Eagles have full offensive arsenal for Bucs

LeSean McCoy started reeling off the names.

Brian Westbrook. Donovan McNabb. Michael Vick. DeSean Jackson. Kevin Curtis. Jeremy Maclin. Jason Avant.He intentionally omitted his own name and unintentionally forgot to mention tight end Brent Celek.

"Celek is unbelievable," the Eagles rookie running back said after practice yesterday. "That combination is unbelievable. I would put our offense up there with some of the best."

For now, McCoy and the Eagles will have to settle for putting their offense up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The Bucs, ranked 31st on defense among the NFL's 32 teams, will be the first team to face the Eagles with all their offensive skill players active.

"I'm interested to see how it all plays out as far as all the big plays we have set up and all the weapons we're using this week," McCoy said.

All those options should be a nightmare for Jim Bates, the veteran defensive coordinator in his first season with the Bucs. However, it's up to Eagles' offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg to turn his group into a scoring machine.

"It's a good thing," Mornhinweg said. "We put a little bit more heat on the defenses with all those possibilities."

Perhaps the most interesting dilemma for Mornhinweg as the Eagles return from their bye week against the winless Bucs is how often he'll use the veteran Westbrook instead of McCoy, who proved he could be productive with 84 rushing yards on 20 carries during the Eagles' win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mornhinweg seemed intrigued by the idea of having them both on the field at the same time.

"Again, the defense has to make some choices," he said. "Are they going to play a base [defense] to that or are they going to play nickel to that? You put a little pressure on the defense just by personnel group. Then the things you can do are really endless with that."

Westbrook has recovered from the sprained right ankle that kept him out of the Eagles' last game, which helps Mornhinweg.

"My ankle feels good," Westbrook said. "It has responded well to the treatment, responded well to the rest, so now at this point it's just time."

Better news would be if he could show the past form that has made him one of the league's most feared running backs for the last seven years."

McCoy, for his part, said he's not worried about how often he gets on the field.

"As far as playing-wise, I'm gearing myself to where, if Brian needs a quick blow, I'll go in there until he's ready to come back," McCoy said. "I'm not worried about how much I play. I'm just making sure I know what's going on when it's my time to get in there."

Mornhinweg was asked if the days of one feature back in the NFL are over.

"This is a tough, physical game," Mornhinweg said. "It's become very specialized as well. Many teams have a normal-down back and then a third-down back and then a change-up guy. I think it's been over for quite some time with a few exceptions with those rare special players, which Brian was and is."

The question is whether Westbrook would benefit from less work at this stage of his career.

"You don't know that," Mornhinweg said. "I would think that Brian, when he's healthy, could handle a big load."

The other interesting decision the Eagles have is at the No. 2 wide receiver spot. Kevin Curtis, despite walking through the locker room with his sprained left knee heavily wrapped, said he believes he is ready to return to the lineup after missing the game against Kansas City.

Rookie Jeremy Maclin filled in for Curtis against the Chiefs and it's safe to assume that at some point in the future he will be the starter opposite Jackson. It's possible that Maclin's time could be now.

"He played well, so we'll keep him going and try and get Kevin healthy as quick as we can," Mornhinweg said.

The Eagles finally have all their weapons and with them come some difficult decisions.

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