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Eagles Set to Go to Work for Real: After Five Preseason Games, the Opener is Sunday. There is Much to Prove After Last Year
Publication Source The Philadelphia Inquirer
Publication Date 2006-09-04
By Marc Narducci, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Sep. 4--When the Eagles arrive for practice today at the NovaCare Complex, there will be a different feeling. For the first time since the rookies and selected veterans reported on July 20 at Lehigh, the Eagles will prepare for a game that counts.
As the players begin preparations for Sunday's regular-season opener at Houston against the Texans, they acknowledge that this week they will have much more of a bounce in their step.
"It's time," middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said after Friday's 20-17 loss to the New York Jets in the preseason finale. "We had five preseason games and now it's time to go to work for real."
The scars from last year's disappointing 6-10 season seem to have healed. The Eagles feel good about what was a productive preseason, regardless of the 2-3 record.
The starting offense with Donovan McNabb at quarterback scored 26 points in the preseason and continually moved the ball. The starting defense allowed just three points.
The Eagles appear to have regained the swagger that was so apparent during the 2004 season, when they won the NFC championship before losing to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
"We were trying to make a statement [in the preseason] and send a message to the rest of the league and even to ourselves that we are back, man," Trotter said. "We are ready to get back on track and make a playoff and Super Bowl run."
Not everyone is convinced that the Eagles will be back. Sports Illustrated picked the Eagles to finish fourth in the NFC East.
"Wait a minute, there are only four teams in the division," tight end L.J. Smith said when told of the SI prediction. "I don't see that happening."
Neither does Trotter, although he insists that he does not pay any attention to preseason prognostications.
"I don't read the papers or SI," Trotter said. "It doesn't really matter what they say or what anybody says."
With a smile, he added: "All that matters is what we say."
By all accounts, coach Andy Reid put the Eagles through a grueling preseason, one that included few days off from hitting when the team was at Lehigh University. During the previous few training camps, there wasn't as much hitting because the Eagles had been coming off successful seasons, with four consecutive appearances in the NFC title game. After last year's disappointing showing, the players realized that training camp would have a different tone.
"We thought it would be tough, but I think Coach Reid did a great job understanding when we were down and at our worst, and he would give us days to get our legs back," cornerback Sheldon Brown said. "It was tough from a beginning standpoint, but I think as a head coach, he handled it well and did a great job."
"It's definitely been a long preseason, but it has been a productive one," center Jamaal Jackson said.
The biggest impression this summer has been made by the Eagles' defense. Bolstered by the signing of free-agent end Darren Howard and the drafting of tackle Brodrick Bunkley in the first round, the defense played with confidence throughout the preseason.
Brown cautioned that the Eagles should not get too caught up in their preseason statistics, but he said there have been signs that this will be an improved unit.
"Stats mean nothing and you can never go off preseason," Brown said. "But we watched practice and could see that the guys were getting better."
And this year, since the Eagles had to play an extra preseason contest because of their participation in the Hall of Fame Game, the drudgery of training camp and the preseason lasted even longer.
"Everybody is kind of tired," Smith said. "There were five preseason games and we have been in camp for a while, and we're anxious to play some games that actually mean something and get the season going again."
The wait is over, and now the true anticipation begins.
Notes.The Eagles are expected to announce their practice squad today. They can sign eight players to the practice squad... . Running back Wali Lundy, a rookie from the University of Virginia and Holy Cross High in Delran, will start for the Texans against the Eagles. During the preseason, Lundy rushed for 143 yards (with a 5.5-yard average) and one touchdown and caught six passes for 52 yards... . The Texans are expected to sign running back Ron Dayne today. Dayne, a former star at Overbrook High in Pine Hill, was cut by the Denver Broncos on Saturday. He won the Heisman Trophy at Wisconsin in 1999... . Former Eagle N.D. Kalu is a second-string defensive end for the Texans.
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.
Publication Source The Philadelphia Inquirer
Publication Date 2006-09-04
By Marc Narducci, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Sep. 4--When the Eagles arrive for practice today at the NovaCare Complex, there will be a different feeling. For the first time since the rookies and selected veterans reported on July 20 at Lehigh, the Eagles will prepare for a game that counts.
As the players begin preparations for Sunday's regular-season opener at Houston against the Texans, they acknowledge that this week they will have much more of a bounce in their step.
"It's time," middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said after Friday's 20-17 loss to the New York Jets in the preseason finale. "We had five preseason games and now it's time to go to work for real."
The scars from last year's disappointing 6-10 season seem to have healed. The Eagles feel good about what was a productive preseason, regardless of the 2-3 record.
The starting offense with Donovan McNabb at quarterback scored 26 points in the preseason and continually moved the ball. The starting defense allowed just three points.
The Eagles appear to have regained the swagger that was so apparent during the 2004 season, when they won the NFC championship before losing to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
"We were trying to make a statement [in the preseason] and send a message to the rest of the league and even to ourselves that we are back, man," Trotter said. "We are ready to get back on track and make a playoff and Super Bowl run."
Not everyone is convinced that the Eagles will be back. Sports Illustrated picked the Eagles to finish fourth in the NFC East.
"Wait a minute, there are only four teams in the division," tight end L.J. Smith said when told of the SI prediction. "I don't see that happening."
Neither does Trotter, although he insists that he does not pay any attention to preseason prognostications.
"I don't read the papers or SI," Trotter said. "It doesn't really matter what they say or what anybody says."
With a smile, he added: "All that matters is what we say."
By all accounts, coach Andy Reid put the Eagles through a grueling preseason, one that included few days off from hitting when the team was at Lehigh University. During the previous few training camps, there wasn't as much hitting because the Eagles had been coming off successful seasons, with four consecutive appearances in the NFC title game. After last year's disappointing showing, the players realized that training camp would have a different tone.
"We thought it would be tough, but I think Coach Reid did a great job understanding when we were down and at our worst, and he would give us days to get our legs back," cornerback Sheldon Brown said. "It was tough from a beginning standpoint, but I think as a head coach, he handled it well and did a great job."
"It's definitely been a long preseason, but it has been a productive one," center Jamaal Jackson said.
The biggest impression this summer has been made by the Eagles' defense. Bolstered by the signing of free-agent end Darren Howard and the drafting of tackle Brodrick Bunkley in the first round, the defense played with confidence throughout the preseason.
Brown cautioned that the Eagles should not get too caught up in their preseason statistics, but he said there have been signs that this will be an improved unit.
"Stats mean nothing and you can never go off preseason," Brown said. "But we watched practice and could see that the guys were getting better."
And this year, since the Eagles had to play an extra preseason contest because of their participation in the Hall of Fame Game, the drudgery of training camp and the preseason lasted even longer.
"Everybody is kind of tired," Smith said. "There were five preseason games and we have been in camp for a while, and we're anxious to play some games that actually mean something and get the season going again."
The wait is over, and now the true anticipation begins.
Notes.The Eagles are expected to announce their practice squad today. They can sign eight players to the practice squad... . Running back Wali Lundy, a rookie from the University of Virginia and Holy Cross High in Delran, will start for the Texans against the Eagles. During the preseason, Lundy rushed for 143 yards (with a 5.5-yard average) and one touchdown and caught six passes for 52 yards... . The Texans are expected to sign running back Ron Dayne today. Dayne, a former star at Overbrook High in Pine Hill, was cut by the Denver Broncos on Saturday. He won the Heisman Trophy at Wisconsin in 1999... . Former Eagle N.D. Kalu is a second-string defensive end for the Texans.
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.