Thursday night, Donovan McNabb plainly stated (and gestured) that the rhythm of the Eagles offense suffered in Michael Vick’s first game. Sunday morning, Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was busy pooh-poohing the notion.
“It was new,” said Mornhinweg in a transcript provided by the team. “Listen, I understand the rhythm and all of that, but one play here and there is not going to disrupt the rhythm. It won’t happen. So we’ll continue to do that and Michael will help us in some of those situations.”
Given McNabb’s in-game and post-game reaction Thursday night, it would seem the Eagles franchise quarterback is the one who needs the convincing more than the general populace.
After the game, McNabb said (among other things), “I think it’s very important in a game, whether it’s in the regular season or the preseason, to get that rhythm going. If you’re going to show different looks, make sure it’s the right time. That’s what the preseason’s for to make sure you know when that time is and we’ll get that time together. I thought it was important at that time to get out and run our offense.”
More damning was a seemingly terse sideline exchange between Vick and McNabb in the second quarter in which McNabb went directly from speaking to Vick to giving the throat-slash, “cut it” gesture to Mornhinweg. Vick watched the exchange, a hurt look on his face. (Maybe it was gas.)
Asked about the exchange, Mornhinweg said, “We did have a quick conversation. We all do our jobs, that’s it. I understand but that’s secondary. You are not going to let one or two plays throw us out of the rhytm and that’s at every position.”
Mornhinweg then launched into the notion that players at other positions, so what’s the big deal with quarterback?
“Receivers like to get into a little rhythm too and they’re in and out,” said Mornhinweg. “Backs go in and out. We change personnel groups virtually every play. . . . There it is, that’s my thoughts about that.”
Last year, though, rhythm and substitution was a big deal. Big enough for the Eagles to shorten their bench in late November. Asked about the inconsistency, Mornhinweg said, “Who told you that? Did I say that? It was so long ago. We probably cut it just a little bit because we were good at certain things.”
Mornhinweg dropped the curtain on the rhythm questions by saying, “I understand the rhythm and all those types of things. It’s not going to disrupt our rhythm. It won’t.”
Given that it took fewer than 18 minutes of game time in Vick’s first appearance for it to become an issue, you have to wonder how that could be true. Will it be on the coaching staff to use Vick less? Or will it be McNabb’s job to suck it up and deal with the situation even if he believes the offense is suffering?
Again, this isn’t an issue a team with Super Bowl aspirations really needs in late August. Or ever.
