Brian Westbrook is used to being a workhorse. The focal point of the Eagles' offense for years, Westbrook is the franchise's all-time leader in yards from scrimmage. So when the Eagles put up 33 points and Westbrook only touches the ball eight times for 35 yards, which is what happened last Sunday against the Buccaneers, it's fair to wonder how the veteran running back is affected.
"As a playmaker, as a running back, of course I want the ball just as much as everybody else," Westbrook said. "I would love to touch the ball more, but I know that we have athletes on this team. We have guys who can do some dynamic things with the ball in their hands and I think over the years, we've fought to get more playmakers on this team and now we have them.
"One of the drawbacks of having more playmakers is you have to spread the ball around a little more."
Westbrook is right. There is a slew of talented players on offense who can all make a case for getting more of the ball. In fact, could this be the most talented offensive team in Westbrook's Eagles tenure?
"I think so," Westbrook said. "We have a tight end (Brent Celek) who does a lot of good things, I feel like he's playing at a Pro Bowl level. DeSean (Jackson)'s definitely playing at a Pro Bowl level. Last week, Jeremy (Maclin) played at a Pro Bowl level. I'm trying to get in there a little bit, Donovan (McNabb)'s playing well, LeSean (McCoy)'s playing well, Leonard (Weaver) scored a touchdown last week. So we have a lot of guys that can make plays."
Westbrook said the biggest factor in getting the running game going is game repetition.
"For a running back, it's tough when you don't get more than six or eight carries," he said. "With anything in football, the passing game or the running game, you need game experience doing it to be totally effective. If you want to go out and be the best team (at running an) inside zone or outside zone, you have to practice is and then do it in a game. It's tough to go into a game and run an outside zone once per quarter and be the best outside zone team in the league."
Even though he would like more of the ball, Westbrook has taken to mentoring his understudy at running back LeSean McCoy.
"When I was a young guy, guys put their arm around me, taught me the ropes, taught me how to play, taught me things to do on and off the field," Westbrook said. "I'm trying to do the same thing with LeSean. His personality is a little bit different than mine was back then, but he's a great kid, he's a hard worker, he listens. He's going to be a very good football player. He's a good football player now.
"He still has some things to improve on to be at the point where I think he wants to go, but anything I can help him do, anything that I can say to him to give him thet encouragement to really assure him that he can be the football player he wants to be, I'm willing to do that."
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 2:28 p.m., October 14
