Barner to get boost from Sproles’ presence in Calif.
COSTA MESA, CALIF. » The worstkept secret among Eagles players is that injured Darren Sproles will join them to provide moral support this week.
The 34-year-old Sproles fractured his forearm and tore an ACL on the same play in the dramatic win over the Giants in Week 3.
Though Sproles has spent much of the rehab near his Southern California home, he’s been in constant contact with players, including his protégé, Kenjon Barner. Sproles relays personal scouting reports of opponents, stadium conditions and what to expect from various special teams coaches.
“I’ll definitely see him,” Barner said. “He’s doing good. Obviously, he’s not 100 percent but he’s walking after surgery. He’s extremely happy about this season, where the team is at.”
Barner ranks third in the league in punt return average, notching 11.11 yards per attempt. He credits Sproles for his help. What Barner is working through is how to stay patient. Since he lit the Cardinals for three returns worth 110 yards (36.7 average), teams have punted away from him. Last week Barner made three fair catches, and the Seahawks punted another ball out of bounds.
“It’s frustrating but it’s a major compliment, too,” Barner said. “Any time a team opts not to kick to you, it means they respect what you do. It’s humbling. But at the same time it’s like, ‘damn, give me one.” I’m not greedy.”
The challenge this week is Rams punter Johnny Hekker, who averages 48.5 yards, including a net of 43.5 yards. Hekker boomed a 71yard punt over Patrick Peterson’s head last week.
Sproles will be around to help Barner get through it. Barner has no shortage of relationships to catch up with, as he’s a Los Angeles guy with family all over the area, including Inglewood, Corona, Chino, Pasadena and Mission Viejo.
“I’m going to spend time with my family and friends,” Barner said. “I wouldn’t have that opportunity if we weren’t staying for the whole week. But now that we are, every chance I get I’m leaving.”
Barner’s checklist of things to do for visiting Eagles fans: Disneyland: If you have kids. Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles: Confirmed, an absolute must-try.
Hollywood: Check out the celebrity stars on the sidewalk.
Hike in the canyons: They’re all over the place. Watch out for coyotes.
*** Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham visited the Museum of Ice Cream in Los Angeles with his family.
“It was cool,” Graham said, pun attended. “They give you no ice cream in every room. For me, my baby girl, she’ll be 2, and I just want to make sure I’m there as often as I can be. And we saw this opportunity in Cali.”
*** The Eagles don’t control “everything” in their pursuit of playoff position in the NFC, as Doug Pederson suggested Monday.
But Pederson wasn’t exaggerating when he said, “everything is still right in front of us.”
The reality is the Eagles could lose their last four games and be the top playoff seed in the NFC, although that would take outside help.
So, the loss to the Seahawks certainly isn’t time to panic.
The Eagles have a 32 percent probability of winning the top seed, and a 34 percent probability of taking the second seed, based on an algorithm using strength of schedule and other factors by Playoffstatus.com.
The Vikings, also 10-2, have a 58 percent probability of gaining the top seed, and a 30 percent probability of getting the second seed.
In terms of securing a playoff berth, that could happen before the Eagles oppose the Rams at 4:25 p.m. Eastern Sunday. With Eli Manning back at quarterback and Steve Spagnuolo the head coach, the Giants would surprise no one putting it all together against the Cowboys in a 1 p.m. game. A Giants victory or tie gives the Eagles their first NFC pennant since 2013 and at least one home game in the playoffs.
If that doesn’t happen, an Eagles win or tie in their game with the Rams gets it done.
There’s just a 1 percent probability the Eagles don’t make the playoffs.
Or, as Pederson phrased it, “everything is in our control.
“That’s the beauty of this whole thing, everything is still right in front of us,” he said. “We just have to embrace that and understand that.”
In terms of the Vikings, as well as the Saints (9-3), who are looking like a third seed, as dome teams, they absolutely need to be home to make a playoff run. TalkofFameNetwork contributor Clark Judge did the math. Dome teams are a collective 0-for-12 in road conference championship games since the merger.
*** The change to Pacific Time hasn’t been kind to the Eagles, who look they could use more sleep.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz looked like he could use a few winks. Ditto offensive coordinator Frank Reich.
Defensive end Brandon Graham confirmed the adjustment.
“Last night I went to bed around 8:30 to 11:30 our time,” Graham said. “Right now, I’m not used to it, right now.” Understandable. Additionally, the Eagles are working out such mundane but necessary routines as boarding the busses. They timed it Tuesday.
“It’s a little different,” Graham said. “We had to figure out how the flow of it is today. I think tomorrow it will be a lot better because everybody understands when you get on the bus it takes like 20 to 30 minutes to try and get your mind right.”
The defense still hasn’t been to Angel Stadium of Anaheim, where it practices this week.
The offense checked out that facility Tuesday.