Everything seems to be in place now that Michael Vick has signed a six-year $100 million dollar contract, but I’m not comfortable with the offensive unit of this football team. It doesn’t fit together.
Isn’t this supposed to be the year when “we’re all in”? This is the year when we’re supposed to be going for it.
I don’t like the fact that the Eagles are going to start two rookies on the offensive line at the start of the season. If these two were seasoned young players, who had been worked with for the entire off season, I wouldn’t have a problem with it, but these kids are still learning.
Young Jason Kelce isn’t the pass blocker that Jamaal Jackson is right now. He is going to be better than Jackson, but they’re getting ready to start the season is less than two weeks. Kelce is going to be a very good center, but he’s going to make too many mistakes in rookie season, especially starting out the season. Will one of those mistakes get Vick hurt? Is he going to be such an improvement that it’s worth taking the risk?
Jackson isn’t a great center but he’s a better pass blocker than he is a run blocker. He fits the Eagles who like to throw the ball. Kelce is a better run blocker than he is a pass blocker. You know how much we’re going to run the ball. Kelce is going to be very good on screens, sweeps and draws, but that won’t matter if Vick is under constant pressure.
Let’s be honest, Vick looked great on the first drive of that Baltimore Ravens game, but he’s looked uncomfortable every since. Notice how he’s not setting his feet when he throws the ball. I see Vick getting into some bad habits behind this line. The Eagles are not going to be able to major in throwing the ball down the field behind these youngsters. There’s no way Vick is going to feel comfortable holding the ball as DeSean Jackson gets deep, while the middle of the line is unstable.
Rookie first round draft pick Danny Watkins hasn’t impressed me at right guard, thus far. I know they drafted him to play there, but is
he ready right now. I see a young guard who wants to get in a fist fight but won’t get the chance to run block very much because he’s going to be pass blocking. He’s not very quick and I think he’s going to have trouble blocking the top defensive tackles in the league.
I think it would have made sense for the Eagles to have signed some veteran offensive linemen, who could pass block right now, rather than go with these rookies who are learning. Pass blocking comes with experience. The offensive linemen have to know each other because they don’t have time to communicate before each play.
What I mean by that, is that there are many times when a defensive player will move into a gap only a split second before the ball is snapped. The offensive linemen must be able to correctly predict how the guy next to them is going to block the alignment. If he predicts wrong, you have big 350-pound monsters like the Browns, Phil Taylor, slamming your quarterback to the ground.
Offensive linemen must play next to a guy for a while to know some of these things or they need to have some experience, so that they know how to communicate to get on the same page.
That’s why Kelce and Watkins were doing a Abbott and Costello imitation last Thursday. “You got him, no I got him” isn’t the type of thing you like to hear if you’re a quarterback. I’m not saying these youngsters aren’t going to be good NFL players, but why does it make sense for them to be learning in the year where we’ve got everything else in place to win a Super Bowl..
In every other situation Howard Mudd has walked into, he has been coming into a bad ball club and he’s had time to rework the line to his liking. He hasn’t had any time this year to work with Kelce and Watkins to teach them the ropes.
The Eagles had a good football team last year and should have a better one this year. They don’t need a dominating offensive line, they just need a pass blocking offensive line. Mudd is more intent on putting his stamp on the offensive line, rather than protecting Vick and this team’s Super Bowl chances.
Vick didn’t look good against the Steelers and he didn’t look good against the Browns. Do you think he’s going to get comfortable while being nailed play after play?
Kelce’s still developing as a pass blocker. Sometimes he’s going to be over powered, other times he’s going to make mistakes and 
leave somebody unblocked in the middle of the line. Maybe Vick will be able to avoid the free man, but the quarterback hasn’t looked good under the pressure, so far.
Watkins will have to get used to the quicker and more powerful defensive tackles in the National Football League. At times he doesn’t look like he’s ready. If he can’t block rookie Phil Taylor, how is he going to block a quick, polished pass rusher like Dallas Pro Bowler Jay Ratliff.
Maybe they will be an improvement at the end of the season over what the Eagles would have had by staying with Jackson and one of the veteran guards, but they can’t get Vick hurt as these youngsters “cut their teeth”. I just don’t think the timing is good.
I leave you with one question. Why are running Offensive Linemen University in front of a quarterback who just signed a $100 million dollar contract?
A very simple solution. Run the football. Problem is Andy will get into shotgun, go 3 wide and throw 90% of the time. The fact that the defenses KNOW we will pass most of the time doesn’t help. So the realy problem lies with the fact that our head coach will not balance the offense…..a thing he has never done. Also, maybe a bigger problem might be having a rookie kicker. This hasnt been an issue yet but you know those NFC east games can come a game winning kick. That will be interesting to see what happens.
