I see some of the moves the Eagles are making on their offensive line and in their coaching staff as unforced errors. They have decided to start two rookies despite the fact that they know they might not be ready.
My question for them is why force it. Why not work them into the starting lineup gradually if they can’t handle it, since you didn’t have the opportunity to work with them during the offseason because of the lockout.
Rookie center Jason Kelce seems to have made a great deal of progress but Watkins might not be ready. Should the Eagles throw him in there even if he’s not ready?
How do you start a rookie offensive guard like Watkins when you consider the way he has struggled in preseason? Last Thursday he was the only offensive starter against the New York Jets in the team’s final preseason game. After that infamous first quarter against the Browns in the preseason, Kelce got his act together and started playing much better, but Watkins didn’t make the same transition, so they had him play against the Jets.
His play was also inconsistent against the Jets backups. I think it’s very important that they put players in position to succeed, especially young players. If he struggles out of the box, it will make things tougher for him down the road, whereas taking some time to let him get better prepared, will give him a better chance for success.
“It’s definitely overwhelming. That’s for sure. Compared to what I was doing before this, I was just a regular working guy,” said Watkins. “Now, I’ve got microphones stuffed in my face and everything. It’s an adjustment, that’s for sure, in every aspect.”
The young man sounds like his head is swimming because of things he has to deal with on the field and off the field. The youngster 
has a rookie on his left side, in Kelce, and a veteran to his right in right tackle, Todd Herremans.
“If I’m not sure of something or a little shaky, I’m going to be able to lean over two inches, and he’s right there,” Watkins said about Herremans. “He already has the guard experience.”
Watkins thinks he’s going to be able to get advice from Herremans during the game, but they won’t be able to communicate verbally on the offensive line when they line up in the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The noise is going to be so loud that he won’t be able to hear himself, much less Herremans.
In addition, Herremans is playing a new position and has enough to deal with after the move from the left side to the right side.
Any advice that Watkins gets from the veteran will have to be in the huddle or on the sideline and that’s why I think the Eagles should be bringing him along gradually rather than throwing him in the fire. If they brought him along slowly, I believe his chances of having a success would be better. I think the acquisition of former Indianapolis Colts guard Kyle DeVan is a sign that they are concerned about Watkins and his development.
It’s a lot to ask of a rookie to step in immediately, learn the offense in an abbreviated training camp, then handle the tough and talented defensive linemen in the NFL.
yup- i agree with you 100%. i remember a day when an eagles rookie could not touch the field. Andy used to shelter those guys. Now- we have 3 starters that are rooks at very important positions.
-Chaney should be our starter up the middle. I do not understand why they wont fix what is painfully clear.
– On the oline they kinda got screwed (as they do every year), the guy they brought in got hurt (i feel like i type this every year). But….. they CANNOT have to rooks playing side by side.
if he ist ready? sit him down.. cant afford to lose games and get Vick hurt because the rookie isnt prepared to be out there…
Sit Watkins down if he isn’t ready, but they will probably have to wait until RT W Justice is ready to return, then slide Herremans back to LG and Mathis over to RG.. I don’t think this new signee (Devant) is ready to play anytime soon
Where’s Nick Cole when you need him… Good Grief…
Why would DeVan not be ready? He has had as much of an an off-season and TC as Mathis and he knows Mudd’s system better than all the other starters. My guess is DeVan will be starting at RG before game 3.
Who you going to put in instead? Kyle DeVan???? This guy has been released by 3 other teams already. He’s 26. I figure there’s a reason for this.
Going to have to deal with the Kelce Watkins growing pains, if that’s where they’re going. Kelce, Watkins and Herremans should be a fine right side about mid-way thru next year. YOu guys may not like it, but that’s what’s going to happen.
It doesn’t really matter though ’cause the Unstoppable Mike Vick is at QB.
No person working any job, should be doing the job if they are not ready.
That’s why jobs have “training”.
If Watkins was a 5th round pick would this be a discussion?
Put the best talent on the field that gives us the best opprtunity to win.
Watkins looked loss and slow against 2nd and 3rd teamers. Vick is too valuable to chance a guy learning on the job.
Hell, it’s tough enough for guys who are ready, let alone someone who have been clearly struggling.
The answer is absolutely ..NO!
Hey vince young, could you pplease start warming up?
Vinnie- again, sorry about your boy kolb. In all honesty though…. do you really NOT want your qb to have a bit of a tude? i do. Is he worth 1000,000,000? idk. Is he going to survive behind this 0line? idk. BUT….. he has been BY FAR the best qb on our roster for 2 years and has done enough to deserve out football support.
