EAGLES: Reaction to the Potential Lockout

Let’s face the hard and depressing reality–it seems, now more than ever, that a lockout is coming in the National Football League.

In the final day of meetings, the NFL Players Association decertified its union today. What does this mean? To put it simply, the NFLPA has given up trying to reach a deal with the owners. Instead they will file class-action lawsuits that could last well into the 2011 season. According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the NFL plans to announce a lockout at some point tonight or over the weekend.

How long will this lockout last?

ESPN wrote: “In the end, it appeared the sides were about $185 million per year apart on how much money owners would get up front during the new collective bargaining agreement — well down from the $1 billion that separated them for so long. The union refused to budge any further without getting detailed financial information for each team.”

This goes to show how capitalism drives every industry. It’s a battle between  millionaires and billionaires, between greed and greedier. The reason for the sport, which is to provide entertainment, has lost its value because of personal gain. There may be no more Sunday’s on the couch with Fox/CBS/ESPN, no more fantasy football, and no more Super Bowl parties this upcoming season. That was not an easy sentence to write.

The Philadelphia Inquirer published the reactions to a number of Eagles players, who may find themselves off the field and on the golf links this upcoming season.

“I cringe every time I hear it,” said Eagles center Mike McGlynn, one of the team’s union representatives. “I just want to jump through the TV screen and say, ‘I’m not a millionaire!’”

“I know we stand together,” Eagles player representative Winston Justice said. ”We’re not just fighting for ourselves now. We’re fighting for the future of the NFL and its players.”

If there is a lockout, players won’t be able to have contact with the team, their coaches or be permitted to use team facilities. So not only are the players losing their potential to play, but also their practice facilities to stay in shape and rehab as well as their relationships with their teammates. It extends past the owners and the players; it’s the coaches, scouts, office workers all potentially being laid off. It’s the concessions, the restaurants, the merchandising companies. And most of all, it’s the fans. All for an extra buck for the already billionaire owners.

Since it seems no deal will be reached by midnight tonight, we can only hope and pray that an agreement comes in the near future before disrupting the discourse of the NFL season. If not, I hope ESPN starts carrying more English Premier Soccer games or the UFL is ready to step into prime time. Ugh, this makes me sick.

EAGLES: What We Have Learned from the Eagles This Season

A lot has happened in the first seven weeks of the Eagles season. Between the transition of the franchise from the Donovan McNabb era and 13 draft picks in April, the Eagles have had to deal with a lot of changes in their young roster.

Philadelphia is 4-3 on the year and sits one game behind the New York Giants in the NFC East. Luckily for the Eagles, they play in the NFC East which has been one of the biggest divisional busts of the season. Many believe that the Eagles are lucky to even be in the hunt at this point in the season, considering how inconsistent the team has been and how much drama has surrounded them on and off the field.

We have learned a lot about the Eagles through the first seven weeks. Anyone that follows the Eagles knew coming into the season that it was going to be a year full of questions. Many have coined this year’s team as a “rebuilding process”, whereas others still believe that the Eagles can contend with any team in the NFL. Heading into the second half of the season (and the hardest part of the season), the Eagles have a lot to improve on if they want to be taken seriously in the very up-in-the-air NFC.

So what exactly have we learned this season?

1) The Eagles have two very capable quarterbacks

Andy Reid got his wish. Much to the dislike of fans and the media, Reid has flip-flopped between starters Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick all season. They have both proven that they can lead the team to wins, but it’s their dissimilarities that make this an interesting core. They have very different styles (which I have argued in previous posts is not beneficial to the future of the organization) and have accounted for two wins each on the season. Vick played hero at the beginning of the season, but took a brutal hit on the goal line, sending Kevin Kolb back to the starting role. Kolb answered back in dramatic fashion, leading the ‘Birds in back to back wins over the 49ers and Falcons. They have combined to one of the best passer ratings in the league and I think any Eagles fan can feel comfortable with Vick or Kolb as the starter.

2) The offensive line is a joke

Much of the Eagles success on offense relies on the offensive line. They are one of the most inconsistent units in franchise history. Barred by injuries to Jamaal Jackson and Jason Peters, the Eagles have had to rely on young players such as King Dunlap and Mike McGlynn to carry the weight on the line. They are tied for second in the league for sacks allowed per game (3) and rank high in QB hits allowed. There have been flashes of potential, but week in and week out the offensive line finds a way to keep the opposing defense in the game.

3) Brent Celek hangover

Can Brent Celek re-establish himself as a go-to receiver?

For the most part, the Eagles receiving core has been pretty impressive. DeSean Jackson took one of the biggest hits of the season that has put him out for a couple of weeks. Until this past week against the Titans, Jeremy Maclin has been the most impressive receiver for the Eagles. He leads the ‘Birds with 30 receptions for 458 yards and six touchdowns and has done a sufficient job as the top receiver (with the exception of the Titans game).

More importantly for the success of the Eagles has been the lack of production from tight end Brent Celek. Coming off a Pro-Bowl caliber season, Celek was expected to be one of the best in the league at his position. He only has 21 receptions for 229 yards and two scores on a pass-happy offense that loves to go to the tight end. In the last couple of weeks he has faced problems with dropping balls in crucial moments and is losing his reputation for being a big play tight end. With DeSean Jackson now on the concussion watch list, Celek is going to need to fill in as a go-to receiver.

4) LeSean McCoy has established himself as a No. 1 running back

Without McCoy, the Eagles would probably have a losing record. He has played with cracked ribs the last couple of weeks but continues to carry the workload for the running game. He is averaging 4.5 yards per carry and more impressively he leads the ‘Birds in receptions. One of the biggest questions for the second half of the season is whether or not McCoy can handle the heavy workload during the long season. The Eagles lack a sufficient backup that can compliment McCoy. Hopefully Jerome Harrison can make more of an impact than Mike Bell.

