SB Nation User Blog: AlecTheMan

1 on 1 With Trevor Laws

AlecTheMan — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:52:22 -0000

Part of life is setting goals. Whether they're short term or long term, you strive to achieve these goals, striving for the ultimate result. We at Bleed Green are proud to share with you one of our "long term goals", that being our first current Eagle player interview. We've interviewed a few well-known people, from the beloved Tommy Lawlor to former Eagles player Carlos Emmons. But no one is as prestigious as a current NFL player, especially those who dawn Eagle green.

A couple weeks ago, we hooked up with Drew Martin, brother of Trevor Laws, who ultimately made this happen.

We want to thank Drew Martin and Trevor Laws for time away from their busy schedule. We are very grateful.

Without further ado, we give you 1 on 1 with Eagles DT Trevor Laws!

Enjoy!

INTERVIEW WITH TREVOR LAWS
(The article will be on Trevor's website soon: http://www.trevor-laws.com/)

Question 1 (Adam)
In an earlier interview, Philadelphiaeagles.com writer Tommy Lawlor told Bleed Green that you would be the "surprise" player this year for the Philadelphia Eagles. Do you agree, and why?

Trevor: Well that's pretty cool that someone would think that, and I hope to live up to that expectation. I am really pumped for the upcoming year and hoping that I can contribute in a big way. I worked hard this offseason to be ready for camp, and unfortunately tweaked my hammy, but I'm hoping that heals up and I can do some damage out on the field.

Question 2 (Adam)
Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson's death has deeply saddened us all. What's the one thing that you will most remember most about him?

Trevor: Jim was a great football bind and that is definitely the thing I remember most about him. His ability to come up with a brilliant scheme and then coach his player up to execute it to perfection was uncanny. He brought a lot to the game and will be missed.

Question 3 (Kyle)
Which Philadelphia Eagle teammates are you most closest around?

Trevor: Well it has to be my boy Victor. We were roomies at ND and it has been sooo nice having him around to help me adjust to life in the league. We hang out all the time. A couple other guys I'm close with are Stewart Bradley and Brent Celek. All good dudes.

Question 4 (Cody)
What was it like being apart of a Brian Dawkins led huddle, and will the defense miss a beat because of his loss?

Trevor: Dawkins is a huge presence both on and off the field. He was very vocal out there, really pushing people and getting them to play to their fullest. He will be missed, but I think we'll be fine with Q back there...he's a straight baller.

Question 5 (Cody)
How have you matured by watching and learning under teammates Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley?

Trevor: The main thing is learning the nuances of the NFL and what needs to be done to make plays. Both have their own style, but each has learned what you can, and can't do in the league. It's been great watching them and learning from them. Mike is very good technically and puts the lineman out of position by simple hand moves...whereas Bunk is just a beast and can out-physical just about anyone in the league. Good people to learn from.

Question 6 (Kyle)
What was the biggest difference from playing at Notre Dame to playing in the NFL?

Trevor: Everyone says it, but it's true...the speed and strength of other players. Everyone is fast, everyone is strong up here. There aren't many (if any) lineman in the league that are terrible...in college you run into a few. It's just a matter of working hard and getting to another level so you can be successful up here as well.

Question 7 (Cody)
What was the part of the game that you wanted to improve the most this offseason?

Trevor: Well, probably my overall strength and speed. I wanted to get leaner, faster and stronger. I was pushing myself in my offseason workouts, and that's probably part of the reason I tweaked my hammy while sprinting. I also was hurt early last year before camp and never really got to where I wanted to be physically with my body, so I was really concentrating on that this year. Unfortunately, I got injured again. However, I was able to get ready and be physically in good condition this year before the injury, so I'm hoping I'll be able to pick up where I left off after my hammy heals up.

Question 8 (Kyle)
How do you prepare for your games on Sunday?

Trevor: For me it is all about a mindset. When sunday comes along you know that you are prepared because all week we spend breaking down film and getting our plan down. On gameday all I usually do is relax and go out there and with intentions to dominate.

Question 9 (Adam)
What's the feeling inside the Eagles locker room right before a game? Is it different when you're playing a big rival, like say...the Cowboys?

Trevor: People are always fired up and ready to go, but before a game against the Cowboys you can tell everything is way different. People are bouncing off the walls because they are so pumped to get out there and tear it up.

Question 10 (Adam)
Open forum: Say whatever you'd like to the Eagle faithful:

Trevor: Just wanna say thanks to all the fans who come out and watch us play and cheer us on. You guys are what makes our homefield truly an advantage for us. Can't wait to get back on the field and earn some PT so I can get after some QBs and make some plays. Eagles all the way. Superbowl homeboy.

--------

Once again, thank you to Drew Martin and Trevor Laws. Best of luck to Trevor this upcoming season.

Hopefully Laws is correct in his prediction..."Eagles all the way. Superbowl homeboy".

www.bleedgreenforever.wordpress.com

1 on 1 With Scott Tunstall

AlecTheMan — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:11:30 -0000

When Scott Tunstall is not watching the Eagles, or discussing them with his friend Sean during one of their many "tipsy" conversations, he is writing about them. Inside The Iggles is a blog that displays the latest Eagles news, as well as thoughts and opinions of the Birds according to Mr. Tunstall. Scott first began bleeding green at the age of 8, and has worshiped them ever since. Many find his articles to be engrossing, interesting, worth-while, and even a bit humorous.

Already this short week, Scott has bashed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the #1 sports media giant ESPN, so I definitely worded my questions carefully, hoping I didn't make myself his next target.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy as we dive into the mind of Scott Tunstall:

INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT TUNSTALL

Question 1: What made you want to become the Lead Blogger of the well-known, and reputable Eagles website, Inside the Iggles?

Scott: Last October, I decided to pursue writing/blogging full-time as a career. I was always told to write about what you know, and I'd like to think I know the Eagles pretty well. FanSided.com happened to have an opening at ITI and I jumped at the opportunity. I have to thank Adam and Zach Best, the FanSided founders, for giving me a shot. It's been a satisfying 9 months thus far. I hope to continue the relationship for a long time.

Question 2: On your "About" page at Inside The Iggles, your biased opinion is that Eagles Fans are "the best in the NFL". Briefly elaborate on that.

Scott: Eagles fans are more than just a bunch of coach/QB hating drunks who enjoy booing an injured Michael Irvin and pelting visitors with snowballs. That group is a minority. I remember sitting in a sold out Vet during the 3-13 1998 season. Yeah, there were lots of boos, but everyone there wanted a victory. Eagles fans are knowledgeable, dedicated and critical to the bitter end. They also want to win more than anything else. For my money, that's the true definition of a fan.

Question 3: Who was your favorite Eagle player growing up?

Scott: I grew up in the Buddy Ryan era. I loved Reggie White, but my favorite player to watch and follow was Randall Cunningham. He was what Michael Vick never became. A quarterback who could run and throw. Randall was a one-man highlight reel.

Question 4: Who is your favorite Eagle player now?

Scott: With Dawkins gone, it's gotta be Westbrook. I like players who make my jaw drop. When Westy is on his game, there is none better. Just an incredible talent.

Question 5: Cowboys, Redskins, Giants: Which one do you hate more?

Scott: No contest. Cowboys. Any organization that arrogantly positions itself as "America's Team" deserves our hatred.

Question 6: As of right now, July 29, pending no injuries, what is your prediction of the 2009-2010 Philadelphia Eagles season?

Scott: Well, I don't make Super Bowl predictions in July, so I'm steering clear of that hornet's nest. If you're looking for a record, I'll go with 12-4. They will win the East. However, this might end up being one of the most hard fought division battles in years. Should be fun to watch.

Question 7: In one of your most recent posts (located here), you described Eagles' players in 4 words. Describe the following in four words, as well: Jim Johnson, Andy Reid, Freddie Mitchell, and ESPN's love-affair of Brett Favre.

Scott: Think I'm "four worded" out, but I'll give it a try:

Jim Johnson - Best in the game.

Andy Reid - Believes in his system.

Freddie Mitchell - Delivered nothing but laughs.

ESPN/Favre love affair - Never ceases to amaze.

Question 8: Open forum: Say whatever you’d like to the Philadelphia faithful.

Scott: The one thing I would say to the Philly faithful is to remain patient and exercise caution. I guess that's two things. Anyway, expect some growing pains this season. The roster is stacked with talent, but much of it is young and/or new. It takes time to build a championship identity. Maybe this is the year, maybe it isn't. Just remember, this team has been constructed to be good for years to come.

www.bleedgreenforever.wordpress.com

2009 Eagles Training Camp Final Review

AlecTheMan — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:12:42 -0000

I caught up with training camp expert Mike Lederer again, who this time, reveals his final review of the 2009 training camp. Read about the "Top 5 Stars of Camp", "Who to watch during Preseason", and plenty more.

Enjoy!

