On a weekend without the Phillies (literally thanks for nothing, Irene!), thoughts naturally turn to the Eagles.
I’m not ready to make like a TV weather forecaster and panic, but I don’t like what I see.
In particular, this team is going to go exactly as far as Michael Vick carries them. For that reason, seeing him take shot after shot from the Cleveland Browns left me wincing every time he bounced off the turf.
One of these times the rugged QB is not going to get up, and neither will the Eagles playoff chances.
Andy Reid must agree. He shuffled his offensive line over the weekend, moving Todd Herremans from his longtime spot at left guard and depositing him at the all-important right tackle spot. That would be Vick’s blind side. It’s now Herremans’ job to keep Vick off the turf. So far it has been a major problem for the Birds. Last year’s starter, Winston Justice, has been very slow recovering from knee surgery. King Dunlap remains a king-sized disappointment. No one else has exactly stepped up to the challenge. Now it's Herreman's Job 1.
The Eagles have one more exhibition game left, Thursday night against the New York Jets. Pity the Jets: Because of Hurricane Irene, they play a game tonight and then will turn around and face the Eagles on Thursday. Don’t look for many of their regulars to play.
My guess is that Andy Reid will decide the same thing.
Which means that we really won’t have any idea how good – or bad – this offensive line and the rest of the offense will be until the regular season opener on Sept. 11 in St. Louis.
Normally Reid would rest his starters in the final exhibition game. But I am guessing he would like to see how this reconfigured offensive line does in some live game conditions.
Hanging in the balance is the health of Michael Vick – and the Eagles season.
I’m not ready to make like a TV weather forecaster and panic, but I don’t like what I see.
In particular, this team is going to go exactly as far as Michael Vick carries them. For that reason, seeing him take shot after shot from the Cleveland Browns left me wincing every time he bounced off the turf.
One of these times the rugged QB is not going to get up, and neither will the Eagles playoff chances.
Andy Reid must agree. He shuffled his offensive line over the weekend, moving Todd Herremans from his longtime spot at left guard and depositing him at the all-important right tackle spot. That would be Vick’s blind side. It’s now Herremans’ job to keep Vick off the turf. So far it has been a major problem for the Birds. Last year’s starter, Winston Justice, has been very slow recovering from knee surgery. King Dunlap remains a king-sized disappointment. No one else has exactly stepped up to the challenge. Now it's Herreman's Job 1.
The Eagles have one more exhibition game left, Thursday night against the New York Jets. Pity the Jets: Because of Hurricane Irene, they play a game tonight and then will turn around and face the Eagles on Thursday. Don’t look for many of their regulars to play.
My guess is that Andy Reid will decide the same thing.
Which means that we really won’t have any idea how good – or bad – this offensive line and the rest of the offense will be until the regular season opener on Sept. 11 in St. Louis.
Normally Reid would rest his starters in the final exhibition game. But I am guessing he would like to see how this reconfigured offensive line does in some live game conditions.
Hanging in the balance is the health of Michael Vick – and the Eagles season.
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