Barbre in at tackle for Eagles as Johnson suspension looms

Two summers ago, Allen Barbre spent the entire training camp playing right tackle on the Eagles' first-team offensive line. Lane Johnson was scheduled to miss the first four games because of a suspension, and the coaching staff prepared Barbre to replace him.

Two summers later, Barbre had been trying to keep his starting left guard spot for the second straight season. But after the news broke about Johnson's looming 10-game suspension, Barbre is back at right tackle as Johnson's replacement like he was in 2014.

Even though Barbre is more comfortable at left guard, coach Doug Pederson's plan to overcome Johnson's loss included moving Barbre to Johnson's spot and inserting third-round pick Isaac Seumalo at left guard. That was the lineup Sunday night at practice for the second consecutive day.

The Eagles could explore other internal options and they have two open roster spots if they want to add a veteran, but Barbre at right tackle and Seumalo at left guard appears to be the initial plan.

"I think it would behoove me to have a plan," Pederson said. "Again, it just goes back to giving these guys an opportunity to get them on tape, to make the corrections now so that down the road we're prepared for it."

For Barbre, it's refamiliarizing himself with a position he hasn't needed to play in two seasons. He made the Eagles in 2013 as versatile lineman, but he was a 16-game starter at left guard last year and was the front-runner to win the job this summer.

"Trying to get used to different stuff," Barbre said. "Still tackle. Still the same position [as 2014]. Just getting familiar with this scheme."

Pederson values Barbre's athleticism and intelligence. The adjustment for the nine-year veteran is not just to the position but also to the side of the field. Barbre has become used to playing on the left. He said he needs to flip the plays in his head, and it requires different angles and footwork.

"I've played a lot of snaps at left," Barbre said. "So naturally I'm more comfortable there. I'm going to go out and work hard every day at right, maybe I'll be comfortable there too someday."

Seumalo's promotion came after an unimpressive preseason debut. He was part of a second-team line that allowed four sacks of backup quarterback Chase Daniel.

"I'm a really harsh critic of myself and hold myself to a high standard and Thursday was not where I want to be," Seumalo said. "At the same time I understand it's preseason and it's my first game . . . but I can't really think of that. I just try to think what can I do to get better, what can I work on, how do I mentally and physically prepare leading up to games. What can I just do to get better?"

He said he was "overthinking stuff" in the game, and that caused him to play slow. Seumalo spoke to center Jason Kelce about the issue, and Kelce's advice was to think about something that triggers in his mind to play fast.

"I thought about that, and to me it's just about finishing every play and that's something I've got to do," Seumalo said. "It's just got to be effortless so that when I go out there I don't think about it and I can play as fast as I can."

Still, Seumalo was encouraged about his performance in practice. He believes he has progressed during the three weeks of training camp, which was Seumalo's first time practicing with the full team.

Seumalo missed the spring because of Oregon State's academic schedule. He stayed in touch with offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland to get as much knowledge of the scheme as he could, and he stood out to Pederson when he returned.

"I know mentally [with the] playbook, I can get that stuff down," Seumalo said. "It's the physical reps. Going up against really good players and then when the lights come on Thursdays or Sundays it's all about playing fast, because guys are too good in the NFL to overthink."

Pederson said Seumalo is "really challenging" to earn playing time because the rookie knows his assignments and has good fundamentals. The coach wants to see how Seumalo functions between Kelce and Jason Peters, two veteran Pro Bowlers.

"If I'm there, those guys make it easy," Seumalo said. "They're veterans and really talented guys and their work ethic and their demeanor and their professionalism . . . they make it easy and I look up to those guys and try to be a sponge and do what they tell me to do."

If the Eagles don't like this combination, there are other changes they can make. Stefen Wisniewski has started all 77 games of his NFL career and could play left guard over Seumalo. Dennis Kelly has nine career starts at right tackle, Andrew Gardner has two career starts at right tackle, and the Eagles could always try Matt Tobin, who has 20 career starts with the team. Fifth-round pick Halapoulivaati Vaitai has spent the summer at right tackle and received a mention from Pederson, too.

Entering the summer, it appeared only that Barbre's left guard spot could be taken. Now, the Eagles have two spots they must figure out before the season begins Sept. 11.

"I'm looking for five tough, dirty, nasty guys that want to go out and just play football," Pederson said. "I don't care which five it is, but we're going to find the best five and the right five, and I feel like we've got them here on the team."

zberman@phillynews.com

@ZBerm