On the Birds Beat-Westbrook Again Sidelined - Thursday, November 20, 2008
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-RB Brian Westbrook did not participate in practice for the second straight day.  He again sat out due to a nagging knee injury and persistent high ankle sprain.

The Pro Bowler's involvement in tomorrow's workout should be telling of his status for Sunday's game at Baltimore.  In the past when battling injuries, the running back has missed partial and full weeks of practice, and still managed to play in games on Sunday.  So, it would not be unprecedented for  him to suit up against the Ravens. 

-FS Brian Dawkins dressed for practice, but participated in a limited role due to a sore groin.  It doesn't seem like this injury will hold Dawkins out of Sunday's contest against the Ravens.

-PK David Akers appears to be turning a corner after struggling earlier this season.  He's connected on 12 consecutive FG, and leads the NFL with 94 total points.  Special Teams Coordinator Rory Segrest expects Akers' 42 YD FG in Cincinnati last Sunday amidst inclement conditions to go a long way in repairing the kicker's damaged confidence.

-Segrest, in his second season overseeing special teams, served as the unit's quality control assistant in 2006 when current Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was the coordinator for the Birds.  Segrest assumed the post last year, when Harbaugh became the Eagles' secondary coach.

-Harbaugh's greatest influence on Segrest was method of  organizing of practices.  In fact, several of the Eagles' coaches and players, specifically Brian Dawkins, also cited Harbaugh's attention to detail as one of his greatest coaching attributes.

-The Eagles offense might be ranked 6th overall in the NFL, but that misleading stat-based on yards/game-masks a woeful rush offense that sits 7th from the bottom in the league.  Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg realizes the Birds not only need to do a better job running the ball overall, but early on in games in order to prevent QB Donovan McNabb from feeling the pressure that forces him to press, as he has done at the start of the past 3 contests.

-Mornhinweg conceded that getting RB Correll Buckhalter more involved in the game plan, especially with RB Brian Westbrook banged up, would be a smart strategy.  Mornhinweg also acknowledged a similar notion last week, but that admission clearly did nothing to increase Buckhalter's role.  This Sunday, the Eagles might not have a choice about the number of touches they allot Buckhalter, provided Westbrook's high ankle sprain and knee injury.

-The Eagles CB rotation is becoming more defined down the stretch of the season.  Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel assume right and left side responsibilities, respectively, in the Birds' base package.  In the previous game at Cincinnati, Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson favored taking Brown off the field in five-DB (nickel) sets, and inserted Lito Sheppard on the right side to replace Brown.  He also had Joselio Hanson covering the slot WR.  Then, in six-DB packages (dime) against the Bengals, Brown would return to the field and act as a hybrid cornerback/linebacker.  Johnson indicated he set this rotation to make sure each CB had a defined role in the Birds' base, nickel, and dime packages.

-Johnson raved about the Ravens' rookie QB, Delaware product Joey Flacco.  The coordinator called the signal caller's arm a "rocket," and believes he benefits greatly from a 6'6 frame that allows him to peer above the line of scrimmage.