Written By Fade To Black The Fans need something to speak out about during these doldrum days between now and the NFL draft. So here’s your chance to comment on our most improved Eagles during the 2008 season.
A lot of your favorite Birds really distinguished themselves through a season when the 9-6-1 Eagles were up, down and sideways at different times. Here’s one fan’s ranking of the most improved contributors on Offense and Defense along with an honorable mention and some special categories.
On Offense, 2nd year Tight End Brent Celek gets my first place vote for Most Improved Eagle. When veterans LJ Smith and Matt Schobel were shaky, Brent was raking in the receptions, the yards after the catch and the limelight.
He assumed the starter’s job during that successful late season push for a playoff bid. Did anybody call him the “Cincinnati Kid” yet? Give him a nickname! He’s pretty good. Pardon me, Ike Reese, if that nickname is taken around here!
My selection as second place Most Improved on Offense is Wide Receiver Jason Avant. The 3rd year pro out of Michigan established his role in Coach Reid’s West Coast passing attack as a strong downfield blocker and as a go-to guy to move the sticks. O-Lineman Nick Cole is my third place vote getter. He was much more than adequate off the bench to start at right guard when Shawn Andrews and Max Jean Gilles were down.
Max Jean Gilles is actually my fourth place player for most improved. He was an adequate fill in starter at guard for Andrews until an ankle injury sidelined him. And fifth place on the list goes to new Bird and 3rd year pro Running Back Kyle Eckel who became the designated role player on short yardage plays.
On Defense, Safety Quintin Mikell gets my first place selection in his 6th season out of Boise State. This year Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson called on Mikell to carry a starter’s load and assume a growing leadership role alongside the Wolverine and JJ’s all-star cornerback platoon. Q-Mike had his best season ever! Let’s call him “Weapon Z” and see if he’ll do the pre-game sack dance routines!
Second Place for the Most Improved on Defense goes to Middle Linebacker Stewart Bradley. He sort of had an uncertain pre-season getting adjusted to the helmet mike and making the defensive calls. But those days are long gone as he hit the season running, stepped into Trotter’s and Gaither’s shoes as the Man in the Middle on the D and never looked back!
Third Place goes to Joselio Hanson who was used as JJ’s third Cornerback. If we ever missed Lito Sheppard it was hard to tell. Fourth Place goes to Broderick Bunkley who was more of a force at Defensive Tackle. And Fifth Place on the Most Improved List goes to Outside Linebacker Chris Gocong who was steady again as the strong side linebacker.
Honorable Mention goes to Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson the Cal Rookie.
D-Jax had an outstanding year as the basis for comparison to see how much he improves next season. We’ll rate him and rank him then! But can anybody remember a better performance by an Eagles Rookie Receiver? Not me.
The Come Back Player of the Year is a tie in my mind between Kicker David Akers and QB Donovan McNabb. Akers was shaky the prior year for reasons I still don’t understand. But he came back strong enough in 2008. Donovan had his first healthy year in four seasons and shook off some mid-season rust to earn a playoff berth and lead the team to the NFC Championship Game.
My Setback Player of the Year is tied between Receiver Reggie Brown and Guard Shawn Andrews. LJ Smith would have won this category hands down for me but he’s gone and that’s that. So who else set himself back? Brown was hampered by nagging injuries and had trouble finding a role all year. We were looking for a break out season.
Andrews was AWOL during training camp and hurt his back while trying to play his way into shape early on. Again we were expecting him to show up and step his game up as an audition for starting Right Tackle.
The Question Mark Player of the Year is a tie for me also between Punter Sav Rocca and Tight End Matt Schobel. Big Leg Sav from the Land Down Under was inconsistent with his placement and in handling all the routine NFL weather factors. But he was great at times.
Of course Matt had the perfect opportunity to step in as the veteran for LJ Smith in a pinch. But he dropped a few too many balls in the clutch for Coaches Reid and Mornhinweg. Schobel ended up spending a lot of time on the bench watching Brent Celek play. And the kid made the most of his playing time didn’t he?
So there’s some meat for you GCobb Dot Com’ers to chew on for a few hours. Is it bogus? Do you agree or disagree? Am I wrong or am I right? Tell everybody what you think of the rankings!
And meanwhile GCobb, if this article lets you have a light morning or afternoon, then please call the NFL Commissioner and ask him to move the draft up two weeks. Tell him we want the weekend after the NCAA Final Four next year. These slow football news days are hard to handle!
