Mike Vick will make his Eagles debut this Thursday in the Eagles 3rd preseason game. According to Andy Reid, Vick will play and mix in along with the first team, which is supposed to play roughly the first three quarters.
The Eagles would be smart to use Vick in multiple situations. It is uncertain as to whether or not Vick will play in the 4th preseason game or not. He does need to get in the work, but the starters, and important players usually do not play in the 4th preseason game. I'm not sure if Vick falls into that category or not, so I have no clue whether he will be playing in the 4th preseason game. If he isn't, this game on Thursday will obviously be the only game action he sees before the regular season.
I think that the Eagles should use Vick with the 1st team as much as possible, in as many different situations. During the regular season, you want the opposing teams defensive coordinator to have to worry about Vick throughout the whole week when they are game planning for the Eagles offense. No matter how much you actually use Vick in the regular season, or where he lines up is irrelevant. You still want the opposing defensive coordinator to think that Vick is going to play, and spend time worrying about how they will stop Vick. No matter where Vick lines up, he is dangerous. You want to show this off in the preseason game. You want to show how quick and dangerous and athletic Vick still is. You want him to line up in the slot, out wide, in the backfield, at quarterback, in the shotgun, in the wildcat. If the Eagles show this on Thursday, the opposing teams during the regular season then have to prepare for Vick to be anywhere and everywhere on the field. And when you get Vick into the open field, he can be very dangerous.
The more time an opposing team worries about Vick, the less time they worry about the more important weapons who will be playing more - McNabb, Westbrook, Jackson, and McCoy. The Eagles should show Vick in multiple situations this Thursday, because even if they don't give him the ball, you still have to worry about where he will be at all times.