5) Vulnerability of the secondary

Since the Brian Dawkins era, the Eagles secondary has primarily been a big-play unit. They like to take risks with the hopes of not giving up too many big plays. The problem this season is that they have given up too many of those plays. A case point would be last week’s performance by Kenny Britt, who torched the Eagles for 225 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters of play. Ellis Hobbs has been a cancer at cornerback and Asante Samuel has been relatively quiet this year. Despite recording three interceptions in the first three weeks, Nate Allen still has a lot of growing up to do. Quintin Mikell leads the team in tackles, but has been vulnerable to the long ball and tends to get beaten over the top. The Eagles defense is allowing over 22 points per game, ranking them 19^th in the league. Sean McDermott is on the hot seat now and improving the secondary is the first thing he needs to do to improve his image.

Where is the Stewart Bradley of old?

6) Where is Stewart Bradley?

Two years ago, Stewart Bradley seemed like he was going to the future of the Eagles defense. Since Eagles Flight Night in 2009 when Bradley suffered a season ending ACL tear, he has not provided the same presence in the middle as he did in 2008. He is fifth on the team in tackles and has yet to create a turnover this season. At least the Eagles have Trent Cole to pick up his slack.

7) The schedule is only going to get harder

The biggest concern for the Eagles moving forward has been their inconsistency against mediocre and subpar teams. Three of their four wins have come against teams with losing records, but more importantly their losses have been ugly. All three of their losses have come to teams that are .500 or better. This is a big concern for Eagles fans considering that seven out of the next nine opponents have even or winning records. It also doesn’t help that the Eagles face the Colts coming out of the bye, a team that Andy Reid has yet to beat in his tenure.

Philadelphia has a lot to work on if they want to continue to compete in the division. They face five more NFC East games, including two against the Giants and Cowboys. Let’s see what this young team’s got.

Happy Halloween and more importantly happy Phillies World Series Parade day as it was two years ago today that Broad Street was flooded with red.

EAGLES: Can Jamaal Jackson Save the Eagles Offensive Line?

In the last few days, there have been various reports that center Jamaal Jackson may be the Eagles starter come opening day. He practiced with the first team offense on Monday and has not dealt with any reported problems with his surgically repaired knee that kept him out for the end of last season.

Having Jackson back as the starting center is not only a positive, it is a necessity. With Nick Cole continuing to nurse an ankle injury, the Eagles are currently relying on third-year offensive lineman Mike McGlynn to take snaps. McGlynn has held his own for the past three games as the starter, but he is not the long term answer for the Eagles. Jackson proved at the beginning of last season that he is capable of being a Pro-Bowl caliber center; however his knee is a big concern moving forward.

Can Jamaal Jackson remain healthy before the regular season?

With Jackson being a staple player at center, the Eagles can focus more on the rest of the offensive line. His health can act as a stepping stone and enable the first team to practice as a unit again. Like last season, the Eagles have yet to practice or play a preseason game with the first-team offensive line, which didn’t go over so well for all of 2009. Similar to 2009, the biggest question mark heading into the regular season is the offensive line. They have five prominent starters in Jackson, Jason Peters, Stacy Andrews, Todd Herremans and Winston Justice, however they just can’t seem to stay healthy and get reps together.

Herremans, who has battled a left foot problem, sprained his ankle during Monday’s practice. Stacy Andrews is struggling in practice and has been splitting time with Max Jean-Gilles and Nick Cole who returned to practice after his ankle injury. In the absence of his brother, Andrews has also been forced to switch from tackle to guard, which has not been very smooth.

Jason Peters is not dealing with any injuries, but is not there mentally. He led the team in penalties last season and has already committed a couple in preseason. He is a three-time Pro-bowler yet is playing much like a rookie. The scariest part of the Eagles offensive line is that their most consistent player is probably Winston Justice. I never thought I would be saying that after the way he started his career watching Osi Umenyiora run past him six times.

Another year and the offensive line still has a lot to prove. The only difference is that the 2010 Eagles team has a number of other questions lingering above the heads of the players and coaches: how well will Kevin Kolb fare? Are the Eagles too young at offense? Can Nate Allen and Brandon Graham be all the Eagles were hoping for? Can the defense improve despite its age and inexperience? Just add the offensive line to a long list of questions and you have what will be the Eagles season. However, the offensive line is a question that needs to be answered first if the Eagles offense wants to get anything done this year.

EAGLES: Training Camp Wrap-Up; Notes for Second Preseason game

With training camp coming to a close yesterday, all eyes point to Friday night’s second preseason matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Eagles are coming in relatively healthy, which has been the biggest highlight of training camp.

There were no torn ACL’s. There were no season ending injuries. With the exception of a few key players battling nagging injuries, the Eagles were fortunate enough to steer clear of the injury bug (for now that is). Now heading into the heart of preseason, the young Eagles team has the ability to flourish and mold into one of the biggest dark horses of the 2010 season. Looking back at training camp, there were a number of players that really proved themselves and earned a spot on the Eagles roster:

1. Rookies

Andy Reid talks with Clay Harbor

I don’t think I have ever been more excited about a rookie class since following the Eagles. Granted the Eagles have 13 draft picks to choose from, but there are a number of youngsters that proved they can run with the big boys. For one, Brandon Graham demonstrated that he can start as a defensive end for the Eagles. He proved all the naysayers wrong that doubted his size and power. In the last few days he has gotten reps on the inside of the line too, illustrating the confidence that Reid and McDermott have in the first round draft pick. Similarly, free safety Nate Allen, who had arguably the most pressure riding on him coming into Lehigh, showed that he can also play with the first team. Considering the Eagles are extremely thin at safety, many were worried that the second-round pick wouldn’t live up to hype and Allen showed, for now, that he is not afraid to back down. Also, safety Kurt Coleman really opened a lot of eyes over the last few weeks. As a seventh-round pick, Coleman was often overlooked coming out of Ohio State. He should have the backup safety spot locked up.

