A preseason series would do wonders for Wentz, Birds
PHILADELPHIA >> Forgive me for not piling on with the enthusiasts making championship parade plans for the Eagles.
Sorry, but I need to see the franchise quarterback for at least a series or two Thursday night to even think about getting my Eagle on.
Like Bill Lumbergh, the hated boss in Office Space would say, “uh, yeah, I’m going to need to see the starter and the backup along with that patched up offensive line. So, if you could all just show up Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field, that would be great.”
Wish I could tell you that Carson Wentz deserves a gold jacket for some of the throws he’s made during training camp. We’ll leave that up to those enthusiastic kids with the overactive Twitter feeds. If some of them spent as much time watching as tweeting, they’d understand that Wentz has made a lot of not so good throws, too.
Timing is key for Wentz, and there have been a lot of sloppy plays due to questionable route-running, tough snaps, miscommunications and ultimately the very nature of practice, which is to go hard but don’t get after the quarterback. The latter is why he’s wearing the red jersey.
The point is you have no idea how your quarterback is going to react when he has absolutely no motivation for getting rid of the football other than to get a “nice throw” compliment from teammates and coaches. There’s a big difference between a live pass rush and a guy veering away from the tackle. There’s no way the quarterback has the same sense of urgency.
All of that is why the Eagles would be doing Wentz a disservice by not playing him at least one long series or two against the Baltimore Ravens.
It’s imperative that Wentz, who hasn’t finished the previous two seasons due to knee and back injuries, gets tape of himself playing against a pass rush. Sure, it’s helped practicing against the Ravens this week. Functioning against a live opponent, if you will, is so much more revealing because instincts take over.
It’s also critical for the Eagles to get tape of Wentz playing behind a patchedup offensive line that if worst comes to worst, would open the season with Jordan Mailata at right tackle and Halapoulivaati Vaitai at right guard.
The Eagles say Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson (knee) will be back for the regular-season opener. Let’s assume they’re on point. And let’s give Pro Bowl right guard Brandon Brooks (Achilles’ tendon) the benefit of the doubt and pencil him in for Week 2 or 3. Those are injury situations that could flare up again. Or worse. It makes sense to put the backups on tape with the starting quarterback, as that would give the coaching staff time to scheme contingency plans down the road.
You can appreciate that Wentz, who has been idle the previous two preseason games, is supportive of the coaches and the plan they have for him. When he says he doesn’t need a game to be ready to face Washington in the opener, it’s a vote of confidence for head coach Doug Pederson, offensive coordinator Mike Groh and quarterbacks coach Press Taylor.
It makes sense that Pederson continually says he has enough confidence in Wentz, who the Eagles just handed a four-year, $128 million contract extension, to start the season whatever the circumstances. He’d better say that.
It makes all the sense in the world to see how your quarterback operates in live combat with not only the line but the new skills players he has at his disposal. Wentz doesn’t need to get comfortable with Zach Ertz, who set an NFL record for tight ends with 116 receptions last year. He absolutely needs to take some shots with DeSean Jackson in a game atmosphere. Wentz needs to see how the defenses will play Jackson, how they’ll press him and what that does for the rest of the receivers running routes.
You cannot find that out in a practice because, all together now, the quarterback isn’t facing a pass rush.
Last, but certainly not least, the Eagles need to see how Wentz reacts to a pass rush. While he’s been throwing the ball away during broken or badlooking plays, he did so with no threat to his personal safety.
Wentz said in so many words that he wouldn’t abandon the scrambling component to his game. You know, the one that gets your testosterone going all the way through the big hit he takes.
Be honest, now. Wouldn’t you love to see Wentz take on the Ravens and the first time he gets bum-rushed, spike the ball a la Tom Brady?
Speaking of which, Brady wants to play, and generally gets his way in that respect, when the New England Patriots play the Carolina Panthers Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.
I’m going to need to see Wentz Thursday night, with the ones. And backup Josh McCown. So if you could just remember to bring your mouth guards, that would be great.