Reid: Herremans ‘probably not' moving to tackle

Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Posted: 5:20 p.m.

By Reuben Frank
CSNPhilly.com

Todd Herremans most likely wont be swinging over to right tackle in the Eagles restructured 2011 offensive line, head coach Andy Reid said in a radio interview on Tuesday.

After the selection of guard Danny Watkins in the first round of the draft on Thursday, Reid left the door open for Herremans to move from left guard to right tackle.

Not so fast, Reid says now.

Right now, thats probably not going to happen, Reid said in an interview with WPEN. Hes probably going to be playing guard.

The Eagles allowed 49 sacks in 16 games last year and three more in the wild-card loss to the Packers, and theres been significant speculation that Herremans would move to right tackle in place of Winston Justice, with Watkins taking over at right guard in place of Max Jean-Gilles and Nick Cole and Mike McGlynn presumably leading competition at left guard.

But Reid says now he expects Justice and King Dunlap to compete at right tackle, which with a left-handed quarterback like Michael Vick, means protecting the quarterbacks blind side.

I think were pretty solid at that tackle position, Reid said.I think Winston or King will work that right side and then Jason Peters is pretty well locked in at that left tackle spot. ...

King Dunlap stepped in at both right and left tackle last year and showed us that he can play, so that gives us a little flexibility there, and Winstons coming back off the knee injury and I think hes actually doing pretty good.

When we had the few hours Friday when the lockout was lifted, we had the chance to visit with Justice, and I think hes good to go. Herremans does give you that flexibility, too, because he played tackle in college and he came in and has been a guard since, but he can play either side guard or either side tackle, so we do have some flexibility there. Right now, thats probably not going to happen. Hes probably going to be playing guard and Danny will be playing guard.

So according to Reid, were now looking at an offensive line with Peters at left tackle, Dunlap or Justice at right tackle, Herremans and Watkins at guard (most likely, but not definitely, Herremans on the left side and Watkins on the right) and presumably Jamaal Jackson or McGlynn at center.

Reid said he has no doubt Watkins is ready to start from Day 1.

Danny, hes ready to go, Reid said. I think its just a matter of getting in and doing it. But physically and mentally hes ready to step in and take on a starting spot.

Reid also said rookie safety Jaiquawn Jarrett, the Eagles second-round pick, is a better cover safety than some are giving him credit for. The book on Jarrett is that hes a big hitter and sure tackler who has a long way to go to become a capable cover safety.

Reid took exception to that characterization.

When Brian Dawkins came out, he wasnt known as a cover guy and he kind of developed into that, Reid said. You see Jarrett, when he goes down to the Senior Bowl, he has the pro coaches coaching him and asking him to kind of do what we do at this level, and he picked it up very well.

His one-on-ones down at the Senior Bowl, I think he surprised everybody with his ability to cover, his anticipation. Hes a smart kid. He knows how to play the game.

Reid also addressed the latest Kevin Kolb report. SI.com reported this week that the Eagles already have an offer on the table to trade Kolb to a team in exchange for a 2012 first-round pick, but Reid said thats not true.

Im not sure where that came from, he said. No. Thats not where were at right now. Were not allowed to talk about it anyway. You couldnt talk about deals with anybody.

Until the lockout is lifted, the Eagles cannot discuss trade terms with other teams. Even during the brief lockout respite on Friday, teams werent allowed to discuss trades involving players.

Reid did allow that he does believe Kolb is worth a first-round pick. At least.

I think hes worth that, Reid said. Ive got to sit here and go, Whats best for the Philadelphia Eagles. The compensation, if youre going to do something like that, youve got to get the compensation that you feel is right. Do I think hes worthy of a first-round pick or whatever it might be? Yeah, I think the world of the guy because I think hes a championship-caliber quarterback ... and those guys are very valuable.

On the other hand, hes our property and our guy right now, so if things arent right, then he stays with us and we move on from there.

E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com
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