I think the Eagles are trying to see whether former Air Force Academy star Chad Hall can be a replacement for Brian Westbrook in their passing game.¬† Marty Mornhinweg admitted the other week, that he doesn’t see LeSean McCoy ever becoming the receiver Westbrook was, to the point where they would be spreading him out the way they did number 36.
I don’t see them handing the ball to Hall, who stands only 5’8″ and weighs only 190, a lot but I think they might try to give to him enough on pass downs to help them get the matchups they want.¬† If there’s a run threat, teams will keep their linebackers on the field, so if the Birds spread Hall out, he would have a big advantage in the matchup.
I know I’m way ahead of things because Hall hasn’t even made the football team.¬† First of all, he’s going to have to prove that he’s good enough to play in the NFL, but I can see by that the way the Eagles are using him, they have dreams of having him replace Westbrook in the passing game.
The young man has been away from the game for two years while fulfilling his committment to the Air Force Academy.
He finished his career in college as a wide receiver but he played three years as a running back.¬† I’m talking about a legitimate running back.¬† In 2007 he carried the ball 32 times for 132 yards against Notre Dame.¬† He holds the Air Force single game running record of 275 yards.
Hall has been catching quite a few balls for the Birds so far in the OTA workouts.  He has some of the same qualities that Westbrook has.  He can play the running back and wide receiver positions.
Like Westbrook they can line him up anywhere on the field.¬† Right now they’re lining him up at the flanker spot in regular formations, then he slides to the slot position in three wide receiver formations and he’s also lining up at halfback.
He came to the Air Force as a quarterback and was converted to a halfback.  He finished his career there as a wide receiver.
On one play in the OTA’s on Thursday, Hall was lined up at the flanker spot and he came off the line of scrimmage with a quick burst as he approached cornerback Geoff Pope.¬† The receiver closed the distance between the two players and forced Pope to come out of his backpedal.
Hall made a move toward the sidelines and took two steps outside as if he was running a out route.  It forced Pope to stop his feet and the corner took a look back at the quarterback while preparing to break on the ball.  As soon as he looked back and stopped his feet, Hall turned the route back up the sideline and he was gone.
Rookie quarterback Mike Kafka hit him in stride with the pass and he was gone for a long touchdown.
It’s very early in this experiment, but if the Eagles dreams were to come true, Hall would be running screens and lining up all over the place like Westbrook used to do.
Hall said his past work as a quarterback is helping him pick of the offense.¬† He said he’s trying to learn what everybody does on each route, which is what a quarterback has to know in the offense.¬† Numerous times I heard the coaches describe Westbrook’s knowledge of the offense as that of a quarterback.
G, how is this guy going to even make the team? I mean right now, your RBs are McCoy, Bell, Weaver and most like Bunkley (since he plays special teams and could be a threat in short yardage). Where does this guy fit in? The WR corp is already over-crowded. So I just don’t see how this guy makes the team. He’s too small for special teams in any capacity except returning but we already have returners. You’re talking as if this guy is on the team. Odds are, he’s out and it’s not even close.
Scorp – No arguing about RB, though I think Scott can give BuCKley a run for his money for the 3rd spot, good battle there. But at WR, past the obvious first three, I think most people see the battle for 4th WR between Baskett and Cooper, so while there are surely a bunch of others to battle for 5, they never keep less than 5 WRs, heck we had 7 on the 53 man roster prior to last year. So why isn’t Hall, with his unique skill set, at least even, if not a front runner to make that 5th WR spot. Collins, Norwood, etc… there’s others who have a shot, but Hall isn’t out of it yet. And for returner, who do we have that isn’t an injury question (hobbs) or a starter (potentially), (hobbs, Macho, Jackson).
If Hall is the poor man’s version of B Westbrook,
then Paulman is the poor man’s version of George Clooney…. Good Grief….
I don’t think Hall makes the squad, but I could see his role as a potential Wes Welker type of WR,
line-up in the slot and run those quick slants,drag routes typr of patterns and maybe be a Punt/KO returner type of players… but plays that Westbrook used to do out of the backfield is a big stretch.
Schill, I do think he’ll give Buckley a run for his money but at the same time, I think Buckley probably has more value because he plays both sides of special teams as well. Nowadays they like to have players who contribute in more than one capacity and I just don’t see them having this guy as the 3rd RB taking up a roster spot and not defending on special teams. Usually guys that deep on the depth chart have to play special teams coverage and at his size, he probably wouldn’t work there. I do think they are comfortable at kick returner because Hobbs is a very good one and even demps isn’t bad returning kicks. I hope Harris is no where near the return team LOL.
I just don’t see them having a guy that low on the depth chart not playing special teams coverage. You gotta figure your 5th WR or your 3RB has to play coverage teams. If not then they are probably wasting a spot and us having to many active WRs the year before last was a problem because we were rotating 6 guys. The offense played better when they cut the rotation down to 4 and the 5th guys for injuries or fatigue. I don’t think he’s 100% out of it, just very little change on this team. The problem with G’s articles sometimes, is he’s writing like all these guys are already on the team. I mean reading them you’ll think we’re carrying 6 WRs, 4 RBS, 3 TEs on the active roster and it’s just not happening.
Scorp good points, and yeah, we’re all getting ahead of ourselves, and reality. That’s the nature of this time of the year and football fans, myself included. But, do you really think that if Hall was the main KR or PR that he wouldn’t make the team because he doesn’t do coverages? I’m saying he’d make it only as a WR (or hybrid offense guy whatever you call it) AND K or P returner. That way he IS a special teamer.