Top 5 Stars of Training Camp

(1) Desean Jackson: The only negative aspect of Desean's camp was his knee injury. And fortunately, it seems that it is a minor concern. The 2nd year WR from Cal looks poised for a big season. I slightly worried about a sophomore slump from Jackson but I have nothing but confidence in the kid after watching him for the last week. He clearly is not satisfied by the success he had in his rookie campaign. Desean was very good at the start of camp. Nobody (with the exception of Sheldon and Asante on occasion) could keep Desean in front of them. He was just flying by DBs. During the live session, Desean was still the best player on the field. He caught almost every ball thrown his way and really seems to have built good chemistry for Donovan McNabb. The interaction between Desean and Asante Samuel was also a highlight of camp. Both players are pushing each other to get better and it is a great matchup to watch. For as good as Desean was early in camp, he took his game to another level as soon as Jeremy Maclin arrived. Once all of the talk surrounded the rookie WR making his Eagles debut, Jackson made sure to remind everyone that he was the big man on campus by catching deep ball after deep ball. I am extremely excited to see how #10 progresses coming into the 2009 season.

(2) Lesean McCoy: If not for Jackson, Shady McCoy would be my clear choice for the most impressive player throughout training camp. Maybe it's because I am cautious in expecting a lot out of rookies but Lesean was not only the best rookie on the field, but he was one of the best overall players at Lehigh. The thing that impressed me most about Shady was his blocking. I had read so much about how his blocking was below adequate but Lesean was really impressive in blocking drills. He would engage with the oncoming defender and never let up. He had a huge block on Quintin Demps early in camp and excelled throughout blocking drills as the week progressed. We still need to see how he does in blitz pickup but I was very impressed by McCoy's blocking ability. As a runner, Lesean is a great fit for the West Coast offense. He is a hard runner that is shifty enough to fake out defenders. He also catches almost everything thrown his way. McCoy seems to have a very good grasp of the offense and I think he can help this team as a rookie in 2009. There are still questions surrounding Brian Westbrook, and I think McCoy could fill in adequately. The problem is the depth behind Shady at running back.

(3) Donovan McNabb: For the first time in what seems like forever, there is no news or controversy surrounding McNabb. He got his contract renegotiation and is not coming off an offseason of rehab. #5 has been out of the spotlight at Lehigh and he has let his play on the field do the talking. I noticed two main things from McNabb at training camp. First, he is in phenomenal shape. He is moving around well, joking on the sideline, and just looks great out on the practice field. Secondly, he is far and away better than any other QBs in camp. And this is coming from a guy who likes Kevin Kolb. At this point in time, McNabb is BY FAR the best quarterback on this team. He still throws the occasional ball in the dirt and I'm sure many of us will be frustrated at times by his play in 2009 but Donovan gives us the best chance to win now. He has had a great camp and with all of the new weapons around him, hopefully he will have a great 2009 season.

(4) Leonard Weaver: You wouldn't normally see a FB on a top 5 list but that is how impressive Weaver has been this camp. I really think he adds a whole new dimension to our offense. We haven't had a FB this good in a long time and I would argue that Weaver is the best FB of the Andy Reid era. He is a good blocker and hard nosed runner. Weaver got a lot of carries on 3rd and short situations and was able to push the pile for the 1st down. He also has decent hands out of the backfield and will be another check down option for McNabb. I feel Weaver is a versatile player and a very underrated signing from this offseason. He is a very nice addition for this team.

(5) Quintin Mikell: I was going to just list the 1st team defense but you have to take into account that they are going up against the 2nd team offense all practice. The defensive line has had a good camp and both Sheldon and Asante have been solid, but if I had to pick one player on the defense it would be Mikell. In my mind, he has clearly taken over the leadership role on the defense. You see him going up and down the sideline trying to pump up the guys and telling them "good job" after a good play. He also has been out during special teams practices giving instruction to the younger players. Mikell's play on the field has also been very good. With the loss of Stewart Bradley in the middle, the Eagles need someone to step up and fill that play-making role on defense. A lot of people expected Bradley to take the next step this season. I wouldn't be surprised if we hear Q's name a lot during broadcasts in 2009.

Biggest Concerns Moving Forward:

Keep in mind that we are still over a month away from the regular season and a lot of things can change between now and then, but on August 11th, these are my biggest issues with the team

Offensive Line: The offensive line is a mess. Period. Obviously the recent returns of Jason Peters and Stacey Andrews will be huge for the line but there are still several question marks. Shawn Andrews was nowhere to be seen at Lehigh except for check-in day. For most of training camp, the first unit had 3/5's of it's projected starting line absent. Guys like Max Jean Gilles, Nick Cole, and Winston Justice did a decent job filling in but I don't want to have to rely on them moving forward. The coaches seem to feel that Winston Justice can do the job at RT but I am still not convinced. Obviously they know more than I do, but even though Justice is fundamentally sound, I still see speed rushers coming off the edge and blowing by him. Todd Herremans had some off the field issues and was moved around a lot between LG, LT, and RT. He seemed to have a good camp but was moving around so much that the line never seemed to have time to build chemistry. Due to injuries, the 2nd and 3rd team offensive lines were downright pitiful. Kevin Kolb and AJ Feeley barely had time to set their feet before there was pressure in the backfield. The good news for King Dunlap fans is that I didn't notice a ton of pressure coming from his side. However, guys such as Mike McGlynn, Mike Gibson, and Fenuki Tufou did nothing to impress me over the past couple weeks. Getting healthy and building cohesiveness on the offensive line is imperative for the Eagles to have success in 2009.

Middle Linebacker: The loss of Stewart Bradley leaves a major void on the defensive side of the football. Do I think the Eagles can recover from this loss? Yes I do. I feel that a combination of Joe Mays, Omar Gaither, and Matt Wilhelm can get the job done but don't discount the importance of having a MLB that can play 3 downs. Maybe I am overvaluing Bradley, but I truly felt he was on his way to being an All-Pro MLB. The Eagles lost a major playmaker and extremely valuable asset on defense. I like Joe Mays and think that most Eagles fans will love his play. He is a hard hitting LB that goes all out on every play. I think Mays will be very good against the run and blitzing up the middle, but he still scares me in pass coverage. We'll have to see more in the preseason but as of today, I still expect Joe Mays to be your starting MLB. If he fails, we all know what Omar Gaither can do in the middle and he would be an adequate replacement at MLB.

Tight End: I like Brent Celek and think he is going to have a good year catching the football. But behind Celek, there is NOTHING. Cornelius Ingram was having a GREAT camp and was well on his way to being one of the stars at Lehigh. But with Ingram lost for the season, the Eagles are incredibly thin at TE. Matt Schobel has been out almost all of camp with injured and quite frankly is nothing special when he is out on the field. Eugene Bright went from a nice story of a local kid trying to make the team to being the #2 TE right now. Bright hasn't impressed me at all during training camp. He doesn't seem to have great hands and his blocking has been suspect at best. Maybe his play improves during the preseason but right now I am incredibly concerned about the TE position. If Celek goes down with an injury, we have very little behind him.

Jeremy Maclin: Maclin hasn't been bad out on the fields of Goodman Campus. But he hasn't shined either. Jeremy shows flashes of greatness and clearly has a ton of potential. But I really feel the time missed at training cam set him far behind. He has done what he can to get caught up and it has to be noted that I am watching him while he is trying to catch up to players that are 15+ practices ahead of him. I still feel the coaches are going to try to get him on the field in certain situations (WR screens, etc.), but I'm not sure Maclin will be able to have a huge impact in 2009. His punt returning skills have also been very poor. I don't like the way he catches the ball and he muffed two too many punts for my liking. You can't make any plays in the open field if you don't catch the football. Hopefully Maclin continues to progress and is able to get on the field with the 1st unit but right now I'm not convinced he can help us a ton in 2009.

Sean McDermott: I love the way the defense has looked during practice and I think McDermott is going to do a very good job trying to replace a legend in Jim Johnson. However, Sean still hasn't called a full game at the professional level and that alone is why he is a concern at this point. I'm not too worried about McDermott but we won't really know until we see our defense out on the field on Sundays.

I don't know where else to mention this but I am really impressed with Special Teams coach Ted Daisher. He runs a really tight ship and I expect our special teams to be vastly improved from the Rory Segrest unit of 2008.

Players to watch during the Preseason
Besides the obvious players to watch, here are a couple battles I would keep an eye on during the preseason:

Lorenzo Booker vs. Eldra Buckley: We all know about Booker. He is a shifty back that looks great on the practice field. However, he still can't block and seems to go down from initial contact. Buckley is an interesting player. While he isn't the traditional big back, he runs hard and should give Booker a run for his money in the preseason. Buckley started off training camp great with a couple of big runs and good blocking but has seemed to slow down as camp has progressed. His blocking doesn't seem great to me but it can't be much worse than Booker.

