EAGLES: ‘Birds Meltdown on the Road Against the Titans

What a difference one play can make.

The Eagles needed three yards, just three yards, to most likely improve to 5-2 heading into the bye week. LeSean McCoy fumbled on the Titans three yard line in the third quarter and the Titans never looked back. They went on to score 30 points after that play and outperform the Eagles in practically every statistical category.

The complete and utter destruction that came in the second half was contrary to how the Eagles played in the first half. The defense stepped up and made plays in the first half, especially when it came to stopping the most dynamic runner in the NFL in Chris Johnson. The offense could have extended the score, but still controlled the possession for most of the first half. In the second half, the Eagles didn’t seem to have anything going. Aside from the fumble on the three-yard line, the defense could not contain a mediocre wide receiver at best in Kenny Britt. He torched the Eagles with seven receptions for 225 yards and a touchdown (159 in the fourth quarter alone) … and he didn’t even play the first quarter. This marked the most receiving yards the Eagles have EVER given up.

It was a loss the Eagles could not afford to have heading into the bye week. They were riding a two-game winning streak, but the team proved that they still have a lot of weaknesses and loopholes in their talent to really be considered one of the top teams in the NFC.

Grades:

Quarterback: C+

After back-to-back passer ratings above 100, Kevin Kolb looked far from efficient on Sunday. He completed just 26 of 48 passes for 231 yards, had one touchdown, but also tossed two interceptions. The first interception was a panic-pass that Kolb just aimlessly threw into the air. He made a number of good passes, but they were overshadowed by his lack of play-making ability. It was a setback in Kolb’s effort to prove himself as the future of the Eagles organization.

But it’s not like Kolb is playing for anything because Andy Reid already named Michael Vick the starter for the Colts game in two weeks.

Running back: C+

LeSean McCoy had probably his worst outing of the season against the Titans. They stopped him a number of times at the line of scrimmage and didn’t seem to get anything going outside of the hash marks. For the second straight game he was held to just three yards per carry, and he finished with 48 yards total. On a positive note, McCoy did have six receptions for 54 yards.

Wide Receiver: B –

Riley Cooper proved to be a threat against Tennessee

Despite a solid outing by Jason Avant (6 receptions for 60 yards), this game proved just how important DeSean Jackson is to the Eagles offense. He creates an entirely different matchup for opposing defenses and in turn improves the production of the other receivers. Jeremy Maclin was shut down by the Tennessee secondary and showed that he is still far away from being able to handle the top job. The most exciting aspect of the receiving game came from rookie Riley Cooper. He recorded his first touchdown in an Eagle uniform and averaged 17 yards per catch.

Offensive Line: C

Just when the offensive line finally looked like they were coming together, they went back to their old ways. They only allowed one sack, but Kevin Kolb got hit seven times during the game. They failed to open up good holes for McCoy as he was stopped multiple times behind the line of scrimmage. On pass defense, the Titans recorded six pass deflections which had a lot to do with the space they created from the Eagles offensive line.

Defensive Line: B

The Eagles front seven actually had a solid outing on Sunday afternoon. Trent Cole, Quintin Mikell, and Antonio Dixon all sacked Kerry Collins. More impressively, the Eagles completely shut down the running game Chris Johnson. He only had 66 yards on the ground and averaged a mere 2.8 yards per carry.

Further, the linebackers finally shut down an opposing tight end. Bo Scaife only had one reception for seven yards, which is the worst production by a tight end against the Eagles all season.

Secondary: D –

Kerry Collins, really?

The complete collapse by the Eagles was mostly due to the secondary. Any time that a 50+ year old quarterback throws for three touchdowns in the second half (after coming into the half with a 40.7 passer rating), there are serious problems. Rookie Nate Allen and veteran Quintin Mikell provided no help over the top against Kenny Britt. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott tried to put Asante Samuel on Britt, but not even he could stop the Titans receiver.

The Eagles defense as a whole was penalized 10 times for 100 yards. It was a tale of two different Eagles defenses. In the first half they shut down the Titans in every aspect of the game, and in the second half they watched the game slip away in one quarter.

Special Teams: C

The collapse was capped off by the punt return fumble by Jorrick Calvin. He was relatively productive all year for the Eagles but committed a turnover in the worst possible moment for the Eagles to try and amount a comeback late in the fourth quarter.

Aside from that game-changing play by Calvin, the Eagles special teams did a good job against the Titans. David Akers was four-for-four on field goals, Sav Rocca had a 63-yard punt, and Calvin averaged over 31 yards on his kick returns.

