'A Stretch' for Vick; Kolb Focuses on SF, Not QB Job
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
'A Stretch' for Vick; Kolb Focuses on SF, Not QB Job
Les Bowen and Daily News staff
Eagles coach Andy Reid said he would not rule out quarterback Michael Vick for Sunday's game at San Francisco, but conceded "it would be a stretch" for him to play.
Vick sustained damage to his rib cartilage during the first half against the Redskins. Reid said Vick remains sore and has swelling in the chest area, but is more comfortable than he was Monday.
Reid said no one knows how long Vick will be out. Vick told a Virginia Beach radio station Monday that he thought he would be out no more than two weeks.
Kevin Kolb will take all first-team reps in practice.
"Win," Kolb said, when asked what he would like to do differently this week. Kolb replaced Vick when Vick went down near the end of the first quarter. He moved the ball but had trouble aggressively attacking the Redskins' Cover 2 scheme. "They were playing a style of defense that called for (throwing underneath). Going back and watching the film, there may have been one or two that I could have been a little more aggressive on, but as a whole ... I had to take what they give me. If you get too aggressive and don't play your own system and play what they're giving you, then you're not making the right reads. That's my only focus ... to keep doing the right thing with the ball, and put us in a better position to win."
Asked if Kolb theoretically could play his way back into the starting job while Vick is injured, Reid said: "right now, I'm focused in on San Francisco."
Kolb was asked whether he thought he had such a chance.
"If I get into all that, then I'm focusing on the wrong thing," Kolb said. "My focus right now is to go beat San Francisco and make sure I do my part to do that."
The Eagles have no plans to bring in a quarterback for the short term while Vick heals, Reid said, adding that the team also won't be bringing in a running back or wide receiver.
"Right now I'm not making any transactions," Reid said.
Running back LeSean McCoy, who has a cracked rib, did not practice, although it is possible he could practice tomorrow. Wide receiver Riley Cooper and cornerback Asante Samuel, who both had concussions, also did not practice, although Samuel took part in today's walkthrough and could practice tomorrow. Cooper will not practice tomorrow, Reid said. He said he was "pretty sure" that Samuel and Cooper will be able to play Sunday.
On defense, Moise Fokou is back as the starting SAM, ahead of Akeem Jordan, both players said today. "I'm there to instill a physical presence," said Fokou. The Eagles' defense is ranked 27th against the run.
Fokou began training camp as the starter at that spot, lost his job after one workout, spent most of the preseason trying to learn to be a defensive end, an now is back as the SAM.
"You gotta ask the front desk," he said when asked what he makes of all this. "I'm just here to play football."
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The Eagles did not work out any quarterbacks, running backs or wide receivers yesterday, despite the injury situations at those positions. As we told you yesterday, a short-term move seems unlikely.
They did, however, work out guard Donald Thomas, according to Adam Caplan of Foxsports.com.
Thomas, 25, started 13 games over the last two seasons with Miami after being drafted in the sixth round in 2008. He lost his starting spot in training camp and was released. He has worked out for seven teams thus far, but has not been signed.
Offensive line remains an issue for the Eagles. Nick Cole did not play against Washington with a continuing problems with his knee. Max Jean-Gillies got the start. A week earlier, Cole was pulled because of the injury and replaced by Reggie Wells, acquired at the start of the season from Arizona. That Wells did not draw the starting assignment is telling. Coach Andy Reid was not glowing in his praise for Jean-Gillies during his Monday news conference.
We will see what happens next ...
More to come today from NovaCare as the Eagles return to practice.
Go Phillies!!!!— soniclife- mankins anyone?— sasquatches
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- as far as im concerned this season is a "try out" for the players already on the team,, lets not forget to let McDamit" go,, he's out coached each week. i could go on and on but the average Eagles fan knows this season is well not much of one!
Too many holes not enough filler’s. Go Eagles 2011
Trade Kolb and re-sign Vick. at least you'll get a third rounder for Kolb.. invest in "real" O- linemen and maybe get some run stuffing D linemen,,, this team is just broken and these "work outs" of 6th rd drafted linemen are not going to fix it.
You can dress up dog pooh as nicely as you want, the fact is,, its still pooh!
I’ll be rooting for Buddy’s son in NY,, at least he knows WTF he’s doing!
— osi is hurt boohoo - When can we give this kid Austin Howard more looks. He looked great in preseason/ camp, and he can't be any worse than the gaping holes we have in there now.— gob1234
- So much for that preseason OL depth that allowed the Eagles to draft for "other needs."— paolibulldog
- wow we couldn't find anybody released by the Rams or Lions?