Listen to the qoutes of our 27 year old First rounder guys!!!!!!!
“It’s definitely overwhelming. That’s for sure. Compared to what I was doing before this, I was just a regular working guy,” said Watkins.
What the hell is wrong with this picture?
overwhelming?
You are a freakin first round pick!!!!
At least that is what the Eagles Brass thought.
This guy is admitting being out of his element….So, give him a hose and a fire truck and roll his ass down Broad street looking for fires to put out. I have a feeling this guy will start more fires than the Eagles can handle by making statements like this.
Listen Guys!!!!!!!!
“If I’m not sure of something or a little shaky, I’m going to be able to lean over two inches, and he’s right there,” Watkins said about Herremans. “He already has the guard experience.”
If you’re not sure of something or a little shaky…sit your ass on the bench, until you are sure of something!!!!!!!!!
ADMITTING HE MAY BE A LITTLE SHAKY?????
DO THIS GUY KNOW HE’S IN PHILADELPHIA?
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
This is our first round pick guys.
Vinnie…Supposed them getting experience means Vick not making it to midseason, the time you claim they’ll be ready?
Is that what you want?
Vick injured?
agreed songs. i cant believe with all the FA’s this year that we are still talking about this Oline. Im not complaining about this team because i think the F.O. did a great job bringing in help in a lot of spots but we clearly need to get this OLINE figured out. It really is the same story every single year…… if we can get em healthy……. if the rookie can get coached up…….if, if, if. I think they will be ok come november but the first 6 weeks or so may be a bit rough.
I fee you guys on here. The one thing that stood out to me about Watkins is when asked on the sideline during the game what he needs to impove on he said, ” i need to know the blocking schemes, defensive fronts and THE PLAYS”. isnt that everthing right there he knows nothing and he admits it. I know ANdy reid like the rest of you but io really dont think he is this plan out stupid he has something up his sleeve. We have one of the best backfields in the game maybe just maybe we run the ball more until they get used to the game.That will throw every team off cause they know we throw the ball. I expect reid to be a run first team. that is the only way to take pressure off the line and to make defensies back off the blitz. Plus if you think <ike Vick is going to sit back threre and get killed. He will run2000 yards before he lets some rookie get him hurt. he knows whats in front of him and he knows what he has to do…
I wonder why RT John Stincomb was not brought in to check out..
after being released for the NO Saints who was their Starting RT for the last 4-5 Seasons.. He may no be an All-Pro, but I don’t recall Saints QB hitting the turf too often the last few seasons playing behind him…
Then move Herremans back to LG and use Mathis to play RG until Watkins builds up his strength and knowledge of the System…
Start him and if things go bad then pull him. Like any job some people catch on fast some dont and the way for you to learn fast is to be thrown to the wolves.
playing o line as a rook is one of the most difficult transitions, if not the most difficult, in all o pro football, there’s the mental thing, changing formations from the d , center calling alignments, made more difficult in a pass happy team, but this guy will be a good one, an o line needs time to mesh and develop, this is a good o line, if reid runs the ball with two qualty rbs with this line, the line will be real good come playoff time, you need to chiill thf down songs, where are your “beeeeeeeetches”
Is there another team in the NFL that whiffs so bad on their 1st round picks?
“No push Patterson”
“All-Bunk Bunkley”
“McDoDo”
“What the Fudge? Watkins”
Injured Graham Cracker
Shawn “the DJ” Andrews
Freddie “4th and 26” Mitchell
Jeremy “I may or may not play” Maclin
Jeremy “looking for a soft spot to fall” Maclin
Lito Sheppard – few good seasons
McNabb – 1st and most productive Andy Reid Draft Pick
Corey Simon – few good seasons
I can’t wait until that reincarnation of Bud Grant is gone from Philadelphia, with his undersized defense and his gimmick offense. A pass-a-holic who does not know how to draft a pass blocking offensive lineman. He has spent over 20 draft picks on offensive linemen and we are coming into his 13 season with one of the sorriest offensive lines during his era.
What happened to all that VERSITILITY we have been told about all the offensive linemen drafted? Yeah. They stink at every position they play.
Andy Reid leaves the light on in his office late at night, making Jeffery lurie think he’s working late. All the while, he is stuffing his face with hoagies and cheesesteaks.
