McGlynn solid at center in Eagles’ preseason opener

The Eagles' first-team offensive line, one of the team's biggest concerns heading toward the season, kept Kevin Kolb safe in its first dress rehearsal, but provided mixed results in the running game in one quarter of action Friday.

Kolb had plenty of time to throw on nearly every drop back. He could step up in the pocket and, when he needed to run, had lanes to break through in a 28-27 Eagles win over the Jaguars.

And, reassuringly for the Eagles, there were no botched snaps between Kolb and Mike McGlynn, the third-choice center who might be making a push to hold the starting job come Sept. 12.

"It looked like he did pretty good," head coach Andy Reid said of McGlynn, though he added that he would want to review the game tape.

McGlynn, who did not play at all last year, delivered all of the first-team snaps in place of the injured Nick Cole. McGlynn looked comfortable in handling the pass rush, though the Jaguars' defense was hardly fearsome. The Jaguars started three reserves in their front seven, and McGlynn said they seemed to back off after a couple quick Kolb completions on the game's opening drive.

The Eagles' top running backs had tougher going in their one quarter on the field, though. Taking away Kolb's two scrambles and DeSean Jackson's 17-yard gain on a reverse, most of which could be attributed to his individual brilliance, the first-team offense ran nine times for 32 yards.

LeSean McCoy ran eight times, gaining 30 yards.

Reid said he was happy with the run blocking.

McGlynn knows this training camp is his chance to gain a foothold in the National Football League after barely playing in his first two years.

With Cole and Jamaal Jackson both out, opportunity is staring at him. Until Cole returns, the center job comes down to McGlynn and A.Q. Shipley, a free agent signed from the Steelers' practice squad.

"I think I played really well. I think I did some good things and we ran the ball pretty well. We protected Kevin pretty well," he said.

Cole came into camp as Reid's first choice at center while Jackson recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. But Cole, and the entire offense, stumbled early in camp. He and Kolb struggled to even connect on snaps and the sight of a linebacker or defensive back coming free at the red-jerseyed quarterback was a regular occurrence.

Despite his early struggles, Reid has repeatedly said Cole is the starting center.

The position is the most high-profile question on the line, but it is hardly the only one.

Guard Todd Herremans has not practiced since late May due to a foot injury. And then there is Stacy Andrews, who sat out most of last year but is now considered the starting right guard.

For one night though, even based on a small sample in one preseason game against a fairly weak opponent, Reid was pleased.

"We need to continue to work, that's important," he said. "We need to keep getting back the guys back healthy that are banged up, but for the first preseason game, for a quarter, I thought they did well."