Reid said starters won't play in preseason finale
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Reid said starters won't play in preseason finale
Daily News staff
Andy Reid was faced with an interesting choice as the Eagles approach the preseason finale Thursday against the New York Jets.
Does he play the starters on offense, even for a quarter, in order to give the a unit a bit more work, or does he have them sit out?
Traditionally, Reid does not play the starters at all in the last preseason game, instead opting to work on sharpness in practice.
During a meeting with reporter today, Reid said he would follow the same approach.
"Most likely, I will go with the twos and threes," Reid said. "That’s the way I’m looking at it."
Reid said after Friday's game in Kansas City that the ones had "a lot of work to do." Asked today if he had given more consideration than usual to playing the starters this week, Reid said, "I really didn’t after I looked at the film and evaluated it. I think we’ll be fine."
For whatever this is worth, Jets coach Rex Ryan told beat reporters today that the starters will not play for his team Thursday against the Eagles.
Here are the argument for and against on the issue, as we see it ...
The pros:
* The first-team offense has played six quarters, producing one touchdown and six field goals. Their play inside the red zone has been less than impressive, something they are all quick to concede. With a developing and growing offense with a lot of young players and a new quarterback, more playing time can't hurt the unit in its effort to be more cohesive.
“It wasn’t quite as sharp as we would have liked it, for sure,” Kevin Kolb said after completing 11 of 25 passes for 103 yards and a 39.2 passer rating Friday. “There was a lot of details we have to clean up. There needs to be some special attention paid to it, starting with myself.”
* Confidence. The young guys certainly don't lack for it, but having some success can't hurt, right? Playing some more would be another opportunity to have that success.
* The offensive line. Todd Herremans saw his first preseason action Friday after missing the first two games and a lot of time in camp with a foot problem. The issues at center remain unresolved, with Jamaal Jackson and Nick Cole sidelined (Jackson has told people that he wants to be back for the opener). Mike McGlynn has done a fine job thus far and could be the opening day starter if Jackson is not ready to return. Jason Peters' timing remains off, with two more false-start penalties Friday. Add to that the issue at right guard, with Stacy Andrews still seemingly struggling to be the answer.
* More 3-4. The Eagles and Kolb got some "great work" against a 3-4 defense in Kansas City, Reid said. The Jets are a 3-4 team, as are the Packers. This will be more experience against that look, a look they will see often as more teams are using it.
The cons:
* This is obvious: Injuries, injuries and injuries. DeSean Jackson only played one series before he suffered a strained neck. Mike McGlynn went out, although he returned. Leonard Weaver had the wind knocked out of him and his back is sore. (Not to mention, the injury to Trent Cole on defense.) If the starters don't play, they can't get hurt.
* Camp has been a long haul and the preseason is a grind. This is the last chance to get a bit of a breather without the pounding of a game until the Eagles have the bye on Oct. 31.
So, if you're Andy Reid, what do you do?
***
Defensive end Trent Cole, listed as day-to-day with a mild ankle sprain, says he is improving.
"Ankle feels better today. Progress has been made," Cole wrote on Twitter this morning.
***
To read more from Eagletarian, including a report from Sunday's practice, click here.
Play them until they have one good drive ending in a TD. Could be a long time, you say?— cocogirl- Jason Peters should play ALL 4 quarters against the Jets. Mentally lazy at a time when he should be a leader on the O line.— misterhman
- Center is not unresolved. McGlynn is the center. Jason Peters needsto learn how to count, period. Stacy Andrews, wow, don't know what the heck to say about that guy. It's just sad that with that line, Kolb will not get a chance to really prove himself. And people will blame him. Just like they blamed McNabb.— PhillyFanSouth
- STOP the "two headed quarterback" experiment..it is killing the offensive flow and rythym.... Reid is constantly pulling Kolb from the game in the middle of successful drives and replacing him with Vick the 2nd string QB...THIS AIN'T LITTLE LEAGUE....You need to keep Kolb in the game instead of yanking him out and sending in Vick and letting the offense sputter with these herky-jerky substitutions......NO OTHER TEAM in football constantly changes the first team QB for the second team QB in the middle of successful drives....that's just stupid... Eagles are the ONLY TEAM in football who are dumb enough to stop their own offense from getting into a good flow and producing touchdowns.— Bill20
- I'd play them. the offense looks terrible and needs the work. I doubt AR will though he's a creature of habit and that shows in everything he does.— Rob0426
- sit 'em. no more injuries, no more film— eagledon
- Play the first team offense for one quarter. Give the first team defense the night off, as they have earned it. This is a league where you are suppose to earn everything that you receive. so far, the first team offense has not earned anything. There is a lot of work to do.— schizo493
- Let them (1st team offense) play the whole game, until they get it right. And cut the other andrews sister, he stinks.— hititwheretheyaint
- Preseason games should be flag football to cut down on needless injuries. Nobody cares who wins the games anyhow.— Delaware Jim
I would say yes but the risk of injuries is the problem. If Andy does play them, It would be 1 drive, maybee 2 but I dont see him playing them agaginst the jets.— briandawkins20- It was a long camp. Give the starters a chance to rest before Green Bay.
- dito on reid pulling kolb in he meddle of drive! AR should be out there trying to lose some weight. he's got no discipline in his personal life and that's why he can't coach 'em up on game day.— sgamble077
1st defense earned the right to sit this one out. offense has not. let them play one qtr. they need the work. bill20 --WHY are you still commenting? vick is still on the team you know. you did say if he was a bird, you're not watching. be a man of your word chump- i noticed on the side of this page they have a link for Eagle chick blog, some advice, if you are going to put a blog link at least make sure the person's link has half a clue? they don't update it! still has stories about T.O. leaving Dallas. btw they can't spell either. Come on philly.com get on the effin ball!— sgamble077
- Bill20 - Don't blame Vick for Kolb's lack of arm strength and rushed throws into coverage. That's all I have to say...— EaglesBleedMoney
