Blowing in the wind
Sav Rocca, the Eagles' rock all season long, was alarmingly bad punting into the wind late in Sunday's game at Cincinnati, creating a field-position deficit that added to a lengthy list of offensive problems in the Birds' 13-13 tie. Special-teams coordinator Rory Segrest said yesterday he'll continue to work with Rocca on bad-weather punting, which was a problem down the stretch last season.
"We got away from the directional punts because of the wind factor," Segrest said. "He did have one of the toughest winds he is going to have to punt with. The wind was at his face, and coming across to his left. It kept pushing the ball down and inside and making him cut across the ball, and obviously, he kept pulling it. We just have to continue to work those conditions. We can't go out and create the weather conditions to be the way we want them all the time. That's probably the toughest kick he'll have to make. We just have to make sure we are getting that corrected and getting those punts down the field when we get back in that situation again."
Birdseed
Brian Dawkins (groin) was a limited practice participant yesterday . . . Jim Johnson is getting Joselio Hanson on the field more by moving Sheldon Brown to a sort of linebacker role in the dime package . . . The Ravens have 93 rushing first downs this season and have allowed only 31 . . . They have scored three times on returns, but have allowed four return TDs . . . Wilbert Montgomery coaches Baltimore's running backs . . . The Ravens are 3-1 at home and have allowed 43 points in those games. *
For more Eagles coverage and opinion, read the Daily News' Eagles blog, Eagletarian, at www.eagletarian.com.
