Boston: who will be calling plays this year? AR or MM.

Rich Hofmann: Boston, unless something has changed, Mornhinweg will call the plays again. Reid used to love doing it but seems to have become more comfortable with the role of overseer/mother hen.
Rich Hofmann: Hi, everybody. Ready to go here.

Toby: Is there a rational explanation as to why the Eagles, with presumably one more year of Donovan, didn't go all out to improve the team?

Rich Hofmann: Toby, you are referring to The Great Wide Receiver Debate, I assume. Here is my take, which is not typical: I really thought they have enough when Curtis and Brown were healthy. I don't understand why they didn't go out and get a starting-caliber stopgap after Curtis got hurt and Brown's injury lingered. Dano, I don't imagine you'll see a lot of Tony Hunt. What's the point? All he can do is hurt you at this stage. Unless I'm really wrong, it'll be a while before we see him a lot -- and, besides, "a lot" for a fullback might be 20 percent of the plays.

David in N. Florida: Among eagles' WRs 4th through 6th, who has best potential for great year?

Rich Hofmann: David in N.Florida, I know that they quietly like Avant. I haven't seen it but that's their opinion.

DB: Rich, what are your thoughts on the O-line? Clearly one of the keys to the season is a healthy 5, but I worry that the line, which was average at best last year, is the same group (just a step slower). Can Thomas (first name whatever) and Runyan stay healthy, and if not, are there up-and-comers at the ready?

Rich Hofmann: DB, it is always a key. The Eagles have been incredibly fortunate that Thomas and Runyan have been so durable. Some day,that will end. If it were to happen this year, it looks like Todd Herremans would step in at left tackle and that Winston Justice would not step in at right tackle in an emergency but Shawn Andrews would.

Tim: Rich, DeSean Jackon and Baskett/Avat/Lewis as our starters on Sunday? Yikes! People tell me you're nervous about this. More people should be.

Rich Hofmann: Tim, they should be nervous. For Jackson to make the leap to No. 1 receiver is a real stretch.

iverson3d2001: one of the keys besides injuries is going to be the defense..if their defense can be a top 5 defense..it will allow them to go deep into the playoffs..

Rich Hofmann: iverson, i have them at 10-6. That seems to be the consensus area , 10-6/9-7.

Dansel: With a couple big receivers interested in getting out of their city, and Lito not interested in staying as well, why was a deal not accomplished? I'm interested in seeing how it plays out, but if the guy is thought of as a #3 around here, surely something could've been worked out

Rich Hofmann: Dansel, I agree about trading Lito. We'll see.

MA: On Wednesday, Skip Wood in USA TODAY said McNabb's contract expired this year.

Rich Hofmann: MA, his contract does not expire at the end of this season.

Justin: how do you see them using the three cornerbacks...do you think lito will be here after the trade deadline

Rich Hofmann: Justin, I have a hard time believing there will be a trade of Lito at this point. I think they'll just use him against three-wideout sets, which can be half of the time.

Craig: Rich, there has been very little talk about Westbrook and Booker lining up in the backfield together. After seeing Booker play at FSU, he is very simular to Westbrook and that combination would have to give defenses fits. What are your thoughts.

Rich Hofmann: Craig, I wrote a column about that the other day. I find it a very intriguing possibility. I know that they have wanted to do something like this for years, but that Ryan Moats could never get on the field.

Eric: What are your feelings after last night's game? I feel the Eagles certainly can keep up with the two teams that showed up last night.

Rich Hofmann: Eric, I agree with you about the Giants-Redskins. Neither was scary (except the Skins, who might be scary bad.) Seriously, though, you can't make too much of openers.

headiebean: he would rather lose his way, then win outside of his "system" andy has cost us at least 1 SB

Rich Hofmann: headiebean, I kind of agree with Andy on this one. Look at the top 10 receivers every year and the teams that they play for. There isn't a lot of championship correlation.

ko: Rich - where do you see Demps eventually playing at safety or corner ?

Rich Hofmann: ko, i see demps as a safety.

David: Hey Rich, I'm doing laundry for the first time in my dorm at VT. What's the best way to wash my #5 Jersey?

Rich Hofmann: David, wash that No. 5 jersey on gentle. It's the only way it'll get through a whole season.

