From: jmd@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (joseph.m.dakes)
Subject: Re: Questions about Eagles
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 17:07:23 GMT

In article <1992Sep29.143635.9263@cbnewsh.cb.att.com>, seth@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (peter.r.clark..jr) writes:
> In article <1992Sep28.195542.28414@athena.mit.edu>, centry@athena.mit.edu (Jae H Nam) writes:
> > 1)  Offensive line improvement.
> > 	a) Which player has improved the most?
> 
> The whole line, but particularly Antone Davis. He gets better every game,
> and after all the abuse he got last year he deserves tons of credit for
> turning a deaf ear.

Yes, Antone has silenced his many critics.  He's no where close to Pro
Bowl material, but he is getting better.  Which is all you can ask of
a second year offenisve lineman.  In addition to Antone, the return of
Mike Schad has really helped solidify the line.  And of course having
Ron Solt in Indianapolis doesn't hurt either:-).

> >   	b) Has a lot of the improvement come from the
> > 	   guys getting used to playing with each other
> > 	   i.e. consistency?  Or has there been a lot
> >     	   of substitutions and switches?
> 
> I'm pretty sure that consistency has been the rule.

Right you are.  The offensive line has played together every down even
during the preseason to allow them to become more familiar with each
other.

> > 	c) How much of the credit goes to our new OL coach?
> 
> good question

Alot of it.  The new guy, who's name escapes me for the moment, has a
hands-on approach to coaching.  Bill Walsh on the other hand, was
more of an X's and O's guy.  And the change was a long time coming.

> > 2)  Injuries.
> > 	a) when will Mike Pitts be getting back?
> 
> Pitts is eligible to come off the DL this week, but a friend of mine told me
> that he heard Kotite said that he doesn't want to mess with success and is
> in no hurry to get him back. My guess is that Pitts will see backup duty.

You and your friend are both right.  Kotite keeps saying he won't make
any roster moves right now, which is fine I guess, but I have yet to hear
him address the question as to whether Pitts is healthy or not.  We all
know Pitts is eligible, but is he ready?  I don't know.

> > 	b) how's Ben Smith doing?
> 
> We'll be lucky if he plays this year, that hasn't changed. The day he was 
> hurt they said a year, and there's been nothing to indicate he may come
> back sooner.

About three weeks ago, Smith could hardly walk without limping and his
rehab was not going very well.  Since then I've heard his rehab has
improved slightly.  But I doubt he'll be playing this season.

> > 3)  Holdouts and acquisitions.
> > 	a) I hear Miami is tendering an offer for Keith Jackson.
> > 	   Could someone give me more info?
> 
> Goodbye and good riddance. He's a Dolphin now, in case you haven't heard.

I addressed KJ in another posting so I won't go into it here.  But I
can't believe Eagles fans are glad to see him go.  He would have made
what appears to be a very good offense that much better.

> > 	b) Aren't the Eagles trying to pick up or make any
> > 	   trades?  I'm getting worried about the moves
> > 	   Dallas has been making recently.
> 
> Well, you can't ask that question unless you feel that there are moves that
> they need to make. So what do the EAGLES need right now?

Where have you been?  The Eagles picked up Leon Seals from Buffalo
to help along the defensive line.  With the loss of Jerome that was
their weakness and they addressed it.  The only other area of any
concern was at TE.  And the Eagles claimed Pat Beech off waivers to
address that.


E-A-G-L-E-S

Joe Dakes
AT&T Microelectronics
555 Union Boulevard
Allentown, PA  18103
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