Just One Long Conversation

News fly around so fast during training camp, there really isn't much point in focusing on any one issue.  So let's just keep the conversation going.

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Following up on at that Booker point from a couple days ago.  First, here's Andy Reid on the issue:

On how RB Lorenzo Booker and WR DeSean Jackson are fitting into the scheme so far: "Book is doing very well. He's a real smart guy, and I had mentioned this before that RB Brian Westbrook picked this thing up as fast as any running back that I'd been around in this system, and Booker seems to be doing the same thing. He's a fast learner. And then he knows he's playing with a great player, a couple of great players with (RB Correll) Buck(halter) and Brian, and he's willing to learn from those guys. And if a young guy is willing to learn, normally the veteran player will help them out. If it's a rookie that's stubborn, they kind of shy away from sharing things with him. Listen, he's come out here and he's made plays.

Sounds pretty definitive.  Andy Reid's not someone to blow smoke up a guy's tailpipe for no reason.  But wait, there's more:

Though used in a wide variety of institutions, the Wonderlic test has become best known for its use in the NFL pre-draft assessments of prospective football players.

This assessment roughly corresponds to examples from Paul Zimmerman's The New Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football. According to Zimmerman, examples of average scores for each position are:

• Offensive tackle - 26
• Center - 25
• Quarterback - 24
• Guard - 23
• Tight end - 22
• Safety - 19
• Linebacker - 19
• Cornerback - 18
• Wide receiver - 17
• Fullback - 17
• Halfback - 16

And we just so happen to have many 2007 draftee Wonderlic scores available right here.  Current/former Eagles on that list:

RB Lorenzo Booker 17/23
FB Nate Ilaoa 22/30
TE Brent Celek 24/28
DE Victor Abiamiri 27/33
LB Stewart Bradley 30
S C.J. Gaddis 23

I think the PFP guys may need to mark that one down as bad information.

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One more interesting Wonderlic result.

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This Shawn Andrews saga is really starting to test my patience.  One minute it sounds like a holdout.  Then it's emotional problems.  Then he let himself go and blew out his waistline.  Then we're back to money.

I felt kind of bad about this when it then seemed like maybe the guy actually had a problem that wasn't measured in dollar signs.  Now I don't know what to think.

Someone, please, tell me how to feel.  Right now I am seriously pushing the limit of how long I'm allowed to reserve judgment while still calling myself a blogger.

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More from Andy on rookie safety Quintin Demps:

On what he sees in S Quintin Demps: "I've been happy with Demps. You can see that first of all, he had a lot of interceptions in college and you always want to see if that carries over to the pro game. In these practices here, you see him getting his hands on the ball and making catches. Now, we've got him playing both corner and safety, and he's able to handle that mentally and physically and that makes him a valuable guy as long as he can continue to improve in those areas. Then the rest of the rookies are doing great. I think they've been working their tail off and they're playing very well out here."

I'm telling you right now:  J.R. Reed is not going to get cut to make room for a fifth cornerback.  Demps is going to be the swing guy and fill in as the emergency corner from his safety position. 

Of course, then it becomes an interesting question as to who gets deactivated each week. 

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In regards to Hank Baskett:

On how he plans to use WR Hank Baskett in the upcoming season: "Again, you're dealing with a smart guy there. That gives you a little flexibility with what you can do with Hank. He's playing very well right now and he's catching the ball real well. We're seeing him go up and the quarterbacks just put the ball up. He's covered, they put the ball up and he goes and gets the thing. He can about jump out of the house. He's got a great vertical jump and he's utilizing that better. He looks to me stronger than what he's been in the past and he's got that big body to go with it. He's playing very well right now."

Two-parter on this one, in reverse order.  Hank seems to be having an outstanding camp.  Last year, whether it's because he was out of position a lot or because he came into the season thinking he'd arrived or just because it was one of those things, Baskett didn't really take that step forward that we were expecting. 

I've been high on Baskett for a long time.  I think this could very well be the year he makes the leap.  (And by leap I mean "ahead of Reggie Brown" not "2008 Pro Bowl," so calm down.  Of course, this will only make that a higher hurdle.)