Reggie Brown vs. Hank Baskett vs. Brandon Gibson: Three players likely fighting for two spots. Gibson has had a very good camp at Lehigh. He picked up the offense well and continues to perform. While he hasn't been extraordinary from my view, he also hasn't made any mistakes. We all know about Reggie Brown. For every tough catch he makes, he seems to drop an easy ball. The same holds true for this training camp. Brown has also worked a lot on special teams and even returned some kickoffs during practice. He is also one of the first players on the field in the morning and one of the last to leave. Reggie is doing everything he can to make this team. Baskett provides us our big WR who is also a very good special teams player. He hasn't had a great camp but he hasn't been bad either. We'll see if the sideshow with Kendra comes back to bite him in the end. Also keep an eye on WR Danny Amendola. He won't make the team but the kid is very solid. Runs crisp routes and catches everything thrown his way. He is also lightning fast.

LDE - Victor Abiamiri vs. Juqua Parker vs. Chris Clemons vs. Darren Howard vs. Bryan Smith: The revolving door on the left side of our defensive line. Abiamiri has been hurt all camp but is still penciled in as the starting LDE. When healthy, he seems to be a good player but we haven't seen him stay healthy long enough to prove it. We all know what we have in Juqua Parker. It will be interesting to see how his recent arrest effects his playing time. I don't see Chris Clemons as an every down DE but he will see the field for this team. Clemons lined up at LDE during nickel packages and was also upright in the joker position on several downs. Darren Howard returns for another season and looks to build off of his 10 sack campaign in 2008. The dark horse to watch at LDE is Bryan Smith. The 2nd year LDE from McNeese State has a lot to prove this preseason. He ran exclusively with the 2nd unit throughout the last week at training camp and seemed to hold his own. He is pure speed off the edge and can definitely make some plays.

Quintin Demps vs. Sean Jones: I expect both of these guys to see a lot of the field during the regular season alongside Quintin Mikell, but it will be interesting to see who shines during the preseason. Right now, Demps is the 1st team FS and Jones is listed as the 2nd team SS. Demps is very good in deep coverage and moving sideline to sideline. His tackling is still a concern but it looks improved from last year. Jones is simply a ball hawk. He was covering a lot of TEs up in the box during training camp and had several interceptions over the middle of the field. I really liked the Sean Jones pickup during the offseason and it will be interesting to see who wins the battle between these two.

Jack Ikegwuonu vs. Victor "Macho" Harris: While Harris is playing more safety, he can rotate back and forth between CB and S. I still expect the Eagles to carry 5 CBs but wouldn't be shocked if they stuck with 4 and had Harris move back and forth. Ikegwuonu was not overly impressive during training camp. His mechanics seemed sound but he was beat way too much for my liking. Macho Harris was hurt during most of camp but before his injury was very impressive out on the field. While it might seem like a roster spot at the very bottom of the roster, keep an eye on both of these players during the preseason. I know there are a lot of fans of each of them.

Joe Mays vs. Omar Gaither vs. Matt Wilhelm: The obvious position to watch. I touched a lot of Mays earlier and I still feel it is his job to lose. However, don't be surprised to see Matt Wilhelm get a closer look. He is now running as the 2nd team MLB and is a very good LB in coverage. If he is able to pick up the system, he could make a push for a roster spot. Gaither has been used almost exclusively at WILL except for during nickel packages. I'm not sure how serious the coaching staff is about him returning to the middle. Maybe they just know he can already do it and want to give other guys a look. Moise Fou will be the 3rd string MLB. Fou has had a very good training camp and I think a lot of people will like this kid. He will push for a roster spot depending on his performance in the preseason.

Question 1: Briefly describe the following Eagle players' training camp performances

Brent Celek
Celek had a solid camp at Lehigh. He didn’t have any spectacular plays but he was sound throughout the last two weeks. We all know Celek can catch the football. The key for Brent is his blocking. Brent improved his blocking significantly from the start of 2008 to the end of last season. He looked good in blocking drills throughout camp. During live practice, Celek had a great block on the outside to spring Lesean McCoy for a big gain. Brent sealed off the defender and opened a lane for McCoy to get through. If Celek can be an adequate blocker, he will be a great fit as our starting TE. I’m not worried at all about his ability to catch the football.

Chris Gocong
Chris Gocong also had a quiet camp. He was solid throughout but with all of the attention surrounding the MLB position, Gocong did his thing behind the scenes. He looks comfortable standing up and hopefully will improve in pass coverage with another season under his belt. One thing I noticed about Chris is his burst off the line. He lined up at left DE on occasion, and just flew around the corner. It’s clear why he was able to record so many sacks in college at Cal Poly. I could see defensive coordinator Sean McDermott using Gocong to rush the passer a lot this season.

Reggie Brown
The veteran WR had a good training camp. I will say this about Brown. He is doing everything he can to make this team. Brown is consistently one of the first players out on the field in the morning and one of the last to leave. He has also spent a lot of time playing special teams as a gunner and has returned a couple kickoffs during practice. I doubt Brown would be a kickoff returner but it is interesting to see him trying so many different things on special teams. The thing about Reggie that is so frustrating is his inconsistency. Throughout the past two weeks I have seen Brown make a great catch in traffic and follow it up with a bad drop. I think he will make the team but I’m still not sure how much he will contribute in 2009.

Lorenzo Booker
We heard so much about Lorenzo Booker last preseason and then he did absolutely nothing during the regular season. Booker continually shows flashes of greatness during practice. He is incredibly quick and shifty in the open field. However, Booker still can’t block a lick. He was consistently beat in blocking drills and even though he says he knows the playbook, it still looks like he struggles in blitz pickup. Booker also seems to go down at the first sign of contact. I would keep an eye on Eldra Buckley during the preseason. He could give Booker a run for his money.

Omar Gaither
Gaither has remained the 2nd team WILL linebacker throughout training camp. Joe Mays remains the 1st team MLB and Matt Wilhelm has taken over with the 2nd team in the middle. Omar has been lining up with the 1st unit in their nickel package. Gaither is an incredibly vocal player. He is as loud as almost any other player on the field. When Omar is in the huddle, you can tell he loves assuming the leadership role. I feel at this point that the coaches know what they have in Gaither and want to get a closer look at guys like Mays and Wilhelm. If they are not satisfied with their performance, Omar could easily slide back into the middle.

Question 2: As an Eagles fan whose watched nearly every camp practice to date, are you satisfied with what you saw?

I think this question really depends on your expectations for the 2009 Eagles. If you expect the Birds to win the Super Bowl, then quite frankly this has been a bad training camp. There have definitely been highlights and things to get incredibly excited about. The performances of younger players such as Desean Jackson and Lesean McCoy have to excite people about the future. Additionally, Donovan McNabb has had his best training camp in years. However, there have been far too many negatives at Lehigh this year. Between the tragic loss of Jim Johnson, the arrest of Juqua Parker, the uncertain status of Shawn Andrews, the loss of Stewart Bradley and Cornelius Ingram for the season, and the ridiculous amount of injuries over the past two weeks, this team seems to have more question marks than it did before training camp began. Not to mention the fact that we haven’t seen Brian Westbrook put the pads on yet. Fortunately for Eagles fans, there is still a month left until the season starts, which leaves the team plenty of time to correct a lot of their issues before the regular season begins.

www.bleedgreenforever.wordpress.com

Catching Up On Camp

AlecTheMan — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:35:40 -0000

Philadelphia Eagles' fans are well-known for their high level of football intellgence.

Bird fanatic Mike Lederer is no exception.

Lederer is an Eagles fan who has attended nearly every training camp practice to date. You can find all of his daily reviews on the official Philadelphia Eagles messageboard under the name "Sixerboy3". There, he offers fantastic and detailed insight on the highlights, lowlights, and player performances of the daily practices. It seems nothing gets by this guy. In fact, if you ask him nicely, he may even be able to tell you what Andy Reid had for lunch each and every camp day. ESPN's John Clayton couldn't even do that.

Alright, enough hyping up the man.

Because I loved his insights so much, I requested that he answer some questions of mine, that I feel most fans would like to know.

Enjoy!

Question 1: Overall, what is the level of intensity at Eagles Training Camp? Has the losses of Jim Johnson, Stewart Bradley, and Juqua Parker made a difference in the excitement as of recently?

Mike: I feel that the level of intensity at training camp has been high this year. Andy Reid runs a very tight camp and it is amazing to see the difference in the details with Reid at the helm compared to coaches around the league. You don’t see the ball on the ground constantly and players having to redo mistakes.

I think there has been a lot of adversity with this camp. The tragic loss of Jim Johnson started camp off on a very low note. Sean McDermott has the difficult task of taking over for Johnson and I feel that he has done a good job instructing the players and keeping that aggressive attitude that Philly fans have gotten used to seeing over the past decade. Of course, the big test for McDermott will be when he actually has to call the plays in a real game.

