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We asked Michael Vick recently who he thought was poised for a big year based off what he had seen this offseason. The quarterback took some time to mull the question over before giving his response.

“Zach Ertz,” he finally said. “The reason I say that is he’s fighting something right now. And once he gets that corrected, it’s going to be a beautiful thing.”

What’s he fighting?

“The ball.”

Presented with Vick’s comments, Ertz agreed with his quarterback.

Is Chip Kelly’s offense sustainable through a 16-game season? Was the team we saw in the second half the “real” Eagles? We try to answer those questions and more in the latest Twitter Mailbag.

The Redskins were credited with seven quarterback hits on Michael Vick Monday night, but that doesn’t begin to tell the story.

Through his film study, Ron Jaworski tracks the amount of hits the quarterback takes in a given game. According to Jaws’ count, Vick was knocked to the ground 15 times in the opener and was involved in some sort of contact play an additional eight times. That’s 23 of 77 snaps (30 percent)  where the 33-year-old was mixing it up.

“No one can sustain those kind of hits at the quarterback position and stay healthy,” said Jaworski. “It’s too many.”

Cary Williams hasn’t exactly blended in since arriving in Philadelphia via free agency back in March.

He has mixed it up with both the opposition and his own teammates. Has been outspoken on a number of issues from race relations to defensive toughness. And of course he made the most un-Philadelphian word ever — sconces — a part of our city’s lexicon.

“I think it’s been more than a rocky start,” said Williams following Monday’s win over Washington. “But at the end of the day I just want to play football. Every time I am on the field I want to put my best foot forward. I want my teammates to understand that they can have confidence in me, that I go out there and I prepare and I play my tail off each and every play.”

The 28-year-old admits that his experience has been a little different so far, but says he wouldn’t trade it in. And he recognizes that city and player are still trying to figure one another out.

Vinny Curry grew up an Eagles fan, so in a lot of respects this is a dream job for him. But his time in Philadelphia has come with its share of frustrations. And as he embarks on his second season, it’s unclear exactly how he fits into the team’s plans — if he fits into them at all.

The Neptune, New Jersey native found himself in a familiar spot Monday night:  on the inactive list. He did not dress for the first 10 games his rookie season. Curry was hoping those days were behind him, but was relegated to the sidelines once again on Monday night while the other six defensive linemen on the roster were active and saw playing time against Washington.

There is some talk that he is simply not a fit for this scheme and is best suited as a pass rusher in a 4-3.

Is it time to move on?

His representation is open the idea.

“Vinny’s main objective is to play and play at a high level,” agent Kevin Connor told Birds 24/7. “The question becomes, can that happen in Philly or do we need to facilitate an opportunity outside of Philly if it makes sense for all parties.”

Chip Kelly drew laughs from the gathered media when he suggested that the tempo on offense was too slow Monday night. But he wasn’t kidding.

“No I feel like it was slow to be honest with you. I’m not joking,” said Kelly. “We need to do a better job. We left the ball on the ground too much, we didn’t get the ball to the officials. We could have sped things up from a process in between plays, and that’s something that we need to continue to work on.”

When a reporter tracked down Trent Cole he was over near DeMeco Ryans’ locker stall, regaling the group of assembled linebackers with his tales of conquest. Animated, he was demonstrating how he was able to get a Redskins player down with a swipe of his powerful arm.

“Stop lying, Trent. You know you didn’t do none of that,” his teammates playfully fired back.

But they knew he had. Cole just walked over to his locker, a giant smile on his face.

His first night on the job as an outside linebacker had gone decidedly well.

When Michael Vick ran in for a three-yard score late in the second quarter, a jubilant DeSean Jackson jumped onto his quarterback in celebration and […]

Join Tim and Sheil for a live chat during tonight’s Eagles-Redskins game. They’ll be live from FedEx Field with updates and observations. Kickoff is set for 7:10.

“I think Chip Kelly is going to have as much influence on the game and the way it’s played now as anyone. If for no other reason, just the pace of the game and the number of plays.

— Hall of Fame coach John Madden

When Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie talked about Chip Kelly being on the “cutting edge of football today,” you wonder how much he was referring to tempo.

The Eagles released cornerback Brandon Hughes on Saturday, a league source confirmed.

The 27-year-old veteran fractured his hand in the third preseason game against the Jaguars. He had already been ruled out of Monday’s opener against the Redskins.

This could very well be a temporary and financially-driven move.

At 4 p.m. on Saturday the salaries for players that are considered “vested veterans” become guaranteed. By cutting Hughes, who was not going to play this week anyway, the Eagles avoid that guarantee.

Hughes is scheduled to make $650,000 this season.

A  fifth-round pick by the Chargers in 2009, the Oregon State product has 27 tackles and a pair of passes defensed over the last three seasons with the Eagles.

When the fire comes, chances are it’s going to be coming off the right edge. Not just because that’s Michael Vick‘s blindside, but also because of who is protecting it.

“If you had your choice, who are you going to try to go against from a tackle perspective?” asked Chip Kelly. “Right now, you’ve got an All Pro lining up at left tackle [and at right tackle] a very talented but still a rookie.  I think all rookies in this league are going to be tested no matter what position you play.”

Kelly has a point. Even if Lane Johnson, the No. 4 overall pick, does come in with a pedigree, he is still completely green. Given a choice between going after him or Jason Peters, you go Johnson all day until he gives you reason to change course. The rookie is going to be tested quite a bit.The Redskins have a pair of quality outside linebackers in Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan that are sure to do just that Monday night.

Will Chip Kelly be a success? Which Eagle is ready to break out? And what will the team’s record be? All that and more as Tim and Sheil attempt to predict the season.

Tim and Sheil talked Cary Williams, Riley Cooper, Eagles-Redskins, Chip Kelly and more on 97.5 The Fanatic Thursday night.

Download the podcast here: iTunes version or listen online.

They’ll be broadcasting live from Smiths in Center City from 6 to 7 every Thursday during the season.

Riley Cooper and Cary Williams had a heated exchange during practice Thursday morning.

Williams was covering the receiver during one-on-one drills. After the play, they stood toe-to-toe jawing at one another. It turned physical and some slaps were thrown at each others’ helmets. Brandon Boykin jumped in to help separate the two.