Eagles McNabb a game-time decision vs. Saints
Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid is hopeful he will have Donovan McNabb under center this Sunday when the Eagles host their home opener vs. the Saints. McNabb has been held out of practice this week while recovering from a rib injury last week in the win over Carolina. If McNabb can't go, Reid will apparently give the ball to Kevin Kolb who will no doubt be leaning heavily on running back Brian Westbrook.
Say hello to Donovan McRib.
It isn’t easy being a public figure in Philadelphia. These are the guys that booed Santa Claus, after all. And it didn’t take long for Donovan McNabb to earn his latest nickname after he was squashed by a pack of Carolina Panthers defenders on Sunday after running three yards for a touchdown. McNabb left the game with a cracked rib and his status is up in the air for Philadelphia’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints.
It was otherwise a very promising performance for an Eagles team that has risen up the Super Bowl futures market from 12-1 to 8-1. McNabb threw two TD passes (with one pick) against Carolina and left the game with the Eagles up 38-10 in the third quarter. That was the final score as Philly backers cashed in as 1-point road dogs.
Now comes the hard part for handicappers. The Eagles are 1-point home faves this week; some books have this matchup as a pick ‘em because of McNabb’s injury. The public was 88 percent on New Orleans as we went to press.
But who’ll be under center? It apparently won’t be Jeff Garcia, although the former Eagle signed with the team on Monday. Coach Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday that Kevin Kolb would get the start if McNabb were unable to play – something that could end up being a game-time decision, as McNabb is being kept off the practice field in hopes that he can heal quickly. Kolb is 24-of-45 (zero TDs, four INTs) in spot action since being taken in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
It is indeed true that square bettors are quick to emphasize the skill positions while ignoring the linesmen and the special teams players. But the quarterback is still the alpha male on the gridiron – or is supposed to be. Kolb has yet to capitalize on any of the promise he had coming out of the University of Houston. “I’ve gotten opportunities and haven’t done the best job with them,” Kolb confessed to the Associated Press on Wednesday.
Kolb was sacked twice by the Panthers last week, which says more about the state of the Philadelphia offensive line than it does about the mobile ex-Cougar. This is an issue that won’t go away no matter who plays quarterback. Left guard Todd Herremans (6-foot-6, 321 pounds) is out to start the season with a stress fracture, and now right tackle Shawn Andrews (6-foot-4, 335 pounds) is on injured reserve with the same back problem that kept him out of the entire 2008 campaign. Andrews is a three-time Pro Bowler and excellent at pass protection; the left-handed Michael Vick will be especially vulnerable when he becomes eligible to play next week.
The Saints, meanwhile, are very much in the good graces of the public after Drew Brees threw six TD passes in a 45-27 win at home over the Detroit Lions (+14). But this wasn’t just an aerial exhibition for the Saints. They also ran the ball 35 times, and while the shine may be off Reggie Bush for good, Mike Bell picked up 143 yards (5.1 yards per carry) in relief of the injured Pierre Thomas, who remains uncertain for Week 2 after practicing on Wednesday with a knee brace.
The Saints were able to go 10-5-1 ATS last year despite ranking No. 26 in the league in defensive efficiency, according to the stats at Football Outsiders. This year’s defense already looks better – Detroit scored one of its three TDs on a fumble return, and the Saints were able to force Matthew Stafford into three interceptions in his NFL debut. More impressively, they held the Lions to 33 yards rushing on 20 carries. Doing the same to Brian Westbrook (4.9 yards per carry last week) is unlikely, but if Kolb is the starter, the Eagles will be handing the ball off to Westbrook, pitching the ball to Westbrook, and checking down to Westbrook. How much work can a 30-year-old tailback with a bad knee handle?
At least the weather will be nice. Warm and sunny conditions are expected at the Linc; the betting odds have a total of 46 on the board, down from 47 at the open. The last five meetings between these two clubs all went over
Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid is hopeful he will have Donovan McNabb under center this Sunday when the Eagles host their home opener vs. the Saints. McNabb has been held out of practice this week while recovering from a rib injury last week in the win over Carolina. If McNabb can't go, Reid will apparently give the ball to Kevin Kolb who will no doubt be leaning heavily on running back Brian Westbrook.
Say hello to Donovan McRib.
It isn’t easy being a public figure in Philadelphia. These are the guys that booed Santa Claus, after all. And it didn’t take long for Donovan McNabb to earn his latest nickname after he was squashed by a pack of Carolina Panthers defenders on Sunday after running three yards for a touchdown. McNabb left the game with a cracked rib and his status is up in the air for Philadelphia’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints.
It was otherwise a very promising performance for an Eagles team that has risen up the Super Bowl futures market from 12-1 to 8-1. McNabb threw two TD passes (with one pick) against Carolina and left the game with the Eagles up 38-10 in the third quarter. That was the final score as Philly backers cashed in as 1-point road dogs.
Now comes the hard part for handicappers. The Eagles are 1-point home faves this week; some books have this matchup as a pick ‘em because of McNabb’s injury. The public was 88 percent on New Orleans as we went to press.
But who’ll be under center? It apparently won’t be Jeff Garcia, although the former Eagle signed with the team on Monday. Coach Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday that Kevin Kolb would get the start if McNabb were unable to play – something that could end up being a game-time decision, as McNabb is being kept off the practice field in hopes that he can heal quickly. Kolb is 24-of-45 (zero TDs, four INTs) in spot action since being taken in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
It is indeed true that square bettors are quick to emphasize the skill positions while ignoring the linesmen and the special teams players. But the quarterback is still the alpha male on the gridiron – or is supposed to be. Kolb has yet to capitalize on any of the promise he had coming out of the University of Houston. “I’ve gotten opportunities and haven’t done the best job with them,” Kolb confessed to the Associated Press on Wednesday.
Kolb was sacked twice by the Panthers last week, which says more about the state of the Philadelphia offensive line than it does about the mobile ex-Cougar. This is an issue that won’t go away no matter who plays quarterback. Left guard Todd Herremans (6-foot-6, 321 pounds) is out to start the season with a stress fracture, and now right tackle Shawn Andrews (6-foot-4, 335 pounds) is on injured reserve with the same back problem that kept him out of the entire 2008 campaign. Andrews is a three-time Pro Bowler and excellent at pass protection; the left-handed Michael Vick will be especially vulnerable when he becomes eligible to play next week.
The Saints, meanwhile, are very much in the good graces of the public after Drew Brees threw six TD passes in a 45-27 win at home over the Detroit Lions (+14). But this wasn’t just an aerial exhibition for the Saints. They also ran the ball 35 times, and while the shine may be off Reggie Bush for good, Mike Bell picked up 143 yards (5.1 yards per carry) in relief of the injured Pierre Thomas, who remains uncertain for Week 2 after practicing on Wednesday with a knee brace.
The Saints were able to go 10-5-1 ATS last year despite ranking No. 26 in the league in defensive efficiency, according to the stats at Football Outsiders. This year’s defense already looks better – Detroit scored one of its three TDs on a fumble return, and the Saints were able to force Matthew Stafford into three interceptions in his NFL debut. More impressively, they held the Lions to 33 yards rushing on 20 carries. Doing the same to Brian Westbrook (4.9 yards per carry last week) is unlikely, but if Kolb is the starter, the Eagles will be handing the ball off to Westbrook, pitching the ball to Westbrook, and checking down to Westbrook. How much work can a 30-year-old tailback with a bad knee handle?
At least the weather will be nice. Warm and sunny conditions are expected at the Linc; the betting odds have a total of 46 on the board, down from 47 at the open. The last five meetings between these two clubs all went over
