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Rick Gosselin: Gifted Westbrook completes Eagles
07:18 PM CDT on Saturday, October 23, 2004
The arrival of Terrell Owens reinforced a public belief in Philadelphia that the Eagles are a Super Bowl-caliber team.
But the Eagles privately believe if they had a healthy Brian Westbrook last January, they wouldn't have needed any such reinforcement. They'd have been a Super Bowl team a year ago.
Westbrook is back in the lineup at halfback, his torn triceps having healed, and the 5-0 Eagles are motoring along as the best team in the NFC. He ranks sixth in the NFC in rushing with 415 yards and leads all NFL running backs in receiving with 28 catches.
"Brian is not a secret anymore," Eagles coach Andy Reid said.
Westbrook is the reason Philadelphia fan favorite Duce Staley is running the football across the state for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Westbrook was a younger, faster and, frankly, better option at halfback.
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Gosselin: Gifted Westbrook completes Eagles
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Westbrook played sparingly as a rookie in 2002, touching the ball just 54 times as Staley's legs powered the Eagles to the NFC title game. But a summer holdout by Staley produced a three-back rotation in 2003, and Westbrook emerged as the team's offensive catalyst.
Despite starting only eight games, Westbrook averaged 5.2 yards per rush with seven touchdowns. He caught a team runner-up 37 passes and scored four more times. He also returned punts 84 and 81 yards for touchdowns.
Against Carolina last November, Westbrook gained 64 yards on 12 carries and caught five passes for 32 yards in a 25-16 victory. The Panthers and their top-10 defense could not contain Westbrook's speed on the perimeter.
But Westbrook tore his triceps in the season finale against Washington and was lost for the playoffs. So he wasn't around for the rematch with Carolina in the NFC title game – and Philadelphia missed his speed and playmaking ability. The Eagles succumbed meekly to the Panthers, 14-3.
Against a Carolina defense stacked to stop the run last week, Westbrook scorched the Panthers again for 64 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries to help the Eagles stay unbeaten.
Westbrook had the first 100-yard rushing games of his career this season against the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. He's averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Tiki Barber of the Giants is the only NFL starting running back averaging more yards per carry (6.0) than Westbrook.
Owens makes defenses hold their breath 10 to 12 times per game when the ball is in the air in his direction. Westbrook makes defenses hold their breath 20 to 25 times per game when the Eagles put the ball in his hands on runs and passes. He is averaging 7.4 yards per touch in his brief career, with five touchdowns of 25 yards or longer.
"I think people know who he is and what he can do," Reid said. "That will be the challenge for this offense – to make sure he can be productive each week."
The Eagles want to get their Pro Bowl receiver Owens the ball each week. But they need to get Westbrook the ball each week to get where they want to go in 2004.
E-mail rgosselin@***BANNED-URL***
07:18 PM CDT on Saturday, October 23, 2004
The arrival of Terrell Owens reinforced a public belief in Philadelphia that the Eagles are a Super Bowl-caliber team.
But the Eagles privately believe if they had a healthy Brian Westbrook last January, they wouldn't have needed any such reinforcement. They'd have been a Super Bowl team a year ago.
Westbrook is back in the lineup at halfback, his torn triceps having healed, and the 5-0 Eagles are motoring along as the best team in the NFC. He ranks sixth in the NFC in rushing with 415 yards and leads all NFL running backs in receiving with 28 catches.
"Brian is not a secret anymore," Eagles coach Andy Reid said.
Westbrook is the reason Philadelphia fan favorite Duce Staley is running the football across the state for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Westbrook was a younger, faster and, frankly, better option at halfback.
NFL Report
Gosselin: Gifted Westbrook completes Eagles
Around the NFL
NFL rankings
More NFL
Westbrook played sparingly as a rookie in 2002, touching the ball just 54 times as Staley's legs powered the Eagles to the NFC title game. But a summer holdout by Staley produced a three-back rotation in 2003, and Westbrook emerged as the team's offensive catalyst.
Despite starting only eight games, Westbrook averaged 5.2 yards per rush with seven touchdowns. He caught a team runner-up 37 passes and scored four more times. He also returned punts 84 and 81 yards for touchdowns.
Against Carolina last November, Westbrook gained 64 yards on 12 carries and caught five passes for 32 yards in a 25-16 victory. The Panthers and their top-10 defense could not contain Westbrook's speed on the perimeter.
But Westbrook tore his triceps in the season finale against Washington and was lost for the playoffs. So he wasn't around for the rematch with Carolina in the NFC title game – and Philadelphia missed his speed and playmaking ability. The Eagles succumbed meekly to the Panthers, 14-3.
Against a Carolina defense stacked to stop the run last week, Westbrook scorched the Panthers again for 64 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries to help the Eagles stay unbeaten.
Westbrook had the first 100-yard rushing games of his career this season against the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. He's averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Tiki Barber of the Giants is the only NFL starting running back averaging more yards per carry (6.0) than Westbrook.
Owens makes defenses hold their breath 10 to 12 times per game when the ball is in the air in his direction. Westbrook makes defenses hold their breath 20 to 25 times per game when the Eagles put the ball in his hands on runs and passes. He is averaging 7.4 yards per touch in his brief career, with five touchdowns of 25 yards or longer.
"I think people know who he is and what he can do," Reid said. "That will be the challenge for this offense – to make sure he can be productive each week."
The Eagles want to get their Pro Bowl receiver Owens the ball each week. But they need to get Westbrook the ball each week to get where they want to go in 2004.
E-mail rgosselin@***BANNED-URL***