The biggest shock in my perspective came from wide receiver Riley Cooper. All I remember hearing from him as Florida was his size and ability to be a deep threat, but Cooper demonstrated all of training camp that he is as versatile as they come. Not only do I expect him to make the roster, I expect him to be a viable threat as the Eagles fourth receiver. Similar to Cooper, tight end Clay Harbor was arguably the biggest surprise of training camp. Even though Cornelius Ingram is coming off his second torn ACL, he was the big favorite heading into training camp to be a solid second option. Ingram continues to battle injuries and ended camp as one of the biggest disappointments, as Harbor outplayed him and stayed healthy enough to lock up the second spot behind Brent Celek.

2. Stewart Bradley

The fearless Bradley proved that his torn ACL from last season is far behind him. The Eagles finally have a sufficient leader on the defensive side of the ball and an experienced veteran that will be a major threat in the middle of the field. Despite being held out of many practices for precautionary measures, Bradley was in full force every time he stepped on the field. Expect a big season from No. 55 in the middle and finally some consistency from the linebacker position.

3. Mike McGlynn

With Jamaal Jackson out for the first few weeks and Nick Cole sitting out with knee swelling, the third-year offensive lineman Mike McGlynn stepped in for the Eagles and surprised many at one of the weakest positions on the field. Nick Cole had a lot to prove coming into training camp, and his inability to remain healthy left the door open for McGlynn. It’s not even that McGlynn is playing that well, it’s more that he isn’t making too many mistakes. He will start his second straight game on Friday night against Cincinnati.

Now for the biggest busts of training camp:

Fokou needs to up his game if he wants to see the field in 2010

1. Moise Fokou

Fokou was expected to be the Eagles strong outside linebacker coming into camp and eventually dwindled to the second team taking reps with the linebackers and defensive lineman. He lost his job to a more experienced veteran in Akeem Jordan and will most likely remain on the bench unless someone is injured.

2. Cornelius Ingram/Mike Bell/Nick Cole

All three of these players had the backup/starting positions locked up before they spent most of training camp getting medical attention. The more unfortunate part is that none of their injuries are serious, but are still enough to keep them off the playing field while they watch their positions being taken from them. This is more the case with Ingram who is without question the third string tight end now and who’s only chance to make the 53-man roster is if Reid takes three tight ends. Bell is still expected to be the backup running back for the Eagles due to the lack of depth at the position, but both Eldra Buckley and Martell Mallet are getting reps with the second and third teams as Bell sits out. As I mentioned earlier with Cole, his starting job was in question coming into the season but he was the clear favorite to be the Eagles starting center with Jamaal Jackson still injured. However, his knee continues to keep him on the sidelines as McGlynn makes moves at the starting job.

3. Hank Baskett

With five years of experience in the NFL, it seemed like Baskett was a sure fit as the Eagles fourth wide receiver. Even though it’s a new quarterback and a lot of new faces, it’s still the same system under Andy Reid. Baskett was out-hustled and outplayed by Riley Cooper and Kelly Washington and if it wasn’t for his experience, he would probably not make the team. I’m sure he will still make it as the fifth receiver.

Check out Philly.com Sheil Kapadia’s list of winners and losers from camp.

Notes for Friday night’s game against the Bengals:

-The starters are going to play the first half on Friday night. Kevin Kolb will start, Vick will play the third quarter, and Mike Kafka will finish the game in the fourth quarter.

- Inactive for the game: Nick Cole, Jamaal Jackson, Todd Herremans, David Pender, and Victor Abiamiri

-Asante Samuel (hamstring) and running back Mike Bell (calf) are listed as questionable

-Tight end Cornelius Ingram practiced yesterday and expects to play. Similar story with Macho Harris (hamstring) and Quintin Demps (knee)

-For the Bengals, head coach Marvin Lewis ruled out WR Antonio Bryant (knee), FB Fui Vakapuna (shoulder), WR Robert Geathers (foot), LB Rashad Jeanty (leg), S Tom Nelson (knee) and OT Andrew Mitchell

-A direct quote from Terrell Owens about his new team: “I was just talking to Carson [Palmer] earlier,” Owens said. “This team, this year it really gives me the feeling of when I went to Philly. The talent level on this team, the capabilities of where this team can really go.” It’s always interesting to play against the infamous T.O.

EAGLES: Looking back at the Eagles preseason game against Jacksonville

There was a lot to take away from the Eagles first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday night. From the positive to the negative, the Eagles 28-27 win illustrated that the ‘Birds are still far from game-ready.

If the Eagles could work the west coast offense they did on the first drive, this is going to be a fun year to be an Eagles fan. First off, the Eagles scored on four of their first five drives. Quarterback Kevin Kolb looked relaxed in his completions to DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin for big gains over the middle. The drive ended in a field goal, but that was due to a dropped touchdown pass by Brent Celek. DeSean Jackson was wide open on the side of the endzone and was probably a better option, but there’s no excuse for a drop like that in the red zone. Kolb went 6-for-11 for 95 yards on the night and still realizes there’s a lot to work on before the regular season.

