From the days of Koy Detmer to A.J. Feeley to Jeff Garcia to Michael Vick and then Kevin Kolb, the Eagles have shown a remarkable ability to keep the offense functioning when the starter is out. The scheme stays the same and the backups have been able to function, even thrive, running the show.
In 2001, it was Detmer (for three quarters of a memorable win in San Francisco) who took over for Donovan McNabb after McNabb suffered a broken ankle. In 2006, it was Garcia managing the offense down the stretch, becoming the emotional sparkplug and the undisputed leader of a team that somehow won the NFC East. Last year it was Vick replacing Kolb in the first game of the season and playing brilliant football, and then it was Kolb winning two of three starts when Vick suffered a broken rib against Washington.
Young is next in line should Vick, who has not practiced all week, miss Sunday night's game against the Giants. This is the reason the Eagles signed Young after his five seasons in Tennessee, during which he earned two Pro Bowl nods and compiled a 30-17 record as a starter.
"It's tough somewhat," said Young when asked about staying fresh after sitting for most of the first nine games of the season. "It can be tough if you aren't paying attention and if you aren't focused. But if you paying attention and you are staying on your task, one thing about Andy (Reid), he isn't going to let you fall behind and not pay attention.
"They're always testing you every day."
Young, should he play, will face an enormous task on Sunday night. The Giants rush the quarterback as well as any team in the league and they play a sound, fundamental scheme. The home crowd will be lathered to beat the Eagles, mindful of the NFC East rivalry and the miracle finish the last time these teams played on the Giants home turf.
For Young, a chance to play is a chance to show the rest of the league that he is a better quarterback and a better leader than the player who was shown the door in Tennessee. He is here on a one-year contract and he has every intention of being a starter somewhere in 2012.
Young has run the offense throughout the week in practice and he says he feels a high level of comfort with the X's and O's, of the subtleties of the scheme. Young isn't going to have the freedom to put the ball away and run to daylight as he did when he led Texas to a National Championship in college. He has to get the ball out quickly, accurately and to the right receiver against the swarming Giants defense.
"It's not about me. It's all about going out there and playing a game," said Young. "I'm always staying ready. That's one of the reasons they brought me here, to be ready to come in and lead the guys and keep the same tempo that Mike Vick had. Overall, I feel pretty good.
"But like I said, it's not about me. I just want to go out and lead the guys to a victory."
Young has not less than impressive in his limited playing time during the regular season. He was outstanding in the preseason and then he suffered a hamstring injury against the Jets in the finale that made him inactive for the opening two games of the regular season.
In Washington, Young made an ill-advised pass that was intercepted after he replaced a banged-up Vick. Last week, Young played one snap and handed off to LeSean McCoy in the fourth quarter.
Otherwise, he has been learning behind the scenes.
"He's worked very hard at learning the offense," said Reid. "He spent a lot of time with (Quarterbacks Coach) Doug (Pederson) and (Offensive Coordinator) Marty (Mornhinweg). They've done a good job with him, teaching him the offense. Most of all he's been willing to spend the time. So, he gets in here early, leaves late, and comes back after dinner and hits it a little longer, so he's doing some good things."
Young hasn't had a total style makeover with the Eagles, who have spent a lot of time working with Young assimilating him into the offense. The Young who could play on Sunday night still has the same release, the same burst and the same body.
Little things have been altered, but Young's throwing style is what it is.
"I don't think you necessarily do that with a quarterback. I think he's been throwing the football a long time, and done pretty good at it," said Reid. "The mechanics come from the waist down. You're not going to change a release when a guy has got that much time invested in working it. So the thing you can always work on, and this is all quarterbacks throughout their career, is the foundation that they build with their feet and that platform, that they keep that nice and balanced and stable."
The Eagles are still saying that Vick could play, that his two broken ribs could heal enough by Sunday night to allow him to suit up against the Giants. We'll see. In the meantime, Young is preparing to be the starter. He says he takes that approach every week, but it's different when you get the practice reps and watch the extra film and have the attention of the coaching staff.
Should he start, it will be Young's first since last November 21. In that game, Young completed 12 of 16 passes in a Titans' win over the Redskins.
A lot has happened to Young since then. He was banished by the Titans and then found the free-agency market less than appealing. He's an Eagle now, here to carry the offense until Vick is healthy and ready to get back on the field.
"I'm excited to get out and play and help the team," said Young. "That's what it's about. We need the win. It's about the team."
