Is Clemons going to be cut by the Eagles?

Clemons' spot is not certain
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
BY NICK FIERRO
Special to the Times
PHILADELPHIA -- Jim Johnson's overtones, Chris Clemons' face and Jerome McDougle's play since Eagles training camp opened last month had a story to tell of a free agent in trouble yesterday at the NovaCare Complex.

First came the suggestive words from defensive coordinator Johnson, who flat-out admitted that Clemons, the team's second biggest free-agent signing of the offseason, is locked in a battle with veteran Jerome McDougle for what may only be one roster spot as the fifth defensive end.

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"I think there's some competition," Johnson said. "I think the biggest thing is McDougle and Chris Clemons. ... There's a lot of competition right there. And like I said, McDougle's pushing. He's got two more preseason games and we'll know more then.

"... (Clemons has) been injured (calf). He's not on the field. It's hard. I mean, it's tough for him right now. He's not on the field. ... I think he was still on a learning process (when he was out there). He wasn't quite there yet. That's just being honest. He's working at it, but he wasn't quite there yet."

Then there was the face on Clemons, whose melancholy ap pearance yesterday suggested he knows exactly what is going on, even if he truly believes he was playing well enough when he was out there.

"It sets you back a lot when you're not able to go out there and compete with the guys, to still be at the top of your game (without) playing and practicing every day," Clemons said. "It was going well (before the injuries). I mean, I picked up the defense and was able to go out there and show some of the things I was able to do and the reason they brought me here.

"But, unfortunately, the injury came at a critical time."

Finally, there was McDougle, who may be having his best camp since the Eagles traded up to draft him in the first round in 2003. Inju ries and a gunshot wound in 2005 had conspired to keep him mostly off the field until this summer, in which he's exploded back into pub lic consciousness with outstanding play throughout and solid performances in the first two preseason games.

"What I wanted to do (this camp) is just concentrate and focus on staying on the field," McDougle said. "That was the biggest thing throughout my whole career. It's just injuries and staying on the field.

"I mean, as long as I stay on the field and I just play up to my po tential and as hard as I can play, then everything else is going to fall into place.

Actually, the defensive end battles feature another interesting subplot involving the starter on the left side, Juqua Parker, and who may be backing him up or possibly moving ahead of him on the depth chart. Second-year player Victor Abiamiri was supposed to be that guy, but his status for this season remains in limbo after wrist surgery this month. Clemons also was sup posed to be in the mix there, until being sidelined with injuries.

That has prompted the coaches to ask reserve right end Darren Howard to start taking repetitions on the left side. Howard, who will turn 32 in November, admitted it will not be an easy adjustment after all his years in the NFL.

"If you're a baseball player and you're a right-handed batter, it's like switching to the other hand," he said. "If you're a right-handed golfer, switching to the other hand is different. Everything that you do with your right hand, you've got to learn to do with your left hand.

"I just think once you do something for so long, you get muscle memory. Your body just does things before you even think about it. And when you're not used to something, you have to think about it, then do it. You might be a little bit slower there, so you've just to work on that."

Added Johnson, "He's a right end, there's no question about it. But we are going to work him in a little bit there because he is a good pass rusher. We're going to work him, but he's mainly going to be a right end and be our inside tackle on nickel."