Michael Vick on the other hand was full of ups and downs. He had a great vintage-Vick touchdown run, but also tossed an interception and missed a few crucial passes. His best pass of the night came on a 46-yard toss to rookie wide receiver Riley Cooper. I was surprised at the lack of Wildcat play-calling throughout the game. Maybe Andy finally got it through his head that it wasn’t fooling anyone.

Don't let Chad Hall's size fool you

The player of the game was 5-foot-8 wide receiver Chad Hall. Despite competing at the deepest position of the Eagles roster, Hall’s spectacular performance on Friday night may have solidified his spot on the 53-man list; whether that be as a wide receiver or return specialist. The rookie hauled in a 57-yard pass from Mike Kafka over the middle on top of a few large gains from end-arounds. Despite his tiny stature, his speed is unmatched by almost anyone on the roster. And we all know how much Andy Reid loves speed. Even if Reid decides to take four or five receivers, I can’t imagine he will pass up on Hall’s versatility and ability to be a kick/punt returner.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles first team was very strong in the first quarter. They didn’t see much action (6 plays to be exact), which is a positive considering they forced back-to-back three and outs. Because of that, there’s not much to report on rookies Brandon Graham and Nate Allen, who are two of the biggest question marks coming into the regular season.

The secondary saw the most action against the Jaguars. Seventh-round standout Kurt Coleman, who has opened eyes during training camp, was the Eagles most consistent defensive player on Friday night. Similar to Chad Hall, he may have secured a spot on the team with his performance, making a few big hits (most noticeably the hit on Mike Sims-Walker to break up a 4^th down attempt) and pass deflections.

Veterans Stewart Bradley, Ernie Sims, Broderick Bunkley, Asante Samuel, and Ellis Hobbs all played very well with the first team offense.

Cornerback Joselio Hanson was beat badly by Troy Williamson in the second half, which led to a 73-yard touchdown pass. Hanson is battling Dimitri Patterson and Trevard Lindley for the second cornerback spot on the depth chart and plays like that are certainly not going to help. Linebacker/defensive end Moises Fokou was called for illegal contact and failed to make up for it the rest of the night.

Safety Kurt Coleman is making strides to be the backup safety

Overall, the most important part of the night was that the Eagles remained injury free (with the exception of Antoine Harris). Both the offense and defense showed a lot of bright spots, but more importantly left a lot of room for improvement. The next preseason game is on Friday, August 20^th at Cincinnati.

Updates from Training Camp

-Jason Avant’s brilliant and unnoticed streak of catches may have ended today. Until the morning practice, Avant had not dropped a single pass during training camp and preseason (which according to Marty Mornhineg has been over 100 passes so far). Avant still claims it was a fumble and not a drop pass, jokingly adding, “I caught it and he poked it out. It was a fumble,” he said. The Eagles are lucky to have him as a slot receiver.

-The luck, or lack thereof, continues for running back Mike Bell. After sitting out for the last two weeks with a hamstring injury, Bell left the field this morning with a strained calf muscle. Let’s hope these nagging injuries end fast.

- The Eagles activated left guard Todd Herremans and center Jamaal Jackson from the physically unable to perform list. Herremans has not played with the team since early on during the spring practices and Jackson has been rehabbing a torn ACL that occured against the Broncos on December 26^th. Center Nick Cole is expected to return later in the week after sitting out with knee swelling. Considering how well Mike McGlynn played in his debut as a starter against Jacksonville, it should make for a great position battle between Jackson, Cole and McGlynn.

- Harbor continues to practice with the first team. Ingram’s calf is still tender and he remains out of training camp while Harbor inches closer to the second spot

-According to the last reports from ESPN.com, it looks as though former Eagle Brian Westbrook is going to sign with the St. Louis Rams on Monday. Good for B-West.

EAGLES: Jerry Jones on Kolb and Reid; Preseason Game vs. Jaguars

The other day, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, regarded as one of the most hated men in sports, made a comment about the Eagles that caused a lot of stir in Philadelphia. It wasn’t derogatory or condescending, but rather a compliment for one of his division rivals. In a press conference at Cowboys stadium, Jones commented on the Kevin Kolb era and head coach Andy Reid:

Are these comments a tactical move by Jerry Jones?

“McNabb helped create those big swings in our games over the last 10 years,’’ Jones said to Paul Domowitch. “When he played well, it was like throwing the knockout punch. When he didn’t, you were able to throw the knockout punch. I don’t see that now (with Kolb). I think Kolb and the way they’re going about it now, you won’t have those big swings one way or the other. I think every game with them is going to be a battle. Because of Kolb and because the makeup of the rest of their team is solid. And their coach, there is not a better coach in the NFL than Andy (Reid).’’

Is Jones just saying this to cause media stir? Is he attempting to put more media attention on the Eagles and less on the Cowboys? Who knows what’s behind the crazed mind of Jerry Jones.

To me, this comment is more about the Andy Reid part than the Kevin Kolb part. Everyone, including myself, has exhausted the Kevin Kolb vs. Donovan McNabb debate. The truth is that Kevin Kolb is not Donovan McNabb and brings a completely different style of play to a new Eagles team. He is playing to be Kevin, not Donovan, and that all starts tonight in the first preseason game against Jacksonville.

However, saying Andy Reid is the best coach in the NFL seems like a “suck-up” comment to a hated rival. It has caused a lot of stir in the Philadelphia media, as many radio shows and articles have come out about the infamous “there is not a better coach in the NFL than Andy Reid” line.

