Memory key for Eagles

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Memory took center stage as yesterday's theme at Eagles training camp. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg had a long one he was careful not to share and cornerback Asante Samuel claimed to have a short one he cared not to use because it can be hazardous in his line of work. Then there was special teams coordinator Rory Segrest, who seemed to have no recollection at all of the team's continuously risky business of plugging unproven talent at the pro level into the return game and hoping for the best. Last year, Segrest's first as coordinator, began with the Eagles being caught on opening day with no qualified punt returners after realizing too late that Jeremy Bloom wasn't NFL material. That shortcoming wound up being exposed as the biggest culprit in a 16-13 loss at Green Bay that set the tone for the rest of the season, which ended with the Eagles coming up just short of a playoff bid. When Segrest was reminded about that and asked how dangerous the team's perceived cavalier attitude toward acquiring proven returners is for running his units, the coach took one for the team. Friday at Pittsburgh, rookie DeSean Jackson returned three punts for just 3 yards and newcomer Lorenzo Booker averaged a pedestrian 21.7 yards per kickoff return. "In terms of punt return, we've got DeSean back there," Segrest said. "That's what he's done (for years). The only guy we brought in (without experience) was Booker. We've got several guys back there and we felt like Booker, once he got in, we were expecting him to be a pretty good core guy for us -- which he is. "Here in camp, he's also been the best kick returner. Again, out here during practice, it's easy to get up behind the wedge. You know things are going to be there as it sets up. Then, you get in game situations and, again, he's just trying to do a little bit too much. We feel like he's going to be able to get the job done and do a good job for us as the season goes along." Translation: Segrest was as ticked off as anyone who pays to watch this team about what happened last year, but needs to be careful not to tick anyone off who's involved with the delivery of his paycheck. Samuel, also concerned about his paycheck, believes forgetfulness is next to Godliness when it comes to playing his position, especially after being on the short end of some particularly defining matchups in the last Super Bowl as a member of the New England Patriots. He lost grasp of a potential game-clinching interception near the end of that game, which was pulled out in the fourth quarter by the Giants. Like I said before, at cornerback you have to have a short memory," he said. "Definitely I should have made that play, hands down. Nine times out of 10, I never miss that play, but one play doesn't make a game. That's the way that it is. We lost and life goes on, you know? You have to move forward. Translation: Samuel is getting paid and only worried about winning with his new team. Finally, Mornhinweg was asked to identify reasons for wide receiver Reggie Brown getting off to such a slow start a year ago. "It's normally not one thing," he replied. "There were several things we have discussed and emphasized. He's done a nice job of that and I expect him to play well. He's at that point where I'm sure he'll play well each and every game." Translation: Mornhinweg has been imprinted with head coach Andy Reid's genetic code. Mornhinweg also was quick to point out that Jackson, who caught five passes for 51 yards in his first preseason game at Pittsburgh, wasn't necessarily as fluent in this offense as the statistics would indicate. "He showed up big, but there were several things in that game that we needed to correct," he said, "and I'm sure we've got that done." On that note, we close the public portion of training camp as the team leaves Lehigh this morning to embark on its forgetful future.