The success of speedy DeSean Jackson in his rookie season has changed Andy Reid.
In the past Reid was always reluctant to use rookies. In addition, he was slow to use high draft picks on wide receivers and other skill position players.
You can tell by this year's draft that his thinking in those areas has changed. Reid was amazed a year ago when Jackson emerged as the team's best receiver by the time the season started.
Throughout the season he showed Reid what speed and playmaking ability could do for an offense.
It seems now that Reid finally agrees with many of the rest of us, who realize that putting outstanding athletes on the field makes your offense better. They can outrun defenders and make tacklers miss.
I know Donovan McNabb has to wish this had happened years ago.
Big Red is a very good game planner. if you give him talent as he had when Terrell Owens was on the team, and Reid is able to put the guy in position to make plays.
He's done it for years with Brian Westbrook, but he has resisted the call for him to put more talent on the field.
He made a change during this draft. He didn't have to move up and select Jeremy Maclin but he made the move because of the success of Jackson a year ago. Obviously when he saw Maclin he saw another playmaker.
This weekend he had all of the rookies being given focused attention to fast-track them to the field. He knows by experience that they can take the football team to another level.
He saw it with Jackson and he also saw a year with the New York Giants team which road the back of rookies to a Super Bowl title.
Now, Reid's changed decision-making has given the Eagles another young speedster, who may become a game-breaker like Jackson. Don't let me fail to mention the impact another speedster can have on the special teams.
It wasn't too long ago when Reid led a team with a slow, plodding return man. Do you remember Reno Mahe?
This year McNabb will walk up to the line of scrimmage and see defenses on their heels. They'll be trying to double Jackson while making sure they keep an eye on the other dangerous weapons.
Kevin Curtis and Maclin, if he comes around, will be working primarily against one-on-one coverage.
The tight ends and the fullback will be working solely against linebackers, which will give Brent Celek, Leonard Weaver and the amazingly athletic Cornelius Ingram the chance to shine. They'll have more options in the red zone.
The defense will still have to worry about Westbrook and young LeSean McCoy running screens and pass routes out of the backfield against the linebackers. Hopefully Westbrook has more quality football in him, but you and I know a linebacker can't cover him one on one.
This all happened because Reid saw speed and playmaking ability up close.