As big of a supported as I am for Andy Reid, there is no way that you can argue that he is the best coach in the NFL. I don’t even know if you can argue that he is the best coach in the NFC East now that Mike Shanahan is the coach of the Washington Redskins. Granted Shanahan has not coached since 2008 and was fired from the Broncos after failing to make the playoffs, his history with the franchise includes two Super Bowl Championships, three AFC West Championships and seven playoff berths. In his 11 year coaching span, Reid has one NFC Championship, five NFC East Championships, and eight playoff berths. Reid has a winning percentage of .617 (108-67–1) while Shanahan has a .598 winning percentage (146-98); however Shanahan has also coached 68 more games than Reid.

Where do you think Andy Reid fits among the NFL's top coaches?

In the NFC, the only other coach that I believe has comparable numbers to Reid is Saints head coach Sean Payton. Even though he is much younger and does not have the same experience as Reid, he still has a Super Bowl Championship, two divisional championships, and two playoff berths. While I believe Reid still has a better resume, Payton’s age and immediate impact in New Orleans is impressive.

The AFC is full of great coaches. One of the most successful coaches in the history of the NFL, Bill Belichick of the Patriots, continues to impress even with his team getting younger. He has three Super Bowl Championships, four AFC Championships, seven AFC East Championships, and eight playoff berths. Sorry Andy, that’s a lot to live up to. I would also argue that Pittsburgh Steelers skipper Mike Tomlin is a better coach than Reid. Similar to Sean Payton, Tomlin is young but has a great winning percentage (.646) and a Superbowl Championship under his belt.

The common theme between all of these coaches and Andy Reid is a thick rock that sits on each of their fingers—a Superbowl Championship. I’m not saying that a Superbowl is the only thing that makes you a good coach, but after 11 years in the league and no rings after such success with a franchise, Reid is still a step behind. His “refuse to change” mentality has been a common criticism, but that all has changed with the 2010 roster so maybe that’s what Andy needs to get over the hump.

My list of top coaches:

Bill Belichick

Mike Tomlin

Mike Shanahan

Andy Reid

Sean Payton

John Harbaugh

Jeff Fisher

Norv Turner

Rex Ryan

Tom Coughlin

Tony Sparano

Updates from Training Camp:

-The Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first NFL Preseason game tonight at Lincoln Financial Field. All of the Eagles starters are expected to play the entire first quarter.

- According to Andy Reid, RB Mike Bell (hamstring), RB J.J. Arrington (foot), DT Antonio Dixon (concussion), CB Macho Harris (hamstring) C Nick Cole (knee), OL Fenuki Tupou (ankle) and WR Hank Baskett (knee) will not play against the Jaguars

A lot of attention will be turned to how fourth-rounder Mike McGlynn handles the pressure at center

-Center Mike McGlynn will start tonight against the Jaguars. With Jamaal Jackson out indefinitely and Nick Cole battling a knee injury, the fourth round draft pick will fill in with the first-team offense

- According to Daily News writer Les Bowen, wide receiver Riley Cooper is almost a sure thing to be fourth on the depth chart come the regular season

- Clay Harbor continues to make strides towards the second tight end spot. Cornelius Ingram continues to battle knee problems and has been splitting time with the rookie. One of the big questions facing Andy Reid will be how many WR’s vs. TE’s he will take on the 53-man roster.

-Former Eagle great Brian Westbrook told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that he will choose what team he will play for this season by Monday. The teams believed to be in the hunt are St. Louis, Washington and Denver. Mike Shanahan has apparently left an offer on the table for Westbrook, which means that No. 36 could join No. 5 in Washington. What a nightmare that would be.

EAGLES: A Day at Lehigh

This morning, fellow Philly Phour writer Alex Cohen and I ventured to Lehigh to spend the day watching the Philadelphia Eagles partake in training camp. It was an early rise to ensure that we could get a good view of the main field, but it was certainly worth every second of it. I make an attempt to go to training camp every year and I can never get over great the atmosphere is day in and day out.

We arrived to the field about fifteen minutes before the start of the 8:15 practice. Soon we learned that we were on the later end of arriving, as there were close to 3,000 fans in attendance to watch the morning practice. We ended up standing along the front fence, practically ten yards from some of the players on the field. The thing that makes training camp so special for fans is that while it’s taken very seriously, all of the players seem so relaxed. Most of them constantly interact with the fans and aren’t afraid to pump up the crowd or give them a thumbs up. The fans entusiasm is felt by the players, in turn creating a great environment for the dedicated ‘Birds fans that made the trip on a Monday morning.

Analysis on Practice:

Practiced opened up with indidivual drills by positions. The quarterbacks and wide receivers worked together for awhile before the team moved into 7 vs. 7′s. From the beginning, it was was not hard to see a connection between Kevin Kolb and Jeremy Maclin. They clearly have something special working there and it was fun to watch them gel together so well. Michael Vick was a bit streaky on the day. His biggest problem is that he can make a 50-yard pass and then miss the next receiver by five yards on a simple route. Kafka seemed to have a similar problem with consistency.

Riley Cooper runs an out route in practice

The most interesting aspect of Monday’s practice was at the receiving positions. As I mentioned, Maclin looked sharper than every on both his route running and catching abilities. DeSean Jackson did not participate in camp, but I noticed him running on he open practice field alongside linebacker Stewart Bradley. Jason Avant also seemed to make no mistakes and looked comfortable being the second receiver with Jackson out. As I predicted, the fourth spot is going to be one heck of a battle. Hank Baskett didn’t seem to make many mistakes, but also didn’t really open eyes and make himself noticeable on the field. Riley Cooper, the rookie from Florida who has been hyped by the media, had a very hot and cold day. He dropped a total of three passes alone in the morning practice and heard a lot of criticism from the fans. He seemed to struggle making that burst that could get him past the cornerbacks and give him separation. Instead he seemed to take too many steps and rely too heavily on his 6-foot-4 frame to make catches. At the same time, the catches he makes are quite acrobatic and his size enables him to make catches that most wide receivers couldn’t dream of making. The big surprise at wide receiver came from Kelly Washington, who was acquired in the offseason. He has good experience in the NFL, which is something rare with this Eagles offense, and it was apparent in his playmaking on Monday. He made a couple of crowd-pleasing grabs and didn’t drop a single pass all day.