The loss of Stewart Bradley leaves a major void on the defensive side of the football. Joe Mays and Omar Gaither will be counted on to step into the middle and not just perform, but excel. Mays is a hard-hitting LB who will remind a lot of fans of a smaller Jeremiah Trotter. He has an uphill battle ahead of him but Mays can certainly lay the wood. From what I have seen over the past few days, Mays is very good in run defense and bringing pressure up the middle. However, he struggles running sideline to sideline and could be vunerable in pass coverage. Most Eagles fans know what Omar Gaither can do at MLB after watching him play there for the 2007 season. Gaither has been playing alongside Akeem Jordan at LB with the 1st team in their nickel package. I believe the coaches will take a long look at Joe Mays during the preseason and they will give the 2nd year LB out of North Dakota State every opportunity to win the MLB. There is no doubt however that the loss of a 3 down LB in Stewart Bradley is a big blow to the Eagles defense for the 2009 season.

The Juqua Parker incident will be an interesting storyline to follow throughout the rest of training camp. I will say that Tuesday afternoons practice (10-10-10) was the worst practice I have seen at Lehigh this year. With the injury to Victor Abiamiri and Chris Clemens being a pure pash rusher, I don’t feel Parker’s job is in jeopardy. But his arrest has definitely created another negative storyline at Lehigh.

Question 2: Name three players who have been "lights out" during training camp thus far.

Mike: Eagles fans will be happy to hear this. Desean Jackson has been the best player on the field at training camp. He is just blowing by defenders on the field and catching everything thrown in his direction. Desean has been matched up 1 on 1 throughout camp with Asante Samuel. It is great to watch two elite players go back and forth and push each other to improve. Some worry about a sophomore slump for the 2nd year player out of Cal, but from his performance at Lehigh, it looks like Jackson is poised to break out in a big way in 2009.

Rookie RB Lesean McCoy has not only been the best rookie on the field (no disrespect to Cornelius Ingram fans), but McCoy has been one of the best players on the field. Period. Often knocked for his blocking ability coming out of Pittsburgh, McCoy has shown that he is a more than adequate blocker. In one on one drills against LBs and DBs during the August 5th practice, McCoy had no problems at all picking up the blitz and taking hard blocks to the likes of Quintin Demps and Joe Mays. His running has also been outstanding. McCoy has shown a strong grasp of the offense and runs hard, fast, crisp routes. He also has only dropped one pass out of the backfield through the week that I have been here. Lesean is running exclusively with the 1st team offense and seems to be putting himself in a position to make a major impact in his rookie campaign.

Donovan McNabb has to be my 3rd choice for a player who is playing lights out during training camp. Everybody knows the story with McNabb and the fact that the Eagles have a two year window to win the Super Bowl. While McNabb isn’t talking a lot, he is certainly letting his play do the talking. He still has the occasional throw in the dirt or bad read, but I have been very impressed with his accuracy during training camp. I also have to commend him for being in great shape. Donovan looks like he slimmed down in the offseason and looks to be in outstanding physical condition. Donovan also seems very relaxed during practice and looks like he is ready for another deep run.

Question 3: Name three players who have not been performing well during training camp thus far.

Mike: Speaking of QBs, Kevin Kolb has been incredibly disappointing during training camp. And this is coming from a Kevin Kolb believer. Kolb throws a great practice ball. When it is 1 on 1 drills, he hits receivers right on the money. However, once practice goes live, Kolb continues to struggle. He holds the ball way too long and many of his passes are underthrown. He also seems incredibly tentative to throw the ball down field. When he has taken chances, he has thrown a lot of interceptions. I will give Kolb the benefit of the doubt to an extent. It’s tough being the QB for the 2nd team going up against the 1st team defense. There is constant pressure in the backfield.

The offensive line. While it’s not a single player, the play of the offensive line has been very poor this camp. While Jason Peters, Shawn Andrews, and Stacey Andrews have missed almost all of camp due to injury, the rest of the offensive line has not stepped up. With preseason just a week away, it is a major concern of mine moving forward. I do not have faith in guys like Winston Justice and Max Jean Gilles to be starting offensive lineman on a Super Bowl contending team. It is imperative for the offensive line to get healthy and get used to working together or the team is going to struggle in the early portion of the season.

Rookie TE Eugene Bright has not been impressive during camp. It might seem like a minor position (3rd TE), but there was a good amount of talk about Bright having a chance to make the roster. He has dropped a lot of passes and his blocking seems subpar. For all of you Matt Schobel fans, it looks like his job is safe at this point.

Question 4: Provide a brief insight at the following players and their training camp performances:

Mike:
Sean Jones
Sean Jones is a ball hawk. I have seen him intercept 3-4 passes over the past few days. Jones has been lining up as the 2nd team SS with Rashad Baker playing FS. He has done an adequate job covering TEs over the middle. It will be interesting to see how Jones progresses through the preseason.

Winston Justice
While the Eagles media department is saying that Justice has taken big strides in his development, I do not see it. I still see a lot of pressure coming off the right side when he is with the first unit. I could still be clouded by his performance against the Giants from 2007, but I would be very surprised to see Justice on the field for the Eagles in 2009.

Joe Mays
Mays is one of the key players to watch in training camp due to the season ending injury to Stewart Bradley. He is going to get every opportunity to win the starting MLB job. As I touched on earlier, Mays is a hard hitting LB that plays very well against the run. Over the past couple of days, you can see Mays gaining confidence playing with the first team. He still struggles a bit in pass coverage but has time to improve before the season starts. One thing I really like about Mays is that he is really decisive. When he commits to a gap, he goes all out trying to blow up the spot. Mays might not always succeed but he’s going to give you his best. He will remind many fans of an undersized Jeremiah Trotter in the way he tries to blow up blockers.

Bryan Smith
The 3rd round pick from 2008 has had a quiet training camp. He has made plays throughout practice but doesn’t stand out as much as I want him too. Smith looks like he has bulked up a bit from his rookie campaign. He is incredibly fast off the edge and was promoted to 2nd team LDE on Tuesday. His play in preseason will tell a lot about how Smith can contribute in 2009.

Jack Ikegwuonu
The mystery man. There has been a ton of hype around Ikegwuonu since he was drafted in the 4th round last year. Jack looks very fluid out on the field. He is not wearing a brace on his surgically repaired knee. He is smooth out of his cuts and plays physical at the line. However, I have seen Ikegwuonu beat way too many times this camp. It seems Desean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, and recently Jeremy Maclin have beaten him deep on multiple occasions. I see him as nothing more than a #5 corner this season.

Marcus Mailei
The rookie FB out of Weber State hasn’t impressed much at training camp. Leonard Weaver has the starting FB spot wrapped up but Mailei has not much to keep his name is the discussion for a roster spot. He has struggled blocking bigger blitzing LBs and DL that get through the hole. Maybe a practice squad player but nothing more.

Question 5: Name a rookie who has impressed you the most so far. (EXCLUDING: Maclin, McCoy, Ingram)

Mike: (You’re making me exclude the 3 best!) I would have to say that LB Moise Fokou has had a very good camp at the LB position. Fokou had a great practice on Thursday morning and was consistently in the backfield making plays. He also is very strong sideline to sideline. I think Fokou can be an impact player on special teams in his rookie season. Plus, the people in Philadelphia will love his name!

Question 6: Based on this year's training camp, give us a wacky prediction of anything or anyone in regards to the regular season.

Mike: I am normally pretty conservative in my predictions, but I will say that Desean Jackson is named to his first pro bowl in 2009. The kid just looks like he is ready to take that next step and be mentioned alongside other great #1 WRs in the NFL.

Question 7. Open forum: Say anything you would like to the Eagle faithful, in regards to this year's training camp.

Mike: While there have been several brightspots at camp, it is important to have realistic expectations for this team. There are still several question marks on the offensive line and the loss of Stewart Bradley is a big blow to the defense. If the team is able to get healthy and stay healthy, I see them being right in the mix to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. The season is just a month away. Get ready for a very exciting 2009 season!

There ya go, men.
I will try again to contact Mike sometime in the near future, to get an update on future training camp reports.

Training Camp: Eagles Pranks & Rookie Hazings

AlecTheMan — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:49:45 -0000

There is less than a week left of this sluggish, mind-numbing part of the NFL off season before the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans can finally focus on football. Camp Reid will soon launch from Lehigh University, and with it, an optimism that will permeate the Eagle faithful the entire season.

Fans have not seen their Eagles play in nearly six months, but their painful withdrawals from the game that they so passionately love will be quenched by the hot morning sun, and the flurry of a hundred echoing whistles during the waking hours of the long-awaited training camp opening.

Indeed, Eagles football is less than a week away. This may very well be the longest seven days of your precious life. To compare this moment to daily life, it is like a 20 year old kid, who is only six days away from his 21st birthday, staring in the fridge at an ice cold Bud Light. His mouth-watering, and his body fighting the aching urge, he darn well knows that if he can just wait for one more week, he can enjoy a legal gulp.