Bryan: Andy Reid has looked confused for 10 years when its come to changing the game plan according to game conditions

Rich Hofmann: Bryan, I don't think he's looked confused. But he is better at the plan than the adjustment -- I agree.

mattcap: Hey Rich, Why didnt the birds go after joe horn when he was released, i thought he would have been a good veteran presence

Rich Hofmann: mattcap, I don't know that they were interested in Horn. He really is just a guy anymore.

Tim: If our patchwork WR's have a tough time getting open, this game's going to be a lot tougher than people think. No response necessary just a thought. Good turnout for the chat. Think people are ready for the season to start?

Rich Hofmann: Tim, I think people are getting into it. And as for the receiver thing, I really think LJ Smith is going to be a key to making this work. I wrote something today about how I see him as McNabb's great security blanket, especially with Curtis and Brown hurting.

Dan: Any concern about the field on Sunday? Temple plays UConn tomorrow and we are expecting a Tropical Storm. Also, why do they schedule Temple and the Eagles home on the same weekend?

Rich Hofmann: Dan, the field thing is interesting. It is really hard to maintain a grass field in this part of the country -- the Pats and Giants/Jets gave up trying. If the rain on Saturday is what they're predicting, this could tear up the Linc in a way that will have lasting effects.

Running Randall: Amen to that, what the hell has Marty ever done to deserve to be an assistant head coach

Rich Hofmann: Running Randall, etc: I love that all of the old arguments have re-started before they even played a game. For what it's worth, I don't believe the problem in the past has been play-calling, and I don't think Garcia got different play-calling that McNabb. The difference has been McNabb's refusal to throw the ball into tight spots, especially in the red zone.

headiebean: ---Rich--- Ray Diddy for GM. Wouldnt that be amazing?

Rich Hofmann: headiebean, Ray Diddy for emperor would be OK in my book. He's the greatest.

peteike: Burress is a beast, he can always get the 10 yd out with corners respecting him and playing soft. Hes as good as TO and he always kills us

Rich Hofmann: peteike, I don't know if I would use the word "excited" when it comes to Baskett and Avant, but we're going to see them and it will be interesting. Remember, when McNabb was a younger, healthier player, he made the offense hum with Charles Johnson and Torrance Small. It can be done, but the odds have grown longer with McNabb's injury resume.

David: Why is the Giants' D line so good? Last night they were tearing it up. And that was with what were supposed to be bench players. Can ours ever be comparable? We have some nice young players.

Rich Hofmann: David, I think the Skins were really disorganized looking, and that was part of it. That all comes with having a rookie coach.

FlaGeorge: Do you think this is a make or break year for Akers?

Rich Hofmann: FlaGeorge, the Akers thing is interesting. Make or break might be too strong, but he needs to rebound. His off-season conditioning work showed a renewed commitment on his part to getting better. But who knows?

headiebean: if anyone on the team should have a pair, it should be the QB. you gotta take some chances and dare to be great. playing it safe gets you close, but there

Rich Hofmann: headiebean, early in his career, McNabb had an ideal approach: low interceptions, solid touchdown percentage, a very smart way to play when backed by an excellent defense. The decline in takeaways, and the lousy field position resulting from that and from bad special teams, made that philosophy less successful.

David: How do you think Harbaugh will do as a head coach?

Rich Hofmann: David, I'm a big John Harbaugh fan. He has a Vermeil-like presence -- the young, energetic Vermeil -- but without the tunnel vision that ended up tearing him down.

peteike: Lets talk some D. Whats this team got going into season, looked good in preseason just hope line can get consistent pressure.

Rich Hofmann: peteike, the young linebackers are really smart, have nice size and excellent speed. I really like the potential, and I really hope they just turn Gocong loose as a pass rusher. You need to play to the kid's strength.

Bryan: Eagles will not implode this year, but they did make a mistake in letting MCDougle go and not drafting another big DE, instead of these hybrid LBs cast for DE

Rich Hofmann: Bryan, the McDougle thing baffles me. He never did anything when he was here -- why do you care that he's gone?

Scotto: they are closer to imploding then winning a championship and with that being said, where is this organization going to turn to in an uncapped year with an aging offensive line,a running back with some considerable mileage and no other weapons?

