PHL EAGLES – BIRD FEED

BIRD FEED

Why Andy Reid Should and Will keep 4 QB’s on his depth chart this year.

The signing of Michael Vick has added some quarterback controversy to an Eagles training camp and preseason which was previously lacking.  One of the first questions I heard asked in the press conference shortly after the signing to Coach Reid was “does this mean your going to keep four quarterbacks on the depth chart?”.  I am going to tell you why Coach Reid should and will do this.

As much as Michael Vick’s talent and ability lend themselves to possibly being used as a dangerous offensive weapon in the wild cat offense I believe the Eagles will stick with their current system.  However Coach Reid is a creative play caller and I am sure we will see Vick used in various ways throughout the season.

The number one reason the Eagles will start the season with four qbs on the depth chart is the suspension of Vick.  As of right now Vick is slated to sit out the first 6 games of the 2009 season, and given Commisioner Goodell’s track record I think he will stick to this.  It would be foolish to go into the season with just two qb’s in 2008 Donovan McNabb played all 16 games for the Eagles, however it was the first time he had done so since 2003 making it fair to say McNabb can be injury prone.  If McNabb were to go down and then his backup was injured in the same game the Eagles would have nowhere to turn.  This may not seem very likely but don’t forget A.J. Feeley would likely never taken a snap for the Eagles if not for the Monday night game against San Fran which saw McNabb and Detmer get injured on the same night.

The number two reason for keeping all four qb’s is there is no good cut to make.  Obviously the Eagles didn’t sign Vick to cut him, but Michael Vick hasnt played in an NFL game for two years.  Vick is a fantastic athlete but it has yet to be seen how he will handle actual game play which is very different from the pace of practice.  It doesnt make sense to cut A.J. Feeley either outside of Mcnabb, Feeley has by far the most experience running the Eagles offense.  That of course brings us to Kevin Kolb who just turned 25, making him 7 years younger then McNabb and Feeley and 4 younger then Vick.  You can’t cut the player who you drafted to be McNabb’s eventual replacement.

Michael Vick was a high risk high reward signing its possible he will work out great and also possible he won’t.  The Eagles need to hope he does workout but be prepared for him not to.  A.J. Feeley is the same age as McNabb and is a good quality back up but by no means an NFL started as was proven in Miami. If Vick doesn’t workout Kolb is the only realistic choice to replace McNabb when he eventually departs the city of brotherly love.  He is still young and untested I refuse to judge him on his brief playing time against the Ravens last year because lets be honest that defense spent most of that game making McNabb look like Ryan Leaf.

So for those few reasons alone Vick’s likely six game suspension being the most obvious of them I feel the Eagles would be foolish to let go of a single one of their four QB’s.

(written by Ryan Ely-Vice Maniac 8/26/09)

Tomorrow’s article: Could the Eagles depth at WR  result in the releasing of a former 2nd round draft pick?