Ashley Fox: Eagles are off, questions are not
It's the Eagles' bye week. Time to assess what has been a wild couple of months. We'll do that and get to a couple of questions I didn't have time to answer during Tuesday's chat on philly.com.
Three games in and the Birds have beaten two bad teams. Thoughts on the Eagles and Giants so far.You can only play the opponent on the schedule, Miami Dave, but you're right. The Panthers and Chiefs are far from the elite in the NFL, so it's a little hard to know exactly what we've got with these Eagles. But consider this: There are six teams that rank in the top 10 in both offense and defense, and the Eagles are one of them. The others are New Orleans, Denver, New England, Baltimore, and the Giants. That's a good place to be.
An easier schedule early should help this team, especially given how many young players the Eagles have in key positions. Winning builds confidence, and it gives the coaches credibility. Keeps the players listening and learning. Do they need to develop a better run defense? Is the middle linebacker spot a concern? Isn't the offensive line going to have its hands full with the Giants' pass rush? No question. But they've got time to get that straightened out.
Do you see McNabb as an Eagle next year?- Marky
I do. Kevin Kolb showed that he is a capable, effective backup in his two starts. He was poised, confident, and accurate. He didn't play quickly or look rushed. And he definitely has the trust and support of his teammates, who seem to genuinely like and respect him.
But make no mistake, this is Donovan McNabb's team. He's the starter. Kolb might not play another snap all season. And if McNabb finishes the year and it's another good year, then he'll be back for another. Andy Reid has stuck with him this long.
Do you think [LeSean] McCoy will start getting more touches even with a healthy Westy in tow? I sure hope so!- Rob
He should. We've seen over the years how Reid loves to lean on Brian Westbrook, and it was telling on Monday that Reid said he should've given Correll Buckhalter a bigger role last year to give Westbrook a break. Westbrook is a little fragile. He'd never say it, but he needs Reid to protect him. He'd still be invaluable with five or seven fewer touches. Give those to McCoy and let him ease into the offense. He's obviously got speed and moves.
When will Vick be traded? This season or during the off-season? I can't see us keeping him next year.- Mike
Not this season. It's going to be fascinating to see what happens when McNabb is back playing. He's not going to like coming off the field every other play on some drives, or lining up as a receiver. And at some point, Michael Vick is going to lose interest in his role as the Wildcat, if he hasn't already. He has been a quarterback his entire career, and even though he sat out two years and is grateful to be back in the NFL, he's a competitor, and he wants to be a starting quarterback again, not a gimmick. Right now, he's a gimmick.
Of course, it behooves Vick to be the good soldier through this. Everyone in the league, from the commish to potential future employers, is watching his every move. How does he react to playing the Wildcat position? What does he say? Does he complain? Is he a team player? Vick should continue to say and do the right things if he wants to get back in a starting role for another team.
Did you ever think that Greg Lewis would be the highlight of an NFL week?No, I didn't. And I've been told that G-Lew wasn't real happy that I called him arrogant in my column the other day. Said he was probably the most humble person I'd ever meet.
I doubt it. You want humble, not to mention professional, classy and competitive? Give me Brian Dawkins, Troy Vincent, Ike Reese, and Jeremiah Trotter. Those four set the bar, and set it high.
Contact columnist Ashley Fox at 215-854-5064 or afox@phillynews.com.
- R.C.
- Miami Dave