Not as sanguine about this part, however:  "Again, you're dealing with a smart guy there. That gives you a little flexibility with what you can do with Hank."

If that means "move him around a lot to where he gets some good matchups," then I think that's great.  If that instead means, "We don't have enough competent tight ends and McNabb is getting killed again so we're going to keep lining him up close to the formation so he can help out our tackles before running his route," then ... I don't like that as much.

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Finally, the starting DT tandem:

On how important DTs Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson are to this team: "They are very important. They're a big part of the middle of your defense. How they play is important. I'm a little hard on those two, but it's for a reason. I expect their play to be top notch. You've got to be strong through the middle of your defense and it starts with those two...

On how he is hard on Bunkley and Patterson: "I want them to keep their game high; every play. There's no time to relax. I know it's hard in there. You've got people coming from all different directions. You've got a lot of big bodies beating on you. It's important that you are mentally tough and that you utilize your strength throughout the practice. You can't be like a thermometer where you start up here and end down here. You have to maintain that strength throughout a two hour practice, and be fine for a game."

Yeah, I just think that's cool.

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Obligatory Hunt mention (my dander's up now):

9:48 AM - Lot of Tony Hunt action today, all on screen passes. It's obvious that Andy Reid wants to see more of Hunt, who really hasn't had a standout camp so far. You'd like to see Hunt run closer to the ground. Still, he's catching everything and getting upfield. We'll see.

Dude. That's just how he runs. 

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What's with all the hamstring problems?

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If Plaxico is injured and pissed and Shockey is gone, who exactly is supposed to scare us this season in New York? 

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Lastly, I think this continues to be good news.  For Eagles fans.

Oh, he wasn't as sharp the next day?  That's amazing.

Comments

[Eric]

Three things here:

1. Didn't Vince Young get one of the lowest scores for any QB ever? I'd like to see some type of breakdown to see how these scores can relate to success, because it's obvious just looking blindly at VY that his failures could be attributed to not being very bright. But he also has little talent around him at the pro level. But, these scores could also just be because some players don't give two you-know-whats. From the interview with Spuds and Booker yesterday, I got the feeling Booker, at times, slacks off on what he feels are non-football related issues and does not care much about what critics say about his non-football related areas.

2. I agree on the Demps comment. I'm hoping he can "save" the team a roster spot by being a flex player. Personally, seeing what Reed did against New England last year was enough to convince me he should be on the field in some situations.

3. I'm not sure my take on the Baskett situation. I've tried to watch all the TC coverage live when I can. My jaw dropped the other day when I saw a QB boot leg and a great Baskett catch in the back of the end zone. It made me wonder where this has been since getting this guy. Hopefully they use that some. I'm pretty sure I read awhile back where Reid or McNabb said that he [mcnabb] doesn't like to or can't throw effective fade routes. So we'll see if doing a slight variation in the red zone will help.

I'd think and hope your points awhile back on how Westbrook becomes less ineffective in the red zone would become less valid with Booker on the field and a possible threat of Baskett (if they could execute McNabb to Baskett early in the season and put some form of fear in teams).

[BrianS]

They did a feature on Baskett last night on Comcast Sportsnight (or whatever the show after Phillies postgame is called).

I'm excited that he may take a nice step forward this year.

I wish we'd hear a little more about Brown, though, too.

All this Andrews/Sheppard/Westbrook controversy is really taking a lot of my enjoyment from the pre-season.

[McTumms]

Look, I haven't seen Demps play outside of YouTube, but, as excited as I am by what I'm hearing about him, I'm nervous about his potential at CB. From his NFL.com draft profile: "the opposition averaged 23.92 yards per pass completion vs. Demps at cornerback in 2007." Maybe it was inexperience, but...damn, that number is not good. In any case, he's going to be interesting to watch this preseason. He's certainly the most intriguing guy they've introduced into the secondary mix in a while.

[Me]

That number is of course terrible, but the percentage against him was low.

Still, as the emergency fifth cornerback, he's not going to be in many situations where he's along on the outside without help. That same draft profile said he was better in more safety-type situations in the middle of the field.