Michael Vick's Health and the 8 Biggest Concerns for the Philadelphia Eagles

Let's not crown the Eagles Super Bowl XLVI Champions too quickly. The Eagles still have weak spots and question marks that need to be addressed. Preseason hype often gets out of hand, but with the Eagles signing everyone this side of Brett Favre, they have rightfully monopolized the vast majority of it.

As Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys' fans can tell you, high expectations can deflate almost instantaneously with a bad game or two.

While I believe Andy Reid is too good a coach to allow his team to enter the 2011 season overconfident, I still worry that there are other factors that could trip up the Eagles on their quest for the Lombardi Trophy.

With that in mind, here are the top concerns for the Eagles heading into the first preseason game this Thursday.

8. Can Alex Henery Replace David Akers?

With Akers botching two mid-range field goals in last year's playoff game against the Packers, and Andy Reid's subsequent comments about the missed kicks, it wasn't particularly surprising that Akers and the Eagles finally parted ways.

But despite one rough game, Akers was a phenomenal kicker. He's a five-time Pro Bowler.

Fans often underestimate the value of a good kicker. Kickers often make the difference in the end. Don't forget that without Akers' perfect onside kick against the Giants, the Eagles don't win that game and possibly don't make the playoffs.

The former Nebraska Cornhusker Alex Henery was statistically the most accurate kicker in college football history (89.5 FG percentage). But the transition to the NFL is tough at every position, as is the increased pressure. And Henery has big shoes to fill.

7. Jeremy Maclin's Health

While DeSean Jackson demands, and likewise seems to get all the attention from ESPN and the media, Maclin is the Andre Johnson-type guy who just quietly handles his business.

While Jackson had a Pro Bowl season with 47 catches for 1056 yards and six touchdowns, Maclin somewhat outdid him with 70 catches for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns. But no Pro Bowl for Jeremy.

From what (little) information has been released, Maclin had mono in the spring, and has now been kept out of practice for an undisclosed illness. While Maclin and Reid insist the ominous rumors about the gravity of the illness are untrue, it's becoming more and more worrisome the longer they refuse to talk about it.

With Jackson's contract situation, his small stature and his many examples of "me first" behavior, the Eagles would probably not like to put all their eggs in his basket. Although Jackson has had solid stats each of his three seasons with Philadelphia, his play in 2010 was sporadic, with huge plays interspersed with long droughts.

Jackson is perhaps not the kind of player they want to rely on for steady production every game. With Maclin and Jackson, and a solid third receiver in Jason Avant, the Eagles could rest assured that they would have solid receiver play every down. But Maclin has to be there.

6. Casey Matthews at the Middle Linebacker Spot

The Matthews brothers seems to exceed expectations at every level, so perhaps this is an unnecessary concern. But, as a fourth-round draft pick, I don't think many expected Casey to be starting for the most talented team in the league in his rookie season.

Matthews certainly has talent, there's no doubt. A first team All-Pac 10 selection a year ago, he shined in the BCS Championship, forcing the fumble that allowed the Ducks to tie the game.

We'll find out soon enough if Matthews can handle the job yet. I wouldn't be particularly surprised to see a veteran backer brought in with the little bit of room that is left under the salary cap.

5. Nate Allen and the Safeties

Allen of course missed the last three games of 2010 after tearing his patellar tendon. The Eagles have (unsurprisingly) been hesitant to rush things with Allen in the early going at training camp.

Kurt Coleman and rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett are the two likely battling for the free safety spot. It was a little surprising the Eagles were so willing to give up Pro Bowler Quintin Mikell, the only veteran safety they had.

While the Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie pickups have bolstered the best cornerback group in the NFL, the safeties are a bit of a question mark.

Assuming Allen is good to go in September, the secondary should be excellent. But the final safety spot is still a bit worrisome, and Allen is just getting back into the swing of things.

Since Andy Reid and Howie Roseman chose to get a third cornerback instead of a safety, we can only assume they like the potential of the second-round pick Jarrett. Either way, I'm going to ignore the whispers of "best secondary ever" and keep a close eye on the safeties.

4. Vince Young as a Reliable Backup

With the Vince Young addition, two major questions arise: 1) Will Vince Young be ready to step in if Vick gets hurt again? 2) Will Young be satisfied in sitting on the bench as a backup quarterback?

In regards to the first one, it could go either way. Young's career has been a roller coaster. He had successful seasons with the Titans in 2006 and 2009, resulting in two trips to the Pro Bowl. But he struggled mightily in 2007, lost his job in 2008 and lost it again in 2010 after an altercation with coach Jeff Fisher.

Overall, his stats are underwhelming: a 57.9 completion percentage, and 42 interceptions to match his 42 career touchdown passes.

Hopefully, Young will see a boost in his passing abilities akin to the improvement Vick has shown under the Eagles' tutelage. But that won't be immediate. Perhaps they can settle for the fact that his 30-17 starting record with Tennessee greatly outdid their record of 15-18 over the same span without him under center. Like Vick, he's a winner.

As far as his contentment with being the backup, that jury is also still out. While he is saying all the right things, he never handled losing the starting job in Tennessee well at all.

3. Jason Peters and the Offensive Line Strength

The offensive line must be improved for the Eagles to move forward. Some changes have been made in personnel. Jason Peters and Todd Herremans return, as does the injured Winston Justice, though he will be challenged by recent acquisition Ryan Harris. Jamaal Jackson looks to replace his replacement Mike McGlynn at center.

Rookies Danny Watkins and center Jason Kelce were also added, and both seem to have the potential to vie for starting spots.

The most important change of all, perhaps, is the addition of new offensive line coach Howard Mudd, who is making changes in the Eagles' line schemes. So at least Eagles fans can rest assured that some new players are in, and the old players are playing in a different system.

Still, it's left to be seen whether the improvements in the line play will happen right away. More likely, the positive effects of the changes will take a few games to materialize.

The offensive line, whose poor play necessitated Vick taking the reins last season, and allowed him to take a beating time after time once he became the guy, is arguably the most pressing concern for the Eagles in 2011. They need to be much improved.

2. Michael Vick's Health

Perhaps the single greatest concern for the Atlanta Falcons in the previous decade has been passed on to the Eagles. While Vick's electric play excites crowds, sells tickets and jerseys and often wins games, it likewise endangers the man who engenders it.

The numbers don't lie. In Vick's eight NFL seasons, he has only played in all 16 games once. While he has played in 15 out of 16 games three times, in two seasons (2003 and last season) he has lost a significant number of games to injury.

No matter how much the Eagles have built up the "dream team," it all starts and ends with No. 7. Vick needs to minimize the hits he takes, and his offensive line needs to protect him better than they did a year ago.

1. Meshing Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Ronnie Brown and DeSean Jackson

Football is the consummate team sport. Talent is important, but team chemistry is equally important. The Cowboys and Vikings certainly had the talent to compete last season, but their respective teams never came together (even before their quarterback injuries).

There's no way to tell how players are going to come together. But with a team full of superstars, there are always causes for concern. With so many big names like Asante Samuel, Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin, and guys like Vince Young and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on the second string, you wonder how easy it's going to be to promote "team first."