This was not exactly the way the Eagles saw themselves entering the bye week. They beat themselves against the Titans and have to rely on the rest of the NFC East to help them out. After the bye week, Philadelphia takes on the Indianapolis Colts and their schedule doesn’t get much easier after that. They have to play five more divisional games and almost every other game is against a team that is .500 or better. Let the Michael Vick show continue once again.

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: Nate Allen signs contract; Updates from camp

Nate Allen should be on the practice fields as soon as tomorrow

One down and one to go. The Eagles announced tonight that they came to terms with second round draft pick Nate Allen. He agreed to a four-year deal that will keep him in Philadelphia through 2013.

It’s nice to see that Allen was able to get the contract negotiated at the beginning of training camp. Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott are counting on Allen to be the starting free safety this season. Even though many high draft picks end up holding out during most of training camp until they get the most money possible, it will certainly be to his advantage to practice ever day at Lehigh.

The only draft pick yet to sign a contract is defensive end Brandon Graham. It’s being reported that he will sign something in the next few days, but you never know with first round draft picks. The only first rounder in the NFL to agree to a contract is Cowboy’s wide receiver Dez Bryant. The rest of them tend to holdout for the most money possible to see what other players are getting. From there it’s usually a domino effect.

Updates from Lehigh

-The practices are without pads and without contact

-Offensive lineman Todd Herremans spoke to the media today and noted that he most likely will not play in the teams first preseason game on August 13th. He is still rehabbing his surgically repaired foot that will probably keep him out of most of training camp.

-Kevin Kolb was praised by the media for his accuracy thus far. Michael Vick on the other hand struggled to hit receivers, which prompted an additional voluntary passing session at the end of camp today.

-Both Riley Cooper and Chad Hall seem to be the standouts on the wide receiver end. Cooper caught a bomb from Kolb that was well received by the crowd and Hall caught everything his way.

-A.Q. Shipley was taking snaps at center for Kevin Kolb.

-Safety Kurt Coleman, the Eagles seventh round draft pick, had a great outing as Nate Allen was watching from the sidelines. McDermott was quick to comment on his hard work and fearlessness even though it was a non contact practice. We will see what happens when Allen starts tomorrow.

For more updates, click here.

EAGLES: Preparing for Training Camp; RB’s, WR’s, TE’s

In part two of the “Preparing for Training Camp”, let’s take a look at the Eagles running backs and receivers. Similar to the quarterback position, most of the depth chart is pretty self explanatory at these two positions. They are without question the youngest aspect of the team, as the average age for the starters is 23.8 (McCoy-22, Weaver-27, Celek-25, Jackson-23, Maclin-22). However, this is also the strongest and most reliable aspect of the team.

Can McCoy handle the pressure of starting every game?

Barring any injuries, these five players will keep their starting roles come opening day. McCoy set the Eagles rookie rushing record last year with 637 yards (955 from scrimmage puts him second all time in franchise history as a rookie). Coming into the 2009 season he was expected to share a workload and take a backseat to Brian Westbrook, but injuries quickly catapulted the former Pittsburgh Panther into the starting role for the remainder of the season. A combination of Andy Reid’s west coast offensive mind and the lack of supporting cast behind Shady was one of the biggest problem areas the Eagles faced in close games down the stretch. Since the Duce Staley era when the Eagles had the infamous “three-headed monster” in Staley, Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter, Reid has been hesitant to turn to his running game.

This offseason, Reid made a great acquisition in signing former Saint’s running back Mike Bell. Last year with the Saints, Bell led the team in carries (172) and finished the year with 654 yards and five scores. At the age of 27, Bell has a lot of experience in the league and should be able to take a lot of pressure off of McCoy in both training camp and during the regular season.

The addition of Bell also enables fullback Leonard Weaver to focus more on his blocking and short yardage plays rather than have to worry about taking 12+ snaps every game. Weaver was one of the few Eagles to make the Pro-Bowl last season, in turn leading to a three-year contract extension for $11 million this offseason.

Aside from McCoy, Bell and Weaver, there are a lot of new Eagles waiting to prove themselves starting Monday. At the running back position, Eldra Buckley is going to be battling with Martell Mallet (second season- claimed off waivers) and former LSU standout Charles Scott (selected 200^th overall in the 2010 draft). Buckley made the final roster last season for his hard work during training camp and ability to help out on special teams, but failed miserably at the running back position during the regular season (averaged 2.9 yards per carry). I think Reid is hoping the Mallet or Scott can end up filling or taking over Buckley’s spot as a running back on the 53-man roster.

