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More targets for DGB might boost Eagles' offense

THE EAGLES' options for creating more offense are limited, especially if backs and tight ends are going to have to give consistent chip-block help to rookie right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai, as seemed likely after the loss at Washington.

THE EAGLES' options for creating more offense are limited, especially if backs and tight ends are going to have to give consistent chip-block help to rookie right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai, as seemed likely after the loss at Washington.

Wideouts Josh Huff and Nelson Agholor have been here a while now. What you've seen is probably what you're getting. It might be unfair to ask Jordan Matthews for dramatically more than his current 22 catches for 344 yards through five games, given that Matthews is the receiver opposing defenses focus upon.

On Thursday, offensive coordinator Frank Reich did highlight one possible growth opportunity, though. Dorial Green-Beckham's snaps have been going up each week, to 42 of a possible 52 against Washington. He only caught one pass, for 23 yards, but another, more spectacular play was called back by a bogus block-in-the-back penalty on Wendell Smallwood. On that one, with Carson Wentz scrambling, Green-Beckham caught a short throw over the middle, broke a tackle and long-strided his way 38 yards down the far sideline.

Reich said Green-Beckham, who arrived in a training-camp trade from Tennessee, has learned the offense now, is no longer limited to one set of plays from one wideout spot.

"DGB is playing very well. I think he looks fast, he looks strong," Reich said. "We see it every time he gets the ball in his hands, he's hard to tackle. He's a big man who can run fast. He's gaining more and more confidence. He's another guy that when you sit down, you say, 'How do we continue to get him the ball more and more?' Without a doubt, he's a big-play guy."

Still, Green-Beckham hasn't been targeted more than four times in a game yet. When might we see what he could do with six or eight or 10 targets? "Hopefully that day comes soon," Green-Beckham said.

Green-Beckham said that given his late introduction to the offense, he still needs to put in extra time, and he makes sure to ask questions.

Small-batch Barwin?

Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, asked Thursday about defensive end Connor Barwin's struggles, said the d-lineman with the most snaps on the team might be out there too much, getting worn down.

Barwin has just one sack this season. Schwartz said that Barwin, "like a lot of our other guys, didn't play his best game this last game. He's a guy that can probably benefit from lesser reps and have maybe more production with lesser reps, we've been talking about that. It's just tough in game situations when you're not doing well, everybody starts pressing and you start trying to do too much. Maybe that includes playing too many reps. Connor is a good player when he's fresh and going, and he's no different than the rest of our guys that way . . . We're not disappointed in him."

Barwin was asked if this was something Schwartz had broached with him.

"No. but I watched the tape and I definitely had some snaps that were uncharacteristic, and I think it was just probably fatigue, so I think that probably makes sense," he said.

Barwin said he doesn't think the shift from 3-4 outside linebacker to 4-3 end under Schwartz has affected him. He played in both setups in Houston before signing with the Eagles in 2013.

"It's pretty much the same thing, except you're not dropping (into coverage) as much. I've gone four weeks without getting a sack as an outside 'backer many times in my career," Barwin said. "This isn't the first time I've done it as a d-end, either. These things happen. Obviously, I've got to get back on track this week."

Birdseed

Frank Reich was asked if taking big hits early affected Carson Wentz at Washington. "It usually has an effect on most quarterbacks, to be honest with you . . . You have to regroup from it, but it's hard to stand back there and get hit early and not let it affect you." . . . Linebacker Mychal Kendricks said he has obtained 40 tickets for friends and family, as his brother and fellow linebacker Eric comes to town this weekend with the Vikings. He said he and Eric will split the cost. They've never actually played against one another - Mychal's Cal team faced Eric and UCLA, but Eric was redshirting at the time . . . Wideout Jordan Matthews knows both Carson Wentz and Sam Bradford very well. Matthews was asked Thursday how he thought they would handle facing each other, seven weeks removed from their time together in the quarterbacks room. "I know both of their demeanors," Matthews said. "I think Carson doesn't care, and I think Sam cares even less." . . . Defensive tackle Bennie Logan (groin) was the only Eagle who didn't practice.

@LesBowen