The Eagles had a gaping hole at the fullback spot when Leonard Weaver was lost for the season after he suffered a knee injury against the Packers. Owen Schmitt was signed off the street and thrust into the lineup just days later against the Lions.
The most diffcult area to replace Weaver's production was as an offensive weapons. And while no one is mistaking Schmitt for Weaver, he has managed to get a few touches catching four passes for 27 yards. At this rate, he'll easily smash his career high of six receptions, which is what he recorded in each of his first two seasons with the Seahawks.
"Each week it's been getting better. It's just going to take time," Schmitt said. "Everyone here's been together for three months during the offseason, working out. It's going to take time to get to that level."
The Eagles have always been one of the top-ranked offenses in the NFL and this year has been no exception thus far. The Eagles rank third in points per games, seventh in rushing offense and ninth in total offense. Of course, Schmitt will point to the production at the quarterback position as the key to the team's success.
"Sometimes you get caught up watching him on the field while you're playing with him just because of some of the things he does are like video game stuff," Schmitt said of Michael Vick. "I think having him definitely brings a whole nother aspect that the defense has to deal with. It's fun. I think people can see that out on the field that we're having fun."
But offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was quick to praise Schmitt when asked about him on Thursday saying that he "deserves the credit" for quickly picking up what the team is doing on offense.
Schmitt's teammates had the luxury of seeing a 3-4 defense in the season opener against Green Bay, but not the fullback. This Sunday, the Redskins present their new-look 3-4 to the Eagles. The fact that a number of teams run the scheme helps make the transition that much easier.
"They're tough. Those games they've lost were extremely tough. It's going to take time for them to get used to the 3-4," Schmitt said of the Redskins defense. "They're going to come up here with something to prove. It's going to be a physical ballgame. They've always been known as a physical team."
And that suits Schmitt's style of play just fine.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 12:37 p.m., September 30
