Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Dynamic Duos

Posted July 17th, 2025 | 3 Comments »

The Eagles have had some amazing players over the years. They have also had some dynamic duos, guys that played together and brought out the best in each other. Let’s take a look at some of them.

I’m going to avoid the last decade or so and focus on older players.

Ricky Watters and Charlie Garner

Garner was drafted in 1994 and showed flashes of greatness. But he struggled to stay healthy. The Eagles signed Watters in free agency in 1995 to give the team a good pair of RBs. They became known as Thunder and Lightning.

Watters was the workhorse back. He was about 220 pounds, which gave him the size to be a good inside runner. He also had the wiggle to get outside and create big plays. Watters had been a WR in college so he was a gifted pass catcher. Garner was small at 5-9, 185. He had an explosive burst. Garner got limited touches, but made the most of them.

The best game came in 1995 when they combined for 259 rushing yards and 3 TDs as well as 92 receiving yards. That was a fun game.

Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent

The Eagles drafted Taylor in the third round in 1995, hoping he would give them a big cover corner. They needed someone to slow down Michael Irvin. Joe Banner worked some contract magic in the 1996 offseason, making an offer to Troy Vincent that Miami couldn’t match. Jimmy Johnson wasn’t happy about that. Eagles Nation sure was.

Vincent and Taylor played together from 1996-2003. They gave the team a pair of outstanding cover corners. The Eagles had multiple Top 5 defenses with those two manning the corners. Taylor was bigger and stronger. Vincent was the better athlete and better overall player. My favorite memory of Taylor was the MNF game where he blitzed off the corner and sacked Troy Aikman twice.

Al Harris played with them from 1999-2003, giving the Eagles a Terrific Trio.

Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan

Many young fans will find it hard to believe this, but there was a time when the Eagles struggled to have good OT play. They tried free agents, draft picks, developmental guys…nothing worked. That changed when they drafted Tra Thomas 11th overall in 1998. Andy Reid took over the team in 1999. He knew Thomas was half of the solution. The other half came when the Eagles made Runyan the highest paid OL ever in March of 2000.

Runyan and Thomas formed a great pair of OTs. Thomas had great feet and was a natural pass protector. He had excellent size. He was a skilled blocker. Runyan was even bigger than Thomas. Runyan wasn’t a dancing bear. He was the bear that mauls you. He blocked to the “echo of the whistle”, which pissed off opponents throughout his career.

Runyan had additonal value. He was a good leader and brought a real edge to the Eagles OL. He was a big influence on the guys around him and got the overall line to become a physical, nasty unit. Thomas and Runyan helped the Eagles reach 5 NFC championship games and one SB in their nine years together.

Wes Hopkins and Andre Waters

Hopkins was the 35th overall pick in 1983. He started 14 games as a rookie and showed tremendous potential. Andre Waters was undrafted in 1984. He spent two years on special teams before becoming the starting SS in 1986. The two of them played together for a decade, but injuries affected both. The Eagles only had each of them start double digit games together from 1988-1991. The Eagles were a playoff team from 1988-1990. In 1991 they were on one of the greatest defenses in the history of the NFL.

Hopkins was the great athlete who could cover ground on the deep end and make big plays. He had 30 career INTs. Hopkins could also be a devastating hitter and outstanding tackler. Waters was like a human torpedo. He was a great run defender, coming up aggressively and exploding through his targets.

I know Brian Dawkins is worshiped by Eagles fans. Wes and Andre weren’t as good, but they are special to me and my favorite pair of Eagles safeties ever. Sadly, both of them have passed away.

Fred Barnett and Calvin Williams 

Barnett and Williams were both drafted in 1990, in the third and fifth rounds respectively. Mike Bellamy was drafted in the second round. He never caught a pass in the NFL. Luckily the Eagles hit on both Barnett and Williams.

Barnett was nicknamed Arkansas Fred, a fantastic moniker. He had outstanding speed and was a gifted downfield receiver. He averaged 15 yards per catch for his Eagles career. Barnett had a distinct style of running and catching. He looked a bit herky-jerky, but it sure worked well. Williams was smaller. He was more of a possession receiver. Williams ran good routes and was a polished receiver.

You may have seen that play a time or two. It is one of the most amazing moments in Eagles history.

Nnamdi Asomugha and his car

Some of you will get this reference…

*****

I left out Reggie and Clyde because I wanted to focus on others.

I thought about safeties Greg Jackson and Mike Zordich, but they only spent two years together, 1994 and 1995. The Eagles defense was 4th in yards allowed in both seasons.

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3 Comments on “Dynamic Duos”

  1. 1 The Linc - NFL defense rankings have the Eagles in second place - SportSourcio said at 12:02 PM on July 18th, 2025:

    […] Dynamic Duos – Iggles Blitz […]

  2. 2 The Linc – Over View – Your Daily News Source said at 8:32 AM on July 19th, 2025:

    […] Dynamic Duos – Iggles BlitzTra Thomas and Jon Runyan: Many young fans will find it hard to believe this, but there was a time when the Eagles struggled to have good OT play. They tried free agents, draft picks, developmental guys…nothing worked. That changed when they drafted Tra Thomas 11th overall in 1998. Andy Reid took over the team in 1999. He knew Thomas was half of the solution. The other half came when the Eagles made Runyan the highest paid OL ever in March of 2000. Runyan and Thomas formed a great pair of OTs. Thomas had great feet and was a natural pass protector. He had excellent size. He was a skilled blocker. Runyan was even bigger than Thomas. Runyan wasn’t a dancing bear. He was the bear that mauls you. He blocked to the “echo of the whistle”, which pissed off opponents throughout his career. […]

  3. 3 Eagles News: NFL defense rankings have Philadelphia in second place - Bleeding Green Nation said at 9:00 AM on July 19th, 2025:

    […] Dynamic Duos – Iggles BlitzTra Thomas and Jon Runyan: Many young fans will find it hard to believe this, but there was a time when the Eagles struggled to have good OT play. They tried free agents, draft picks, developmental guys…nothing worked. That changed when they drafted Tra Thomas 11th overall in 1998. Andy Reid took over the team in 1999. He knew Thomas was half of the solution. The other half came when the Eagles made Runyan the highest paid OL ever in March of 2000. Runyan and Thomas formed a great pair of OTs. Thomas had great feet and was a natural pass protector. He had excellent size. He was a skilled blocker. Runyan was even bigger than Thomas. Runyan wasn’t a dancing bear. He was the bear that mauls you. He blocked to the “echo of the whistle”, which pissed off opponents throughout his career. […]