Eagle-like balance

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I was watching the Eagles-Cowboys game Sunday when the announcers pointed out that the Birds had a different leading receiver in each of its five games.

Week 1, it was Donte' Stallworth against the Texans. Week 2, it was apparently L.J. Smith against the Giants, but for some reason, I don't remember that game. Following that were Reggie Brown, Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett the last three weeks.

As soon as that flashed across the screen, I thought that sounded familiar. Did Penn do the same thing in its first four?

Not quite, but very close.

Week 1, it was Dan Coleman with 85 yards against Lafayette. Like Stallworth, he got injured right after that, and Coleman hasn't made a catch since.

Week 2, Chris Mizell just missed, making a team high four catches, but had 11 fewer yards than Braden Lepisto, who led the team

Week 3, it was Matt Carre with seven catches for 87 yards, and Week 4 against Bucknell, Lepisto had seven for 140.

And for the Birds and the Quakers, the result of this balance has been success. Penn quarterback Robert Irvin has his choice of Mizell, Lepisto, Carre, Billy May and running back Joe Sandberg, a competent receiver himself.

Since Dan Castles graduated after the 2004 season, there's been no dominant receiver, just a big handful of good ones.

The big-time wide receiver left, leaving several good ones...

Sounds like something else I heard a little about watching that Eagles game Sunday.