No changes on the offensive line; Peters works out
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
No changes on the offensive line; Peters works out
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
As much as they struggled against the Lions -- and several linemen admitted as much -- the Eagles' starting offensive line remained as is when the team resumed practice on Monday after a week off, several players said.
Andy Reid was not scheduled to meet with the media on Monday.
Center Dallas Reynolds confirmed that he was still the starting center.
"As far as I know," Reynolds said. "Until they come and say otherwise, yeah."
The Eagles don't have many options after their starting five. Steve Vallos backs up Reynolds but he was not active for the last two games. Evan Mathis was the emergency backup center for both games, but he's still starting at left guard.
Danny Watkins has had his ups and downs throughout this season and increasingly has come under fire for his performance. He declined to answer questions when a reporter approached him because, he said, he read a few stories that he did not like.
The Eagles don't have a backup guard, per se, although Vallos and tackles King Dunlap and Dennis Kelly can play there. Some had expected to see Dunlap back at left tackle, but Demetress Bell will hold onto his spot it appeared. Todd Herremans was still at right tackle on Monday.
One thing has to change, however, if the 3-3 Eagles are to make a run to the playoffs.
"We got to get better," Reynolds said. "I think we're going to work hard and we're going to improve. It wasn't the best game for us up front in the Lions game."
While it remains a long shot, the Eagles are still holding out hope that Jason Peters could return late in the season or, if applicable, for the playoffs.
The all pro left tackle was seen working out on the practice field on Monday. Peters, who is on the Non-football Injury List after rupturing his Achilles tendon in March, was running half-speed through light agility drills.
The Eagles have until Week 9 to decide if they want to Peters to start practicing. They then have an additional three weeks to decide if they want to activate him or place him on season-ending Injured Reserve.
Watkins seems pretty thin-skinned if he won't talk to reporters because of a few stories he doesn't like. Maybe if he played better they'd write better stories about him.— Eintracht Frankfurt- Danny Watkins is awful. What a terrible pick that was.— philly_J
- I agree that the Watkins pick was a joke. We should have just gotten another evan Mathis FA and let it ride. On a good day, he is at best a B- guard and on a bad one a D+. How could AR ever think he could play tackle in this league. We could have used that first rounder in other areas.— Jason Field
- Watkins has the highest ceiling of any of the guys remaining on the line. You show me a line that loses its all-pro left tackle and starting center and I will tell you that line stinks. Dallas Reynolds is the one who is responsible for the assignments and hopefully experience will allow the line to improve. Not to mention the fact that Watkins worst outing came against Ndamukong Suh arguably the top DT in football.— templefan617
- Did you just say it was Dallas Reynold's fault that Danny Watkins stinks? Can you also please alert us when it's appropriate to use Danny Watkins and BEST OUTING in the same sentence?— Facts before ignorance
- Watkins and Herremans have Steam-rolled some D-lineman in the past as a big part of the running game. They need to script a lot more runs in the early part of the games. Get the D-line digging in, and they will not pressure the QB as much.— Paul SoTX
- Mr. Eintract Frankfurt, I just wrote an expose regarding your poor management skills at work and your failure to complete tasks that have been assigned to you. I now need you delay going home after your work hours so that I may kiss your bottom in person, but castigate you in the media after you are no longer present to argue with me.— tommy_the_k
- oh poor danny watkins,sob!!!!he didn't like a few stories about him,sob!!!well play better skippy and maybe you'll like reading stories again...what a cry baby!!!...save those tears so that your firefighter buddies can use them putting out fires...for crissakes dude,grow up,act like a professional and make like a first round pick...and stop the whining,too...this is the nfl not the cfl,where you belong anyway...try blocking somebody in a different color jersey,why don't you???— jabac
- xactly! All I heard when they drafted him was how mean and nasty he was on the field. He oughta take his canadian bacon back up north so he can play in the CFL and the writers are sweeter. What a baby — amolino802
- Bottom line forget stories and egos just fuggin block better or go home— glove69
- This team makes me want to throw up..to many's "I" type guys on this team.
— mikey9fingers - The coaching staff needs re-evaluate if they have the personnel to run the Mudd blocking scheme. Sorry for the comment, I forgot this is an Andy Reed team that is incapable of making adjustments.
Hell, the Skins are bunch of rag-tag O-Linemen and the running backs consistently go over 100 yards, Giants have had they share of O-Linemen go down this year and they are 5-2. I got to believe the Eagles have personnel to get the job done and the majority of the fault goes back to personnel coaching, game planning and the lack of battlefield adjustments.
— Tom from MD - Danny and Todd can run block buy pass protection is an adventure. If you really want to get disgusted watching in person or Direct-TV, count the times Danny and Todd whiff or Danny stands around looking for someone to block. And these are NFL lineman ?— oldBird
- The Fireman off the field, does'nt show much fire on the field.Just a wasted pick. Nice guy but lacking in ability.— candidly
- Just read Jason Peters is working out. Heck, let him play. Peters on one leg is beter than these other dopes— amolino802
- Watkins is way too nice to play in this league. Herremans is mediocre and way overrated.— auntesther
- They're all gone after this 7-9 season. Peters was the key loss but there's enough other reasons to fire them all.— GreenWing
- I think Watkins still has a lot of upside. He needs to toughen up and take responsibility instead of not talking to reporters cause of bad stories, but he was first round for a reason. Not just Andy Reid's poor decisions, but everyone thought he was first round talent. Hopefully it will come, but for now Herremans is still really good, Mathis is consistent, Bell is progressing, Dunlap is decent, Reynolds is awful and Watkins has upside. So we'll see— Philsfan2012
- I think Watkins still has a lot of upside. He needs to toughen up and take responsibility instead of not talking to reporters cause of bad stories, but he was first round for a reason. Not just Andy Reid's poor decisions, but everyone thought he was first round talent. Hopefully it will come, but for now Herremans is still really good, Mathis is consistent, Bell is progressing, Dunlap is decent, Reynolds is awful and Watkins has upside. So we'll see— Philsfan2012
