Philadelphia Eagles: Is Michael Vick or Andy Reid to Blame for Eagles Struggles?

The Philadelphia Eagles are facing a worst case scenario right now, and it doesn’t look like there are many ways around it.

For a team that seemed to be everybody’s lock for the Super Bowl in 2011, they have really taken a hit. To be honest, they’ll be lucky to make the playoffs.

If you’re an Eagles fan and you haven’t heard the news by now, it’s time to take a deep breath and take the plunge. You aren’t in for good news, according to a Tweet from Eagles Insider:

To be fair, this isn’t the complete worst situation for the Eagles, because apparently it’s Vick’s right hand. NFL.com reports more on the situation:

"

Michael Vick's day appears to have ended prematurely for the second consecutive week due to injury.

The Eagles quarterback was escorted off the field midway through the third quarter against the Giants with a right hand injury. X-rays determined a break in his non-throwing hand. It was unclear on what play Vick was injured.

Vick returned to action for one series, but was eventually replaced by Mike Kafka. He was seen sitting on the bench without a helmet looking dejected as Kafka entered the game.

Vick was back in the lineup Sunday after being forced out of Week 2 with a concussion. He took several hard hits from the Giants over the course of three quarters.

"

The good news is that it’s his left hand. But that being said, he’s not going to be able to take snaps or play in the shotgun.

Unless the Eagles find a way to somehow get him in a cast that allows him to take snaps, I don’t see him getting on the field anytime soon.

With Vince Young still dealing with an injury himself, it looks like the quarterback responsibilities are going to fall squarely on the shoulders of second-year quarterback Mike Kafka.

Kafka looked good in relief of Vick against the Falcons, going 7-of-9 for 72 yards, but there is no way you can compare the two.

The question now becomes, who is to blame for this mess?

This is a team that had the high aspiration of being a Super Bowl team. They went out and made big trades, signed the biggest free agent on the market in Nnamdi Asomugha, and put themselves in position to be the best team in the league.

We all knew that Vick was a liability as far as injuries were concerned, and now those fears have come true for the Eagles.

Personally, I think the blame has to put on Eagles coach Andy Reid.

The offensive line has been a mess for the Eagles, and Reid hasn’t done anything to help Vick out as far as the play-calling has been concerned.

When you know you have a weakness, you have to do everything you can do to protect it. Instead, Reid has seemingly tried to force Vick into the pocket, his undisputed area of weakness, and it has left him open to big hits behind his sketchy offensive line.

A season that started with so much promise is now hanging preciously in the balance, and the Eagles have their coach to blame.