The Eagles and The FullBack position

Since we are just months away from NFL time, I thought I'd share this article just released on Josh and his play with Eagles this year. Things are looking good and according to Neil, Josh has never been this confident about a season as he is about this year. The pic to the right is of Josh and his boy Aiden. Aiden is turning 3 this year and will hopefully soon realize his daddy is a NFL baller. Enjoy the article and there will be plenty more to come...
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By: Bob Brookover
>>link to article

Fullback, for the most part, lost most of its pizzazz a long time ago in the NFL.

Human wrecking balls paid to crash through holes to clear a path for others have replaced the Larry Csonkas of the world.

Like most things that have to do with the running game, Eagles coach Andy Reid has taken this to a seldom-used extreme. Since the 2002 season, the Eagles have handed the ball to the fullback exactly two times.

Josh Parry, the Eagles' fullback for most of the last two seasons, was not the recipient of either of those carries. Parry is no fool, however, so you won't hear him complain about his lack of activity even though he was one of just two fullbacks who didn't run the ball a year ago. The other was the New York Giants' Jim Finn.

"There's just not enough plays to go around with as many weapons as we have," Parry said yesterday after the Eagles completed a rookie camp at the NovaCare Complex. "It's not a big priority, and it doesn't even faze me. I'm concerned with blocking in the run game and protecting the quarterback.

"I'll get an occasional drop-off pass when Donovan [McNabb] gets in trouble, but touching the ball is not a big deal for myself. It's fun. When it does happen, I love it. But there's a lot of little things that I need to get done."

For the record, Parry caught 13 passes for 89 yards last season and had nine catches for 75 yards the year before after taking over from an injured Jon Ritchie.

"We try to keep everybody involved, and that position is part of that," Reid said. "Josh has done a good job with that the last couple of years. He's made some big catches for us. The number that he's caught is typical in this offense for that position."

Reid, however, revealed that he would like to get his fullback a little more involved in running the football. "We probably should use it more," the coach said.

Earlier this off-season, Reid acknowledged that he allowed his offense to become too pass-heavy last season and said he planned a change. There was a time under Reid when the fullback ran the ball a little, although no Eagles fullback has scored a rushing touchdown since 1995.

Cecil Martin in 2000 carried 13 times and averaged 5.9 yards per carry.

"Some teams like little fullbacks who touch the ball a lot," Parry said. "Some teams like big guys who block."

Parry knows he fits more into the big blocker category, but the Eagles do run plays in practice in which they hand off to him. They also have two fullbacks behind Parry on the depth chart who ran the ball a lot in college.

One is Thomas Tapeh, a fifth-round draft choice in 2004 from Minnesota who is ready to return following a severe hip injury that cost him the entire 2005 season. The other is Jason Davis, an undrafted rookie out of Illinois.

"There's a legitimate battle there, as there are at other positions," Reid said earlier this week.

That's fine with Parry, who knows what it's like to fight for a position.

"That's for them to decide what they're looking for in the offense," Parry said. "I know I can run the ball if given the opportunity. But that's part of being in the NFL. Competition makes teams better and players better. That's just the way it goes. Nobody has a problem with that. It's life."

Tapeh, albeit in a brief time frame, showed signs of being an offensive weapon with the ability to run and catch the football two years ago. In fact, he made some nice plays in a meaningless late-season game against the St. Louis Rams before he dislocated his hip.

"That was serious," Parry said. "He's put a lot of hard work and effort into coming back. I commend him for what he's done just to be where he's at now. He's a tough son of a gun, and I wish him nothing but the best."

Reid said the Eagles view Tapeh more as a fullback than a halfback even though he can play both.

Extra points.The Eagles continued to have no comment on whether they inquired about the services of Olympic sprinter Justin Gatlin, but fellow Olympian Jeremy Bloom said: "I'd like to know his [40-yard dash] time. He's obviously a great athlete, and I wouldn't put it past him" to be able to play in the NFL.