Eagles comfortable with OTs Herremans, Bell
At no point following the Achilles injury suffered by Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, did the Philadelphia coaches consider switching right tackle Todd Herremans to the left side.
The former guard has matured well into the tackle slot under Howard Mudd and the Eagles' staff agreed that it didn't want to move him to compensate for Peters' loss, a significant subtraction that could be felt all season.
A lot has been made about the perception that, because quarterback Michael Vick is left-handed, Herremans essentially is the blindside protector.
But Vick is so unique, and the Philadelphia offense calls for so much bootleg and "waggle" action, that the usual protection precepts don't apply.
Thus, the loss of Peters, presumably for the year, is more critical because, in many instances, he really was the blindside blocker.
If he can stay healthy, free agent signee Demetress Bell could make himself a valuable free agent commodity next spring.
Bell signed a five-year deal in Philly, but the structure of the contract really makes it a one-year pact.
If Peters comes back as expected in 2013, coupled with the Herremans' three-year extension through 2016 (which basically created a five-year, $26.3 million contract), Bell probably will become expendable.