Nothing new G…we’ve been asking the same ol questions the last 11 years with AR as the head chief. We got T.O. ad slacked in other areas. We got Namdi, castillo is the D chief, and we have a pathetic o-line learning on the run. It’s a round about carousel until Reid is outta here. Same thing year in and year out; nothing new here – I stopped asking myself this question a long time ago…every team can see our teams fault but us.
and slacked in other areas not ad
There is not a team in the NFL that does not have any holes on their team. Giants just saw their secondary caught the injury bug. Cowboys cut all their veterans on the OL as well. Redskins, well no need to say more. All you pessimists always look at the glass half full. Nothing wrong with being critical, but look at the positives. Defense is better, secondary is ridiculous. WRs are set, QB is set, RBs are good to go. Great looking rookie kicker. All the positives outweight the negatives IMO.
I am gonna to trust in Mudd. Kinda strong line in Indy, so let him work. These guys had no off-season.
I agree with everyone else that they should run more, because the line looked strong on run plays against the Browns.
My last point is that the WRs are not getting open in the pre-season. Adding Maclin and Smith eventually will help Vick’s confidence as well.
Gurode is definitely a better center than Jamaal Jackson, hes a multiple yr probowler and very aggressive at the point of attack, a real mauler, against both the run and the pass… i would rather have a player like him on the team. So I would release jackson out right and sign Gurode to help groom kelce since gurode is 32 yrs old but i dont see it happening bc there really high on the rookie kelce… Id actually keep winston justice for depth purposes bc were thin at RT and as much as i dont wanna admit it, justice is our best RT at this point, (we dont know about herremans yet) I dont like dunlap and wouldnt mind if they released him too but they probably wont bc again lack of depth at RT…
Too many injuries in recent Seasons to Gurode has really hurt his play and value..I do expect a team in need of a Center to pick-him up and can see the Bears,Raiders,Redskins and the 49ers to make some calls to him…
Gurode does not fit Coach Mudd’s profile and will not be pursued by the Eagles
Nah he wont be. But hes a better option than what we have currently. He could groom kelce too. At this point right now iam not comfortable with kelce in there side by side with watkins, thats where teams will try to attck… and they released gurode for money reasons
“How about that offensive line?”, said Mike Tomlin as he hoisted the Lombardi trophy.
Gurode was to make $4.5 MIllion this Season and was a cap-hit of like $6.2 for the Cowbys which is crazy for a Center. Gurode is a much better run blocker than a pass protector and since the Eagles don’t run the ball very much, he actually not a very good fit for the Eagles scheme or what Coach Mudd likes in hil O/Lineman.
I expect CB Terrence Newman to be the next Salary Cap on the Cowboys and then will be quickly signed by the Giants..
Vick should have asked for 90 million guaranteed and a gold plated wheel chair because of that lousy offensive line and because of pass happy don’t believe in running the ball Reid . Thats why the front office gave him this contract, they know he is never going to see the 2nd year of this contract because Reid is going to put him in a nursing home .
Wouldn’t Terrence Newman be subjected to waivers? I would imagine he’d be scooped up long before he got to the G-men on the list.
They should have taken a stud tackle with 1st pick but i guess they seen something in Danny. Protecting Vick is #1 priority especially his blind side! Reid is the trenches oline preacher and always holds these positions as his highest priority being an offensive linemen himself but i hope him and Mudd know what they’re doing here and succeed. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Just balance the offense and run the ball, don’t drop #7 back 90% of the time! I will Trust these cats. GO EAGLES!!!!!!!!
Crystal Ball Andy see’s what no mortal football fan can.
1. He see’s a defensive coordinator hiding inside of a offensive line coach.
2. He see’s a starting NFL middlelinebacker in a rookie who has never played the position.
3. He saw knee surgery guy, herniated disk guy and super scrub, blocking for M.Vick’s blindside.
4. And he see’s 2 rookie offensive linemen blocking for M. Vick.
Mr. Cobb are you really surprised??? Crystal Ball’s vision is one we will never fully be able to comprehend. Just go with it.
Let him wreck another oppurtunity to go to the Superbowl with his unorthedox logic. As a matter of fact, extend his contract. After all just like Cowher, one day, one year, he will eventually get it right. Who cares if it takes another decade. The time is yours.
There’s a reason he Got rid of BabyArm and got Vince Young. You saw it in the Brown’s game. With his “passing with the stars” play calling, He needs another running signal caller.
