Marty: 'Quick Discussion'
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Marty: 'Quick Discussion'
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg acknowledged a "quick discussion" on the sideline last Thursday with
quarterback Donovan McNabb, about the offense's problems trying to sustain rhythm with Michael Vick shuttling on and off the field once every series.
"I understand all that," Mornhinweg said. He said that going forward, the team's use of Vick is "not going to affect our rhythm."
Mornhinweg was asked about the fact that last year's Eagles offense started to click for the Thanksgiving game against Arizona, when Mornhinweg and Eagles coach Andy Reid pared down the personnel groupings and simplified the attack.
That happened, Mornhinweg said, because by that point in the season, it was apparent that "we were good at certain things ... You play to your strengths."
Mornhinweg indicated Vick is likely to play a lot in the final preseason game, this Thursday at the Jets. McNabb and the starters are not expected to play, though Mornhinweg seemed to hint that some starters who haven't gotten many preseason reps -- such as left tackle Jason Peters, right tackle Shawn Andrews and right guard Stacy Andrews -- might get on the field.
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Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott called his middle linebacking position "a work in progress." Joe Mays, rookie Moise Fokou and veteran Omar Gaither, who has been out with a knee injury, seem to be the components. McDermott acknowledged that overall, his young linebacking group has struggled with play action. "They're getting better at that," he said.
McDermott also acknowledged a continuing battle for the safety spot opposite Quintin Mikell, with Quintin Demps fighting Sean Jones and maybe even rookie Macho Harris, who clearly has caught the coaching staff's fancy.
McDermott wriggled out of a questioner's attempt to get him to concede disappointment that those roles have not been seized authoritatively this late in the preseason.
McDermott said he wouldn't say he was disappointed, he would prefer to say that "we've had youth at the positions."
The Eagles will be no better than 8-8 this season. Qutie frankly, they haven't been a top level team since the SB run of 2004. 2 out of 4 seasons below .500, and two EXTREMELY LUCKY playoff appearences due to Jeff Garcia and Chicago / Tampa incompetence. Just like in 2007, this team will struggle with a non-last place schedule. The D is extremely weak and young, and the O-line has 3 new starters. Too much to overcome. Finally, the experiment with DoggyKiller will blow up in Andy's face, especially when 5 goes on one of his patented mid-season swoons. Great idea...let true character guys like Dawk and Runyan leave, and instead, sign a psychopathic, pre-meditated murderer like Vick. Good choices Andy.— Dean1
Comment removed.- Dean...go over and visit Vick is King and mimic his head stuck between his legs...both of you are fools...— merlinknghts
- Comment removed.
- I like McNabb. He competes, but I do not believe that he is an elite quarteback any more. Whe he was a threat to run, the defences had to stay in zone defences all the time so McNabb always threw to a spot tha the receiver settled into and never had to hit a receiver in stride. In the last pre-season game, McNabb's only real miscues were when he was asked to lead his receivers. Jackson was on a crossing route and McNabb threw the ball 6 yards behind him. the only result that can happen from throws like this are interceptions and receivers carried off in stretchers. The other miscue was the lateral to McCoy. He was supossed to lead McCoy toward the line of scrimmage, but he instead hit McCoy in the back of the head. We will see what happens this year, but with faster receivers comes more pressure to lead them because they will run more go routes than hook routes.— chrisrr
