This is the scenario that has lurked in the shadows since the Eagles decided to send Donovan McNabb packing.
The Kevin Kolb Era kicked off yesterday – with a thud. Kolb was terrible. The team then rallied behind backup Michael Vick, who proclaimed after the game that they might have won had he been the quarterback all four quarters.
Now what?
Kolb was dreadful in the first half of what would be a depressing loss for the Birds. He showed no sign of the guy who threw for back-to-back 300-yard games while starting two games for an injured McNabb last year.
To add injury to insult, he suffered a concussion toward the end of the first half and did not return for the second half. That may have been a blessing.
The Eagles of 2010 took on the same mantra that so many Andy Reid teams have shouldered – a glaring appearance that they were not ready to play on opening day.
Adding some intrigue to this mix was the second half performance of backup Michael Vick.
He provided a spark to the Eagles dead offense, and rallied them to 27-20, before being stopped on a fourth-and-1 the sealed the Eagles fate. I know, imagine that. The Eagles failing to convert on fourth-and-short. The fact that they were out of timeouts with five minutes left in the game. The fact that there running game was only a rumor.
Now what?
All of this is classic Andy Reid. The coach just might need the same thing his starting quarterback and top defensive player both need this morning. He needs to have his head examined. It’s almost beyond belief that Reid’s team display these same alarming faults in their opener year after year.
Almost worse is then hearing Reid mutter something about “having to do a better job of putting players in position to make plays.” That was OK in 2004. Six years later, it’s a little stale.
In addition to the questionable status of both Kolb and middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, the Birds appear to have lost fullback Leonard Weaver and center Jamaal Jackson to injuries.
All in all, not the start Eagles fans had envisioned.
Then there is this quote from Vick at his post-game press conference.
“I feel like if I had been out there for four quarters maybe we would have had a chance to win the game.”
Nothing like throwing a little gasoline on the fire.
It’s enough to make your head throb.
Just like Kevin Kolb and Stewart Bradley.
The Kevin Kolb Era kicked off yesterday – with a thud. Kolb was terrible. The team then rallied behind backup Michael Vick, who proclaimed after the game that they might have won had he been the quarterback all four quarters.
Now what?
Kolb was dreadful in the first half of what would be a depressing loss for the Birds. He showed no sign of the guy who threw for back-to-back 300-yard games while starting two games for an injured McNabb last year.
To add injury to insult, he suffered a concussion toward the end of the first half and did not return for the second half. That may have been a blessing.
The Eagles of 2010 took on the same mantra that so many Andy Reid teams have shouldered – a glaring appearance that they were not ready to play on opening day.
Adding some intrigue to this mix was the second half performance of backup Michael Vick.
He provided a spark to the Eagles dead offense, and rallied them to 27-20, before being stopped on a fourth-and-1 the sealed the Eagles fate. I know, imagine that. The Eagles failing to convert on fourth-and-short. The fact that they were out of timeouts with five minutes left in the game. The fact that there running game was only a rumor.
Now what?
All of this is classic Andy Reid. The coach just might need the same thing his starting quarterback and top defensive player both need this morning. He needs to have his head examined. It’s almost beyond belief that Reid’s team display these same alarming faults in their opener year after year.
Almost worse is then hearing Reid mutter something about “having to do a better job of putting players in position to make plays.” That was OK in 2004. Six years later, it’s a little stale.
In addition to the questionable status of both Kolb and middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, the Birds appear to have lost fullback Leonard Weaver and center Jamaal Jackson to injuries.
All in all, not the start Eagles fans had envisioned.
Then there is this quote from Vick at his post-game press conference.
“I feel like if I had been out there for four quarters maybe we would have had a chance to win the game.”
Nothing like throwing a little gasoline on the fire.
It’s enough to make your head throb.
Just like Kevin Kolb and Stewart Bradley.
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