At tight end it was rookie Clay Harbor that stole the show. Brent Celek played well in the morning session, but left early due to dehydration problems. He came back for the afternoon practice and didn’t seem to lose a step. Coming into today, I was under the impression that Cornelius Ingram was far and away the favorie to be the second tight end. After watching Ingram drop a ball from five yards away, attention soon turned towards the rookie from Missouri State. Harbor caught almost everything his way, including the best catch of the day when he sprawled out and dove over the middle during the 7 vs. 7 drills. Watch out Ingram, the rookie is coming for you.

Not much to update about the running game. They only got a few looks during the scrimmage and after the initial burst there wasn’t much hitting. McCoy and Weaver both made solid catches and did a great job interacting with the fans and getting them excited about training camp. J.J. Arrington took a big hit in the middle of the morning practice when it looked like he was lost on the field. Charles Scott seems to throws his arms at the ball rather than cradling it for a catch, but he makes up for it with his powerful running. He is very stocky and his low center of gravity could be vital for third down plays (barring he makes the team, which seems like a long shot as a rookie).

Winston Justice, LeSean McCoy, Leonard Weaver, Brent Celek and Jeremy Maclin

The offensive line seemed to struggle the most at practice. Granted most of my attention was paid to the young offensive and defensive players, but based on the scrimmage plays there is a lot of work to be done. Left guard Todd Herremans didn’t put pads on but worked out on the side with Jamaal Jackson. Right guard Stacy Andrews left during practice with a shoulder injury that is only listed as day-to-day. With both of them banged up, Max Jean-Gilles and Mike McGlynn stepped in with the first team. It seemed like almost all of the offensive lineman struggled against the defensive line in the one on one drills. During the scrimmages, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott opened the floodgates and blitzed almost every other play. If Kolb/Vick/Kafka weren’t wearing the red jerseys, there would have been a lot of hitting going on. Tackle Winston Justice had back to back false starts, in turn forcing Andy Reid to give him the axe and sub him out for King Dunlap. The offensive line was one of the biggest question marks coming into the season and health is a big concern right now.

The defensive line was highlighted by performances by rookie Brandon Graham and Trent Cole. Graham doesn’t ever seem to stop moving and seems eager to play every snap possible. His additional fifteen pounds he added since the draft make him a big threat on top of his speed off the line. Cole was relatively quiet but added good pressure during the scrimmages.

At linebacker, Omar Gaither filled in at middle linebacker with the first team defense. He intercepted a Michael Vick pass during the afternoon practice and did a great job covering the tight end. Akeem Jordan started at strong side linebacker for the second straight day instead of Moises Fokou. He did a solid job all day and Fokou quickly found himself in the backround as the favorite to start come opening day. Ernie Sims also made a few good plays on the ball. He is not a very tall guy, but he is speedy and shifty (Andy Reid’s favorite type of build for his defensive players). One thing that the offense exploited all day was the quick eight-to-ten yard passes. The linebackers seemed a step too slow and Kolb did a great job hitting his receivers on out routes and flag routes over the middle. Seeing as the linebackers biggest problem in the past has been covering the tight end, I still think the Eagles linebacker core needs to work on closing off the middle of the field.

Even though the receivers made some great plays, I thought the secondary was the strongest group on the field Monday (exactly what you all want to hear I’m sure). Ellis Hobbs struggled a bit covering Maclin, but he always had a hand in there and held great coverage throughout the day. Joselio Hanson also practiced with the first team and broke up a few pass plays. The biggest surprise of the day came from Macho Harris, who Reid and McDermott converted from safety heading into training camp. Harris made a ton of plays in the morning practice and the fans let him hear it. If he continues to progress, he could give Hanson a run for his money during Nickel packages.

7 vs. 7 drills

At safety, both Quintin Mikell and rookie Nate Allen worked well patrolling the backfield. Mikell blitzed a few times, one of which would have resulted in a sack if there were pads involved in the afternoon practice. Allen seems very comfortable with the first team and it’s exciting to see how far he has come in such a short amount of time.

Finally, there wasn’t much exciting action from special teams during either practice. They ended the afternoon practice with David Akers practicing inside field goals, but most of the special teams work was on the second field. Similar to Leonard Weaver, Akers does a great job interacting with the fans and even spent a few minutes throwing balls into the crowd before the afternoon practice.

Overall, Monday showed a lot of promise. Even though the Eagles are far from game ready, the first team offense and defense look pretty solid considering the number of injuries that have kept both sides from a full lineup. It’s always exciting to be at training camp and be able to watch the team improve firsthand and I look forward to being there in the near future.

Player of the Day: Kevin Kolb

He didn’t miss a pass until the middle of the afternoon practice. Enough said. He continues to improve every day and the fans are quickly becoming lovers of No. 4. He does a superb job finding his receivers on out routes and is very melodic with his delivery. The main concern I have right now is his skill throwing the long ball. Kolb only threw two balls longer than 25 yards on Monday.

Players to Watch: Clay Harbor, Kelly Washington, Macho Harris
All three of these guys were in the background heading into training camp. Harbor played twice as well as Ingram today, Washington was up there with Maclin and Avant, and Harris outplaed all cornerbacks all day. They are all struggling to make the 53-man roster and things should get interesting in the coming weeks.

