Eagles have options if Vaitai is overmatched
PHILADELPHIA » Doug Pederson says the Eagles won’t have to alter their game plan with Halapoulivaati Vaitai playing right tackle in place of Lane Johnson, who won’t make the trip to play the Panthers Thursday.
But Pederson presented a list of adjustments Wednesday the Eagles can make if the Panthers expose Big V as the backup he is. That includes using tight ends and running backs to help Big V stop pass rushes.
“He’s played against some really good competition,” Pederson said, mentioning Vaitai’s start against Ryan Kerrigan of Washington. “And then as the season progressed up in Seattle on the road, and even getting thrust in there a little bit last week against a couple good pass rushers in Chandler Jones and players like that. So he’s getting better. He’s played and that’s the biggest thing for him is he’s playing with a little confidence right now too which also helps him.”
Johnson is out indefinitely with a concussion. Without him the Eagles are vulnerable, proof positive their 2-8 record in games he missed last year due to a suspension.
Vaitai was a revolving door in his NFL debut against Kerrigan last year. There was no way to go but up after that performance, or lack thereof.
Isaac Seumalo looked like the Eagles’ best right tackle not named Johnson last season. Though the sample size was limited, Seumalo acquitted himself very well in a road loss to the Ravens.
Seumalo almost certainly will dress and play in some form against the Panthers. And yes, he’s gotten snaps at right tackle. Stay tuned.
*** Elsewhere on the Eagles injury front, defensive tackles Fletcher Cox (calf) and Destiny Vaeao (wrist), and running back Wendell Smallwood (knee) are game-time decisions according to Pederson.
Cox sure came off like he wouldn’t play at the end of some streaming thoughts that began when he said Cam Newton wasn’t toughest quarterback to tackle.
“I won’t say that he’s the hardest quarterback to bring down, no,” Cox said. “He is a hard quarterback to bring down. I would say a hard quarterback to bring down is Ben Roethlisberger, to me. He’s a big guy. You’ve got to get him on the ground. That’s with anybody. (Jonathan) Stewart, he’s actually a hard guy to bring down. So we’ve got to just rally to the football. I know those guys will do a great job at it.”
Cox “knows those guys” job? will do a the great
*** Kenjon Barner was named NFC special teams player of the week, the second time in the last three weeks an Eagles player has been so recognized.
Barner returned three punts for 110 yards, including a 76-yarder to help the Eagles beat the Cardinals.
Three weeks ago rookie Jake Elliott drilled a 61-yard field goal to beat the Giants, earning him special teams player of the week distinction.
*** Longtime Eagles wide receiver Hawkins died Monday, at age 73.
A third-round draft pick of the Eagles in 1966, Hawkins spent eight of his nine NFL Ben seasons in Philadelphia, where he etched himself into the record books from 196673. With 32 TD catches, he’s tied for ninth in club history.
A memorial service will Oct. 12 in Belmar, N.J.
Hawkins is survived by his longtime partner, Mary Duggan, and two children, Benjamin Michael and Nichole Tamara.
For more information on services, Eagles at 215-463-0984.
*** NOTES » In addition to Tony Romo, who has taken TV viewers inside the two-minute drill, among other football nuances, the NFL Network crew tonight boasts former kicker Jay Feely, who brings a stellar special teams perspective … When Pederson said the Eagles would use “a little more Wiz” in this game, he meant more snaps for Stefen Wisniewski at left guard than Chance Warmack, who still is slated to play … The Eagles need to be ready for rookie first-round pick Christian McCaffrey (Stanford), who clocked a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash at the combine and hurts teams running, receiving and in the kick return game. McCaffrey scored on a shovel pass last week that came after Newton faked a jet sweep to second-round draft pick Curtis Samuel. Ohio State product Samuel ran a 4.34 at the scouting combine. be held Thursday, call the