- Seriously, who cares about the Eagles anymore? They continue to look more foolish by the day. I'm still for McNabb being let go, but this organization is clueless. I'm done until Andy Greed is let go.— blueballs
- It is a disgrace that Andy Reid could miss value the O-line so poorly when that is his specialty. I agree, give Howard some reps. I say give Kolb some games and see if he improves. If not, trade him to Cleveland in the offseason. Start Vick and draft at QB in the first three rounds. So the league is going more to a passing option first. The Eagles over emphasize this then can't stop the run. Why not build a defense that is good at both? I didn't know you could be only good at the OR the pass.— quentin1978
- OSIishurt...i don't always agree with you, but youre right about "Mcdammitt" the D coordinator hasn't done anything to show me he can coach in the NFL. Shame we couldn't have kept Spags, he was the true heir to JJ.— dragoon6
- quentin1978 - i agree with you mostly, but you can't hold on to kolb b/c this is his last year undercontract. you have to trade him now or never.— sasquatches
- go phils— Dr. Heller
- I like Reid, he knows how to build a team. That said, a couple of these posts are right: they've been getting out-coached for 2 years now. Mourninwheg is awful, always has been. Never won anything anywhere and has proven zilch as coordinator here. McDermott has proven nothing in 1+ year. So the Eagles are in some trouble until Fat Andy holds these guys accountable. 2 new coordinators would revitalize this team, just not sure if it will take a new head coach to make the change.— sla6yer
- I agree with gob1234. Start letting Howard get some reps. Peters is still on track with his 2 penalties a game. Surely a "Pro Bowl" tackle doesn't need to grab shirt in order to slow guys down... or does he?— BigLadd
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- A STRETCH? The doctors say it will be 2-4 weeks, but ole wishy-washy says maybe sorta possibly on Sunday. Give me a break. Can this man ever make a decision and stick by it? The silver lining is that I can see the storm clouds gathering and I sincerely believe for the first time that Reid is on his way out and it is time.— obergruber
- Called you out: ditto— PhillyFanSouth
- O-LINE is Andy's baby and based upon thier perfomance....Andy should be fired......— nuggett
- However good Reid is supposed to be, he is bush league on Game day— Bork
- Sasquatches, this is not the last year of Kolbs contract. we have him through thwe 2011 season idiot— jbroni
- Sasquatches, this is not the last year of Kolbs contract. we have him through thwe 2011 season idiot— jbroni
- How to win in the NFL: A top 10 running attack that is used to set up the pass on O, and a top 10 D that can stop the run with the down linemen, stop the pass with the corners and safeties, and stop both run and pass with the linebackers. Defense and a running game win championships consistently, period. Always has. Always will. I cannot stand the dink-n-dunk on O, and the let's-get-run-over on D. That's not football. It might win some games here and there against tired or unmotivated teams, but is not championship-winning football when the going gets tough. Let's face it, the West Coast offense has been figured out for years. I don't care what we do, as long as it's different than what we've been doing. Heck, let's try the no-wideout, T-formation, two tight-end set for each and every play, no motion. That way the quarterback won't matter. And, there is no way to read it as a defense if the offense comes out in the same formation each time. And run it with a bunch of mules... guys so big, they make Andy look like DeSean Jackson. At least it would be interesting for a year or two. I can see the stats now as the opposing defense wears down... 10 yards 1st qtr, 20 yards 2nd qtr, 100 yards 3rd qtr, 440 yards 4th qtr. And let's switch to the 3-4 on defense, with a nose guard so big that he needs a double cheeseburger (with bacon) between each play. One where a d-back is cut from the team immediately if the receiver he's supposed to jam makes it past 5 yards. Let's reintroduce in-your-face, we're-going-to-run-the-play-you-know-and-you-won't-be-able-to-stop-it kind of tough for a change. And call it the East Coast offense. I'm tired of finesse-ball... it's miserable to watch any more. Oh, and the new head coach - Wes Hopkins.— landt
- How do you get a third rounder for Kolb? Randy Moss gets a third rounder, Kolb gets you a sixth. Not to mention 12 million dollar contract he just signed. He better be part of the future or this team is in trouble for a while. From what we have seen, they are in trouble either way.— pking222
- The eagles are draining and it's only week 5. i am glad the phillies are doing their thing; i see the eagles losing badly to SF. They are not as bad as their record shows. A beatdown out there will really stir things up. Marty must go.— djack10