Does Superbowl run = Rookie Guard and Tackle… man who did Jamal Jackason piss off. I’m not impressed with Kelce or Watkins. When the bad back Big Kid came in you could see the player in him. Do you see that in firefighter Danny… for crying out loud Kelce was drafted in what the 6th round. What did we see that a whole lot of other teams didn’t see…
To Eric T,
Difference from Baseball rules, If Newman is released by the Cowboys (as expected) he becomes a “Free-Agent” and can choose any team/deal that he wants to. My Sources tell me he wants the Giants for payback to get back at the COwboys adn for more importantly, to get a chance to start and since the Giants are real thin at CB, Newman would have a great chance to start for them… I’ll keep you posted..
A couple of items
Kelce was rated as the #5 Center in the entire Draft this past year
LB Matthews played ILB in a 3-4 Scheme for the Oregon Ducks so no, he did not play a traditional MLB in a 4-3, but has played primarilry inside the Tackles during his College Career and was the playcaller for their Defense so he dos have epxperience adn exposure on making calls, and changes ,etc,etc
As far as Coach Castillo, he was a LB and Defensive Coach the beginning of his Coaching Career, being an OL Coach for the past 10 Years gives him a very good perspective on various formations, schemes for how the Def Front 7 could be utilized and productive, now whether he can make the adjustment is another thing, but his real specialty is at the LB positon which is why they got expereienced Coaches for the DL (Washburn) and J Lynne (Secondary) to relieve him a little of trying to handle the entire Defense..But to say Castillo has no background or business being a DC is simply not accurate.
chuckrob – superbowl run = nothing more than the team who get gets into the playoffs and doesn’t lose. Everything else is irrelevant. The Eagles could have 53 rookies, and if the win the games to get into the playoffs, to the superbowl, and win that game, the ‘formula’ doesn’t mean squat. Call it like you see it, but I don’t see how anything can preclude a team from a sueprbowl before the season starts. If the lose games, that’s a different story.
G,
that’s what I would like to know! This O-line is a joke. It’s going to be like the run of the bulls every week! Vick better get a shock proof, kevlar, flack jacket. He’s gonna need it.
Before the Giants won the Superbowl with 7 rookies, Reid never allowed rookies on the field. Now, he’s got rookies (plural) in the middle of the offensive line protecting his $100 million QB.
I’d always given Reid props for building his offensive line around Jon Runyan. I’m not sure where we stand right now.
While re-watching the Browns game again last night, I noticed that Watkins and Kelce were very good at leading plays to the outside. With their speed, they were able to lead block.
In case no one’s noticed, we haven’t been a very good “screen team” since Westbrook’s departure, although TV announcers continued to say we ran the screen “better than any team in the NFL.” I thought our lack of success was attributable to McCoy’s impatience (not allowing time to set up his blocks) but maybe the linemen were too slow. I don’t know.
If we use our speed to run sweeps, screens, etc., we’re probably good. But if we go to the deep routes early and often, as we’ve done in the past, we could see all three QBs before the season ends.
Vick was getting hit pretty good last year with the O Line they had then
Eagles can’t be that stupid can they ?
Something doesn’t make sense
Amen G
The anser to the title of this post is fairly simple – the Oline performance last year was pretty poor so some change had to be made. They brought in a stud OL coach and now they’re trying to make a better line. They had 2 solid guys (Peters, Herramans) and they had to do something with the other 3. They signed a vet and drafted 2 guys. It’s been a short/chaotic offseason and they’ve yet to ‘sure things up’. Not a huge surprise given the circumstances. Like I’ve said – if they can gameplan/adjust the playcalling and/or have the OL play just good enough to win the first few games or at least most of them, then this line should develop in time under top level coaching. We’ll see.
Andy Reid is insane because he refuses to RUN the BALL! With a weak O-line even a High School coach knows run blocking is easier than pass blocking and eventually it opens up the opportunities to pass…you live by the BOMB ….you die by the BOMB!
At best, the middle of the O line (even with top coaching) is a risk. Which means your franchise QB is at risk. Would it perhaps have been wiser to grab a veteran offensive lineman or two, rather than some of the other moves made?
drummer – they DID grab two veteran offensive lineman – Harris and Mathis. One got injured, but they did do that.
Schill
You’re right, but didn’t they make moves subsequent to the injury?
Schill
Did they grab guard or did they plan all along to start two rookies in the middle?
Drum – if by moves you mean switching Herramans to tackle and starting Klece over Jackson, yes, otherwise, no.
And I can’t tell you what their plans were (I’m not on the inside and contrary to what the haters think, I don’t work for the Eagles – wish I did). I don’t know what you mean by ‘grab guard’ – drafting Watkins? Signing Mathis? I think they didn’t “plan along” to do anything – they were working with a lockout, a new OL coach, an influx of rookies and an undefined amount of time to work in the offseason. My guess is that they wanted to get good OL signed/drafted, teach/practice, and then make decisions. They’re coaches – isn’t that what they do?
