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Eagles Mid Term
By Craig Berosh
phillypage2 columnist (11-5-2003)
Much maligned were the off-season personnel moves of Andy Reid and the Eagles. Before the season, the home team shipped off a solid but ancient and injured punter and a steady, Hall-of-Fame(?) return man, a heavy-hitting and just plain heavy linebacker, a spacey nickel cornerback and veteran third receiver, an over-the-hill safety and an over-the-top pass rusher. When the names of some of the replacements, Mark Simoneau, Nate Wayne, Dirk Johnson, started to hit the fan, the fans were left to wonder, “What’s an Ndukwe Kalu?”

We all know the Eagles have been hit hard by several season-ending injuries and the backups to the backups are being forced into action; but somehow the Birds are 5-3 at the halfway point. While I have always favored waiting an entire year to evaluate any trade or personnel move, and this season is more difficult to size up due to injuries; this is Philadelphia, where knee-jerk reactions and immediate scrutiny go with the territory. So let’s put Big Red’s many personnel moves through the wringer after just eight weeks.

Mitchell OUT, Westbrook IN: As far as actual production, you can’t really argue with this one to this point in the season. Brian Westbrook has been solid, shaky and spectacular. The Eagles need Westbrook to carry and catch the ball out of the backfield somewhere around 15 times a game without getting hurt every other week, so asking him to return kicks seems risky. No other team in the league does this. (Westbrook’s whole injury situation seems very similar to me as when Charlie Garner was here.) One last smart-ass comment: James Thrash can’t even return kickoffs (he’s actually averaging more yards than Westbrook). For now on and forever, I will be referring to him as Jimmy Trash.

Bottom line: Push

Douglas OUT, N.D. Kalu IN: Even after the Eagles drafted Jerome McDougle and Jamaal Green, I didn’t like this move. Critics said Douglas faded during the second half of last year, but there is no doubt the Eagles would be better with him as the starter while rotating Burgess, Kalu and the rookies. Kalu ain’t doing bad (2 sacks), about what you expect really, but with the injuries to the D line, Douglas would be looking mighty good right now.

Bottom line: Downgrade

Kirkland OUT, Simoneau IN: On some plays Mark Simoneau looks like Urlacher and on some plays he looks like Urkel. Statistically, the Eagles are pretty solid against the run and Simoneau leads the team in tackles (although he should playing middle linebacker without Dawkins) so you can’t argue too much. He’s still better than Levon Kirkland and Barry Gardner put together. One last smart-ass comment: Ladies and gentlemen, Simoneau is NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October. Must have been a slow month.

Bottom line: Upgrade

Barber OUT, Wayne IN: I like Nate Wayne. I also liked Shawn Barber who seemed to make more big plays than Wayne so far but I don’t think you can call this a bad move. Wayne seems like the one of the players who gets fired up after big plays and might become a good leadership guy. As a fan, I like to see a little attitude from my defensive players.

Bottom line: Push

Harris OUT, Sheppard/Brown IN: The more I see Al Harris play in Green Bay, the more I’m okay with this one. Due to injuries, Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown are getting a lot of action (but isn’t that why we drafted them last year?). I have been impressed with Sheppard’s tackling so far. The Eagles are not good, at least statistically, against the pass so nobody’s locking anyone down here. Another big reason the pass defense sucks this year is because the pass rush sucks. On one hand, it would be nice to have Harris on the roster. On the other hand, these two need to grow up because the likelihood of Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor being back next year aren’t good given Reid’s history in these type of contract situations.

Bottom line: Slight Upgrade

Freeman OUT, Mitchell IN: I want to like Freddie Mitchell. I really do. I think he can make some big plays. He seems to catch everything thrown to him, which is more than I can say for our “No. 1” receiver Todd Pinkston (don’t get me started). He’s got 12 (not laughing) catches and leads the team in average yards per catch at 16.1 and all wide receivers with 1 touchdown (now I’m crying). Look for Mitchell and L.J. Smith to have a big second half of the year as McNabb gets going. Is he an improvement over last year?

Bottom line: Push

Bishop OUT, Lewis IN: Blaine Bishop should have never been a starter on the Eagles last year. Michael Lewis should have starting from day one and I won’t back off from this.

Bottom line: Upgrade.

LANDETA OUT, JOHNSON IN: A friend of mine recently said Dirk Johnson sucks, but the stats don’t back that up. He’s middle of the pack and I can’t think of any time he fowled up or has hurt the team. One last smart-ass comment: How come the Eagles feel like David Akers is capable of making 60-plus-yard field goals and he can’t kick the ball into the end zone on kickoffs?

Bottom Line: Push

Overall bottom line: The much discussed and maligned off-season moves of the Eagles are growing on me. Would we like to have Hugh Douglas, Al Harris and Brian Mitchell on our team? Yes. Do we miss Shawn Barber, Antonio Freeman and Sean Landeta? Not really. Are we better without Bishop and Kirkland? Absolutely. Does Andy Reid know what he’s doing or are the Eagles just tight wads? Still not sure. Go Eagles!

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