Reid it and weep, Iggles fans

While we luxuriate in the Phils’ two-game lead in the National League East and the sudden realization that with their three-headed 2HO monster of Halladay, Hamels & Oswalt at the top of their rotation they are now the odds-on favorite to win the World Series, let us take up the topic of the day.

In other words, let’s talks some E-A-G-L-E-S. And no, they haven’t changed the chant to C-O-N-C-S-S-S-IO-N-S.

The Eagles are now 0-1 after a thoroughly disheartening opening-day loss to the Packers in a game in which just about everything that could go wrong did for the Birds and their Gang Green faithful, many of them decked out in throwback duds to celebrate the team’s last title in 1960.

So of course there is mass panic in Eagles Nation.

For me, I don’t want to talk about Donovan McNabb. I don’t want to talk about concussions or the other string of major injuries they suffered. I don’t want to talk about who should be the Eagles’ starting quarterback.

I want to talk about something more basic. I want to talk about Andy Reid and the game plan he put together for the Packers game.

Since the Eagles dispatched an All-Pro quarterback in McNabb, very likely the best who has ever played the position in Philadelphia, all we heard was how Kevin Kolb would flourish in Reid’s version of the West Coast offense.

He was more accurate. He made quick decisions. He had a quicker release.

So where was all that on Sunday?

It didn’t take long for my eyebrows to go up on Sunday. How about the Eagles first offensive play, when the first thing that popped up on my TV screen was the sight of Michael Vick trotting out onto the field.

Is that how you develop confidence in a young quarterback assuming the starting role in the shadow created by the departure of an al All-Pro player?

Where were the quick slants that were supposed to be Kolb’s signature on this offense? Where was the tight end? Where were the screens and swing passes to his backs?

All I saw was Kolb take deep, seven-stop drops and then run for his life under a rush that seemed once again to know what the Eagles were going to do. Is that perhaps because that’s all the Eagles ever seem to do? They throw the ball and they run gadget plays. They never line up and simply try to run the ball down your throat. They don’t even feign an interest in running the ball, except when their harried quarterbacks are scrambling for their lives.

This wasn’t just evident in the opener. It was a constant in the preseason as well. I have a theory about the preseason. Not much that happens then means a whole lot. Except for one thing. At some point in those four games, you want to see your two starting units on offense and defense put together a good, solid stretch of play. Anyone see that out of Kolb and the Eagles offensive starters? We’re still waiting for it, only the regular season has started.

The more I watch these Birds, the more I have come to the following conclusion. It’s not about Donovan McNabb. It’s not about Kevin Kolb or Michael Vick.

It’s about Andy Reid. And it always will be so long as he’s head coach.

Can you say 7-9? Reid it and weep.

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