Quarterback Donovan McNabb and wide receiver DeSean Jackson said after Thursday night's preseason game against Jacksonville that the way the coaches utilized Michael Vick disrupted the flow of the offense. Vick was on the field for a total of six plays, all in the first half, including the second play of the game.
McNabb was concerned because it was the final game of the preseason for the first-team offense. It was the last opportunity for them to work in a live game situation before the regular season opener at Carolina. The coaches wanted to get Vick, who saw his first game action since he was signed August 13, involved early and as often as possible.
Moving forward, however, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg emphatically stated on Sunday that Vick will not disrupt the offense.
"I understand all of that," Mornhinweg said. "I understand the rhythm and all those types of things. It's not going to disrupt our rhythm. It won't."
It certainly won't be an issue for a while. While head coach Andy Reid said that there's "a good chance" that Vick would play this Thursday against the Jets in the preseason finale, the next opportunity for Vick to play with the first-team offense is unknown. Commissioner Roger Goodell has yet to determine when Vick will be fully reinstated.
"That's not an issue there," Mornhinweg said. "I've got great confidence in his throwing ability and his ability to help our football team on offense, it's that simple."
Switching out personnel groups certainly hasn't disrupted the offense in the past. Wide receiver Jason Avant said after Thursday's game that the Eagles probably switch out personnel more than any team in the league. Mornhinweg said that the personnel groups were switched out on each of the first six plays of Thursday's game. What the Eagles do with Vick on a week-to-week basis will be determined by the game plan.
"There will be games where we may very well use him situationally," he said. "There will be games where we won't use him quite as much and there will be games where that's just a part of us. It will change just a little bit game to game by game plan, like it does with all of our players."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 3:45 p.m., August 30
