Philadelphia Eagles Mid-Week Report: Reid and Vick’s Last Stand

We are T-minus 72 hours and counting until the Philadelphia Eagles regular season ends and the speculation about everything from the entire coaching staff to just about everyone on the roster begins. Before we get to that point, the Eagles still have another game to play. The Eagles take on the New York Giants on Sunday. Quarterback Nick Foles is out with a broken hand and Michael Vick will make what is expected to be his final start in a Eagles uniform. Andy Reid will also be coaching what everyone expects to be his last game as the Eagles head coach. Sunday’s game will be a fun one for Eagles fans. Even if the team loses by 40 points, you can take solace in the fact that neither will be back in 2013 and the Eagles have a shot at the number three pick in the draft(should the Raiders lose). If the Eagles win, they sweep the Giants and eliminate them from the playoffs. I have no idea what to expect out of Reid, Vick or the entire team in general. Do they ban together, rally behind their coach and quarterback and pull off the upset? Or do they stink up the joint like they have for the majority of the season? I could see either or. The fact that a win or loss can benefit the Eagles will make this a fun game. Jeremy Maclin hurt his knee in practice on Wednesday and sat out practice today. Nobody really knows the extent of the knee surgery just yet. The Eagles could be without both Maclin and DeSean Jackson who is already on IR. The Giants may be 27th against the pass, but it may not matter if the Eagles are down to Jason Avant, Riley Cooper and Damaris Johnson at wide receiver. It could serve a big opportunity for Johnson and Marvin McNutt, who has spent most of the season on the practice squad. Antonio Dixon was signed after Nick Foles was put on IR. Dixon was a stud when Sean McDermott was the Eagles defensive coordinator back in 2009 and 2010. He ran a 2-gap system with his defensive tackles. Dixon was a stout run defender, but his career was derailed after tearing his triceps muscle in 2011 and not fitting in with the wide-9 this season. If the Eagles switch to a 3-4 defense or if they keep a more traditional line scheme, Dixon should return to form. It never felt like he belonged on Jim Washburn’s line. Speaking of the 3-4, should the Eagles go that route on defense? They have some players that could make the transition pretty seamlessly(Fletcher Cox, Mychael Kendricks), some that could blossom in it(Philly Hunt, Brandon Graham, Antonio Dixon) and some that could be out of place(Trent Cole, Mike Patterson). There are two things to consider with a 3-4 defense. One, it doesn’t always mean the defense will be better. Two, the transitional period can be easy(Houston Texans under Wade Phillips) or the first year can be tough (Green Bay Packers under Dom Capers). It all depends on the players in house, how you draft and what kind of free agents you are able to scoop up. You don’t need to sign the best 3-4 nose tackle or edge rusher, but signing a solid veteran defensive end or linebacker with experience in the 3-4 benefits everyone, especially if they are familiar with the defensive coordinator.