(c) 2011, The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Before the Washington Redskins began practice and the installation of their game plan for the Philadelphia Eagles, they gathered for their weekly team meeting.
Coach Mike Shanahan can’t hide from last year’s debacle against the Eagles. But he certainly didn’t want his players dwelling on it.
Just like last year, the Redskins meet the Eagles coming out of a bye week, which means they essentially had an extra week to rest, study and prepare. They’re hoping for a different result this time. Last November, the Eagles came to FedEx Field and dismembered the Redskins, 59-28, in one of the worst losses in Washington history.
But on Wednesday morning, with players filling most of the seats in the team’s auditorium, Shanahan wanted them to know that the group of players embarrassed on “Monday Night Football” last November is no more.
“We’ve got a totally different football team,” linebacker London Fletcher said. “It’s just not the same team.”
Twenty-two players on this year’s 53-man roster were not a part of the roster during last year’s loss. The Redskins enter Sunday’s game with five new starters on defense and three new starters on offense. Shanahan says it’s easy to move past the pain of last year’s defeat when so many in the locker room have no recollection of it.
“That’s a huge amount,” Shanahan said. “Take a look at free agency, take a look at the draft, you think about half the people weren’t even associated with that game a year ago.”
Those who were around won’t soon forget, though, what happened when Michael Vick and the Eagles last came to town.
“When we think of the Eagles, we think of that game,” linebacker Brian Orakpo said.
In retrospect, the game was marred before the coin flip. Worse than the pregame skirmish between Redskins safety LaRon Landry and Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson: The Redskins announced a contract extension for quarterback Donovan McNabb before kickoff. After that night, he would appear in only four more games for Washington.
Philadelphia scored on its first play from scrimmage, an 88-yard touchdown strike from Vick to Jackson. It got worse from there. At the end of the first quarter, the Eagles were up 28-0, the biggest first-quarter lead by any NFL road team in at least a half-century. The Redskins hadn’t even managed a first down.
“Philly did anything they wanted. . . . They could have scored 100 on us in that game,” Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said.
Philadelphia scored touchdowns on each of its first five possessions and kept pounding. Before it was over, the Eagles had set team records for the most yards (592) and first-half points (45). It marked the second-most points allowed in Redskins franchise history. No NFL team had allowed more points, in fact, since 1989. The 45 first-half points allowed by the Redskins tied a franchise record, and Philadelphia’s 59 points scored were the most ever allowed by a Shanahan-coached team.
“I’m trying to get that out of my mind,” Shanahan said.
To that end, after mentioning the drubbing in the Wednesday morning meeting, the Redskins have spent no time dwelling on it. Teams often rely on film of past games to help prepare for an opponent. This week the Redskins studied the Eagles’ first five games of this season. There was no point in going back to the 59-28 game.
While the Redskins feature different personnel this season, so do the Eagles. Six defensive starters are new, as are three offensive starters, all along the offensive line.
The pieces that return are still dangerous, though they’ve had their struggles this season. Last year at FedEx Field, Vick became the first player in NFL history with at least 300 yards passing, 50 yards rushing, four passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a single game. This season Vick has already thrown a league-worst nine interceptions while he and his teammates have combined for six lost fumbles, also an NFL high.
Philadelphia brings a 1-4 record into Sunday’s game and the division-leading Redskins need only consult the standings to know that, 11 months later, they’re dealing with a different Eagles team. More importantly to them, the Eagles will have a different Redskins squad on their hands, as well.
“No one likes to be embarrassed like we were last year,” tight end Chris Cooley said. “Half our team, half the locker room right now, wasn’t a part of that game. So you can definitely talk about it, but we’re both two different teams.”
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Notes:
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game because of a knee injury that limited him in practice on Friday.
Also listed as questionable were running back Tim Hightower (shoulder), tight end Chris Cooley (knee), wide receiver Anthony Armstrong (hamstring) and cornerback Phillip Buchanon (neck).
On the Eagles’ injury report, defensive end Trent Cole (calf) and tackle Jason Peters (hamstring) both have been ruled out.

