Weight Gain Helping Parker Punish QBs

Really Lost One · Oct 3, 2008

THE FUNNY THING is that Eagles defensive end Juqua Parker did not put on an additional 10 pounds after last season to enhance his pass-rushing skills.

He wanted to be better against the run so he could stay on the field for more plays.

But during training camp, the Eagles' defensive coaches kept commenting on how Parker looked more explosive and quicker coming off the end.

It wasn't an optical illusion.

Through the first four games, Parker leads the sack-happy defense and is ranked in the top 10 in the NFL with 3 1/2 sacks - nearly a quarter of his total for the first 7 years of his career.

On Sunday, Parker hopes to contribute more to the Birds' league-leading total of 17 sacks by pulling down Washington quarterback Jason Campbell at Lincoln Financial Field.

"My season has started out pretty good," said Parker, who also has seven solo tackles and four assists. "Hopefully, I can continue to keep doing what I'm doing and help this team win."

The NFL is a league in which minimal advantages sometimes have a major impact.

At 6-2, 250 pounds, Parker was a solid, if slightly undersized left defensive end for the Birds.

Despite starting the final seven games and finishing with 63 tackles and five sacks last season, Parker wasn't guaranteed to become the permanent starter this season.

The Eagles signed Chris Clemons, a pass-rushing specialist from the Oakland Raiders, and expected second-year end Victor Abiamiri would have a bigger role.

Even if Parker was listed as the starter on the depth chart, he figured to share a lot of snaps with Clemons and Abiamiri.

But Parker, who signed a 5-year deal with the Eagles in 2007, stayed in Philadelphia during the offseason to work on strengthening a shoulder that he felt was not 100 percent healthy.

"After my shoulder healed up, and everybody else left, I just got right back into the weight room the next day," he said.

The strength training helped him pack on 10 more pounds of muscle, and since he didn't lose any speed in the process, it has enhanced his game.

"I've just been working on getting off the ball a little quicker," Parker said. "I did pick up a little more weight so that I could be stronger against the run. I think the weight just added a little more speed and power. So far, I'm putting it all together."

With Pro Bowl end Trent Cole coming in from the right side, Parker said he is taking full advantage of the attention opponents must pay to the opposite side.

"Just by what Trent did last year, that just frees me up," Parker said. "Teams are focusing more on him. Now it might be a little bit balanced out more. They might start paying a little more attention to me.

"But that's a good thing because then it's going to free up Trent to do more."

Careers in the NFL can take unusual twists and turns.

Originally signed by Tennessee as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Oklahoma State, Parker lasted four seasons with the Titans before being released after the 2004 season.

Parker found his way into Eagles camp in 2005 as a free agent after former Birds defensive end Jevon Kearse, who was a teammate in Tennessee, put in a word for him with the coaches.

With his career literally on the line, Parker capitalized on his second longshot opportunity.

"I'm thankful for the good word that Jevon Kearse put in for me," Parker said. "Once the Eagles invited me to camp, all I had to do was back up what [Kearse] had told them about me.

"I had still been working out and hoping something would happen. All of a sudden, I got that call and fortunately I was ready."

In another case of NFL irony, the rapid decline of Kearse last season led to Parker finding his way into the starting lineup.

Kearse is now back with the Titans, trying to revive his career, while Parker is proving to be a mainstay in the defensive line rotation.

"It's always like that in this league," Parker said. "You've got to be ready. When other things have failed and you are called upon, you've got to get the job done.

"It's all about learning the scheme of the defense, doing what you're told to do, and everything will work out. Things change when you have to meet expectations. That's why I worked so hard during this offseason." *
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http://www.philly.com/philly/sports...d__Weight_gain_helping_Parker_pounds_QBs.html

I love what he's been doing this year. He's really stepped up, and at times looks like our best player on the defensive line (above Cole!).

Vintage · Oct 4, 2008

He has def. come around this season and helped make it so Cole can't constantly be double teamed.

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