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John Smallwood: Lack of time together hurting Eagles' offensive line
BY THE TIME Eagles coach Andy Reid got to the 10th name, you wondered if it would have been quicker to list those traveling to tomorrow night's preseason game in Indianapolis, as opposed to those not going because of injury.
The Michael Vick signing might be the most controversial story with the Eagles, but the most significant one is the rash of injuries that has hindered their preparation for the season.
And as the clock ticks down to the Birds' season opener in Carolina on Sept. 13, it has become abundantly clear that it will strike midnight before this pumpkin ever gets a chance to show its stuff as a carriage.
It's fashionable to downgrade the value of preseason games, and, on the whole, I'm in agreement. But that's assuming the pieces you expected to have are working and developing chemistry together on a daily basis through training camp and practice.
Of the players Reid listed as not traveling, four - Todd Herremans, Jason Peters, Shawn Andrews and Stacy Andrews - are projected starters on the offensive line the Eagles spent the offseason proudly revamping.
This nightmare scenario shows no indication of ending before the season opener, at the earliest.
Except for the first practice, after which Shawn Andrews' back tightened up, the complete offensive line, which also includes center Jamaal Jackson, has not been on the field together, much less taken a snap.
Shawn Andrews, who just returned from California after finding out from the doctor who performed his surgery that there is no structural damage to his injured back, hasn't come close to practicing.
And with the Eagles having no idea when or whether Andrews will be ready to go and already knowing that Herremans likely won't be available until just before the opener, this unit - if it is actually intact then - will begin the season probably not having played together.
Think about that.
An offensive line that includes two players (Peters and Stacy Andrews) new to the Birds and another (Shawn Andrews) switching from guard to right tackle, will not have one practice together before starting the season.
"The offensive line is the primary one," Reid said when asked about the rash of injuries affecting the continuity. "That's the spot that I've said before I want to have an opportunity to play together.
"To sit here and tell you that I wish they were playing together, the five offensive linemen, yeah, I do. I wish they were all in there working and getting better. These are the cards we've been dealt."
I hope quarterback Donovan McNabb has the same confidence in linemen such as Winston Justice, Max Jean-Gilles and King Dunlap that he used to express in wideouts James Thrash, Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell.
Then again, maybe the Vick signing is starting to make more sense.
But this isn't only about protecting McNabb.
In the past, it wasn't that big a deal when running back Brian Westbrook missed practice with an injury.
The personnel on the offensive line had been so consistent that, for Westbrook, it was like reading an open book. He already knew what Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas would do.
That's not the case now for Westbrook, who just returned to practice after spring ankle surgery.
"It takes some time to get used to it," he said. "It takes some time to see how [Peters] is going to cut off the . . . tackle on the back side and how [Stacy Andrews] is going to work.
"Being professionals, being part of this game for a long time, you've dealt with a lot of different players."
But Westbrook always had ample time to adjust, which won't happen this time.
"Ideally speaking, you want to try to get some practice reps together, offensive line, quarterback, running back, wide receivers, everybody," he said. "But unfortunately in this situation this year, it doesn't look like we're going to have that opportunity.
"So again, we have to go out there and be professionals and make the most of the situation we have right now. I know [Peters] will be back. I know that [Herremans] will be back, and hopefully [Shawn Andrews] will be back, as well as myself. Hopefully, we are going to get some opportunities to work together, whether it's the week before the first regular-season game, or it's in the regular-season game."
The Eagles better hope Reid's non-travel list for Carolina is much shorter than the one for Indianapolis. *
Send e-mail to smallwj@phillynews.com.
For recent columns, go to
http://go.philly.com/smallwood.
