Marcus Smith, Ed Reynolds turn it around

Sunday was a good overall day for the Eagles as they opened the exhibition season with a fairly solid and injury-free win over the Indianapolis Colts, but it was also a very good day, specifically, for the 2014 draft class.

The last draft controlled by Howie Roseman had some undeniable high points. Receivers Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff were contributors as rookies, as was nose tackle Beau Allen and, to a lesser degree, defensive back Jaylen Watkins.

There were gaps among the draftees, however, and none bigger than first-round pick Marcus Smith, who became the poster boy of what was portrayed as a failure of the previous player-personnel department. He was on the field for just 68 defensive snaps all season and was widely regarded as a bust.

Two other players acquired in the 2014 draft didn't see the field at all, a pair of fifth-round picks in defensive end Taylor Hart and safety Ed Reynolds II. Hart, who played at Oregon under Kelly and defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro, was on the full roster, but never activated for a game. Reynolds missed all of spring workouts because of Stanford's graduation requirements, didn't catch up, and landed on the practice squad.

That was then. Acknowledging that it was merely the first game of the exhibition season and that all able-bodied men are encouraged to take part - aside from Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray, of course - it was quite something when Smith, Reynolds and Hart played themselves some football.

At this juncture, it looks as if Hart probably would have the least likely chance of contributing behind starters Fletcher Cox and Cedric Thornton and third-down specialist Vinny Curry, but the other two guys, Smith and Reynolds, are not only in position to get some snaps, they had themselves a day on Sunday.

Smith bulked up for this season, adding a good deal of muscle mass in order to take on the tackles and tight ends that will confront him. Against the Colts, he was the physical equal of the opponents and, more important, seemed comfortable in the scheme.

"I can go up against anybody," Smith said. "Last year, I was a rookie trying to find his way. This kickoff, I was ready to go out there and smoke somebody. I just want to have an impact on the team."

Smith played a lot. He had a tackle for loss in the backfield, put pressure on the quarterback consistently, and did a capable job of staying with tight ends in their receiving routes.

"A couple of plays, the quarterback didn't throw the ball because I'm on the tight end," Smith said. "If I'm in coverage and can make the quarterback pump the ball, I'm helping the defensive line."

There are snaps available for Smith behind both Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham, if Smith continues to be effective. The loss of Travis Long to an ACL tear has made it almost imperative that he show up this season. Chip Kelly thinks he knows why Smith looks better in 2015 than in 2014.

"Birthday," Kelly said. "He's a year older. I think it's not all new for him. I think he's been there, done that. I just think there's a calming sense around him. He's got a better grasp of what we're trying to do and he's really showed up in our training sessions and he showed up today."

If Smith showed up in all the fundamental ways, Reynolds made his return in spectacular fashion, intercepting two passes and always putting himself around the ball during a safety stint that mostly came in the second half. A lot of attention has been given to the battle for slot corner in the defensive backfield, but there is also a spot open for a third safety behind Walter Thurmond and Malcolm Jenkins. It could be Earl Wolff, but he continues to battle injury issues, and the field is open for Reynolds to seize it.

"I should have had four," Reynolds said of his two interceptions, although that would have been difficult since, by his accounting, two would have come on the same Indianapolis possession. "This means a lot for my confidence. The eye in the sky never lies and as long as I'm putting good film out there, you can't be denied a spot, whether it's here or somewhere else. I wanted to prove the Eagles didn't waste a fifth-round pick on me. Now, it's just a matter of stacking those games on top of each other."

Kelly is nearly a month from committing on who will be the third safety - not to mention the third outside linebacker - but the similarities between Smith and Reynolds are all tied to their standing as members of the 2014 draft class.

Reynolds "is a lot like Marcus. Year two. It's not all new for him," Kelly said. "He spent the entire offseason here . . . was here every day."

There is no question that neither was a big deal on the team a year ago. Smith was around, but a disappointment. Reynolds was an afterthought. This is a new season, however. Things are different. On Sunday, so were Smith and Reynolds.

@bobfordsports