Injury Update:
Did not practice: WR DeSean Jackson, LB Stewart Bradley, CB Asante Samuel, RB Mike Bell, DE Victor Abiamiri
Taken off: CB Macho Harris (Hamstring-DTD), DT Anthony Dixon (concussion), TE Brent Celek (dehydration by returned), Stacy Andrews (shoulder)

List of Tweets (most recent at the top)

What a great day at #Eagles training camp… I could do this every day
Ending practice with some field goals. Caps off a great day in Lehigh #Eagles
Things seemed a little too perfect with the lack of injuries today…the injury bug is always present in Lehigh #Eagles
Its Anthony Dixon, the DT…all play had to be stopped #Eagles
Defensive player collapses from dehydration..waiting to see the number #Eagles
Macho Harris limping of the field #Eagles
Just to give you a taste of how big King Dunlap really is #Eagles http://twitpic.com/2b1onv
Vick to Cooper for a 55 yard bomb…Looks like Cooper woke up for the afternoon practice #Eagles
Vick throws his second int of the day. Gaither makes a great play to come up with it #Eagles
First bad pass by Kolb all day. He’s about 49 of 50. I’ll take those odds #Eagles
7v7 drills with the first team offense #Eagles http://twitpic.com/2b1g29
Vick struggling with back to back throws against the defense…no hitting but still hearing helmets hit hard
Hobbs and Hanson starting at corner with the first team #Eagles
Ingram playing with second team even though Harbor outplayed him in the morning #Eagles
6000 people here for the morning session…only about half that now. Probably because they aren’t in full pads #Eagles
Riley Cooper brings in a pass http://twitpic.com/2b19ud
Charles scott makes catching a ball seem like a chore but man can he run through people #Eagles
Another fan favorite David Akers throwing some balls into the stands with the fans…longest tenured Eagle showing some love #Eagles
Weather dropped about ten degrees now that its overcast…some players starting to come put now for the afternoon practice #Eagles
@EaglesInsider Thanks for having us on fan forum today. Loved talking Birds…check out our blog http://thephillyphour.wordpress.com
Phillies writer @alexmcohen and I just got interviewed by Eagles writer Dave Spadaro…will be on @ThePhillyPhour later on
Philly football lovin in the parking lot in between practices http://twitpic.com/2azwsz
Heart of the #Eagles offense http://twitpic.com/2azp6t
Vick talking with Dave Spadaro http://twitpic.com/2azi01
Morning practice ending early…maybe Andy was getting hungry #Eagles
I asked Ellis Hobbs how many kick returns he was going to return for TDs: “I don’t predict, I just do”
Weaver cracking jokes with the fans…hes having fun out here #Eagles
Winston Justice subbed off for a false start…the defense is loving it #Eagles
Riley Cooper drops his third pass of the day…ironic enough all from Vick #Eagles
When I thought Riley Cooper was big, King Dunlap doesn’t even look human #Eagles
Man Kolb is clicking on all cylinders…him and Maclin work well together #Eagles
Mikell rushes the line and blocks a Vick pass. Going to need that pressure this year #Eagles
DeSean Jackson and Stewart Bradley running in no pads on the other practice field #Eagles Gaither starting at middle linebacker with the first team… Akeem jordan over fokou again. Sims on the weak side
Kolb has those ten and out passes down perfectly…something mcnabb never seemed to nail #Eagles
@movingthechains washington is making riley cooper look silly out there…on the fence in my black maclin jersey, feel free to come talk
Ellis hobbs gives a thumbs up @alexmcohen for feeling healthy and ready
No stewart bradley or asante samuel today
Vick is throwing a better long ball than a short one. Completed another long bomb after a ball that should have been picked off
Vick throws a perfect 30 yard bomb to Maclin much to the fans liking…fans are loving Weaver too
Andy Reid making an appearance from the breakfast table. Maybe he and Haynesworth should start conditioning together
Cooper and Ingram highlight the second team
Avant, maclin and baskett with first team. Cole with a botched snap that Vick can’t handle

EAGLES: Preparing for Training Camp; Offensive and Defensive line

Offensive Line

Centers: Nick Cole, Jamaal Jackson, A.Q. Shipley

Guards: Todd Herremans, Stacy Andrews, Max Jean-Gilles, Mike McGlynn, Dallas Reynolds, Greg Isdaner, Zipp Duncan

Tackles: Jason Peters, Winston Justice, King Dunlap, Fenuki Tupou, Austin Howard, Jerail McCuller

Centers:

Can Nick Cole hold his own at center?

This is the biggest problem area for the Eagles offensive line. With Jamaal Jackson expected to miss all of training camp and some of the regular season while rehabbing a torn ACL he suffered on December 27^th, all signs point to Nick Cole to start under center. Cole took over for Jackson at the end of last season and struggled immensely down the stretch. A lot of his problems have to do with his small stature, as he is only six feet tall.

With the center position being relatively thin, Cole will be competing primarily with Mike McGlynn and A.Q. Shipley. McGlynn was taken in the fourth round of the 2008 draft by Pittsburgh but has failed to successfully break into the league. His main advantage when comparing him to Cole and Shipley is his size. McGlynn stands at 6-foot-4 whereas both Cole and Shipley are the two smallest offensive lineman. Shipley is a product of Penn State football, where he was an All-American in 2008 and was awarded the Rimington Trophy for best center in college football. Similar to McGlynn, he has yet to make an impact since being drafted in 2008.

I don’t think that Cole has this position locked up in the least bit. He showed glimpses of being a capable starter, but also struggled in big situations. With still a lot to prove as a starter, Cole is going to need to be in tip top shape come Monday to protect his starting job until Jackson’s knee is healed.