This whole month, we have read numerous "Training Camp Previews", "Top 10 Training Camp Battles", and even "Position By Position Previews" to stimulate our need for birds 'ball. I've read so many Training Camp Previews that I see them in my sleep. It's scary. However, with less than a week left, we're going to need something new, and something interesting about training camp that will make us want to strap on an Eagles helmet and enter ourselves into Training Camp '09.

Guys, I believe I have something just like that.

We have to look past all of the "Previews", "Battles", and that sports journalism "Drama" that unfolds before the pads are popped. Not one "expert" will attempt to write about the darker side of the training camp phenomena, but I am ready to take it head-on!

So sit back, relax, and laugh out loud hysterically when you read:

Eagles Training Camp Pranks & Rookie Hazings

Let's do this.

Incident #1:
A Rookie Hazing
Eric Allen and other Eagle Rookies dress up like Diana Ross.

Laugh O' Meter:
Five Stars

Probably the most entertaining story of a Philadelphia Eagle rookie hazing, CB Eric Allen and his rookie colleagues were "welcomed" to the team amidst humiliation and laughter. In 1988, the Eagle Veterans were absolutely brutal when it came to initiations. It was even worse than my varsity high school hazings, but we won't go there.

Here is the report:

But one of the more memorable parts of any training camp is the rookie show. Rookies often are forced to put on a skit, and the winning group escapes hazing. With the Eagles in 1988, Eric Allen, Eric Everett and other rookies dressed up like Diana Ross and the Supremes.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp07/news/story?id=2942587

We all would have had a good laugh if we were to witness that extravaganza.

Eric Allen later said:

"Thank God there was no YouTube back then"

Poor Eric. There may have been no YouTube back then, but now, you have AlecTheMan. I have put my Photoshop skills to good use, to give you a clearer picture of what he may have looked like during the hazing. Enjoy.

I hope I don't get into trouble for this one.

-------------------------

Incident #2:
A Camp Prank
Andy Reid is thrown (yes, lifted up) into an ice-filled bath.

Laugh O' Meter:
Three Stars

After three weeks of intense heat during Camp Reid 2005, the returning NFC Champions took it upon themselves to include their head coach, Andy Reid, in a little fun-filled prank.

The report:

After Saturday morning's practice, the players lured Reid into the locker room, bolted shut the door and then lifted the head coach into the air and dumped him into the cold tub..."They got me," Reid admitted. "I thought I was going to have a meeting with a couple of guys and go over some things, and the team met me in there."

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=5190

Sounds fun and all, but I'm sure lifting Andy Reid provided quite a workload for the players. I bet some even skipped the day's weightlifting session. Nevertheless, it was good fun, and somebody got humiliated.

-------------------------

After spending hours upon hours of researching Philadelphia Eagle pranks, hazings, and initiations, these are the only two tales that I could muster. What a shame. In fact, I was most surprised that I didn't find a story regarding a hazing to Koy Detmer or Reno Mahe. I wish I could provide you with more stories, and maybe another Photoshopped picture, but my journey ends here.

Will any rookies get hazed or initiated this season? I'm not sure, but if they do, I hope someone has a camcorder on the scene.

My goal was to provide a Training Camp read that was different from the millions of other pieces that will be featured over the course of the week. If you enjoyed, I'm glad. If you didn't, I'll haze myself at your requests. I'll do anything...except dress up like Diana Ross. Sorry, Eric.

Poll

If you could choose one Eagle for you and your buddies to haze, who would you choose?

Todd Pinkston

29 votes

Freddie Mitchell

48 votes

Reno Mahe

1 votes

Koy Detmer

6 votes

Tom Heckert

5 votes

The man inside the Swoop Mascot

7 votes

Other

3 votes

99 votes | Poll has closed

Top 5 Not-So-Good (But Lovable) Eagle Players of Recent

AlecTheMan — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:04:15 -0000

The Philadelphia Eagles have treated their fans very well this decade. They've been competitive in nearly each of every season, made five appearances in the NFC Championship Game, and even made a trip to the Superbowl. And although we haven't yet hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, or attended the victory parade on Broad Street, the Philadelphia Eagles have given us every reason to be optimistic about our football each and every autumn.

The birds have fielded some fantastic teams, with unbelievable talent. Throughout the decade, some of our starters, like Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, , Brian Dawkins, and the entire offensive line, may have been the best in the league at some point.

But for every all-star a team possesses, lurks a dud somewhere on the roster. Such as on a high school football team, for every All-State talent on the squad, lurks a nerdy, pimply-faced band geek who made a bad decision. And although these "failures" attract finger-pointing and laughter, and sometimes want to make us eat ourselves because of their low level of athletic ability and unexcused mental mistakes, you have to admit, they do provide excellent entertainment. You just have to laugh out hysterically when you see a superior linebacker clothesline a weaker running back, or an athletic quarterback stiff arm, to the ground, a 300 lbs. couch-potato of a defensive lineman. In this game, it happens. And when it does, it's amusing.

In the NFL, the talent gap is more narrow than the gap in high school. However, on every team, you can find two players of different abilities. Take our Eagles for example. We had an amazing talent in Jeremiah Trotter, but low and behold, Matt McCoy and his pile jumping ability was also present.

But we shall not neglect the lesser talented who are "playing" for our favorite team. Let us rejoice and praise them!

They're not-so-good, but cheer-able!
They won't set the field on fire, but they're entertaining!
They're never in the news, but lovable!

With that said, I present to you...

The Top 5 Not-So-Good (But Lovable) Eagle Players of Recent.

It is time we honor them.

5. Koy Detmer

No, that's not a nickname. That is his real name. Koy. It means "man who is short, and no better than a backup" in some ancient Native American language. Koy Detmer is not a franchise quarterback in the least, and during some moments, he didn't even look to be a quality back up. But nevertheless, Koy had good character, heart, and a will to win.

Why We Love 'Em: Besides having a mustache worthy of daily worshiping, Detmer proved to be a quality kick holder. If there was a Hall of Fame spot for holders, Detmer would be inducted on the first ballot. David Akers didn't do too well without Koy holding, and the Eagles signed him for that position only during the post season of 2007. He had heart, a "never give up" attitude, and a face that screamed truck driver. Next time you open up a cold one, raise a toast for good ole Koy.

-----

4. Freddie Mitchell

Freddie Mitchell is as close to a "bust" as you're ever going to get. Drafted in the 1st Round of the 2001 NFL Draft, he was supposed to be a weapon for the up-and-coming NFL star, Donovan McNabb. Didn't quite work out as planned. Freddie isn't a lovable guy around the league. In fact, he is very much so loathed.

Bill Belichick on Freddie Mitchell:
"All he does is talk. He's terrible, and you can print that. I was happy when he was in the game [SB 39]."

Mitchell never caught more than 35 passes a season, or caught more than two touchdown receptions. If he spent more time focusing on his football, instead of blaming his own teammates and focusing on other players, he could have been a nice supplement.

Why We Love 'Em: A lot of Eagle fans are going to disagree with putting Freddie Mitchell in this list. However, Freddie Mitchell has been a part of some of the most amazing Eagle offensive plays of this decade. How can you forget 4th and 26? That play is up there with the best in Eagles history. And I know everyone jumped out of their seats when Freddie hauled in the 60-yard bomb from McNabb that took 14.1 seconds on Monday Night Football against the 'boys. Look at the bright side...at least I didn't place Sean Considine here.

-----

3. Hollis Thomas

Hollis Thomas was signed as an undrafted free agent rookie in 1996, but despite his lowered expectations, he made the All-Rookie Team. Thomas never achieved any other status above mediocre during his term with the Eagles. He was buried in the depth chart for most of the 21st century in midnight green, and was acquired by the New Orleans Saints after the 2005 NFL season. He would eventually be suspended for using performance enhancing drugs.

Why We Love 'Em: Even though Thomas wasn't the greatest of defensive tackles, this man was the "Dane Cook" of football. When the camera was on Hollis, one could not help but laugh. He always cheered his teammates up, even during rough times. One of his favorite shows happen to be Spongebob Squarepants. Even though this "human Patrick Star" didn't clog up the highlight reel for us, everyone has to remember the devastating hit he put on Michael Vick during the 2005 NFC Championship Game.

-----

2. Reno Mahe

What is the exact opposite of a talent like Brian Westbrook? A talent like Reno Mahe. What was so frustrating about Reno Mahe? How about his 0 career touchdowns. Yes, I know he only started one game in his whole five year NFL career, but let's look at some players from the Eagles and around the league who scored more touchdowns than Reno Mahe.

Players who scored more touchdowns than Reno Mahe

G - Todd Herremans

DT - Haloti Ngata

DT - Mike Patterson

People who have the same amount of touchdowns Reno Mahe has

You

Me

Why We Love 'Em: It is hard to not like the man known as Mr. Mahe. Whether it is his "always happy" personality, or the fact that he once took a part time job at Chickie and Pete's in the off season, you've got to respect the guy. Mahe was an underrated punt returner, as well as a team player. There were conspiracy theories that Andy Reid kept him on the team for so long because they shared the Mormon faith. Personally, I think Andy just loved his cool, unusual name.

