Friday Eagles Hangover: Not Bad For The Fourth Preseason Game

While it certainly wasn't nearly as awesome as my last two trips to the Meadowlands (and really, how could it have been save for the Eagles inviting me to take a few snaps at quarterback), a good time was had last evening at the Eagles - Jets game.  The crowd was mellow and the football was spirited (if sloppy).  I found the stadium itself to be slightly less offensive when deployed in support of the J-E-T-S, though certainly no one will be sad to see it go next Spring. 

What I saw from Section 309: 

I finally get it with Kolb.  He wasn't perfect, but seeing Kolb play a whole half I could actually envision what he would look like as the Eagles QB, and it actually looked pretty good.  His arm looked stronger than I thought it was and he seems to be a decent athlete.  His timing and decision-making looked a little unpolished (too early on the corner route to Maclin and the ball in the end zone for Amendola, but then he held the ball a little too long on others), but the guy doesn't really play enough to be polished.  He's my #2 QB in terms of starters/ passers on the roster right now.    

That Vick fella is still a big work in progress at quarterback.  Prior to the recent unpleasantness with Vick, I always had him pegged as a "fun to watch on Sportscenter, wouldn't want him on my team" kind of guy.  That was confirmed by what I saw last night when Vick was playing quarterback.  Sure, he's been away from football for a couple years, so he's going to be slow with his decision making and maybe not prudent with his scrambles.  Fine.  I forgive that.  But the whole "holding the ball like a loaf of bread" thing brought back uncomfortable L.J. Smith memories.  Two hands or tuck it, fella.     

But if Vick isn't a quarterback, well, that's a different story.  Even out of shape, after two years in prison, he still looks like one of the fastest guys on the field.  If he's a glorified running back or short-yardage QB, I think this can work.  Remember the talk about how Andy Reid didn't want to use McNabb on sneaks and runs early in the season (which he later reluctantly relaxed)?  Mr. Vick, this is your time to shine!  Lower those pads and take some pops from linebackers.

The story on Vick in the stands.  I was actually shocked by how many Michael Vick Eagles jerseys (and some Falcons jerseys) I saw in another team's stadium last night.  I know, I know, it's the fourth-best-selling jersey in the NFL right now, but it was still pretty surprising.  The Jets fans did an admirable job booing Vick in the first half (when his situational substitutions gave them an occasion to do so), but the overall lustiness of the boos trailed off in the third quarter.  I guess it's preseason in the stands as well.    

This is not Brian Dawkins' fault.  I really wasn't feeling what I saw from Quintin Demps last night.  For a guy who's complaining about not having a job yet and how he would have worked harder if he had known he was competing, I mean, yuck.  Sure, that 13-year-old child wearing the #22 Woodhead shirt for the Jets was playing his guts out, but should he be outrunning Demps in the open field?  For a guy whose job was on the line, I'm not sure I was convinced by Demps.  Would love to hear some thoughts on this.  I thought Harris and Jones looked better last night. 

I'm baffled by the wideouts.  I have absolutely no idea what's going on with the WR position for the Eagles.  Certainly the game and its bizarre substitution patterns (Baskett and Reggie Brown on the field in the fourth quarter) last night didn't help to resolve anything.  I would say that I'm pulling for Gibson to make the team, and that I wish there was a spot for Amendola (who absolutely played like he meant it last night).  Also, is it just me or did I see Jeremy Maclin whinging a little bit to the refs out there?  This isn't soccer (and I love soccer).   

You stay classy, section 309.  An ejection in the fourth quarter?  REALLY?  In a preseason game?  Also, I didn't realize the Jets fans were so fond of making paper airplanes and trying to reach the field with them (with errant flights beaning those in the seats below).  I guess that's interesting.  Sort of.  (Not really.)