7 thoughts on Eagles camp
Andy Reid opens camp Monday from Lehigh. Here are seven thoughts/predictions/guesses about what we'll see the next three weeks from the Eagles.
7 thoughts on Eagles camp
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Andy Reid takes the mic at 5 p.m. Monday for the official start of Eagles training camp.
I'll be headed up to Lehigh tomorrow afternoon to add to philly.com's Eagles coverage. But first, here's a touchdown's worth of thoughts/predictions/guesses about what we're going to see over the next three weeks:
1. I think the veterans who are in camp battles will hold on to their starting jobs. Specifically, I'm talking about Nick Cole at center and Hank Baskett at the fourth wide receiver position. Every year at camp, readers ask which players "look good." It's an easier question to answer for wide receivers, tight ends, quarterbacks and cornerbacks. It's a much more difficult question to answer for linemen. That bring us to Cole. Other than an injury or poor work habits, I can't really see what would cause the Eagles' staff to sit Cole in favor of one of his backups. I feel pretty confident saying he'll be the starting center Week 1 against the Packers.
I'm less confident with Baskett, but I still think he holds on to the job. I thought Riley Cooper looked good at OTAs, but I wouldn't say he looked better than Baskett, who had some impressive moments. Baskett will have a better grasp of the offense and be the guy the Eagles trust to be on the field - at least early in the season.
2. I think right cornerback is one position where we'll be able to tell quite a bit about how the guys are performing. Even if Ellis Hobbs wins the job at camp, I don't think it will be his all season. The question is: Who can take it from him? That's one of the things I'm most looking forward to keeping an eye on.
3. I think that when the national reporters stop by, most will write similarly-themed articles about the 2010 Eagles. They will focus around the changing of the guard at quarterback and Kevin Kolb's first year as a starter. I think the national guys who have had limited contact with Kolb in the past will come away impressed, and by the time the season starts, it will be difficult to find a national reporter or TV peronality who predicts that Kolb is not up for the challenge.
4. I think it's probably more important for Nate Allen to be at camp on time than Brandon Graham. Allen is being counted on to start at safety, and he didn't get all the reps there at OTAs until after Marlin Jackson went down. The learning process is probably more important to Allen than any other Eagles defensive player over the next three weeks. I was impressed with Allen at OTAs, but it's critical for him to be on the field from the start at Lehigh.
5. One of the players I most want to see in pads is Ernie Sims. The Eagles' new weak-side linebacker looked quick to the ball in shorts, but how will he perform when the Eagles' offensive linemen are looking to take him to the ground?
6. Last year, during the first week of camp, the attention was on Sheldon Brown. Would he show up on time? Would he speak to the media? Would he be a distraction? This year, reporters will gather around two guys: DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick. Vick will be peppered with questions about the shooting. And Jackson will be asked about his contract. I don't expect Vick to say anything noteworthy or go into details - instead, he'll just talk about how excited he is for football. As for Jackson, I don't think he'll make a fuss publicly about his contract and will look like the best player on either side of the ball at Lehigh for the second year in a row.
7. Other random questions I have for this team: How is Todd Herremans' foot holding up? Can Cornelius Ingram contribute? What kind of leap can second-year guys LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin make? Where in his recovery is Stewart Bradley? What did Sean McDermott learn in his first year as defensive coordinator? What will Andy Reid do differently with no Donovan McNabb? Macho Harris, Joselio Hanson, Trevard Lindley - can anyone step up?
Should be a fun time. We'll have blog posts, stories, columns, videos, chats and more starting Monday. As always, if there's anything specific you're looking for out of our coverage, feel free to let me know.
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If Hobbs is our opening day starting corner...this Defense is in trouble.— hititwheretheyaint- Baskett also has a better grasp of the "hands" team concept, and we're not talking about football.— mccloudmj
- I agree with hitit, if Hobbs is the starter, that's just one more obvious weakness on that side of the ball. A rookie starter at safety, basically new starters at every LB position compared to who played there last year, and undersized players all over.— Bleue
Number 8. How many will be injured this year? Andy Reid loves Tackeling to the ground every freakin practice.— citysims
Ah yes, "camp!" That "grueling" three weeks of pushing t-shirts, autograph sessions, and carnival atmosphere up at Lehigh. Then having the nerve to charge $20 for to watch a "practice/game show" at Lincoln Financial Field on a Friday night. Didn't "camp" used to be an actual task for players? Six weeks to find out who could take the punishment over the long-haul? I wonder how disgusted those players from the 1970s and 80s (and earlier) are now.- On offense, the OL will be the determining factor (Peters pass blocking, Todd's foot health, Cole's ability to start, ditto for Stacy, Justice maintain or improve), cause if KK gets time, this offense will move the ball and put up big points. The defense is one gigantic question mark, save T Cole, Bunk and M Patty up front; can the LBs play better than last year (will Sims play like he did @ FSU, Bradley stay healthy, Fokou not commit 15 yard penalties), and ditto for the secondary (Will Mikell play like a leader, will Asante tackle, will Allen play like a rookie or a veteran, who will take the RCB spot). And how many of those 13 rookies contribute to our success? Those are my questions.— The Reddgie
Kevin Kolb and how good the defensive line can rush. Kolb is going to have a great year because he has the talent around him, one of the best tight ends and best duo in the league with Maclin and Jackson. He is throwing for 4,000 yards and im not joking at all.— briandawkins20- Gotta love Eagles fans. Equal parts scared, whining and complaining. Awesome job haters. We are on pace to keep our title as biggest complainers in the NFL.
- @The Reddgie: an intelligent comment on Philly.com? Holy cats! You belong with us on BGN, dude, if you're not there already.— DCSS215
- The Reddgie spot on.— ledzep123
- Missed the biggest question: who will get hurt.— Jack Burden
- DCSS215, thanks brother, I love BGN (especially the pass by pass breakdowns of KK's 2 games last year) and read it all the time. Don't make any comments there, and thanks to you to ledzep123— The Reddgie
- It's all about the D. After two straight years of being eviscerated in the playoffs, a major overhaul HAS to occur this year.— jimmyj
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Spangler, if you go on to any other city's forums, you'd see the same things. Philly is no different. I live in San Diego now and it's the same thing here.— phillyinsd
- When will DooDooFresh learn a new routine? When will DooDooFresh put the air guitar posts to rest? Get a new act DooDoo, 5 is gone.— The Reddgie
- Good thing for the players that this insane weather broke today. They would have had to truck cases of IV fluids to the practice site. Vick will continue to distract the team. It's unfair to the rest of the players to keep this guy on the team.— Bob1
- MTC continues to blow my mind. I read MTC before i go to espn.— Tough* Juice*
- Number 8: How long do we have to wait for Jeff Lurie to get Andy Reid out of this city? PLease go away Andy. I hate you.— fb-omniscient
- Angry Al 2 - you are an absolute moron, and I don't even have the time to go through everything that is wrong/ignorant about your statement. Go outisde and get a hug or something please.— EaglesBleedMoney
- Is "CAKE in the face BANG BANG Vick still on the squad?? Think Lurie should bring in PAC MAN and PLEXICO to complele the GANGSTER lineup.— jwatson
Did Juqua Parker score his camp stash yet? Does Herreman's have the strippers' phone numbers on speed dial?— tornadoh
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