Let there be tackling

The difference between Chip Kelly's training camps and Doug Pederson's was there for nearly 500 VIP spectators to see Wednesday at the NovaCare Complex.

Kelly didn't believe in tackling to the ground in camp. Felt only bad things could come from it, mainly injuries.

Pederson's attitude is football is a contact sport and players need to practice the way they're going to play on Sundays.

So, for the first time since the Eagles opened training camp last week, they put on the pads and tackled Wednesday. They had not one, but two "live'' periods in their 2 ½-hour practice.

There were some big-time collisions, most of them involving safety Rodney McLeod. But there were no serious injuries.

"I've been around this game long enough to know that this is a contact sport,'' said Pederson, who spent 12 years in the league as a backup quarterback. "Injuries are a part of the game. I'm not going to shy away from the tackling or shy away from the hitting.

"Do you want to get anybody hurt? No, you don't want to get anybody hurt. But at the same time, if we learn how to practice in pads and take care of each other when we're in those situations, it's just going to make us a better football team down the stretch. The guys will learn how to practice and play fast. And that's what you want.''

Most of the live hitting came when they were practicing short-yardage situations and their two-minute offense.

"I thought the energy was good and the competition was good,'' Pederson said. "This is the time of year where you see who's going to be with you and who you can take to the regular season. We had some good performances out there today.''

Rookie running back Wendell Smallhouse was out with a quad injury, joining Ryan Mathews (ankle), who has yet to practice. That meant a ton of reps for Kenjon Barner and rookies Cedric O'Neal and Byron Marshall.

"I thought (Barner) handled it well,'' Pederson said. "His conditioning is good. He's improving. He got a little tired toward the end of practice, but that's the nature of a camp practice. Overall, I thought he did a good job.''