Wide Receivers:

Coming into training camp, there are 10 wide receivers listed on the depth chart: DeSean Jackson (3^rd year), Jeremy Maclin (2^nd year), Jason Avant (5^th year), Hank Baskett (5^th year), Riley Cooper (R), Chad Hall (1^st year), Jordan Norwood (1^st year), Dobson Collins (1^st year), Blue Cooper (R), and Kevin Jurovich (R).

Hank Baskett vs. Riley Cooper- who will take it?

Jackson, Maclin and Avant are obviously all locks at their starting positions. Jackson had a Pro-Bowl caliber season last year (which is still not deserving of a new contract for some odd reason). He tied the NFL record for most TD’s of 50 yards or more with eight and finished the year with 1,156 yards. Maclin settled in and had some big games as a rookie, grabbing 56 receptions for 773 yards (fourth among rookies last season) and five touchdowns (fifth among rookies last year). Avant set personal records in all three categories last season and was elected to the 2009 USA Today’s All-Joe Team, which is given to NFL players whose “work doesn’t necessarily garner headlines, but is integral to the success of the team”. The Eagles awarded him with a five-year contract on March 8^th.

The matchup between Hank Baskett and Riley Cooper is going to be the main position battle at Lehigh. They both have very similar statures, but Baskett’s main advantage is that he’s been in the league for four years and with the Eagles for three of them. Cooper is coming in as an unproven Florida Gator, who had a breakout senior season and finished his collegiate tenure with 81 receptions for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns. While Cooper was catching passes, Baskett was balancing a football career with the Indianapolis Colts (where he only caught 5 receptions for 36 yards) and his celebrity lifestyle with his Playboy bunny wife Kendra. As of now, Baskett has the edge based solely on experience in the NFL and with the Eagles, but don’t be shocked if Cooper continues to open eyes and slips in as the fourth wide receiver on the depth charts.

For the rest of the guys, it almost seems like it’s going to take a miracle to make the 53-man roster. Considering how many defensive prospects there are coming into the season and the need for a deep defensive core, I would be shocked to see Reid take more than five wide receivers. Even though both Chad Hall and Jordan Norwood have impressed coaches with their hard work in the minicamp sessions, I can’t imagine they will compete with the top five guys unless the injury bug strikes.

Tight End:

This could quite possibly be the Eagles deepest position heading into training camp. Brent Celek proved that he can be one of the top five tight ends in the league and it’s exciting to have a tight end that doesn’t drop or fumble every ball they touch (cough…L.J. Smith). Celek finished 2009 with a Pro-Bowl caliber season, ranking fourth in the NFL in both touchdowns (8) and yards (971) for tight ends. Last season, Celek, Jackson and Maclin became the first trio aged 24-years and younger in NFL history to post 50+ catches, 750+ yards and 4+ touchdowns. On top of all of his statistical accolades, Celek was also honored by the USA Today on the All-Joe team. I think last season speaks for itself in saying that Celek will be starting this year and should hold his reign as one of the top tight ends in the NFL in 2010.

How will Ingram respond to his previously torn ACL?

The most intriguing aspect of the tight end group will be Cornelius Ingram. Coming into last season, the Eagles had high hopes for the former Florida Gator. Unfortunately, like many other Eagles last training camp, Ingram suffered a season ending ACL injury. He is still a favorite to line up on the opposite side of Celek during two tight end formations, but there are a lot of questions about how he will rebound after such a serious injury.

The other two tight ends headed to Lehigh are Martin Rucker, who was acquired from free agency last season, and Clay Harbor, the Eagles 125^th overall selection during this years’ draft. Both Rucker and Harbor have a lot of talent and are expected to keep Celek and Ingram intact during training camp. Rucker was promoted to the active roster in December of 2009 after spending the first 13 weeks of the season on the practice squad. His only game action came with Cleveland in 2008, where he spent his rookie season after being drafted by them in the fourth round. Harbor was a stud for the Division 1-AA Missouri State Bears, finishing his tenure with 150 receptions for 1,906 yards and 10 touchdowns. He converted from a wide receiver to a tight end in college, which proves his versatility and athletic stature. Scouts praise his hard work and motivation on the field, which is exactly what the Eagles are looking for when trying to keep Celek and Ingram game ready. Don’t count out either Rucker or Harbor for that second tight end spot because anything can happen in training camp.

EAGLES: Riley Cooper reaches deal with ‘Birds

You can add fifth-round draft pick Riley Cooper to the list of signed rookies. The former Florida Gator agreed to a four-year contract earlier today.

