No Donovan McNabb. No Brian Westbrook. No Kevin Curtis. In their spots, respectively, are Kevin Kolb, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin. The Eagles are starting two rookies, a second-year wide receiver and a third-year tight end and quarterback against Kansas City. It isn't a preseason game, either. This game means so much to the Eagles as we get a glimpse of the future today on a misty, rainy day at Lincoln Financial Field.
Make you nervous? Not me. I'm excited to see all the kids play, and I honestly can't remember the last time the Eagles started two rookies on offense. Ever. It leads you to believe that this is going to be an ugly, low-scoring game, and if you add in the fact that Kansas City is without its best wide receiver in Dwayne Bowe, we could be looking at a 16-6 kind of game.
The fact that the Eagles are missing so many key offensive pieces isn't likely to change Andy Reid's approach all that much. He believes in Kolb, and he believes in his young skill-position people. Michael Vick is going to get his reps and his touches in the Wild Eagle offense. And ... the Eagles have to run the ball with McCoy, with Eldra Buckley and with Leonard Weaver. The offensive line has to get push against a front seven that is going to be stacking the line of scrimmage and blitzing a lot.
This is a strange feeling. I'm confident, but not without feeling this is a very unusual circumstance. There are so many changes to an offense that we all thought would be one of the best in the league by now. Instead, the Eagles are moving players in and out of the lineup. They have all three quarterbacks active -- Kolb, Vick and Jeff Garcia. They have Jason Avant, Reggie Brown and Brandon Gibson up at wide receiver. They are a touch thin along the offensive line.
So ... the defense has to come up big. There is every reason for the Eagles to blitz on almost every down. Who is going to bust coverage and hurt the Eagles down the field in the passing game with Bowe out? Mark Bradley? I respect him, but the Eagles should have an answer for him, right?
Bring back the blitz, play good special teams and get the ball to DeSean Jackson and the playmakers on offense and the Eagles should be fine. If Kansas City comes out and forces an early turnover and turns it into points, watch out. The crowd here, soggy from the rain, could get a little bit unruly.
Just because the Eagles are young doesn't mean they lack talent. There is still plenty here. McCoy knows the offense. He has been on the field a lot through the preseason and the first two regular season games. Maclin is ready for the next step, and I have a sneaky feeling that Brown is in for a big day.
Kolb? I love the kid. Just give him time and let him take apart the Kansas City defense. No mistakes. Make good decisions.
This is a reserve-laden offense the Eagles have on the field. Scary, but exciting. It is time for the kids to provide help for now, and to give us a glimpse of what is to come in the future.