Read More: Jason Avant (WR – PHI), Trent Cole (DE – PHI), Winston Justice (OT – PHI), Juqua Parker (DE – PHI), Jason Peters (OT – PHI), Cullen Jenkins (DT – PHI), Darryl Tapp (DE – PHI), Jarrad Page (S – PHI), Nate Allen (FS – PHI), Julian Vandervelde (G – PHI), Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins look to retain their lead in the NFC East this Sunday when they host the struggling Philadelphia Eagles at Fed Ex Field. The Redskins will enter the Week 6 showdown rested and in fairly good shape injury-wise following their bye week. As for Philadelphia, here’s the good news on the injury front. The following long list of banged up players participated fully in Thursday’s practice:

safety Nate Allen (knee), wide receiver Jason Avant (hip), tackle Winston Justice (knee), safety Jarrad Page (stinger), wide receiver Steve Smith (knee), defensive end Darryl Tapp (pectoral) and guard Julian Vandervelde (elbow)

Defensive end Trent Cole sat out Thursday’s practice though due to a calf injury.  Juqua Parker, also a defensive end, was limited this afternoon after taking Wednesday off to nurse an ankle injury.

The injury bug extends to the Eagles’ offense as well, most notably along the offensive line. T Jason Peters missed his second consecutive day with an ailing hamstring. He is considered doubtful for Sunday. King Dunlap, who wasn’t on Wednesday’s injury report, was forced to sit Thursday out with a back problem. That presents the possibility of Eagles having just two tackles active this Sunday.

The big question mark and cause for concern though is the status of Cullen Jenkins. The defensive tackle returned to practice on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday’s session with a triceps injury. Jenkins reportedly expressed confidence that he’ll be able to suit up against the ‘Skins on Sunday. We’ll have more information on Jenkins shortly.

Alex Henery signed a four year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday, according to Philly.com. The Eagles selected the Nebraska kicker in the forth round of this years NFL draft. He will take over for David Akers.

The Philly.com article is below:

“The Eagles have signed eight draftees, Jaiquawn Jarrett included, but not Danny Watkins.

Joe Panos, Watkins’ agent, says “Nothing’s imminent, but we’re working on it.”

The eight draftees have agreed to 4-year deals. The other two remaining unsigned picks are linebacker Greg Lloyd, from UConn, and fullback Stanley Havili, from USC. Both were taken in the seventh round.

The eight are expected at practice tomorrow.”

There were more reports on Wednesday that the Philadelphia Eagles were close to trading Kevin Kolb to Arizona.

ESPN and local TV reporter Derrick Gunn said on Wednesday afternoon said the trade was close to completion, and the trade would send cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a draft pick to the Eagles for Kolb.

Trades were quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Kyle Orton were also in motion on Wednesday, with McNabb heading to Minnesota from Washington, and Orton going from Denver to Miami.

The McNabb deal is contingent on a new contract for the former Eagles quarterback, while Orton has apparently been targeted by Miami.

The supply of quarterbacks is growing thin, with Alex Smith, Tyler Thigpen and Kellen Clemens signing deals this week.

Vince Young is expected to be released by the Titans on Thursday, and Marc Bulger remains unsigned.

In other Eagles news, former Eagles and Titans defensive end Jason Babin confirms Philadelphia is one of three teams he is negotiating with on a new deal.

Babin played for new Eagles defensive line coach Jim Washburn in Tennessee.
 

St. Mary Medical Center and 1490 WBCB AM hosted Philadelphia
Eagles Day with Merrill Reese, voice of the Philadelphia Eagles,
featuring former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro linebacker in the
hospital’s cafeteria on Wednesday afternoon.

The annual event gives colleagues, patients, and visitors a
chance to meet Merrill Reese and receive autographed photos and
play Eagles trivia to win prizes.

 

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