They were all on the field on Monday -- Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Kevin Curtis. All three players who missed the game against Kansas City and who have so much importance to this offense. It was a welcome-back-to-the-season day at the NovaCare Complex after the bye week and the mood was light and energetic and everything you would hope for from a team that is 2-1 and has a great season ahead of it.

There are so many questions about this team as the season resumes. Clearly, the defense has its issues and as the season goes along, as is the nature of the game and the league, more will arise. Monday was a party for middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter after the rigorous practice sessions he endured last week, and he and Omar Gaither split reps as MIKE starter in the 10-10-10 practice.

Here, though, the focus is on the offense. The Eagles have done a lot to like through three games: In Week 1, they ran the ball effectively and used the Wild Eagle (last attempt, sorry) effectively. Against New Orleans, quarterback Kevin Kolb pushed the ball down the field well and got DeSean Jackson involved in the passing game and then ran a nifty pre-halftime drive to produce three points. In Week 3, the offense executed the passing game nicely, introduced Michael Vick into the plans and scored a lot of points.

But in the week that was during the team's time off, the coaches went back and looked at weaknesses. Surely they saw an offense that has not run the ball with enough effectiveness between the tackles. They saw an offense that still wasn't as consistent as it needs to be in the red zone, and they watched as the three veterans -- first McNabb, and then Westbrook and Curtis -- suffered injuries that knocked them out of the lineup.

Now those players are back, and if they get right into the swing of things and find their rhythm, great. If not, the Eagles have kids who are ready to play. Running back LeSean McCoy has to see some snaps every week. He just has to. He is too good to keep on the bench. Jeremy Maclin is making significant strides, even if he hasn't exploded for his first big day in the NFL. Kevin Kolb is ready, but before there is any speculation, let's make this one clear: McNabb is the quarterback and he is the one to lead this team into a deep playoff run. Period.

That said, the Eagles are back in business, with 13 games ahead of them. I would love to fast forward to Sunday and get back into the drumbeat of the season, but that ain't happening. We have a bunch of days of fluff ahead of us. Tampa Bay has struggled mightily all season, but the Bucs showed how dangerous they are by nearly beating the Redskins in Washington on Sunday.

Anyway, back to the offense. This is a group that should be multi-faceted and as efficient as any offense the Eagles have had in years. They need a lot of pieces to come together -- at the top of the list, the offensive must play better in short-yardage situations -- and they are going right back into the thick of things with not a lot of margin for error. You see how the playoff teams are shaping up. The Giants are dominating teams. New Orleans looks awesome. Atlanta is going to win a lot of games. Minnesota, Chicago and Green Bay are outstanding teams. Anything can happen in the NFC West.

The Eagles? Could be a top team. Should be a top team. Have to play a lot better in every phase of the game to get to where they want to be.

McNabb is on track to start Sunday. I saw him on Monday and he looks great. Happy and excited to get back on the field. Feeling good physically. The offense really needs McNabb to come out and play consistent football from the start of Sunday's game and get some momentum going, give everybody some juice to take care of business.

And from there, the season is off again. There is so much football to be played in 2009 and after a taste of it on Monday, and then a day off on Tuesday, the NovaCare Complex will again be buzzing for business on Wednesday with the Bucs straight ahead.

And for me, the offense has to set the tempo and lead things off the right way. All but Todd Herremans are set to play -- Herremans could be back for Washington, and that seems like a realistic goal -- so the personnel fit is right for the offense to take off and improve the little things very quickly.