Guards:

Both Todd Herremans and Stacy Andrews are going to be vital to the success of the Eagles offensive line. They are both coming off of very mediocre seasons (to say the least), but are two of the most experienced players on the team. Herremans has not been the same since his foot injury and there are still a lot of concerns that it continues to hold him back from his fullest potential.

Now that Stacy’s brother, Shawn, is no longer a distraction to the team, Stacy is expected to make a big comeback in 2010. He signed a contract in February of 2009, but missed the regular season while rehabbing his knee after surgery late in 2008. With him healthy opposite of Herremans, the Eagles add a lot of experience and reliability on the line. If Andrews ends up underperforming in training camp or continues to deal with injury problems, expect Max Jean-Gilles to make a run at a starting spot on the line.

Tackles:

Will Jason Peters get support from the rest of the line?

Fresh off a Pro-Bowl season, Jason Peters is probably the most reliable member of the offensive line. Even though he suffers from “happy feet” resulting in a number of false start penalties, Peters is very experienced and his accolades speak for themselves. Peters is not the person that worries me, but rather the man that lines up on the opposite side of the line as him—Winston Justice. Every time I hear his name, I can’t help but immediately think of the painful images of Osi Umenyiora getting past him every play in 2007. However, the Eagles think that he is ready to be a top notch starter, hence the 4-year $21.3 million contract he was given in the offseason.

Even though I think Peters and Justice have their starting positions locked up for the regular season, there is still a good amount of depth at the tackle position in King Dunlap and Fenuki Tupou. Both Dunlap and Tupou are very young and don’t have a ton of experience (Tupou spent most of last season on the IR with a chest injury), but they have worked hard in minicamps and have been in great condition heading into Lehigh.

Defensive Line

The defensive line is the unsolved mystery of the 2010 Philadelphia Eagles. It was the most troubled aspect of the 2009 Eagles team, thus making it Andy Reid’s primary focal point during the draft.

Defensive End- Trent Cole, Juqua Parker, Brandon Graham, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, Darryl Tapp, Ricky Sapp, Victor Abiamiri, Eric Moncur

Reid used his 13th (Brandon Graham), 86th (Daniel Te’o-Nesheim) and 134th (Ricky Sapp) picks all on defensive ends in the hopes that one of them will be able to be the future Trent Cole of the Eagles. All three of these players are not the biggest guys at their position, but certainly can pose a threat with their speed and agility off the line.

Trent Cole needs someone to compliment his skills

Speaking of Cole, he is coming off is best season in the NFL, recording 12.5 sacks and was one of the tops in the league in tackles for losses. He was elected to his second Pro-Bowl and was the most consistent player on the Eagles defense. Unfortunately for Cole, he has yet to find a companion to take pressure off him from the other side of the line. Darren Howard failed to make an impact the last few seasons and Jevon Kearse was one of the biggest busts in Philadelphia history. Andy Reid is hoping that former Michigan Wolverine Brandon Graham can be that guy. Graham earned second-team All American honors at Michigan in 2009 and recorded 29.5 sacks and 56 tackles for losses in his four year career. He is expected to compete heavily with Juqua Parker for the other defensive end position.

Parker is certainly no pushover heading into training camp. He is coming off his best season for the Eagles in 2009, recording eight sacks and picking up a lot of the slack for the underperforming Darren Howard. He is entering his 10^th season with the Eagles, which makes him the second longest tenured Eagle behind kicker David Akers. He is nearing the end of his five year deal signed back in 2007 and will be fighting hard to keep his starting spot.

Other defensive ends that have big potential come Monday are Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, Ricky Sapp and Darryl Tapp. Both Te’o-Nesheim and Tapp have gotten a lot of snaps in the nickel formation during spring practices. They are more known for their pass rushing capabilities, which could end up being useful in shuffling them between defensive end and defensive tackle. Ricky Sapp also has a lot of versatility in his style of play and could even get some snaps as a linebacker at training camp. Reid figured that by drafting smaller guys with speed he will be able to shuffle them around and make the best possible depth chart come the regular season.

In case you were wondering, Victor Abiamiri is still continuing to rehab from micro fracture surgery that could keep him out for awhile.

Defensive Tackles- Brodrick Bunkley, Antonio Dixon, Jeff Owens, Mike Patterson, Boo Robinson, Trevor Laws

Patterson is going to need to be a leader on the defensive line

With a lot of young talent being moved in and out, the tackle position will certainly be an interesting scenario to watch unfold. Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson are clear favorites to keep their starting jobs, but Trevor Laws, Antonio Dixon and a lot of the young guys are always breathing down their necks. Laws has battled injuries for the past two seasons and was inactive for five games last year, but finally seems to be healthy for once heading into training camp. Dixon played in every game for the Eagles last season despite making a minimal impact.

Rookies Boo Robinson (To Kill A Mockingbird anyone?) and Jeff Owens have a lot to prove to Andy Reid to make the final roster. With a deep defensive end core that have a lot of crossover players, Robinson and Owens are going to be under the microscope every day. Robinson was signed as a rookie free agent by the ‘Birds after compiling 145 tackles, 12.5 sacks and two interceptions in 52 games for Wake Forest. Owens was taken in the 7^th round of the 2010 draft and has a great combination of speed and power. He is only 6-foot-1 but weighs over 300 pounds and has quick feet off the line.

Overall, much of the success of the Eagles 2010 season relies heavily on the defensive line. One of the biggest holes in the Eagles’ game last season was the lack of pressure on both the quarterback and on the running back (if you want proof just watch both of the Dallas games to close out the season). Trent Cole is searching for someone to take some weight off his shoulder on the outside while Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley are hoping to get some support in the middle. With how much time Reid put into drafting these players, there has to be a few gems in his stack of draft picks.