-----

1. Mike Bartrum

Mike Bartrum wasn't the most athletic, or dynamic of tight ends. In fact, in his first three seasons in the NFL, he made appearances in only seven games with no receptions. He was listed as a tight end, but wasn't the tight end most teams needed or valued.

Why We Love 'Em: Mike Bartrum is the definition of a "football player". He would do anything Coach Reid or the team asked him to do. For example, in 2005 when Akers was forced to miss two games due to injury, Mike Bartrum stepped in as the kick-off specialist. Need more? How about the time in 2006 when he was the emergency quarterback after the devastating injury to McNabb? Bartrum also happened to be the team's long snapper. He was well-known as one of the league's top long snappers. He was a family man, who loved football. Bartrum had no "moments of frustration" with me, and will be one of the few non-eagle "starters" who will be remembered for a long time.

Appreciative Quotes:

"The Eagles were great to me. It is a great place to work. The fans are awesome because they care so much about the team. Players appreciate that. They recognize what the fans are all about." - Bartrum

"I want the Eagles to win every, single game. I'm not playing, but I will always be with them in my heart." -Bartrum

-----

This list may be controversial, but it works. That's the good part of the whole thing. You can argue with your buddies over the best Philadelphia Eagle to strap on a helmet this decade, and when that's over, you can argue on who the "not-so-best" Philadelphia Eagle was, as well.

Now, are these the worst players to play the game? Absolutely not.
Would some of them have been starters on some other teams? Most likely.
Do all of these players have more athletic ability in them than anyone who reads this sentence? Probably.

But in this "dry" part of the off season, we have to think of everyone.

Sorry Mike, Freddie, Hollis, Ty, and Mr. Mahe. I didn't mean to put you guys on the spot like that. To be honest, maybe you weren't the most talented Eagles to grace the field. But all of you were a part of some of the best Philadelphia Eagle teams in history. And for that, we appreciate you.

And just for kicks:

Guys who were not-so-good, who didn't make the "lovable" list:

Matt McCoy
Jerome McDougle
Todd Pinkston
Billy McMullen
Quintin Caver
Dhani Jones
Nate Wayne
Sean Considine
Greg Lewis
Rod "He Hate Me" Smart
Keith Adams
Paul Grasmanis

Poll

Who is your favorite non-starting, not-so-good Eagle?

Hollis Thomas

28 votes

Freddie Mitchell

40 votes

Reno Mahe

18 votes

Mike Bartrum

33 votes

Koy Detmer

55 votes

Matt McCoy

1 votes

Billy McMullen

4 votes

Sean Considine

17 votes

Other

18 votes

214 votes | Poll has closed

The 5th Round: Andy Gets A (Massive) Gut-Feeling

AlecTheMan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:29:45 -0000

It's July 8th.

The only thing going on in the football world at this time every year is Brett Favre deciding whether or not to play the game again.

Because the Eagles don't need a QB, and because the Eagle faithful could care less about the never-ending Brett Favre "drama", we usually have little to talk about.

I was surfing the web, thinking of ideas for a story, when I got the urge to look up some NFL draft history. (Has that statement ever been said before in the history of the English language?)

Out of curiosity, I decided to browse through the past Philadelphia Eagles drafts. And after a lot of grueling research and analysis, I came up with one conclusion: During Andy Reid's tenure, the Eagles have found a vast amount of "under-the-radar" talent within the 5th round of the draft. In other words, while the rest of the coaches are taking a snooze during this round, Andy Reid raids the fridge for a midnight snack.

Let's take a look at the history of the 5th round:

1999: No Selection
Andy Reid's first draft as a head coach. Although Reid and Co. do not have a 5th round selection, they strike gold with a different aspect of the number five; Donovan McNabb.

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: TE Jerame Tuman, DT Rod Coleman

2000: No Selection
Andy Reid's second draft as a head coach, and second draft without a 5th round choice.

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: LB Clark Haggans, DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila

2001: TE Tony Stewart, QB AJ Feeley
Okay. Maybe TE Tony Stewart wasn't a real fond pick, but QB AJ Feeley isn't bad at all. In fact, he is a quality back up. He has done more than his fair share for the Eagles, including getting traded to the Dolphins for a 2nd round pick, not doing so well there, and then coming back to us. I personally think it was all apart of an Andy Reid plan. A conspiracy! Just kidding. But all I know is that QB AJ Feeley was the best player drafted in round 5 of that year. Chalk one up for Reid!

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: RB Derrick Blaylock

2002: WR Freddie Milons
This is truly the only 5th round where Andy dropped the ball. Freddie Milons was in the league for two years and was done, never ever finding a team. The 5th round this year was loaded with talent, but Andy wasn't attracted. It's okay, though. Even Einstein made some mistakes, right?

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: LB Andra Davis, DE Aaron Kampman, LB Scott Fujita

2003: No Selection
Another draft in which the Eagles didn't have a fifth round pick. Only two players that were drafted in this round of 2003 caught my eye, but I am glad we chose not to take them. For we have better now.

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: G David Diehl, C Dan Koppen

2004: FB Thomas Tapeh
The Eagles drafted late in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and in due process we missed out on RB Micheal Turner. However, we did pick up a pretty decent FB in Tapeh, who, while he was in an Eagles uniform, did perform pretty well.

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: FB Mike Karney, RB Michael Turner

2005: DE Trent Cole, G Scott Young
Boom! This is the Eagles best fifth round draft of the decade. DE Trent Cole was the signature draftee. He had the most sacks in his first three years than any other drafted Philadelphia Eagle with 25.5. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2008. Pretty fantastic for a 5th round pick if you ask me. The other player that was drafted that round was G Scott Young. He was Andy Reid's Mormon Player of the Draft, and has provided the Eagles with a serviceable back up in case of a tragedy. Chalk another one up for the big man.

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: T Daniel Loper, OLB Michael Boley

2006: WR Jeremy Bloom, LB Omar Gaither
2006 was a "hit and miss". The Eagles drafted WR Jeremy Bloom, the Olympic skier, to provide for a serviceable punt return and kick return game. Bloom's biggest accomplishment in the NFL was being recorded for an Under Armor commercial. Certainly not what the Eagles had in mind. However, they did strike gold with their other 5th round pick, LB Omar Gaither from Tennessee. Gaither is a loud, vocal leader who provides depth at the linebacker position, and may push for the starting gig this upcoming pre season.

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: TE Quinn Sypniewski, T Ryab O'Callaghan, S Dawan Landry

2007: CB CJ Gaddis, TE Brent Celek
2007 was also a "hit and miss". The Eagles drafted CB CJ Gaddis out of Clemson, and released him two months after they signed him. The Eagles had no opportunity to draft WR Steve Breaston, the only other player worth drafting in the round that year, simply because he was selected before the Eagles' pick. The Eagles had no use for him anyway, with wide receivers Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett, and Jason Avant under development. Andy Reid found his "diamond in the rough" with TE Brent Celek. Celek is still young and developing, but has shown glimpses of a dependable TE, especially in the NFC Championship Game, where he hauled in two touchdown receptions. His performance was enough to boot former Eagles TE LJ Smith out of town.

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: TE Kevin Boss, WR Steve Breaston

2008: No Selection
The Philadelphia Eagles did not have a fifth round selection in this draft. In my opinion, they didn't miss much.

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: RB Tim Hightower

2009: TE Cornelius Ingram, S Victor "Macho" Harris, T Fenuki Tupou
Most experts' final grade of the overall 2009 draft was an A, and most of their picks were selected in the fifth round and beyond. Therefore many people believe that Andy and his staff did an excellent job in the later rounds. Cornelius Ingram is a versatile, athletic TE who may have went higher if not for an injury. "Macho" Harris brings toughness and character to the safety position, and Fenuki Tupou brings his 314 lbs. self to the masses of the offensive line. Time will tell if any of these picks will pan out. We have every reason to be optimistic.

Significant players drafted in Round 5 that year: To be determined.

I'm not sure how he does it, but Andy Reid has a knack for finding talent in this round, especially the past five drafts. He may have excellent scouts, he may have a keen eye, or he may have one massive gut-feeling (probably the answer), but he does do work. These may not be the most engrossing pieces of information, but I thought it was at least a little bit interesting.

And even if Andy totally whiffs on the 2009 5th round selections, he chose three men named Cornelius, Macho, and Fenuki.

For some reason, I respect that.

1 on 1 With Tommy Lawlor

AlecTheMan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:20:16 -0000

Tommy Lawlor knows football.

When his preschool classmates were learning their ABC's, he was studying his X's and O's. When they were watching Bambi at home, he was tuning into the Eagles vs. Cowboys. And when his peers looked up to Scooby Doo as a role model, he looked up to Ron Jaworski. I could go on and on forever, but you get my point.

