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Westbrook: Could Be Best In The Game Today
We are witnessing something special here. Enjoy it. Savor it, because you don't know how long it is going to last. Brian Westbrook is playing at a different level than anyone else on the field these days. It is not difficult to notice. The man is a highlight film every time he touches the ball, and it makes me wonder if there is anybody out there, on any team, that is playing as well as Westbrook right now.
It certainly has more to do with numbers, although Westbrook's are as good as anybody's after three games. He has 291 rushing yards and 223 receiving yards in three games and his 514 yards from scrimmage lead the league. The Eagles know that when Westbrook has the ball in his hands, he is going to make something good happen.
But Westbrook has always been more than numbers. His value is not diminished when he touches the ball less frequently than other running backs. In fact, Westbrook's value sometimes INCREASES because his very presence forces defenses to alter their coverages and shade to his side of the field.
Now, with the numbers as they are, though, the rest of the league is taking notice of what a superstar the Eagles have in No. 36. And I'm here to suggest, on this feeling-really-good-about-the-Eagles day that Westbrook is the best running back in the NFL right now.
You read it right.
The best running back in the NFL right now.
Brian Westbrook.
I'll argue that Westbrook could have made a legitimate claim last year when he was such a vital part of the Eagles' late-season turnaround fifth NFC East title in six seasons. Westbrook accounted for nearly 2,000 yards from the line of scrimmage last year and he showed the kind of durability that puts a running back in the category of ""great.""
Through three games in 2007, Westbrook has gone to an entirely different level. Even as the Eagles offense struggled in the first two games, Westbrook shined. He was the best player on the field against both Green Bay and Washington, and he made Detroit look absolutely silly on Sunday.
Westbrook gained 131 yards of offense in Green Bay – 85 on the ground, 46 in the passing game – and then followed up with another 162 yards of offense against Washington – 96 rushing, 66 receiving – before the incredible game on Sunday.
Even more amazing is that Westbrook has just 70 touches, which he has turned into 514 yards and three touchdowns.
His numbers, then, are catching up with his enormous value and ability.
What makes Westbrook so unusual is the entire package he brings to the table. He has incredible vision and balance. Westbrook's quick feet enable to stop and start and change direction effortlessly, leaving defenders grasping at air. On the screen pass that Westbrook caught and turned into a touchdown on Sunday, he broke three tackles, was nearly tripped up before finding his feet again and then pulled away from the pack once he got into the clear.
It was nearly as spectacular a run as Westbrook had in last year's game in Tampa Bay against the Bucs, when he caught a Donovan McNabb pass and made five defenders miss on the way to an unforgettable touchdown.
Westbrook is the entire menu of what a running back needs to be. He runs with power between the tackles and also has the burst to get to the edge and turn his run up the field. Westbrook is so amazingly low to the ground that it is hard for defenders to get a good look at him, and he is able to stay on his feet and is strong enough to withstand a big hit.
I've been to every Eagles game since 1987 and in that time the Eagles have had some good running backs. Ricky Watters, Duce Staley and Herschel Walker had their moments of greatness. All three were versatile and productive and extremely valuable. But none of them was to the Eagles and to the NFL what Westbrook is right now.
I know that LaDainian Tomlinson is regarded as the best in the business, but I also see how he has struggled to begin the season. There are players with better stats – Pittsburgh's Willie Parker leads the league in rushing – but there is nobody who gives his team what Westbrook gives the Eagles – the ability to line up all over the formation, the receiving skills, the speed, the toughness in blocking.
The week-to-week challenge with Westbrook has always been to find the right amount to give him the ball. Westbrook has an abdominal strain and is considered day to day at the moment, so the Eagles likely won't know until late in the week if he is going to play on Sunday night against the Giants. Keep your fingers crossed. Westbrook missed most of last week – he worked only on Friday – while recovering from a sore knee, so the young man is going to spend another long week in the training room to be ready to go against the Giants.
Is he a player you give 25 to 30 handoffs to and play him until he drops? Or is it smarter to work in Westbrook judiciously and keep him as fresh as possible?
Ask Eagles players and they will tell you that Westbrook is the finest player they have ever blocked for. He is clearly one of the best running backs in franchise history – Westbrook was actually voted onto the 75th Anniversary Team as a punt returner – and the best – fingers crossed for good health – is yet to come.
This is rarified air we are seeing from No. 36. He is killing defenses right now, just killing them. The Eagles have a little something going on offense heading into New York. Westbrook is the focal point, along with quarterback Donovan McNabb. The idea is to get Westbrook the ball, get him a crease and watch him go.
It is so much fun to see. Westbrook, right now, right at this moment, is the best in the league. He deserves the attention, the accolades – and the ball.
