Post by EagleGene on Aug 3, 2006 20:04:51 GMT -5
Say What You Want, Buck's Back
August 2, 2006
By SHANE EVANS
Running back Correll Buckhalter has a chip on his shoulder.
He has something to prove.
He's leaving it all out on the field.
But all clichés aside, Buckhalter has every intention of getting back on the field this pre-season and performing, after missing the last two seasons with two separate tears of the patellar tendon in his right knee.
"I feel great," said Buckhalter after Wednesday's afternoon practice. "I got to go live today, and got tackled a couple times. I think on my last run, I felt like myself again. I was able to sustain the contact and keep my legs driving and it was a blessing for me today to be able to do that."
It had been a while since Buckhalter had participated in live drills and Wednesday morning was officially the first day since last season that he'd been hit. During the drill, cornerback Lito Sheppard lit him up during one of the first plays, and Buckhalter admits, he was a little nervous.
"I think on that play, I had the jitters a little bit and I didn't see Lito," said Buckhalter. "But Lito knows that if I would have seen him first; he would have known the results. But he got a real good lick on me, and like I said, after that play, I began to feel like myself again, I just needed that lick."
On the play, Buckhalter burst out into the right flat and caught a swing pass from quarterback Jeff Garcia. Sheppard was glaring down the play and broke past a block and lowered his shoulder into Buckhalter driving him about three yards back before finally planting him on the turf.
Even though Buckhalter has looked good so far this training camp, he not only has to combat the doubts about his right knee, but the fact the Eagles have a very crowded backfield right now with the likes of running backs Brian Westbrook, Ryan Moats, Reno Mahe and Bruce Perry and fullback Thomas Tapeh.
"I still have it," declared Buckhalter. "You know, I think through all these practices, I showed them (the coaches and fans) that I can catch the ball and that I have my burst. I think I showed them on my last run (which was a 14-yard scamper past the right guard where Buckhalter broke a tackle and looked very smooth in his movement) that I have it, and that Buckhalter is feeling like himself again."
Buckhalter may not play in Sunday's Hall Of Fame game, but he is raring to get on the field in front of a live crowd and really prove he is back and totally healthy.
"It's going to be awesome," said Buckhalter. "I'm going to take all the things that I do in practice and let them carry into the game and just take it one play at a time. I give all the thanks to God for giving me another chance to do this."
Buckhalter has been extremely grateful to all the fans who have supported him through his lengthy recover and wants nothing more than to get out there and give a 110 percent all game, every game - all clichés aside, of course.
August 2, 2006
By SHANE EVANS
Running back Correll Buckhalter has a chip on his shoulder.
He has something to prove.
He's leaving it all out on the field.
But all clichés aside, Buckhalter has every intention of getting back on the field this pre-season and performing, after missing the last two seasons with two separate tears of the patellar tendon in his right knee.
"I feel great," said Buckhalter after Wednesday's afternoon practice. "I got to go live today, and got tackled a couple times. I think on my last run, I felt like myself again. I was able to sustain the contact and keep my legs driving and it was a blessing for me today to be able to do that."
It had been a while since Buckhalter had participated in live drills and Wednesday morning was officially the first day since last season that he'd been hit. During the drill, cornerback Lito Sheppard lit him up during one of the first plays, and Buckhalter admits, he was a little nervous.
"I think on that play, I had the jitters a little bit and I didn't see Lito," said Buckhalter. "But Lito knows that if I would have seen him first; he would have known the results. But he got a real good lick on me, and like I said, after that play, I began to feel like myself again, I just needed that lick."
On the play, Buckhalter burst out into the right flat and caught a swing pass from quarterback Jeff Garcia. Sheppard was glaring down the play and broke past a block and lowered his shoulder into Buckhalter driving him about three yards back before finally planting him on the turf.
Even though Buckhalter has looked good so far this training camp, he not only has to combat the doubts about his right knee, but the fact the Eagles have a very crowded backfield right now with the likes of running backs Brian Westbrook, Ryan Moats, Reno Mahe and Bruce Perry and fullback Thomas Tapeh.
"I still have it," declared Buckhalter. "You know, I think through all these practices, I showed them (the coaches and fans) that I can catch the ball and that I have my burst. I think I showed them on my last run (which was a 14-yard scamper past the right guard where Buckhalter broke a tackle and looked very smooth in his movement) that I have it, and that Buckhalter is feeling like himself again."
Buckhalter may not play in Sunday's Hall Of Fame game, but he is raring to get on the field in front of a live crowd and really prove he is back and totally healthy.
"It's going to be awesome," said Buckhalter. "I'm going to take all the things that I do in practice and let them carry into the game and just take it one play at a time. I give all the thanks to God for giving me another chance to do this."
Buckhalter has been extremely grateful to all the fans who have supported him through his lengthy recover and wants nothing more than to get out there and give a 110 percent all game, every game - all clichés aside, of course.