If you don't already know Tommy Lawlor (or goeagles99 on the official Philadelphia Eagles message board), then allow me to introduce him to you:

Meet Tommy Lawlor

Writer for Philadelphiaeagles.com
Click here to view his articles

Creator of www.scoutsnotebook.com

Has been trained by an NFL scout in the art of scouting and player evaluation

Following the Eagles for almost 20 years

Creator of well known Philadelphia Eagles blog: www.eaglesblitz.blogspot.com

One heck of a Philadelphia Eagles fan

Tommy is well known and well liked by the Eagle fans that dwell the Philadelphia Eagles message board. He is the "go-to-guy" when it comes to draft questions and Eagles' game reviews. His evaluations of Eagle games and players are very detailed and engrossing.

Because Tommy Lawlor knows his pigskin, I decided to conduct an interview with the "Eagles' Einstein" to hear his thoughts on various subjects, as well as the up-coming 2009-2010 Philadelphia Eagles season.

Enjoy!

INTERVIEW WITH TOMMY LAWLOR

Question 1 : How did you become apart of the Philadelphia Eagles website?

Tommy: Back in March of 2003 I signed up for the team's message board. Hugh Douglas and Shawn Barber were free agents. I live down in NC and hoped to get some local news about what was going to happen with those guys. I loved Hugh and desperately wanted to see him stay. The Eagles message board wasn't exactly a great place back then. There were lots of questions, but few good answers. I started answering questions. Then I began writing out long posts about the team. Once the season rolled around I started writing detailed game reviews. Over time I built up a bit of a following. In 2006 the team gave me a spot in their blog section. They came to me and asked if I'd be interested. I talked to Dave Spadaro the next summer about writing for the website and that is when Fandemonium came about. My articles began appearing on the front page of PE.com in September of 2007.

Question 2 : What are some of the perks that come with being a writer for the Eagles?

Tommy: I don't get paid to write my articles, but I get access to a huge audience. That has helped my own website, Scoutsnotebook.com, to really grow. I also get to be associated with a great website. Dave, Chris McPherson, and Bob Kent run the best website in the NFL. That isn't just my opinion. They've gotten an award for that a couple of times.

Question 3 : Who was your favorite Eagles player growing up?

Tommy: My all time favorite Eagle is Reggie White. I absolutely loved him. He could play DE or DT. He was a force against the run and a great pass rusher. He was also a good person. Set aside the religious stuff and just focus on the fact he was a strong part of the community. I was devastated when he left. That was the end of an era. One distinct memory of him came against Dallas in 1992. He got into the backfield and reached out for Troy Aikman. Reggie got his thumb and index finger on Troy's jersey. Reggie then pulled him down for a sack. That's a strong dude. My favorite Reggie moment was when he sacked Saints QB Bobby Hebert for a sack late in the wildcard win we had in 1992. Reggie jumped up and signaled for the safety. He was incredibly excited and emotional. That ended a lot of playoff frustration and was a great, great moment.

Question 4 : Who is your favorite Eagle player now?

Tommy: I love both Brian Westbrook and Trent Cole, but I'd probably choose Cole between the two. I'm a sucker for defense. I was a big fan of Trent's when he was in college. He played on a very talented Cincinnati defense. Cole was the hardest working guy and was around the ball a lot. Those traits have followed him to the NFL. Trent isn't the most talented guy, but he will beat you through sheer effort if he has to. I respect the heck out of that. He is a talented athlete, but all too often we see guys with great natural gifts, but they lack the focus and drive to take advantage of that ability. Cole is an overachiever.

Question 5 : What training camp battle are you most excited to see this year?

Tommy: The spot I'm most focused on is LDE. We need Victor Abiamiri to step up and win that job. The defense needs him to become a good starter in order to get even better than last year. I don't want Victor to win the job because Juqua Parker isn't impressive. I want Juqua to have a very good training camp and Victor to have a great training camp. I am curious about what will happen at FS. Sean Jones and Quintin Demps will fight for that job. I also wonder if Omar Gaither can really push Akeem Jordan for the starting gig at WLB.

Question 6 : Name one Philadelphia Eagle who will surprise us this year and why.

Tommy: Trevor Laws is a player to watch. He played DT for Notre Dame in 2006. He moved to DE in 2007 and played in the 3-4. Last season he had to adjust to playing DT in the NFL. He had to learn our scheme. There shouldn't be any real change this year. He now has a good feel for our scheme and the NFL. Trevor got better as the season went along last year. I'm expecting him to play well for us this year.

Question 7 : Cowboys, Redskins, Giants: Which one do you hate more?

Tommy: I hate the Dallas Cowboys most of all. I loved Tom Landry. I hated seeing him fired by Jerry Jones. I hated Jimmy Johnson when he was coach down there. I respect both JJs, but I'm not a fan of either guy. I don't like the Redskins or Giants, but I have a special hatred for the Cowboys.

Question 8 : As the creator of www.scoutsnotebook.com, you definitely know a thing or two about the NFL Draft. Which Eagle rookie drafted this year will make the biggest impact?

Tommy: LeSean McCoy is the rookie to watch. He is likely to be the backup running back this year. That means he will get his share of chances to make plays. If Brian Westbrook misses a start, McCoy will have a chance to really step up. The coaches are really excited about McCoy. That is a player they really wanted and he's looked great to this point. We just need him to keep it up.

Question 9 : Is 2009 the best chance at a Superbowl victory the Eagles have had this entire decade?

Tommy: I think the 2009 team is the best Eagles team on paper that we've had in years. We need to see if everyone stays healthy during the summer. There is balance between offense and defense. The team has a good mixture of youth and age. There is plenty of speed, but also a lot of talent on the lines. I'm excited to see just how good this team can be.

Question 10 : As of right now, July 1, pending no injuries, what is your prediction of the 2009-2010 Philadelphia Eagles season?

Tommy: I think the Eagles are the best team in the NFC. I'll be highly disappointed if the team isn't in the hunt for the Super Bowl. You never know what will happen in the playoffs so I'm not comfortable saying "the Eagles better win the Super Bowl or else". There are just too many variables at that point.

Question 11 : Open forum: Say whatever you'd like to the Philadelphia faithful.

Tommy: One thing I try to encourage all fans to do is enjoy the journey. The Steelers had some real low moments last year. So did the Cardinals. They ended up in the Super Bowl. Don't let every loss or setback get you down. The Eagles will lose a game. Donovan McNabb will have a bad game. Don't let that ruin a fun season. Two of my good friends are Buffalo Bills fans. They haven't been in the playoffs in a decade. They'd give anything to experience what we did last year. I know we don't have a Super Bowl title yet, but I just wonder if most fans appreciate how good we've got it. Football is a lot more fun when your team wins. The Eagles went 3-20 from late 1997 through early 1999. Losing in the NFC title game hurts. Going 3-20 is a whole different level of misery. Enjoy the good times.

So there you go. Hopefully you enjoyed it, and I am deeply sorry for the length. (I got too excited asking questions)
I will try to get a hold of Tommy again sometime in the near future, hopefully near training camp.

Poll

Tommy Lawlor believes that this 2009 squad is the best team on paper that we have had this entire decade, including the 2004-2005 Superbowl team. Do you agree?

Yes

41 votes

No

1 votes

Not without Reno Mahe

5 votes

47 votes | Poll has closed

An Eagles Rookie You May Not Know

AlecTheMan — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:29:46 -0000

Defensive end Paul Kruger has had some football experiences that he will never forget. Such fond memories include being named a Freshman All-American at Utah, as well as being selected by the Baltimore Ravens as the 57th overall player in the 2nd round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

However, the 2nd round draft selection does have a few football related remembrances in which he truly never wants to re-live again. Take for example...one particular play when his Utah Utes took on the visiting Weber State Wildcats on September 27, 2008. Before the play, Kruger did his usual thing, aligning his 6'4, 263 lbs on the flank of the defensive line. During the play, the Weber State Tight End, who was aligned on Kruger's inside shade, performed a down block to try to seal the interior defensive lineman. This would leave the 57th overall pick one on one against the Weber State Wildcat Fullback. Kruger hesitated, but that mistake shouldn't matter, right? I mean, he is a future day one pick, and we're talking about a full back from Weber State here! Wrong. The Wildcat Fullback clashes with Kruger, turns him around, and forces him to the ground. (You can watch this play here: Scroll to 2:31)

So who was the brute player that put the 2nd rounder on his back?
That talent was Weber State Fullback, and undrafted rookie free agent Marcus Malei.

Marcus Mailei signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in late April. Fans of the Eagles will come to love Marcus Mailei, as he is a hard-nosed football player who will lay a shoulder into anyone. What is interesting to note about Mailei is that he wasn't used primarily for running while at Weber State, but for receiving, making 58 catches over the past three collegiate seasons. Andy Reid loves a pass catching back as much as he loves Geno's Steaks.