We are witnessing something special here. Enjoy it. Savor it, because you don't know how long it is going to last. Brian Westbrook is playing at a different level than anyone else on the field these days. It is not difficult to notice. The man is a highlight film every time he touches the ball, and it makes me wonder if there is anybody out there, on any team, that is playing as well as Westbrook right now.
It certainly has more to do with numbers, although Westbrook's are as good as anybody's after three games. He has 291 rushing yards and 223 receiving yards in three games and his 514 yards from scrimmage lead the league. The Eagles know that when Westbrook has the ball in his hands, he is going to make something good happen.
But Westbrook has always been more than numbers. His value is not diminished when he touches the ball less frequently than other running backs. In fact, Westbrook's value sometimes INCREASES because his very presence forces defenses to alter their coverages and shade to his side of the field.
Now, with the numbers as they are, though, the rest of the league is taking notice of what a superstar the Eagles have in No. 36. And I'm here to suggest, on this feeling-really-good-about-the-Eagles day that Westbrook is the best running back in the NFL right now.
You read it right.
The best running back in the NFL right now.
Brian Westbrook.
I'll argue that Westbrook could have made a legitimate claim last year when he was such a vital part of the Eagles' late-season turnaround fifth NFC East title in six seasons. Westbrook accounted for nearly 2,000 yards from the line of scrimmage last year and he showed the kind of durability that puts a running back in the category of ""great.""
Through three games in 2007, Westbrook has gone to an entirely different level. Even as the Eagles offense struggled in the first two games, Westbrook shined. He was the best player on the field against both Green Bay and Washington, and he made Detroit look absolutely silly on Sunday.
Westbrook gained 131 yards of offense in Green Bay – 85 on the ground, 46 in the passing game – and then followed up with another 162 yards of offense against Washington – 96 rushing, 66 receiving – before the incredible game on Sunday.
Even more amazing is that Westbrook has just 70 touches, which he has turned into 514 yards and three touchdowns.
His numbers, then, are catching up with his enormous value and ability.
What makes Westbrook so unusual is the entire package he brings to the table. He has incredible vision and balance. Westbrook's quick feet enable to stop and start and change direction effortlessly, leaving defenders grasping at air. On the screen pass that Westbrook caught and turned into a touchdown on Sunday, he broke three tackles, was nearly tripped up before finding his feet again and then pulled away from the pack once he got into the clear.
It was nearly as spectacular a run as Westbrook had in last year's game in Tampa Bay against the Bucs, when he caught a Donovan McNabb pass and made five defenders miss on the way to an unforgettable touchdown.
Westbrook is the entire menu of what a running back needs to be. He runs with power between the tackles and also has the burst to get to the edge and turn his run up the field. Westbrook is so amazingly low to the ground that it is hard for defenders to get a good look at him, and he is able to stay on his feet and is strong enough to withstand a big hit.
I've been to every Eagles game since 1987 and in that time the Eagles have had some good running backs. Ricky Watters, Duce Staley and Herschel Walker had their moments of greatness. All three were versatile and productive and extremely valuable. But none of them was to the Eagles and to the NFL what Westbrook is right now.
I know that LaDainian Tomlinson is regarded as the best in the business, but I also see how he has struggled to begin the season. There are players with better stats – Pittsburgh's Willie Parker leads the league in rushing – but there is nobody who gives his team what Westbrook gives the Eagles – the ability to line up all over the formation, the receiving skills, the speed, the toughness in blocking.
The week-to-week challenge with Westbrook has always been to find the right amount to give him the ball. Westbrook has an abdominal strain and is considered day to day at the moment, so the Eagles likely won't know until late in the week if he is going to play on Sunday night against the Giants. Keep your fingers crossed. Westbrook missed most of last week – he worked only on Friday – while recovering from a sore knee, so the young man is going to spend another long week in the training room to be ready to go against the Giants.
Is he a player you give 25 to 30 handoffs to and play him until he drops? Or is it smarter to work in Westbrook judiciously and keep him as fresh as possible?
Ask Eagles players and they will tell you that Westbrook is the finest player they have ever blocked for. He is clearly one of the best running backs in franchise history – Westbrook was actually voted onto the 75th Anniversary Team as a punt returner – and the best – fingers crossed for good health – is yet to come.
This is rarified air we are seeing from No. 36. He is killing defenses right now, just killing them. The Eagles have a little something going on offense heading into New York. Westbrook is the focal point, along with quarterback Donovan McNabb. The idea is to get Westbrook the ball, get him a crease and watch him go.
It is so much fun to see. Westbrook, right now, right at this moment, is the best in the league. He deserves the attention, the accolades – and the ball.
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