Riley Cooper at the NFL combine

During his collegiate career, Cooper made 28 starts in 51 games for the Gators. He ended his tenure with 81 receptions for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns. In his senior season, he was Tim Tebow’s go-to-guy with nine touchdowns on 961 yards receiving. Before his senior season, Cooper mainly flew under the radar and was mostly acknowledged for his “big play mentality”, catching nine touchdowns on only 30 receptions. That all changed during his senior season, especially with his performance against Cincinnati during the Sugar Bowl (7 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown) .

Cooper’s biggest advantage is his size. At 6-foot-3 and 222 pounds, he is able to out-muscle opposing cornerbacks. He is also recognized for his underrated speed off the ball and top-notch hands. His athletic ability has enabled him to rise to the next level and continue to improve throughout his collegiate career. He also played baseball at Florida, drafted by both the Phillies in the 15th round in 2006 and the Texas Rangers in the 25th round in 2009.  

Here is what NFLDraftScout.com had to say about him before the 2010 draft:

Release: Good use of hands and lateral agility to gain a free release against man coverage. Isn’t an explosive runner out of his stance, and relies more on his physicality, route-running and size advantage to get open against man coverage. Normal acceleration downfield, but is faster than he looks and can eat up the cushion.

Hands: Generally reliable receiver who typically looks the ball in and secures it before moving upfield. Allows too many passes into his chest, especially on comebacks. Typically extends and plucks the ball out of the air. Improved his concentration as a senior in catching passes in traffic. Doesn’t back down from the physical challenge of jump-ball situations. Times his leaps well and has an obvious size advantage. Good body control to contort to the poorly thrown pass. Can snatch the ball out of the air and keep his feet in bounds to make the spectacular reception. Has improved his vision in tracking balls over his shoulder, but has inconsistent in this area over his career.

Route running: Deceptive straight-line speed to get over the top. Moderate burst out of his breaks to create separation. Good use of hands and body lean to create space.

After the catch: Deceptive speed to run away from defenders when he’s hit in stride, but lacks the instant acceleration or agility to be a consistent threat to gain much yardage after the catch.

Blocking: Good size, strength and physicality to help his teammates as a downfield blocker. Improved as a blocker in 2009, but isn’t as consistent as you’d like for a player of his size. Provides a good initial pop, but has to sustain better.

For a complete player profile on Riley Cooper, click here.

Personally, I think Cooper has what it takes to get some playing time as the No. 4 receiver. Until he develops and gets some playing time in the NFL, I can’t see him competing with Jason Avant for the No. 3 position. He has the same physical stature as Hank Baskett, who will most likely be his main competition at training camp. Based on what I’ve been reading about his work ethic, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him making moves early on the depth chart come July 26th.

Notes: The only two rookies yet to sign contracts are first and second round draft picks Brandon Graham and Nate Allen.

EAGLES: Minicamp comes to a close

There hasn’t been a ton going on as the Eagles closed out their initial minicamp. Here are some of the top headlines from the past week and a half:

Nate Allen's time is now

- With Marlin Jackson out for the rest of the season, most of the Eagles attention moves towards the safety position. Head coach Andy Reid announced that rookie Nate Allen will fill in as the starting safety on the depth charts. Reid mentioned that Allen has won the spot over Quintin Demps for now. This is a big responsibility for the first-year safety out of Florida. This also adds a lot of pressure to Quintin Mikell, who is young and will be playing alongside Allen during training camp.

- The biggest position battle on the team comes at the cornerback position. With Ellis Hobbs still recovering from injuries, Joselio Hanson has voiced his desire to start at corner. While it is still speculated that Hobbs will get the nod and Hanson will most likely see action in the nickel formation, no promises can be made if Hanson proves himself deem enough to fill the void of Sheldon Brown. The Eagles secondary gave up 27 touchdown passes last season, which placed them 26^th in the league rankings.

- The Eagles signed rookie linebacker Keenan Clayton to a four-year deal after putting Jackson in the Injured Reserve. They also released four undrafted rookies: quarterback Joey Elliott, running back Keithon Flemming, tight end Pat Simonds and fullback Chris Zardas. Clayton is now the seventh of 13 draft picks the Eagles have signed.

- Wide receiver Jason Avant has opened a few more eyes at minicamp. Since DeSean Jackson skipped the final four days of voluntary camp (citing personal reasons) and Maclin battled a tight hamstring, Avant took reps with the first team offense. According to team sources, he did a fine job stepping in and they hope he continues to have a larger role in the offense. I hope so too.

