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Tobin's improbable journey to Eagles starter

Matt Tobin wasn't invited to the NFL combine following his senior season at Iowa. He says now that he doesn't care, although he believes his professional career might have turned out differently had he been among the 2013 draft prospects to attend the Indianapolis workout.

Eagles offensive lineman Matt Tobin listens to instructions from offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. (Clem Murray/Staff Photographer)
Eagles offensive lineman Matt Tobin listens to instructions from offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. (Clem Murray/Staff Photographer)Read more

Matt Tobin wasn't invited to the NFL combine following his senior season at Iowa.

He says now that he doesn't care, although he believes his professional career might have turned out differently had he been among the 2013 draft prospects to attend the Indianapolis workout.

"It was fine. I heard it [stank] anyway," Tobin said earlier this week. "I feel if I went there, I probably would have gotten drafted."

The Eagles, though, signed Tobin as an undrafted rookie and he went on to make the 53-man roster last season. A little over a year later, he's slated to earn his first NFL start at left guard as part of a patchwork offensive line that will face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday without three of its starters.

Tobin would have been in there earlier had he not suffered a high ankle sprain in the preseason finale. He was clearly the top reserve lineman, according to Eagles coaches, and was slated to be the first tackle or guard off the bench. With Allen Barbre out for the season, Chip Kelly said Tobin will eventually assume Barbre's sixth-man role.

But for now, with left guard Evan Mathis out for at least another five games, Tobin will start. He was listed as probable on the Eagles' Friday injury report.

"He's been great," Kelly said when asked about Tobin's transition from playing mostly tackle last season to guard this year. "I think a lot of the things those guys do in that second O-line group, and they've got to be able to play every position, and he's handled being a guard-tackle very well."

Tobin's preseason ankle sprain was just the first of a spate of injuries that have befallen an offensive line group that was among the healthiest in the league last season.

Barbre, who was filling in for Johnson, tore ligaments in the opener. Mathis suffered an MCL sprain to his knee that same game. Two weeks later, center Jason Kelce suffered a sports hernia and is out for six to eight weeks following Tuesday's surgery.

Andrew Gardner took Barbre's place the previous two games, but he's back on the bench this week. The Eagles shuffled the line so Tobin and Dennis Kelly, who moved from left guard to right, could return to their preseason positions. And Todd Herremans, Mr. Reliable, jumped from right guard to right tackle in place of Gardner.

David Molk will fill in for Kelce. Wade Smith, who was signed as a free agent after the opener and was pressed into guard Sunday against the Redskins, said he was taking practice snaps at center all week as Molk's backup.

The 3-0 Eagles have survived the onslaught of injuries, but the 49ers defense is stout. Quarterback Nick Foles endured eight quarterback hits in the pocket against the Redskins and Eagles running backs were held to two yards per carry.

Tobin will have his hands full against 49ers defensive end Justin Smith, but he should be an upgrade over Kelly. Some on the Eagles project Tobin as a starter and a potential future replacement for the 32-year-old Mathis.

It was one reason why the team moved him to guard during the offseason. Tobin said the position change also played to his skill set.

"It allows me to set more edges and hammer more people in the run game," he said. "I'm explosive so I can get my feet on the ground and run through the guys."

The 6-foot-6 Tobin is below average in weight (290 pounds), but like Mathis, he compensates for what he lacks in size with quickness and sound technique. The Eagles would like him to get to 305, but it's been a struggle.

"I don't really need to put a whole lot on. I just need to get stronger," Tobin sad. "It takes a little while. But for me I got to make sure I stay explosive. A Justin Smith bull rush - I want to see if I'm strong enough to handle that. But I got other ways to prevent him bull-rushing anyway."

Tobin, like a number of Eagles, played some quarterback in high school. He was eventually moved to offensive line and had to walk on at Iowa. He started his final 22 games in college, but was passed over when the NFL handed out invites to the combine.

But the Eagles had their sights on him. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland called Tobin before the draft.

"Stout said, 'I like how you punch power angles. You understand angles,' " Tobin recalled. "And then after the draft he called. There were a handful of teams that wanted me, but this was the best situation as far as roster and it just seemed as if they wanted me more than everybody else."

Extra points. The Eagles officially listed linebacker Mychal Kendricks (calf) as out for Sunday's game. Emmanuel Acho, Casey Matthews and Marcus Smith will continue to rotate at inside linebacker in his place. Wide receiver Josh Huff (shoulder) was listed as questionable.

@Jeff_McLane