Eagles training camp 2013: What they're saying: More film breakdowns

by Jimmy Kempski

Published Aug. 14, 2013, 8:02 a.m. ET

After a boring practice yesterday, we'll turn to some more film breakdowns from the first preseason game, as well as a little Nate Allen, Lane Johnson, and Jason Peters. Here's what they're saying this morning...

Tremendous breakdown here.

More breakdowns.

The 6-6, 310-pound Johnson was the fourth overall pick in the April draft and the third tackle off the board, after Eric Fisher (first to Kansas City) and Luke Joeckel (second to Jacksonville).

After watching video of Fisher and Joeckel in their preseason debuts last week, Baldinger, who put in 11 years as an NFL offensive lineman, said Johnson has been head and shoulders above the other two at this point.

He, like everyone else who has watched Johnson, has been impressed by his athleticism.

"The backside blocks are as important as the frontside blocks," he said. "His ability, from a two-point stance, to be able to pick up that left foot and come behind [right guard] Todd Herremans and double-team, there's not a lot of guys that can do that. But Lane can really cover ground.

"We only saw a couple of outside zone [runs] the other night. You block the same five guys on an outside zone as you do on an inside zone. The difference is how you block them. That open step of his to really get out and start stretching the defense, it's impressive."

File this under "probably doesn't mean much": Matt Barkley took some first team "reps" today. Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman saw some first team "reps" on defense. Earl Wolff was paired with Pat Chung on the "2nd string" pair.

Math'd!

You see a crisis at the Eagles' safety position, Nate Allen sees "a few things we have to clean up."

It's not hard to want Allen to be right. There is no nicer, more affable Eagle than the fourth-year safety from South Florida. Before training camp started, Eagles legend Brian Dawkins identified Allen as the Birds' most talented safety, but said he needed to find consistency. The hope has been that a new defensive coaching staff and a new scheme that doesn't require the safeties to assume primary run responsibility would rekindle the promise Allen showed as a second-round rookie in 2010.

LeSean McCoy and Cary Williams will make their preseason debuts on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers.

The status of Jason Peters is less certain.

Eagles coach Chip Kelly said Peters, the all-pro left tackle who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since July 31, probably won't play against Carolina. Peters took part in some portions of Tuesday's walkthrough but didn't line with the first team in any drills that involved the first offense pitted against the defense. Allen Barbre will probably make another start in Peters' place.

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