Yeah I think because they probably believe they have good enough returners that they don’t need to add an extra guy that’s only going to do one thing. I think the Eagles try to get the most value. You can have Hobbs returning kicks and playing CB and have another WR that can be the 5th WR and also defend on special teams. That’s 2 guys that can do 4 different things. Not to mention that Hobbs played on special teams coverage as well. If you keep Hall to return kicks and play the 5th WR you also need another guy in addition to play special teams coverage. Usually your 4th and 5th WRs play special teams. In my opinion, I just don’t think they keep him because now you need another speed guy on coverage team if he can’t do it. I think the days are over in the NFL where we see the guy that return kicks only has one job. They are consolidated roles to get more value from players. Not saying I agree with it, I just think that’s the way it’s going and has been over the past few years. We will see.
Fair enough. For me, returning kicks is playing special teams. And as Hobbs has had multiple injures in the past few years, I’d say he’s not a sure thing at KR, although he has been the best in the league at it. And if he’s gonna have a major role at CB, well look what happened with Lito….etc…
No reason the think Hall won’t make the team. He is one of those ‘can do it all’ type guys. He is also a very nifty punt and kickoff return guy. Buckley was used for short yardage, but to me Bell seems bigger, stronger and with Weaver, we should have 2 short yardage backs. Hall reminds me of Sproles out in San Diego. That little scat, lighting quick dude that drives people nuts – he brings a lot to the table and for 1 spot of the 53 man roster you get a WR, RB, PR and KOR.
Hey NavyDAve,
Maybe this (lightning in a bottle) can play FS,Center and Punter too…
G:
If the kid can do a fake like you have described he is irreplaceable! Give me that Eagle player NOW! I apologize for my fellow posters. This is Utopia football. You had better be talking about Usain Bolt speed however. I am inclined to like the kid because of his military background, but G, for real?
He will play for the Browns and have 55 receptions this year with the nickname Welker II.
Seriously, this is a kid that you would love to see in the NFL for years. If he gets his foot in the door, he might never let it close on him.
I agree schill that returning the ball is playing special teams but nowadays teams want that guy to contribute in other areas as well not just return the ball. They want to get as much value from guys as they can. This ensures they have enough depth and have more solid players all over the field. Like I said, not saying I always agree with that but it does seems that’s what the NFL is turning into. Your 4th and/or 5th WR and your 3rd running back have to contribute on special teams coverage. Otherwise you have a bunch of skilled guys that aren’t playing special teams coverage and that’s just simply not what the NFL is today.
Pman – I bet if you gave him a shot he would take you up on the FS! I watched this guy 2/3 times a year for the last few years when he was at AF (against Navy, SDSU and Notre Dame) – he can play –
Too bad nobody explained to him that real men are educated on the banks of the Severn River. Nice 2nd choice though.
I cant believe none of you goofballs have brought up this valid point. If DJax is to emerge as a legit superstar WR he cant be returning punts anymore. Its too risky. If this tool Hall can relieve that need, he’s made the team.
If Hall can make the team and return punts I’ll call this a good signing. I have to admit this report sounds very similar to the early reports on Booker his first summer camp so I’m pretty concerned.
Where the hell they get this bum from? Was he a beast coming out of college? If he’comes in on passing downs …you think the defense will know they’re passing? Andy just have these fetishes for the Reno Mahe’s of the world…….by the way, I heard chickies and petes are looking for another host to seat people. Remember “bloom” the returner who was picked up to replace Mitchell when they refuse to pay him as a returner? Spuds was salivating at the opportunity the Eagles had to pick him in a deep draft..You know the skiier? He’s playing miniature golf now. This team is a damn joke
Dear Santa, I know it’s ridiculously early, terrible timing, and I’m not Christian or religious, but I have this one wish. My wish is that we all go to bed to night and when we wake up, a miracle happened. The miracle is that the person who’s gcobb.com screen name is song…, he wakes up as a fan for another team, the team is the Saint Louis Rams. That way, the ‘we never won a superbowl’ thing is out the window, but his team SUCKS, absolutely SUCKS. He would probably jump off a bridge (not saying I want him too), but more importantly, it would give him a little perspective. I’ll remind you around mid december saint nicky, but consider this an early start.
Oh, and Mr. Song, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Hall
For the record, I’m not saying he makes the team, but if he does and produces just a little bit like he did in college, awesome. We’re talking about a guy that has tuns of talent at RB and WR ahead of him on the roster, so all he has to do is tear up our D in practice (great training, even if it’s just for camp) and play every so seldom, behind all the other offensive ‘weapons’.
It seems like every 6 months or so, an old dickhead poster disappears and a brand new one appears. You know the type…Angry about everything knowledgeable about nothing. SONGSRME2 is just the latest ignorant asshole. They do serve a purpose I suppose.
I am excited about the “changing of the guard” this year. This player Hall is exciting, fun. Who knows if he will make it, but everything seems fresh with the Eagles this year. Way better than the “close but no cigar” team of the last several years. No air guitar, no same-old same old.
navyeaglefan says:
May 21, 2010 at 10:08 amNo reason the think Hall won’t make the team. He is one of those ‘can do it all’ type guys. He is also a very nifty punt and kickoff return guy. Buckley was used for short yardage, but to me Bell seems bigger, stronger and with Weaver, we should have 2 short yardage backs. Hall reminds me of Sproles out in San Diego. That little scat, lighting quick dude that drives people nuts – he brings a lot to the table and for 1 spot of the 53 man roster you get a WR, RB, PR and KOR.