Rich Hofmann: Scotto, I think you're overstating it but I do hear you. This would be the reply if you could ever get the club to talk about it: that they have had the foresight to get the next quarterback in the house, and to turn over the defense on the fly in the last couple of years; that the young defense might have to carry them with a young quarterback, just as it did back when McNabb arrived in 1999.

peteike: Line has to get pressure, I think we lacked last yr when we thought we were ok there. Love the DT's, not sure about ends besides Cole.

Rich Hofmann: peteike, the left end is an enormous question. and they do need to find a way to get cole off of the field more than the last couple of years or he will wear down again.

FlaGeorge: Will the defense be able to stop the run? or will they wear down?

Rich Hofmann: FlaGeorge, I think they'll be mediocre at run-stopping -- it won't be a big issue either way.

David: Locker room question: When Lito opens his mouth with the nonsense he's been talking lately, does he seem genuine in his antics? Is that really him? Or is it kind of awkward, where you can tell he doesn't really mean it. Because he's never been like this, and I feel like he's gotta be forcing it, whether because of Drew or otherwise.

Rich Hofmann: David, the whole thing is kind of awkward, especially for Sheldon Brown. But there is no chance it will divide the locker room or be any kind of a big, over-arching problem. Lito isn't TO, doesn't have the stature TO had, and that's that.

mike-d: do you think it works both ways... good front line pressure makes your secondary look good, but can you also say good secondary makes the d line look better too?

Rich Hofmann: mike d, I'd put it this way: good secondary allows the defensive coordinator to do some crazy stuff to put pressure on the quarterback, knowing he is going to be protected with good one-on-one cover skills.

Cory: weren't they top 10 against the run last year? Why would they regress this year?

Rich Hofmann: cory, I really don't like their ends right now without Abiamiri.

Rich Hofmann: cory, I'm also worried about how long Dawkins can hold up. Maybe that's not fair, but I'm worried.

Steve B: Rich, you believe that the first few games will decide the fate of the season? With playing Dallas next week and then Pittsburg, if we don't pull some wins it might set a bad precedence.

Rich Hofmann: Steve B, I don't think the start of the season is ever the key -- provided you're not 0-3. It's always November and December. My theory is, as long as you don't completely shoot yourself out of it in the first 10 weeks, your record doesn't matter very much. It's the last six games that decide everything.

Ken : Rich, I hear this is the last year for McNabb"s contract. Even if he plays well....would they resign him ??

Rich Hofmann: Ken, this is not the last year of McNabb's contract.

Denny: Rich- should I be nervous about this Sunday? For some reason, I think the Eagles will need to score 31 to win. I know the Rams were bad last year, but they can score...

Rich Hofmann: Denny, I would be nervous because you just never know. That's a completely wussified view of the world, but it really is the NFL in 2008. When so many games are decided by less than a touchdown, and when teams change so radically from year to year, scared is the only way to live.

Bryan: i know im just blowing on a rock but the Eagles really need to utilize the RB more to eat clock and take the heat off of average WRs
Bryan: anyone left here?

Rich Hofmann: Bryan, I guess Demps is a possibility. I don't know. And I'd hate to be the guy who has to follow a player of Dawk's caliber and charisma.

peteike: wussified, very nice

Rich Hofmann: peteike, it's in the dictionary. or, maybe not.

FlaGeorge: Could this really be the year that a rookie makes a signifcant impact? (DeSean Jackson) Or will he only do Punt Returns.
peteike: wussified, very nice

Rich Hofmann: FlaGeorge, Jackson is going to start and be given every opportunity. It's a big leap, though. And the punt returns will make him a very busy fellow. It's a handful.

peteike: DeSean really looked like he got space when he caught balls, just hard to tell in preseason, real games will tell us. I think we all hope hes the real deal at WR for once.

Rich Hofmann: peteike, nobody really tried to bump him at the line. that's the whole deal. in this case, mornhinweg can be jackson's best friend if he can find a way to scheme him away from the press coverage.

Bryan: Rich, does the depth at OL scare you?

Rich Hofmann: Brian, the OL depth doesn't scare me. It's just that we have been spoiled by those two healthy tackles for so long, and there is always a dropoff if one of them goes down.

FlaGeorge: Iam not sold on Booker, he did very little at FSU (Iam in Tallahassee), he was a major dissapointment. Tentative to hit the holes too many move

Rich Hofmann: FlaGeorge, put it this way: Booker is very high on himself, and he does have speed, and they did trade for him, so you have to think they have some plans for him