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RB Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles

HT: 5-8, WT: 200, Born: 9-2-1979, College: Villanova, Drafted: Round 3

2008 Projections

2007 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Westbrook had a solid game, as he showed he still has the ability to find small holes and break tackles, as well as be the versatile backfield weapon he has been in the past. He split out as a WR from the backfield several times. He dropped two passes and the ball was batted down twice when he was targeted. He was very patient running the ball allowing the offensive line to produce a hole, and it looked like he always got the maximum yards possible in running situations.

Week 2 - Westbrook got off to a quick start catching an 18 yard pass over the middle for a first down on Philadelphia's third play of the game. He got it going on the ground in the second quarter when he had consecutive runs of 15 and 27 yards that brought the Eagles into the red zone for the first time in the game. Westbrook didn't get a lot of carries in the first half but, was very effective when he did get the ball as he averaged 7.7 yards per carry.

Most of Westbrook's yards in the second half came in the passing game as he had seven catches for 48 yards. QB Donovan McNabb checked down to Westbrook a lot in the second half as his receivers down the field had trouble getting separation against the Redskins secondary.

Week 3 - Despite worries of a knee injury, Westbrook looked fresh and healthy as he carved up an overmatched Lions' defense. He got it going early as he scampered for a 25 yard run off the left side. It was only the second touchdown of the season scored by the Eagles. He had another run of 15 yards in the first quarter on the third drive of the game as the Eagles line opened up big holes early on in the game. He would get his second touchdown later in the drive as he got in on a five run to the left side. Westbrook had another big play in the second quarter when he took a screen pass 47 yards down the right sideline. He had a nice 17 yard trap play up the middle on a play that showed his great ability to make tacklers miss. He scored his third touchdown of the half on a short pass from McNabb he took for 43 yards and a score. Westbrook finished the half with monster numbers as he had 200 total yards and three touchdowns.

Westbrook suffered what was reported as a rib injury on the Eagles' first drive of the second half. He did not return after the injury, but the game was well in hand at that time. He added another 21 yards of total offense before leaving the game.

Week 4 - Westbrook was a late scratch due to an abdominal strain.

Week 6 - Brian Westbrook returned to the lineup and went over the century mark on the ground. Rushing 20 times for 120 yards, Westbrook saw eight targets go his way, catching five of them for 36 total yards. He was again the focal point of the offense getting 25 touches and piling up the yards. He seemed to run with determination and was willing to give a hit to oncoming defenders. Had it not been for a holding penalty late in the second quarter, Westbrook would have had added a touchdown and had an even better game.

Week 7 - Westbrook shouldered the load in the Philadelphia running game, carrying the ball 18 times for 79 yards and could not find many holes in the Chicago front seven with a long run of just 12 yards. As usual, Westbrook contributed in the passing game with six receptions for 40 yards on eight targets.

Week 8 - Westbrook was a large part of the offense. He was, of course, the main threat on the ground. While he did not find much room to roam for most of the game, he did carry the ball enough times to total 46 yards. He added another 46 yards on four receptions, and had touchdowns both on the ground and through the air, for a nice fantasy afternoon.

Week 9 - Brian Westbrook carried the ball 16 times for 65 yards scoring on a three yard run in the first quarter. He was targeted 18 times in this game, and ten times in the fourth quarter alone, all of which were on short screens and dump off passes. He caught 14 of those passes for 90 yards, many of which came in garbage time as Donovan McNabb didn't even bother looking down the field. Clearly Westbrook is the Eagles top option on the ground as well as through the air, but didn't often get out into open space where he can be so dangerous. Generally he would have been able to do a lot more with 30 touches, but the Cowboys did a good job of shutting down screen passes, and not allowing any large lanes for him to run through.

Week 10 - Westbrook had an amazing game. He averaged five yards a rush on his 20 carries and ran in a game-sealing touchdown. Westbrook also led the team in all receiving categories, and ran in two catches for scores. His second touchdown catch was a great run on a screen pass that he took 58 yards to the house. He consistently found room to run against the Redskins defense, and made he own room when there wasn't any. Westbrook used excellent vision and open field moves to earn multiple first downs and earn more yards than most backs would have in the same situation. He is the most important player on the Eagles offense.

Week 11 - Westbrook had his longest run of the season on a 36 yard carry off the left side and down the side line. The Eagles keep going to Westbrook on the ground as he had some nice runs against a bad Dolphin run defense. He finished the first half with 12 rushes for 68 yards. Westbrook missed out on a rushing touchdown on the Eagles first drive of the second half when backup RB Correll Buckhalter ran it in from eight yards. With QB Donovan McNabb on the sidelines, the Eagles would turn to Westbrook to carry the load in the second half as he had 20 carries for 80 yards. He would have some really good runs in the second half to help seal the game away for the Eagles.

Week 12 - It seemed that the plan was to get Westbrook going early in this game. On the Eagles' first three drives of the game, Westbrook rushed the ball 11 times and was targeted 4 times in the passing game. He capped Philadelphia's second drive with a one yard touchdown run and on that series, Westbrook had a good second effort attempt on a third and one rush that resulted in a first down. Westbrook's longest run of the game came in the second quarter and went for 14 yards, but he only got four rushes over the final two quarters. He was also called upon to return a punt late in the game. On the play, Westbrook fielded the punt, but he did put the ball on the ground. (The fumble was recovered by Philadelphia.)

Week 13 - Westbrook did everything in his power to try and lead the Eagles to victory. No matter what the team needed, he was there to provide it. Rushing, he would find huge holes to run through and seemed to gain good yardage and was able to keep the defense off balance. Receiving, he took screen passes for medium sized gains and one pass that was flipped to him when Feeley was under pressure for a 24 yard gain. In the return game he served as the punt returner in the fourth quarter when a big play was needed. Westbrook almost provided that play as he took a punt 64 yards down to the Seattle 14 yard line with less than two minutes left, giving the Eagles an excellent opportunity to win the game.

Week 14 - Westbrook asserted himself as the workhorse from the very first play, en route to gaining 154 total yards and a receiving touchdown. He gained 111 yards on the ground and was able to bring in five of his six targets for 39 yards. His only touchdown of the game, which came through the air, gave the Eagles an early seven point lead in the first quarter of this defensive battle.

Week 15 - Brian Westbrook carried the ball 18 times for 81 yards, while catching nine passes for another 63. Westbrook had a difficult time getting much going throughout much of the game, but he turned it on in the fourth quarter with long runs of 29 and 24. Westbrook would have had an easy touchdown late in the game, but rather than take it into the end zone, he willingly knelt down at the one yard line to allow the Eagles to kill the clock for the win. As usual Westbrook remained the focal point of the Eagles offensive attack.

Week 16 - Brian Westbrook is the cog that makes the Eagles offense go. He did not score, but he was clearly the difference maker for the offense. Westbrook lined up as both a running back and receiver in order to create mismatches with Saint defenders. On one play in particular he lined up as a receiver and took a handoff on an end around play in which he used his speed for his longest run of the day. He runs with patience and determination as it takes multiple defenders to bring him down. The Saints were only able to slow him down in the fourth quarter as the Eagles were trying to put the game away on their final touchdown drive.

Week 17 - A modest day by Westbrook standards, he gained 42 yards on seven carries and caught four passes for another 57 yards. In the first half he broke both the franchise record for catches set by Irving Fryer and also the all purpose yards record set by Wilbert Montgomery. Westbrook was held out in the fourth quarter.