Reid: Watkins Will Bounce Back
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Reid: Watkins Will Bounce Back
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Eagles coach Andy Reid told reporters Friday that even though Jake Scott has taken 2011 first-round draft pick Danny Watkins' right guard spot for the remainder of the season, Watkins still has promise and can be an NFL starter in the future.
Reid said Watkins' slide started with his high ankle sprain, which led to the signing of Scott, a 31-year-old, savvy veteran who seems to have helped inexperienced linemates such as center Dallas Reynolds and right tackle Dennis Kelly.
"He let another guy in," Reid said. "He'll have another opportunity to get in ... He's a good football player."
Reid indicated the main reason Watkins remains on the bench is that he doesn't want to mess with the chemistry of a line that finally seems to be coming together.
"You want all five of 'em dancing the same dance," Reid said. "(Scott) stepped in and did a nice job there."
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With fullback Stan Havili sidelined this week by a hamstring injury, the plan was for Chris Polk to play fullback, so Emil Igewnagu could back up Brent Celek at tight end, following Clay Harbor's season-ending back injury. But Andy Reid said Friday Polk is "doubtful" with continuing turf toe problems. Doubtful means you aren't playing, 99 times out of 100. So Igwenagu is the fullback Sunday against Washington, and just-signed Evan Moore is the No. 2 tight end, with two Eagles practices under his belt. Should be fun.
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Reid said Michael Vick remains the No. 3 quarterback, but he still hasn't "put the numbers together" that will determine whether Vick is in uniform Sunday.
AR had a slip oftge tongue...he meant he will bounce out with several other players that deserve to be taking tickets at the gate rather than playing football.— 5thstrretpast- "Watkins Will Bounce Back"
Yes. His best days are ahead of him at the firehouse.— fmMD - monday morning QBs you guys are so much smarter— dwilly
- Yeah, he'll bounce back...to being a freaking fireman.— redalfa
- Just another major gaffe by Andy over the last 4 years.— miket47
- The downfall of Reid was personnel decisions. The next head coach should not have the final say on coaching staff, draft or free agents. When Howie said they gave too much weight to needs versus who the best available player was, he was talking about the effect of a head coach having the final say. As far as coaching goes, Reid did a good job.— MikeP
- Watkins was projected as a plug in and play type of talent according to the Mike Mayock's and Mel Kiper's of the world. Now, either they and the Eagles draft scouts have not a clue, or Watkin's is either not athletic or intelligent enough if not a combination of the two to pick up Mudd's scheme. Watkin's may be more of a brutish type of O linemen instead of a cerebral type. Maybe, with a new coaching staff and style of line scheme Watkins can be salvaged.— Eaglehaslanded
- Watkins still has the ability to become a solid NFL O lineman. We need to stop trying to tear every player & coach down...because we're frustrated with our lot in life (uneducated, low-paying blue-collar job, ugly wife or girlfriend, bad attitude, resentful of millionaire players/coaches/owner, lack of initiative to become successful) and move on! Some of the biggest losers in the city attend Eagles games! You can see them - drunk by 10:00am, huffing nitrous oxide by noon, puking and cursing everything & everybody by 1:15, and beating their wife, dog & kids by 6:00pm. Get a life - LOOOOOZERS!!!!!!— TruthTeller01
- Guess what? Even if he becomes a "solid offensive lineman," which is questionable, that still makes him a bust. You don't waste first round draft picks on "solid" offensive guards, especially when they are old. From the beginning, this guy was "pro bowl" or "bust", and he's obviously nowhere near the pro bowl. — bc3030
- Aaaaand another thing. Maybe it's not Watkin's fault that the Eagles management made the mistake of picking him way to early. I'd normally agree with you that a player should not receive vitriol from the fans for the mistakes of the coaches and team, but this guy was drafted much sooner than he should have been, and then held out of camp demanding more money! He loses the goodwill of the fans when he makes that decision and then it's up to him to prove that he is the equal of his evidently high opinion of himself. And as we all know, he's come nowhere close to proving he was worth a fraction of the money he was given. — bc3030
- Another Stellar first round bust from Reid and Company. Smokey the Bear had zero experience however we take him in round one. Times yours.— Docdeath20
- Watkins is either going to learn to like playing football or he will be out of the league in a year. It sounds to me like he has the Sean Andrews syndrome.— Claudio Vernight
- Back when he had Jim Johnson and Donovan McNabb in his prime, AR could get away with stupidity like this. Now he has no one to save him from himself. Good riddance.— JohnnyL
- Will bounce back? he never played well ...ever. bounce back from what?— ubetterlisten
- I've been right all along about Watkins being a bust just like I've been right all along about Graham not being a bust. Too bad I wasn't right about the Eagles winning the NFC East this year.— bc3030
