Backup QB's had no reps

[MURP]

a little strange. 

article

Ashley Fox | Backup breakdown Reid's fault
By Ashley Fox
Inquirer Columnist

Before the debate begins about who should be the Eagles starting quarterback now that Donovan McNabb's season is over, how about a discussion on how badly the franchise erred in its handling of the backup quarterbacks.

Jeff Garcia and A.J. Feeley haven't taken a snap with the Eagles' first-team offense since training camp. Not one. Not to give McNabb a breather in practice. Not to make sure either qualified backup was prepared enough to get into a game. Not simply for a change of pace.

For whatever reason, Andy Reid's practice policy has been that the backup quarterbacks run the scout team, and McNabb runs the first team. It's been that way for years, to the point Feeley thought when he left Philadelphia for Miami a few seasons ago that every team ignored its backups.

In reality, not many teams operate that way. Yesterday, the Eagles' shortsighted philosophy crushed the team when the unthinkable happened and McNabb went down with a devastating knee injury.

Don't blame Garcia for the Eagles' 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans yesterday that dropped the Birds' record to a mediocre 5-5 with a game at Indianapolis next on the schedule. Reid didn't put Garcia in a position to win.

Garcia was mentally prepared. He'd run through plays in his head a million times. He had visualized how he would go through his progressions, and how he would execute each pass.

But Garcia hadn't actually run a play with his intended receivers - much less taken a snap from Jamaal Jackson - in more than three months.

Of course he was rusty. He hadn't practiced. He had no chemistry with Donté Stallworth or Reggie Brown or Brian Westbrook. How could he? Garcia was in shape, but he wasn't physically ready to play, and that is Reid's fault, not Garcia's.

"It had been a while since I'd been out there," Garcia conceded afterward, acknowledging that it "wasn't an easy situation."

Why not?

"I think in the past I've been in situations where the backup would maybe get 15 to 20 percent of the reps," Garcia said. "But obviously most situations your starter is going to get a majority of the reps, if not all of the reps, and it's all about how I think your starter feels. If it's a situation where he's very comfortable with what he's doing, and he's ready to take a break here and there and throw the backup a bone, then that can happen."

So by that logic, McNabb was uncomfortable with the offense? Or, at the very least, with his position as the Eagles' starter? Is that it?

Garcia certainly wasn't going to bite on that one, and it's a moot point now anyway. But it is mystifying that Reid hasn't given his backups any reps in practice. What, he never considered McNabb might get hurt?

Reid had already spoken and was not available after Garcia had said this. It will be the hot topic in today's news conference.

McNabb broke his ankle in 2002. He began the 2003 season with an injured hand, and the Eagles started 2-3, though McNabb didn't miss any games. He was fine in '04 and the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl. He had a sports hernia in '05 that ended his season after nine games.

And now the quarterback has blown out his knee.

For those of you scoring at home, that's four significant injuries in five seasons.

No reason, then, to keep a prepared backup quarterback in your pocket.

Today, the conversation inevitably will turn toward Reid and whom he will make the Eagles' starter. He wouldn't commit to either Garcia or Feeley last night, but said he would take a look at the film and decide.

It's hard to know whom that will benefit, but one thing is undeniable: Garcia clearly was rusty, and it took him several series to get his bearings. In all likelihood, Feeley would've had the same issues.

Garcia's first series, the Eagles went three and out. His second went for eight plays before David Akers kicked a field goal. After halftime, Garcia led three fruitless drives that prompted Feeley to work on the sideline with backup center Nick Cole.

It's likely Feeley would have come into the game had Garcia not put together a 12-play drive to the Titans' 18-yard line that ended with a bobbled snap on another Akers' field-goal attempt.

Garcia's next time out, he put together an 11-play touchdown drive. The next went for 10 plays, but ended on downs after Garcia misfired to receiver Hank Baskett.

Garcia was sustaining drives.

"I do believe that I did calm down in the second half a little bit," Garcia said. "When I went out there in the second quarter, the first half, it was all of a sudden a rush of excitement in the sense of, 'Now's your opportunity to step out on the field and do your thing.' I wish things could have went better today. It's unfortunate that we didn't do what we had to do as a team and an offense to give ourselves a better opportunity to win this football game."

Like letting the backups practice during the season. It couldn't hurt. The only thing we know now is this: Either Garcia or Feeley - or possibly both - will get a lot more reps in practice this week.

[rjs246]

This whole team is run by a group of monkeys. farging fire them all.

[Sgt PSN]

Why am I not surprised by this?  Oh yeah, it's because Reid is an arrogant asshat. 

[SD_Eagle5]

Another reason Reid needs to be shown the door.

[rjs246]

It's amazing how removed from reality he seems to be. Jesus christ this coaching staff is a disgrace.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I'm not a huge fan of Ashley Fox's writing.  In this case, it's because I'd like to know what the general standard is league-wide.  Frankly, I don't think very many head coaches give any QB besides their starter reps with the 1st team.  So while she makes it sound like the coaching staff was making a mistake, I'd venture to say no less than 75% of NFL teams do the exact same thing.

I just think there are much more important reasons to say goodbye to Reid.

[ice grillin you]

and the hits just keep on coming....

this is another tidbit that will get overlooked but is something that when thought about for a minute becomes almost unbelievable

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Jesus Christ. Talk about a dumb farging move. AR and Co. make me farging sick.

I did like this part though:

Yesterday, the Eagles' shortsighted philosophy crushed the team when the unthinkable happened and McNabb went down with a devastating knee injury.

It sucks, but I definately wouldn't call it unthinkable.

BTW, who would win in a three way cripple fight? Westbrook, C-Buck, or McNabb?

I'm not a huge fan of Ashley Fox's writing. In this case, it's because I'd like to know what the general standard is league-wide. Frankly, I don't think very many head coaches give any QB besides their starter reps with the 1st team. So while she makes it sound like the coaching staff was making a mistake, I'd venture to say no less than 75% of NFL teams do the exact same thing.

I just think there are much more important reasons to say goodbye to Reid.

FF, I think the point here is that you have a QB that has bits made from procelain, and his backups got ZERO time with the first team in months. I do however agree with you about seeing the league wide average.

[Susquehanna Birder]

Maybe this points to Garcia being able to do better in the next game than he did in relief yesterday.

Maybe.

[MURP]

I'm not a huge fan of Ashley Fox's writing.  In this case, it's because I'd like to know what the general standard is league-wide.  Frankly, I don't think very many head coaches give any QB besides their starter reps with the 1st team.  So while she makes it sound like the coaching staff was making a mistake, I'd venture to say no less than 75% of NFL teams do the exact same thing.

I was thinking about that also, but then I read Garcia's comment about his previous backup experiences on other teams. 

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Maybe this points to Garcia being able to do better in the next game than he did in relief yesterday.

Maybe.

I hope he sucks.

How many days until the draft?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I was thinking about that also, but then I read Garcia's comment about his previous backup experiences on other teams. 

Yeah, but how much of that is a 2nd stringer just making excuses for playing in mediocre fashion when called upon, and how much is relaying the experience when he was a backup behind a guy like Joey Harrington, and not Donovan?

[ice grillin you]

when this season comes to an end mcnabb will have missed 20 of his last 80 games

and thats not including the games he misses at the start of next year

[rjs246]

Your starting All-Pro quarterback has been hurt A TON during his career.

Obviously the best decision is to give zero reps to the backups. Obviously.

[ice grillin you]

what happens when mcnabb is tired or has to use the bathroom or gets nicked up or even hurt...

does andy just send the first unit to the sidelines?