We sign a guy who has had 3 back surgerys. Depend on another who just got operated on in Feburary. And was average when healthy. And waste 3 years on Queen Dunlap, who could not even start for his college team.
Ah But the coup de grâce French [ku də grɑs]
n pl coups de grâce [ku də grɑs]
1. a mortal or finishing blow, esp one delivered as an act of mercy to a sufferer
2. a final or decisive stroke
Was hiring a sorry offensive line coach as defensive coordinator.
That one will go down in Philadelphia history as the dumbest, “I don’t give a crap about Philadelphia” sports move of all time.
Buy a Bentley and let your 15 year old daughter drive it on I-95 in rush hour traffic. As her 1st driving lesson.
Andy Greed, Crystal Ball Andy, The pied Piper. He’s all of it rolled into one.
He has snookered Jeffery Lurie and the city of Philadelphia.
There is not a championship bone in his body. Home playoff loses like no other coach. Now you really think he is going to win a superbowl with Juan Castoff as defensive coordinator? Jimmy Johnson was better. TO was better than DeJax and Westbrook and Shady are on par with each other. Tray Thomas is better than “Offsides Peterson” and Jon Runyan better that Herremans.
Andy could not win with that roster and he won’t win with this one. He should have fell on his sword and let the city start a new chapter. 12 years in the NFL is enough time to prove wheather or not you can win a Superbowl.
When he learns how to run the football and get a damn kick returner, then he might be able to beat a playoff coach. You keep a guy on the roster who’s only function is long snapper, and you can’t get a kick returner with blazing speed? 12 years and no kick returner. We start every drive on the 20 and everybody starts their drives against us on the 35.
All that talent on defense, and “BOZO the clown” as defensive coordinator.
All that talent at QB and “lost in translation” starting at guard and center.
To DixieFan
Because OL Devant played under Mudd a couple years ago in the COlts System which is Different than the Eagles System..
COlts run about 7 different plays.
Stretch Run left, Stretch run Right
Fake Stretch run left and Manning pass a down and out to left sideline
Fake Stretch run right, and Manning pass a down and out to right sideline
Fake Pump Left, throw deep left
Fake pump Right, throw deep Right
Screen Left, Screen Right
Bubble throw left, Bubble throw right
The Colts offense and blocking schemes were very basic and fundamnetal,
it’s their QB who canged the pass routed once at the line of Scrimmage to adjust what looks are giving Manning is what is so unique and good about Manning and their Offense.. but they run 70% of their plays out of the same
4-5 Formations
Now just because Devant knows Mudd Blocking Techniques is one thing and that definitely helps his familiarity of what Mudd expects and demands of his OL.. But to say Devant can pick-up the much more complicated Eagles Offense which is led by MM/Coach AR ffense is a different story, the Eagles use many more formations and y have 60-75-100 differenet plays they can run in a game
BSM – GOOD QUESTION! YEP 31 of them at that. There’s 31 other teams in the NFl that ‘whif’ on first round picks as much as the Eagles. Here’s a link where you can see a list of those teams: http://www.nfl.com
Jmac, lito, Mcnabb throw a wrench in your all crap picks and your attempt to include them exposes your hate. u also have to concider that they traded out of the first a couple of times and have gotten really good value for those trades. so….. that means that andy has kinda done well.
BUT…. i would agree with you that some of those picks are just plain bad,
bsm, you are a smart and funny guy, some good stuff there, but that post sounds like the season has already played out with same disappointing finish, why don’t you give it a break and let them play, mavbe you will be surprised and enjoy a terrific football season, and if things turn out like you prognosticate with your crystal ball, blast away, i’ll be there with you man
pman- well done. I had not thought about that. simple… yet important.
good to see you didn’t check out for good paulman, i thought you were tougher than that even if you are from mt. holly
Make that Voorhees Jake,,, ha
(besides, I can’t stand the Eagles.Com site.. It’s GCobb or nothing for me)
And the hyperventilating continues. Good grief!
were you expecting different G?.. No better way to learn than under fire. Give the guy a break you been riding him hard. He’ll get it together but he needs game time experience. Back off and let the guy develop for christs sake.
Hey Jimmy Mac attack,
Did you sign up for th GCoob Fantasy FOotball league thru ESPN,
Scorpion is running it again this year as was still looking a player or 2 last I heard.. Draft is going to be Wed evening..
bsmvideos…FOR PRESIDENT
THE VOICE A REAL FAN
WOW, something Songs doesn’t hate!? What a find, of course it’s only another hater…..
