On the Birds Beat-Monday, September 29th - Monday, September 29, 2008
167 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Team - Eagles, Brian Seltzer

•    The Eagles did not hold practice today.  Andy Reid provided updates on several injuries.  RB Correll Buckhalter is battling a back contusions.  RB Brian Westbrook is getting better, according to the head coach, but added that if he there were practice today, he wouldn’t be able to go.  RG Shawn Andrews’ back spasms have not gotten better, and he will see a specialist this week.  Reid expressed optimism about the situation, and said at this point, surgery is not needed.  WR Kevin Curtis continues to work back from his sports hernia, and depending on how he feels, could practice with the first-team offense this week.  Reid expects TE LJ Smith to play this weekend.

•    Andy Reid twice referenced in the opening statement of his press conference the missed field goals by David Akers.  The head coach still believes, however, that Akers can be a competent kicker in the NFL.  He doesn’t consider Akers’ leg strength to be an issue, which it doesn’t appear to be.  Akers’ average yards/kick off (67.9 YD) is the highest of his career.

•    Reid acknowledged that QB Donovan McNabb experienced soreness in his chest throughout yesterday’s game, but wouldn’t go as far as to say it prevented him from function.  That begs the question, why didn’t the coach call for a QB sneak during the Birds’ 4th quarter goal line series? “I didn’t feel comfortable [with the QB sneak] since he sat out practice all week with an injury…common sense tells you you have to be smart with that…you have to be smart with that.”

•    RB Lorenzo Booker showed flashes in training camp, but his performance hasn’t translated to the regular season at all.  His lack of involvement has to do in part with troubles picking up the Birds blocking scheme.

•    Reid downplayed the impact of Brian Westbrook's absence on the Eagles' inability to produce TDs in the red zone.  That's a tough statement to sell considering that of the Birds' 8 scores this season inside the opposition's 20-yard line, Westbrook accounts for 5 of them.  Furthermore, the Eagles have scored just 2 TD in 6 red zone opportunities since Westbrook's second-quarter injury against the Steelers.