Roundup: Are Eagles ready for ‘Vick-cat’?
Published: September 25th, 2009 | Tags: Marty Mornhinweg, Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles will be without some of their biggest offensive stars Sunday when they face the Chiefs. Starting QB Donovan McNabb has a rib injury, and half the offensive line is hurt. RB Brian Westbrook and WR DeSean Jackson haven’t practiced all week.
The injuries have forced Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg to add a few more pages to the playbook this season. Last weekend against the Saints, the Eagles ran the Wildcat offense nine times. This week, versatile QB Michael Vick is eligible to play, but how many snaps will he take?
Mornhinweg told the Philadelphia Daily News that the team has been successful in the past at plugging players into the system, and Vick is no exception:
- For whatever it’s worth, Mornhinweg said, “He’ll play. How much? We’ll see as the week goes on. I think he’s in top physical condition. We’ll see how he handles the few things that we have in for him.”
- “There are no gimmicks anymore,” he said about the Wildcat offense, adding that defenses in the NFL now have to prepare for different formations and sets as a matter of routine. He says the Eagles’ philosophy under coach Andy Reid has always been to have four to six special plays in the game plan every week and that the Wildcat is just an extension of that.
Other stories around the Web on Friday:
- The Bears have a list of fines for film-room infractions.
- As the 49ers head to Minnesota, QB Shaun Hill isn’t pining over his Viking days.
- Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams returns to Buffalo, where he had a short tenure as the Bills’ head coach.
- Through two games this season, the Rams’ defense simply can’t get off the field on third down.
- Former Colts coach Tony Dungy still attracts a crowd, even in remote locations.
- Titans RB Chris Johnson sent the shoes from his record-setting day to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.