CLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer
Michael Vick scrambles out of the pocket vs. Tampa Bay. Is taking quarterback Donovan McNabb off the field a waste of downs?
Ashley Fox: Eagles and Phillies questions answered
A day after the Phillies won the National League division series, half of my Eagles chat on philly.com ended up being about the Phils. Go figure. Here's a sampling.
Do you think that the Vick experiment is close to running its course? I know I am tired of seeing wasted downs.
- Zappa
I don't think it is. It's going to go on for the rest of the season. But I agree with you. It seems like a waste, especially with the way Donovan is playing. He is your best offensive weapon, so why would you take him off the field.
I watched film with Ron Jaworski a couple of weeks back, and at the time, he was undecided about the Wildcat for a team like the Eagles. It's one thing if your quarterback isn't very good. But would the Colts take Manning off the field? Would the Giants take their Manning off the field? No. So why take McNabb off?
Do you like the Phils against the Dodgers? Who pitches Game 2?
- Mike
I'll take the Phils in six. Pitch Blanton in Game 2.
Are the Birds that good, or has their weak schedule not exposed them yet? Will we see them in the Super Bowl?
- Miami Dave
The Eagles are a good football team with some questions at spots. But no doubt they've benefited from a favorable schedule. That's all OK. It's just hard to evaluate them until they get into the meat of their NFC East schedule. If they get blown out by the Giants, we'll have a vastly different opinion of them than we do right now.
At this point, I wouldn't be shocked if the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl, but I'm more comfortable picking the Giants, Vikings, or Saints to get there.
Eagles are my top pick, too. But I wish they were clutch like the Phils. They actually might be the anti-Phils, since they seem to crack in the big game.
- Mike
If the Eagles could rally in the ninth inning (so to speak) like the Phils did Monday night, they would've already won a Super Bowl, or maybe two.
Has the emergence of Jeremy Maclin put Kevin Curtis's starting job in jeopardy?
- Brendan
Andy Reid wouldn't really answer that question on Monday, which makes me think maybe Maclin has taken Curtis's job. Andy typically doesn't strip a player of his starting job because of an injury, but in this case, given the amount of time Curtis has missed over the last season and a half, and given Maclin's talent, I wouldn't be surprised if that happens.
Is JaMarcus Russell the worst QB you have ever seen? Besides his awful playing performances, I hear that he is overweight, doesn't have desire, and is there just to collect a paycheck. The Raiders are a joke.
- Mike
I really feel bad for anyone who has to play for that organization, Russell included. It's just not a positive environment, particularly for a young quarterback. I was alarmed by Jeff Garcia's comments about what was going on in Oakland and how Russell was in over his head. It's unfortunate, because I think he's got talent, but his confidence will erode, if it hasn't already, and we may never know what he's got.
Do you see any comparisons between Tom Brady's struggles this season and his return from knee surgery and McNabb's struggles last year?
- Mac
Oh sure. I'm not that surprised at all. They say it takes a year to recover from a blown knee but two to return to the player you were before the injury. We've certainly seen that from McNabb. I doubt he even thinks about his knee now. Not sure that was the case last year.
How close do you think the NFC East will be this year?
- Tyler
It's going to be real close. At least between three teams.
Contact columnist Ashley Fox at 215-854-5064 or afox@phillynews.com.
