Eagles training camp 2013: What they're saying: Billy Davis updates the defensive position battles

by Jimmy Kempski

Published Aug. 22, 2013, 9:33 a.m. ET

Today will be the last practice open to the media before the team flies south to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars this Saturday. Here's what they're saying...

• First, a quick note: If you were planning on heading down to Lincoln Financial Field for the last of the Eagles' open practices next Monday (the 26th), there has been a time change. That practice will begin at 11:40am.

From the moment he was drafted, Donovan McNabb has been the target of all sorts of horrible nonsense.

Jimmy note: Really detailed longform piece on 5, that is absolutely worth a look.

Davis made it fairly clear that he would prefer to keep Boykin inside, where his unique skill set can be utilized.

"We truly want to see him at the nickel spot," Davis said Wednesday. "In this day and age and the way the NFL is right now, your nickel defensive back plays more than some of your inside [linebackers]."

Boykin, naturally, wants to play all the time.

"I want to play both. I want to be on the field as much as I can," he said Tuesday. "At the end of the day, being a starting corner in the league is the highest you can possibly get. Nickel is not exactly a starter."

The 2010 and 2011 drafts are part of the reason there had to be change this past offseason. The players taken in those years failed to be impact guys that could help the team win games and get where it wanted to be.

Now Chip Kelly is in charge. There is a new offense. There is a new defense. I don't know how much can change schematically on STs, but there is a new man in charge of that group. All of this change gives new chances to players who have been disappointments so far in their young careers.

While the focus this offseason has been on the new free agents and the rookies from the draft, the Eagles road to redemption can be greatly helped by the 2010 and 2011 draft classes.

The starters up front have been Isaac Sopoaga at nose tackle, Cedric Thornton at LDE andFletcher Cox at RDE. Cox is a mainstay, but the other two are being pushed.

Bennie Logan has played very well through two games and has the versatility to line up at the nose or defensive end.

"Bennie has had two good games," Davis said. "Like all of them, they're pushing and we'll see with this game. …This is a real big determining factor, this will help see where Bennie is. He's taken each step, he's done everything we've asked him to do and has played very solid in the two preseason games he's played."

Thomas joins running backs coach Duce Staley as two former standouts from the Andy Reid era who are part of Kelly's staff. Tight ends coach Ted Williams is the other coaching holdover from Reid's staff.

"I was kinda hoping he'd wait a couple weeks," Davis, the Eagles' defensive coordinator, joked after yesterday's practice.

The media horde covering the team woke up yesterday morning and realized there was no more quarterback competition to write or talk about.

What to obsess over now?

Well, the Eagles' biggest problem area is the defense, specifically a defensive secondary that was wretched last season and might not be much better now, despite ridding itself of Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

John offers up 5 reasons to be confident about the 2013 Eagles, and 5 reasons to be concerned.

Quarterback Robert Griffin III continues to show the Washington Redskins, and the doctors, that he will be ready for the Sept. 9 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

He inched forward a little more Wednesday by working against the starting defense for the first time in a full practice since last season. Griffin took 49 snaps against the scout team defense last week.

Coach Mike Shanahan said Griffin received work in "a couple of periods" against the starting defense, comparing to how it would have been in organized team activities or minicamp. The Redskins were not in full pads Wednesday, but they did go full speed.

"I'm getting the team reps, and that's what I wanted, and that's what the team needed me to be out there doing," Griffin said. "I feel good. I am confident Coach easing me in has helped, and giving me the extra reps has helped now. My eyes are set on Philly."

The Eagles won't have to worry about Miller when they face the Broncos Week 4.

Eagles training camp 2013: What they're saying: Billy Davis updates the defensive position battles

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