Marcus Mailei will join Eagles' fullbacks Leonard Weaver and Kyle Eckel upon entering training camp.

Below, I have gathered a few rather interesting lists. This should help you get to know the rookie:

NFL Fullback Comparisons:

Marcus Mailei: Height: 6-0 / Weight: 255

Leonard Weaver: Height: 6-0 / Weight: 242

Lorenzo Neal: Height: 5-11 / Weight: 255

Kyle Eckel: Height: 5-11 / Weight: 237

Justin Griffith: Height: 6-0 / Weight: 230

Interesting (but probably useless) Facts:

Cousin of current Ravens DT Haloti Ngata

Attended/played at the same high school as current Eagles LB Stewart Bradley

Bench press max is 430 lbs. (That is equivalent to 2 Kevin Kolbs)

Squat max is nearly 600 lbs. (That is equivalent to 1 Andy Reid)

Collection of Quotes:
In referring to Marcus Mailei...

"Has a great work ethic. No one will out-work him in the weightroom." - High School Coach Ray Groth.

"He’s going to play a lot of years and last a long time," Weber State Head Coach Ron McBride said. "I’ve had scouts tell me he’s one of the top one or two fullbacks in the country. I haven’t seen a better guy on film as far as doing things we asked him to do."

Veterans on the Roster Who Were Signed As Undrafted Free Agents:

WR Hank Baskett

G Nick Cole

C Jamaal Jackson

S Quintin Mikell

T Jason Peters

It will be difficult to battle for the fullback position, basically because Leonard Weaver is a great talent and proven fullback. However, Mailei and Eckel should produce a competitive battle for the number two spot. It's key to remember that the Eagles only signed Weaver to a one year deal. If talks with Weaver break down during the off season, Mailei may be the starter next regular season, pending he makes the team. Even if he doesn't make the 53-man roster, he should be able to find his way on the practice squad.

For more highlights of Marcus Mailei, view the following highlight reel:

Fly Eagles Fly! (Aslong As I Have My Lucky Underwear On)

AlecTheMan — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:54:16 -0000

www.bleedgreenforever.blogspot.com

Eagle fans are the most passionate supporters in the NFL. They are recognized for their high level of football intelligence, famed for their infinite obsession, and branded as the most merciless, most hard nosed enthusiasts of the entire pig skin planet.

What sets them apart from the other fans? I mean, I am certain that there are fans of the other thirty one squads that "bleed" the colors that dawn their team. How are Eagle fans so special?

Experts in the field of "I have nothing else to report/write about, so I will attempt to create a story out of the blue" have been hard at work attempting to solve this puzzling mystery for years.

Here are their main points of Philadelphia's passion:

During halftime of the last game of a 2-12 dreadful 1968 season, Eagle fans hurl snowballs at an unwanted, unentertaining Santa Claus.
When the team isn't playing well, the fans hoot, holler, boo, and make public of their disgust. When they are really ticked off, Eagles' fans will boo after every on-field mistake and incompletion.

Although these are valid arguments for the NFL's Most Aggressive Fans, they can hardly be a convincing basis for passion.

You can say Eagle Fans boast amazing tail-gate experiences, that the Philadelphia Eagles have the second-highest stadium capacity filling percentage since 1996, and that they have an impressive amount of traveling fans. You can say that they are the loudest, evilest, meanest, most unbearable, and most obnoxious fans on planet earth, but there is one category that truly embodies everything that passion stands for.

That category is superstition.

The Eagle Faithful are very superstitious. Each individual superstitious Eagle Fan solely believes that his course of actions and pre-game rituals during the week will assist the team into performing well. This, my fellow Eagle Fans, is passion.

Most Eagle fans cannot attend the games, and, obviously, all of them are unable to play in them. Therefore, the only way they can help the team is spiritually, and through the belief of superstition. Anything to help the team, right?

Eagle fans have the best pre-game rituals, superstitious activities, and other good luck charms.

After doing some research, here are some that I have complied:

Passionate Eagle Fan #1:
"I wear my white Dawk jersey with a spaghetti stain on it. I got the stain during the Cowboy game [2007, Week 15 matchup], and refuse to treat it until after the season. I am also eating 20 Asian style hot wings every Sunday, with the first wing being consumed during the opening kickoff."

Now tell me if a Lions fan wouldn't wash a spaghetti-stained jersey.

Passionate Eagle Fan #2:
"I've actually worn my black McNabb jersey, with a green Eagles sweatshirt under it, every game since the Carolina game [2006, Week 13 matchup]. During Christmas, I bought a Dawkins jersey and I want to wear it for a game but I can't mess with the streak now."

Not wearing a Christmas gift because he believes he is helping out his team is just downright heroic.

Passionate Eagle Fan #3:
"Haven't gotten a haircut. Don't intend to as long as the Eagles are winning. If they win the next 2 games, I'll have a mini fro by the time they get to the Superbowl."

Growing a 'fro for a team that hasn't a clue that you even exist. That is what I call passion.

Passionate Eagle Fan #4:
"The night before [a game] I have to sleep with my Eagles blanket, right side up. During the game, I set my phone ringer to the "FLY EAGLES FLY" song and have a player background. Also, whatever I drink is in my Eagle punder glass. I've wore the same Eric Allen throwback every game I've watched.

Now if the Birds are playing badly, I have to change the channel two up, then back two down back to the game.

My wife thinks I'm nuts.....but I'll never quit."

Wow.

Any human being with a brain knows that superstition doesn't actually exist, or help the team win in any way at all. However, this is truly a time when "its the thought that counts." (By the way, I would hate when my parents would say that after receiving a useless gift, and you know you did, too.) These are ordinary fans who have a passion for their team, and want to help them win in anyway they can.

Because we at Bleed Green know for a fact that Eagle Fans are the most passionate fans to walk the earth, we would like to hear more superstition stories from you. We believe the superstitions that have not been shared can out-do the ones that have been shared. Inform us of a time during an NFL season in which your "rituals" actually worked. Big or small, we would love to read them. After all, we all have had superstitious thoughts throughout our entire life. Take me for example: I now wear my shorts on backwards when I write, because the last time I did that I received 9 comments. But, I'll save that story for another day.

So, have you grown an unbelievably insane mullet? Have you worn the same underwear everyday until the birds lost? Or have you ate thirty-six chicken wings before a game to ensure that Westbrook has a great day?
Email: alec82@gmail.com or cjben0511@aol.com to share them with us. You may also comment below.

Your stories may get published in a future "Why Eagle fans are the most passionate" type article.

Well, I am done for now. The article is finished. I'm going to go grab a lemonade, and turn my shorts around.

--

Poll

Do you label yourself as a "superstitious" fan of the Eagles?

Yes

38 votes

No

16 votes

54 votes | Poll has closed

SB Nation User Blog: AlecTheMan

1 on 1 With Trevor Laws

INTERVIEW WITH TREVOR LAWS(The article will be on Trevor's website soon: http://www.trevor-laws.com/)

1 on 1 With Scott Tunstall

2009 Eagles Training Camp Final Review

Top 5 Stars of Training Camp

Biggest Concerns Moving Forward: Keep in mind that we are still over a month away from the regular season and a lot of things can change between now and then, but on August 11th, these are my biggest issues with the team

Players to watch during the Preseason

Catching Up On Camp

Training Camp: Eagles Pranks & Rookie Hazings

Eagles Training Camp Pranks & Rookie Hazings

If you could choose one Eagle for you and your buddies to haze, who would you choose?

Todd Pinkston

Freddie Mitchell

Reno Mahe

Koy Detmer

Tom Heckert

The man inside the Swoop Mascot

Other

Top 5 Not-So-Good (But Lovable) Eagle Players of Recent

The Top 5 Not-So-Good (But Lovable) Eagle Players of Recent.

5. Koy Detmer

4. Freddie Mitchell

3. Hollis Thomas

2. Reno Mahe

1. Mike Bartrum

Guys who were not-so-good, who didn't make the "lovable" list:

Who is your favorite non-starting, not-so-good Eagle?

Hollis Thomas

Freddie Mitchell

Reno Mahe

Mike Bartrum

Koy Detmer

Matt McCoy

Billy McMullen

Sean Considine

Other

The 5th Round: Andy Gets A (Massive) Gut-Feeling

1 on 1 With Tommy Lawlor

Tommy Lawlor believes that this 2009 squad is the best team on paper that we have had this entire decade, including the 2004-2005 Superbowl team. Do you agree?

Yes

No

Not without Reno Mahe

An Eagles Rookie You May Not Know

Fly Eagles Fly! (Aslong As I Have My Lucky Underwear On)

Do you label yourself as a "superstitious" fan of the Eagles?

Yes

No

INTERVIEW WITH TREVOR LAWS
(The article will be on Trevor's website soon: http://www.trevor-laws.com/)

Biggest Concerns Moving Forward:

Keep in mind that we are still over a month away from the regular season and a lot of things can change between now and then, but on August 11th, these are my biggest issues with the team