My biggest concern for the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense this year (aside from Kevin Kolb’s decision making) is that offensive line. Who knows who will be playing center or how good they’ll be? What will they get out of Stacy Andrews and Todd Herremans? Will Jason Peters ever learn the snap count?
But, they aren’t the only team in the NFC East with potential o-line issues (no, this isn’t about the Redskins, but it could be). The Dallas Cowboys front line has struggled through the first two preseason games, and while the preseason isn’t a great indicator, I’m sure Wade Phillips would have preferred that they were sharp.
And now, they have some injuries to deal with. An MRI Sunday night revealed that Marc Colombo will miss two-to-four weeks and will probably need arthroscopic surgery. The Cowboys are hoping he’ll be ready for Week 1.
This morning, starting guard Kyle Kosier left practice with a sprained knee. They are still awaiting MRI results, but multiple reports have him out 4-6 weeks. I’m sure you Eagles fans feel just awful about this.
Now, throw in the fact that the line is getting old. Kosier and Colombo aren’t ancient at 31, but they are on the wrong side of 30. Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis are both 32 and have a decent amount of wear and tear on them.
Jean-Jacques Taylor, who does a great job for the Dallas Morning News, thinks it could be time for Cowboys fans to get worried about the line. He writes:
Bottom line: the first-team offense netted only 53 yards – 22 rushing and 31 passing – in its 20 plays. That’s 2.7 yards per play, which we all know is awful.
The offensive line wasn’t physical, and it didn’t control the line of scrimmage. The Raiders, to be honest, pushed it around.
He does warn that it’s the preseason and we can’t make too much of this, but with the age and the injuries, it could be time for the Cowboys to start worrying. Tony Romo is a nice QB, and Miles Austin and Dez Bryant could be deadly. But if Romo is flat on his back, it won’t matter much.
sweet
Kosier is only the only experienced back-up Center to the Start Andre Gurode who is also had some injuries in his past.. Bback-up Offensive Tackle Alex Barron has high ankle sprain and os out 2-4 weeks so they are really thin across the O/L with Starter RT M Columbo already out.
they also have had injuries to all their back-up TE’s behind J Whitten (J Phillips is out for trhe year and M Bennett is also out with a Knee Sprain…
For the record, the Raiders D/Line is in the Top 5 in the NFL and will push alot of O/Lines around this year… Raiders will win 9-10 games and push for a Playoff spot in a very weak AFC West this year
After doing some research and thinking about the NFC East teams O/Line,
I have come to the conclusion that the EAgles (At this moment or by week #1) have the best O/Line
in the Division… Think about it. the Cowboys are struggling with injuries and really don’t have the wuality of Depth that the Giants/Eagles do.. The Redskins have 4/5 of a brand new line (outside of returning Center C Rabach) and the Giants have had some injuried and some players underperform.
A lot of If’s, but IF Jackson and Herremans return to form and Stacey Andrews continues to stay focused and play physical, this Eagle O/Line is better than most of their competitors…
I heard Jerry Jones just put a call to Nate Newton and his agent about a work out ..
Doesn’t make a lick of difference right now because we don’t play the Cowgirls until early December. These guys will have returned from these injuries by then. The Redskins we play in week 4 so it still might make a difference by then. The Giants….well….
Is it just me or do we always play the Cowboys in the last 4-6 weeks of the season close together? Why can’t the schedule come out so every team plays it’s division games 3 in the first half and 3 in the second half of the season.
More drama for the end of the Season when the playoffs are on the line..
1st 7 games until Bye week I see going like this
Home-Packers (Win 30-26)
Away- Lions (Win 24-16)
Away-Jags (Win 20-13)
Home-Redksins (Win 20-17)
Away-49ers (Lose 23-16)
Home-Falcons (Win 26-20)
Away- Titans (Win 17-16)
6-1 Record to Start the Season in a lot of close, 1 possesion type of games
So Paul, you mean either our D will hold a crucial 3rd down to force a punt so we can sit on the ball or we drive the field to put up the winning points??? You really got a pair my friend…(sarcasm obviously). I like your thinking though.
Combo of both, WWW
Comeback wins with late drives versus the Packers & Redksins
the other wins come where the Eagles D steps up and closes out the W or the Eagles O runs the clock out to ensure the win
I like the way you think Paul, must be that Carolina sunshine…However…I’d like to think that games against either the Lions, Jags, and/or Falcons we might get that run-away win like @ Detroit, W 37-9 with the D having a monster shut-down game.
It’s been raining alot this week up here in Boone,NC
I think the Lions are much improved this year and that will be their Home Opener and a possibly
a letdown game so the Eagles need to be focused and ready
Falcons under-acheieved last season but had some injuries and high epectations which they weren’t mature enough to handle.. This year they added CB D Robinson, have a heatlhy J Perria at DT and a
J Abraham at DE to bolster their DL and added top draft pick LB Sean WItherspoon who is as athletic as they come and young up and coming Safeties in W Moore and T DeCoud.
Their Head Coach (M Smith) who is now in his 3rd Year and is a defensive guy at heart.. he was D/C for Jaguars for a few seasons when they had that tough,physical beat you up type of Defense that he is bringing to the Falcons and though they are not there yet, they are improved in this area
Offensivley with QB M Ryan and RB M Turner (who were both out and injured last year when the Eagles shellacked them) are both back at 100% and having very good camps by most observors
Add a great WR Corps of R White, M Jenkins, H Douglas (who missed all of last season), B Finneran
ans still capable TE in T Gonzales.. This will not be an easy game like last season when they were missing 5-6 starters…