Aug/03/08 10:00 PM Filed in:
Jerome
McDougle
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - This is not
a position of familiarity for Jerome McDougle.
He is the one the Eagles coaches are excitedly singling
out. He is the one feeling sorry for others. He is the
one trying to take advantage of some luck.
He is healthy.
"It's kind of weird," McDougle said. "But I feel for
those guys because I know how hard it is to go through
those things, to bust your butt in the off-season and
then to get injured in training camp. I know how it
is."
Does he ever. Entering his sixth season with the
Eagles, McDougle has missed more games than he's played
at defensive end. He suffered from knee and ankle
injuries, an irregular heartbeat, fractured ribs and a
triceps tear. In 2005, he was shot in the stomach.
Just over a week into camp, though, and McDougle is
making quite an impression at a deep position that has
suffered from sudden health issues - none to speak of
for No. 95.
"He's stepped up," head coach Andy Reid said last week.
"He looks strong and fast and quick. I think he's
playing very good right now. We want him to maintain
that. And, he's going against the [first-team offense].
It's a good gauge of what he's all about right now and
it looks like he's doing OK."
With defensive end Victor Abiamiri in doubt following
wrist surgery and Chris Clemons going in and out of
drills after returning from dehydration, McDougle
couldn't have dreamed for a better chance.
But people were saying the same things about the former
first-round pick last year - what great shape he was in
and what quickness he showed - before McDougle tore the
triceps tendon in the first preseason game against
Baltimore and missed the entire 2007 season.
That injury, oddly enough, earned McDougle a reprieve.
He would have been a long shot to make the team, but
the Eagles stashed him on injured reserve, giving him
the chance this season to make the team one more time.
"It's just a lot of hard work finally paying off for
me," McDougle said.
Since Abiamiri went down, McDougle has played primarily
with the second-team defense, meaning he goes against
the first-team offense in drills. Enjoying early
success against them in camp has boosted his
confidence.
"He's back healthy and that's just exciting to see that
because he's been through so much," said defensive end
Juqua Parker (formerly Thomas). "He's doing pretty well
out there."
And that's enough to make McDougle forget the times
when he was moving down the depth chart instead of up.
"It's been a blessing," he said. "A lot of guys don't
make it to year six."
(philly.com)