocked if Cooper continues to open eyes and slips in as the fourth wide receiver on the depth charts.

For the rest of the guys, it almost seems like it’s going to take a miracle to make the 53-man roster. Considering how many defensive prospects there are coming into the season and the need for a deep defensive core, I would be shocked to see Reid take more than five wide receivers. Even though both Chad Hall and Jordan Norwood have impressed coaches with their hard work in the minicamp sessions, I can’t imagine they will compete with the top five guys unless the injury bug strikes.

Tight End:

This could quite possibly be the Eagles deepest position heading into training camp. Brent Celek proved that he can be one of the top five tight ends in the league and it’s exciting to have a tight end that doesn’t drop or fumble every ball they touch (cough…L.J. Smith). Celek finished 2009 with a Pro-Bowl caliber season, ranking fourth in the NFL in both touchdowns (8) and yards (971) for tight ends. Last season, Celek, Jackson and Maclin became the first trio aged 24-years and younger in NFL history to post 50+ catches, 750+ yards and 4+ touchdowns. On top of all of his statistical accolades, Celek was also honored by the USA Today on the All-Joe team. I think last season speaks for itself in saying that Celek will be starting this year and should hold his reign as one of the top tight ends in the NFL in 2010.

How will Ingram respond to his previously torn ACL?

The most intriguing aspect of the tight end group will be Cornelius Ingram. Coming into last season, the Eagles had high hopes for the former Florida Gator. Unfortunately, like many other Eagles last training camp, Ingram suffered a season ending ACL injury. He is still a favorite to line up on the opposite side of Celek during two tight end formations, but there are a lot of questions about how he will rebound after such a serious injury.

The other two tight ends headed to Lehigh are Martin Rucker, who was acquired from free agency last season, and Clay Harbor, the Eagles 125^th overall selection during this years’ draft. Both Rucker and Harbor have a lot of talent and are expected to keep Celek and Ingram intact during training camp. Rucker was promoted to the active roster in December of 2009 after spending the first 13 weeks of the season on the practice squad. His only game action came with Cleveland in 2008, where he spent his rookie season after being drafted by them in the fourth round. Harbor was a stud for the Division 1-AA Missouri State Bears, finishing his tenure with 150 receptions for 1,906 yards and 10 touchdowns. He converted from a wide receiver to a tight end in college, which proves his versatility and athletic stature. Scouts praise his hard work and motivation on the field, which is exactly what the Eagles are looking for when trying to keep Celek and Ingram game ready. Don’t count out either Rucker or Harbor for that second tight end spot because anything can happen in training camp.

EAGLES: Eagles add tight end smith to roster

Smith was selected by the Tampa Bay Bucs in the third round of the 2005 draft

With no viable second string tight end on the Eagles roster, the front office went shopping to increase depth. Philadelphia signed veteran Alex Smith to a one-year, $1 million deal early this afternoon. He was released by the New England Patriots three days ago after roster cuts were made.

Due to the loss of rookie Cornelius Ingram to a season-ending knee injury, the Eagles were forced to add another tight end considering the team only had two tight ends before signing Smith. At the age of 27, Smith has 129 catches for 1,252 yards and 11 touchdowns, but sat out most of last season after ankle surgery. In the wake of the signing, the ‘Birds cut Tony Curtis in order to get Smith on the 53-man roster. Curtis was signed last month by the Eagles and caught a touchdown against the Jets last week, however Smith is expected to play a larger role.

This is a great acquisition by the Eagles heading into the opening of the season. Since Philadelphia is known for running a lot of two-tight end sets, the addition of a veteran will allow for a smoother transition when Smith is used. Since Brent Celek continues to improve each year, I believe that Smith will compliment Celek and help teach him how to be an effective tight end in the NFL. Reid announced that Smith is expected to see action against the Panthers on Sunday.