- For an interesting outlook on the Eagles offense during training camp, click here.

- Trent Cole will take his aggressiveness on the field to the television. Cole will host his own outdoor reality TV show this July about hunting and fishing. He admits it is one of his favor hobbies outside of football, and will join other outdoor enthusiasts in the show. Cole is the owner/president of coleoutdoors.com, a Web site dedicated to his hunting endeavors with family and friends. It will air on the Pursuit Channel on DirecTV.

- Injury updates: Quintin Mikell suffered a MCL sprain this week, but should be fine for the start of training camp. Defensive end Victor Abiamiri will most likely miss the opening of training camp after having surgery to repair a microfracture in his knee. Lineback Stewart Bradley (calf), left guard Todd Herremans (foot), wide receiver Riley Cooper (hamstring), and offensive tackle Fenuki Tupou (pectoral muscle) will all be ready for camp.

-Training camp begins on July 26th. Head coach Andy Reid has increased the camp to 18 days, which is nearly a week longer than it has been in the past.

EAGLES: Summing up the Eagles draft

Nate Allen aka the "Donovan McNabb pick"...can he fill in for Sheldon Brown?

At the end of the day, there’s not too much to critique about the Eagles draft. They did what they needed to do. They addressed their main problems from last season by taking nine defensemen in their 13 picks (their first five and six of their first eight). Andy Reid and Howie Roseman practically revamped their defensive line (three DE’s and one DT) and added a few key players to their secondary (two safeties and one cornerback) and linebacker core (three).

Even though I was a bit skeptical at first, articles about safety Nate Allen (South Florida) swayed me with the pick. Apparently former Eagle J.R. Reed has worked with Allen first-hand and gave the Eagles insight into his talent and ability to fill Brian Dawkins’ old role at safety. Allen’s numbers were best during his senior season (4 interceptions and 55 tackles) despite only playing seven games for the Bulls. In order to fill that void, Allen will have to beat out Macho Harris, Quintin Demps and Marlin Jackson.

I also like the decision to go with Daniel Te’o-Nesheim. He was a force for Washington during his collegiate career, notching 11 sacks on the season and 30 ½ during his four years (school record). He is a bit undersized, but he had a great outing during his combine: second-fastest in the 3-cone drill and third-best 20-yard shuttle at his position.

Sapp could be a big steal for the Eagles if he stays healthy

Although once considered a first round draft pick in 2009, Kentucky’s Trevard Lindley missed most of his senior season with a high ankle sprain. He played in 48 games, totaling 10 interceptions, 189 tackles, 44 pass break-ups and three fumble recoveries while earning first-team All-SEC honors as a junior in 2008. If his health is not a major concern, this might have been a good steal for the Eagles at the cornerback position.

One of the best defensive picks in my opinion was Ricky Sapp. The former Clemson Tiger is reckless and compiled 16 sacks and 160 tackles during his four years. He could be a big help to pass protection because one of his biggest strengths is getting to the quarterback. The only big concern is his history of an ACL tear during his junior season in college.

Kafka is a good third string option at quarterback

On the offensive side of the ball, the front office selected Mike Kafka (QB: Northwestern), Clay Harbor (TE: Missouri State), Riley Cooper (WR: Florida), and Charles Scott (RB: LSU). Kafka will be a solid third string option behind Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick. He had a great senior year for the Wildcats and led them to a 8-4 record with 16 touchdown passes.

Wide receiver Riley Cooper had a standout senior season for the Gators. Despite only racking in 535 yards and nine touchdowns in his first three seasons, Cooper became Tim Tebow’s favorite target last season and finished with 961 yards and nine touchdowns. He has good height at 6-3, which will help him standout during training camp as he competes for the four and five spots on the depth chart.

For a look at scouting reports for the other draft picks, click here.

The only main issue I had with the Eagles draft was the lack of attention toward the offensive line. Even though scouts say offensive linemen are the hardest to draft, I still think the Eagles should have focused on bulking up their line after a treacherous 2009 season. Considering Kevin Kolb has yet to prove himself as a quarterback that can throw the ball 40 times a game, shouldn’t the Eagles focus on giving him and the running game a little protection? I’m sure the Eagles will sign a number of undrafted offensive linemen in the next few weeks before mini camps begin, but will that solve the problems? I’m not saying I disliked the defensive mentality in the draft, but I do think the Eagles are forgetting how little their offense was able to do at some points during last season.

Now we wait and see if any of these draft picks become DeSean Jackson’s or Trent Cole’s.