LMAO @ bsmvideos..i agree with everything..but all i would want to reply to that is that…maybe yes even if the 2 rookies on oline dont play as well as they should i still believe that the eagles have enough talent on the roster to make a strong playoff push…and i believe that the eagles have enough talent to overcome the play of the 2 rookies in question…so lets get the season started already!!!!
If the Eagles were committed to the rooks (Kelce&Watkins), then why are they keeping Jackson, Justice, and King. These linemen are the only serviceable parts they have! Herremans and Peters don’t fit the Mudd mold, but you don’t see management replacing them. The Eagles were productive in 2010 with this cast of character. Change is good, but at what expense?
When Reid first began, he built this team beginning his offensive line. He brought in a veteran leader in Runyan, who was a pro’s pro. I gave Reid high marks for establishing a foundation. I see that he’s tried to repeat that success through free-agency in the past few years. The difference is he’s had some major busts. I don’t know who’s choosing these guys, but we ain’t seen nothing close to Runyan.
I’m thinking that if this is an “all-in” year, he should have begun with his offensive line, but I’m not paid to coach. Heck, I’m not even paid to write about this stuff. I’m just a fan.
This is what the NFL is all about – high drama. It’s the story lines that make the game so worthwhile. We won’t “know” anything until the games are played.
If Watkins turns about to be a stud by mid-year, I’ll be singing Reid’s praises, and if he doesn’t, well . . . you know me!
Keith – you keep those other guys for depth. You do understand that you need capable backups right?
drummer – fair points. But in terms of this being an ‘all in’ year – I don’t see it. Nnamdi, DRC, Vick, Lesean, Maclin, etc etc etc – the majority of the additions are under contract PAST this year. There’s nothing ‘IN’. They just went big in free agency – they didn’t risk all their chips in the process. Hence, it’s not “all in”. They’ll have pretty much the same team next year (aside from a few cuts, trimming the fat). Sure, ronnie brown and young may be rentals, but for the most part, this is not a 1 and done thing at all.
They don’t have any other choice. Who else do the Birds have!? It’s too late now! We have to live with it now. It would have been an easier transition for him, if he didn’t have 3 question marks surrounding him. We just have to hope he learns quick, or it is going to be a long, painful, year for Vick.
Schill…Who do you think the Eagles should have drafted in the first round this year?
It’s one thing to gamble with the O line by starting an a rookie center, rookie right guard and moving a left guard to right tackle all on your 100 million dollar QB’s blind side plus a new left guard. However, IMO, it’ll be Reid-iculous to gamble that much then make it even more challenging for them with 65%+ passing plays.
Again… Here’s hoping Reid is the genius the rest of the country thinks he is.
Genius, he is not! He is the furthest thing from one! Thus his clock management, play review record, play calling, & bone head, idiotic roster moves. We won’t win a SB, until he is long gone. IMHO, Lurie needed to cut the cord 2 years ago!!!
DDCar – With that post you just echoed many things I, and many other fans, have been saying for years now and I’ll pile on with his Reid-iculously imbalanced offense.
Many seem to think his record in the regular season earns him “genius” status but, that doesn’t include me. I do think however, he’s an excellent coach 6 days a week when it comes to game planning and prep. It’s that seventh game day that seems to be his biggest achilles heal. Especially against well staffed and coached teams hence, the playoff record.
Unfortunatley, ranting the same thing post after post just gets boring and frustrating and like you, I hope I’m proved dead wrong but hey, I’m no friggin’ NFL coach so, what the hell do I know? Nothin’, I’m just a chump sittin here typing on a stupid post sharing an opinion that no one cares about that doesn’t mean shit but that doesn’t keep me from typing it anyway! Huh, what would Freud say about that?
Well, anyway, go get ’em Andy and bring Philly home a Lombardi trophy cause you never know, stranger things have happened and maybe they can…
My question is, if Andy is so “bad” at picking talent and getting good draft picks….it must speak VOLUMES to get all these “scrubs” to come together and work hard and consistently contend in the National Football League. Goodness gracious, Andy Reid might just BE a GENIUS!
Reid and his staff probably get more out of undrafted free agents than most other teams. They get hard passionate play out of lower skilled prospects. Unfortunatley, IMO, there are very few top 5 round picks that have played ABOVE expectations. There are several but very few given the number of picks over the years. Westbrook is the first that comes to mind that absolutely played ABOVE his 3rd round pick. So, I’ll ask you, is that premier coaching or a blind squirrel eventually finding acorns?
