Eagles Notes | Rookie gets some work in the middle

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Rookie

Stewart Bradley

lined up at middle linebacker yesterday and is getting a crash course at that position until the remaining veterans begin practicing Tuesday.

"There are always going to be some linebackers you want to learn how to play a couple of positions," defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said after the Eagles finished their second practice of the first day of training camp at Lehigh University. "We want Stewart to learn the [middle] and [strongside] positions."

Part of the reason Bradley is able to line up at middle linebacker is because veterans Jeremiah Trotter, Omar Gaither and Dedrick Roper haven't reported to camp yet.

"When the veterans come in, [Bradley] will be playing the [strongside] and competing with Chris Gocong for that job," Johnson said. "Bradley is still learning the [strongside] position, and it's going to take a good training camp to get there."

While much of the focus on the Eagles' defense will be on how well it can stop the run in 2007, Johnson always looks at the bigger picture.

"I think the biggest challenge is we want to get back to our philosophy of keeping points down and getting turnovers," Johnson said.

Johnson, however, acknowledged that the Eagles do need an improved run defense. They ranked 26th in run defense last season and allowed 136.4 rushing yards per game.

"There were two games we were really poor against the run," Johnson said. "That was against the Colts and [in the playoffs] against the Saints. It comes down to schemes, personnel, whatever. We want to shore that up, but again, it comes down to our philosophy of being aggressive and keeping the points down to make sure we're in every game."

Rookie quarterback

Kevin Kolb

created a buzz among the crowd during the afternoon practice when he connected on deep passes to rookie wide receiver

Zac Collie

and second-year receiver

Jeremy Bloom.

Kolb was aggravated with himself a short time after his Bloom completion because he made an errant throw in the right flat to fullback Jason Davis.

The Eagles' rookies and selected veterans will practice again today at 8:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Both workouts are open to the public. Tomorrow they will practice just once, at 8:45 a.m., with veterans reporting later in the day. Autograph sessions at Lehigh do not begin until Wednesday following the 8:15 a.m. practice.