Schill
I was under the assumption that Mudd had a certain type of player in mind (smaller, more athletic). These are the types of linemen who fit their “plan,” at least that’s what I’ve been reading.
I was asking whether Mathis and Watkins are guards. Generally speaking, most teams hope to start their 1st and 2nd round choices immediately.
Also, I was asking whether they signed Steve Smith subsequent to injury. Even further, would it have made sense to trade for a veteran guard?
Lastly, why does every comment ring of a smart ass? If you know so much, why aren’t you working in the field?
I’m beginning to understand why that guy posted that no one likes you. You don’t know how to be civil, you jerk!
Keep in mind that you’re just an idiot blogger, like the rest of us.
Drummer, I’m sorry I come off as a jerk, I did not mean to offend you.
As for “keep in mind that you’re just an idiot blogger, like the rest of us.” – Yep, can’t disagree there.
Mathis and Watkins are both guards, yes. But Mathis is a vet, not a rook.
I don’t know about trading for a veteran guard – they got one in Mathis, and I don’t know that if there was anything better out there that a team would be willing to give it up.
Schiller
Apology accepted. I like having dialogue with fans, especially those who offer differing points of view. Thanks for answering my questions. I didn’t really follow during the off-season.
Drum – me too. I think I like it more than others though (hehe) because it seems some on here would prefer a monolouge.
To Drummer,
Are you still in the DC market… If so, how’s the Chatter about the Redksins this year.. They have looked pretty good so far and RB T Hightower is poised to have a hige season.. What’s the scoop about the Beltway..
Paul
I moved to ATL in January.
Paulman — I’m in the DC market. They are high on Hightower and expect big things from him……most the fans and radio hosts are predicting at least 8 wins this year. They’re keeping it realistic….surprisingly.
Who in the NFL would select two rookies to protect their 100 million dollar quarter back. I mean you couldn’t have written a better game plan for the opposition.
I’m sure Spagnola is salivating as he maps out his game plan for the Eagles on Sept 11th.
Thans Birdo,
I think Hightower is going to have a monster season and put up 1200-1400 Yds Rushing plaus about 40-50 Catches.. I thought he was the best all around RB in the entire Free-Agency group… (he was actually on my Eagle Wish list ..but I knoew he wanted to go where he would have a godo chance to be a #1 RB and Washington is a perfect place for him as is Shanahan’s 1 Cut and go blocking scheme.. Hightower,Torrain and the younf RB’s will take a lot of Pressure off their QB’s…
Drummer, sorry for hearing about your move to Atlanta..Hope you like it and the hot.sticky weather.. What’s the local word on the FAlcons.. Does WR J Jones look good so far.. How about Draft PIck J Rodgers who kind of flew under the radar on Draft day but is a very exciting player who can return kicks,putns, 3rd Down back who can catch the ball, get that guy in the open field and it lights out… I was really surprised that they really didn’t add anyone to thei rDefense (outside of DE R Edwards) .. Same LB/s no stud DT and the Secondary is basically the same from a group who gave up lots of big plays last Season and especially in that Playoff game in which Rogers was on fire..
hightower is a freakin beast. i liked him also .. theres a video of him racing beanie wells on youtube and hightower beats him .. wells ran a 4.38 40 before he was draftred
Ok, even trying to say that Kelce is a good run blocker at this point is premature. The one running play I saw that seemed to get him some compliments happened as a result of the defensive line over pursuing after pushing through the O-Line all game creating a gaping hole for the RB. If they think he’s all that athletic they need to line him up at FB or at TE until he proves he can be an effective OL. I know if the guy has been getting beat in the Pre-Season games he’s been getting beat in practice, probably consistently, which is probably why Jamal Jackson is publicly aggravated about the concept of lack of competition in training.
This is the place where ALL bad teams start to ruminate and deteriorate into the doldrums of the league. When you kill competition, start making players that haven’t played a successful down in the Pros “Holy Cows” it’s just typical of bad team philosophy from the top down. It’s just an issue of how many untested “Holy Cows” a team creates that determines how bad the team will be. Right now, I see 3 untested “Holy Cows.” I think Casey Matthews will pan out, but Watkin and Kelce need a year on the bench learning to get to the were someone can evaluate them, because right now neither of them even look like they should be in the NFL.
Unfortunately Gurode is too tall at center for Vick to be effective without basically lining up in the shotgun. Having said that if they do keep the young bunch on the line they need to basically run every offensive play from the shotgun.
Gurode is sigming a deal with Seahawks per my Starbuck’s Coffee sources..