I Agree the Eagles have done a very good job with finding very good football players in 5th/6th/7th Rounds and even the undrafted players as well..
The roster has many Starters who fit this bill Herremans,Coleman,Fokou,Celek,Avant,Kelce,O Schmitt, Dixon,etc,etc
My question remains, are these later round players that good or has it been the questionable selections in the top 3 Rounds that have given these later round players a better opportunity due to the lackluster play of many of the Top 3 Round Players… If you are continually missing on the Top 3 Round selections to be Starters and major contributors, then the later round players will end up playing and becoming the Starters for who else is there left to Start and contribute…
Other NFL News
PAtriots release another former high draft pick CB Darius Butler who was a 2nd ROund Selection a coupld years back as they continue to revamp their Secondary around young players CB D McCourtey and S P Chung..
Also reported
Another Season-ending Injury for the Giants Defense and starting MLB M Goff who tore his ACL and will miss the entire 2011 Season
(this is the 7th Player from the Giants Defense who are out for the Season
DT M Austin, CB T Thomas, CB KJohnson, CB P Amukarama, LB C Sintim,
CB B Witherspoon, and have a hurting DE Osi who may miss a couple of weeks..
I don’t think Reid is a genius and I don’t think any active coach is either. Belicheat is very smart and crafty, great at leading his team (but ineffective at closing the deal without cheating). I think Reid is also very smart and a very good coach. But to declare any of the active coaches geniuses, whether they’ve won a SB or not, I just don’t see it at all. Who said that about Reid?
I think Paulman is only “Genius” around here and with Football in general, but most of you probably knew that already and or are just plain tired of me mentioning it…. ha ha
Songs, to your question – that is a pathetically stupid question to ask. That’s like getting your wife or girlfriend pregnant and then before you know the gender asking “how should we have parented this kid?” YOU SIMPLY DO NOT GET IT. Draft picks are about picking NFl players, not drafting for preseason performance and offseason opinions of some fans you moron.
For the record, I wanted them to get a CB or OL (any OL, just another high-end piece to plug into the line that needed help). I thought that those were by far the two biggest holes. When the draft came and they filled one, with what many people were saying was the most NFL ready/sure bet at Oline (that’s the truth, many were saying that), I was happy. And then when they addressed the CB position (AND THEN SOME), I was very very happy.
Now the guy has not looked good so far. But if you’re going to tell me that you’ve closed the book on him already then I call you a pathetic moron. Ask ANY NFL player or coach EVER, if its accurate to measure a player off of his first 4 preseason games in a truncated offseason with a lockout, no rookie camp, no OTAs and a new coach, and they will tell you ABSOLUTELY NOT.
But you sir, are so arrogant, and sure of your abilies to predict the future and size people up, that you defy logic, sense, context, and reality.
Schill, which offensive lineman did you have in mind for the Eagles last draft?
Songs, I didn’t have a specific one. I try not to fall in love with players before they get drafted and play in the NFL. They’re just names attached to semi-relevant experience at that point (college football). Look across the league at how many busts there are every year (seriously I’m talking NFL, not Eagles right now). So I didn’t pick a specific guy. I picked a few corners who I would like, and several OL. I trusted Reid/Mudd to draft an OL in the first round. Tra Thomas and Sean Andrews (football wise it was a great pick, nobody could’ve seen the back problems/etc you know what coming – it was a good draft pick, gone bad)…..are a great track record. I’m being honest, I didn’t pick 1 because I don’t get paid to do so, nor do I have offensive line expertise or a staff of scouts/a plethora of tape/ initerviews etc…. at my disposal.
It often takes years to see how good or bad an NFL player is.
i.e. Jason Babin was 27th overall in 2004. Spent 3 years with the Texans, 1 with KC, 1 with Seattle, 1 with Philly and was considered by most to be way over-valued in the draft. Finally, with the right coach in the right system, he became impactful on his 5th team in his 7th year THEN became a highly sought after player. Was it the player? Was it the 4 D Line coaches that preceded Washburn? Don’t answer that question with the D Line coach in Philly. That’s why Washburn is here now.
So… I’m all for giving the AR picks in the past few years a pass until we know. My concern is dropping rookies with only 3 or 4 preseason games under their belt in to the fire and expecting them to protect our 100 million dollar QB’s wellbeing.
mtc- I like your thinking. But please stop calling him a 100 mill Qb. He’s not making anywhere near 100 mill. He’s making 35-40 mill guaranteed, and most of that is going to creditors.