Eagles vs. Steelers: Three things to watch
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Eagles vs. Steelers: Three things to watch
The death of coach Andy Reid’s son, Garrett, will impact the tenor of the Eagles’ first preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday night, particularly if Reid does coach, as expected, and when Eagles fans show him their support, as is certain.
Still, the game is a big first test for several Eagles, even though it’s only the first preseason game and it’s likely that most of the regular-season starters will be out of the game before all the tailgaters finally find their seats.
Here are three things to watch as the Eagles take the field for the first time in 2012:
1. The new veterans
New middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and new left tackle Demetress Bell are the only veteran starters new to the offense or defense. It’s vital they fit in quickly with their units, especially since the Eagles play six 2011 playoff teams in their first eight games.
Ryans’ performance throughout the preseason will be the more scrutinized of the two. He’s known as an instinctive linebacker, and since he’s learning a new defensive scheme, he’ll need to show he understands the concepts and is reacting on the field rather than thinking.
It’s hard to gauge how quickly Ryans is learning the system simply by watching drills and 11-on-11s, but games will be the real tests.
As for Bell, it’s hard to replace a five-time Pro Bowler like Jason Peters, who’s out for the year with an Achilles injury. But the offensive line was capable last year with two rookies, so the addition of a veteran shouldn’t be a concern.
2. The backup quarterbacks
Unless Reid and the coaching staff are the best poker players not on the World Series of Poker circuit, there is no quarterback competition in camp.
Mike Kafka, the only backup holdover from last year’s team and the guy getting the large majority of backup reps, is No. 2 behind Michael Vick. Third-round pick Nick Foles is on the third team, as the depth chart shows, and Trent Edwards is biding time until he starts golfing.
But Vick has yet to play a full 16-game season with the Eagles and has done so only once, in 2006, in his nine-year career. So Kafka needs to show he can pull a 2002 A.J. Feeley or a 2006 Jeff Garcia when he’s called on.
In camp, Kafka has shown he knows the system and can hit the short and intermediate passes. Sure, his arm strength won’t let the Eagles stretch the field, but if he can limit turnovers and move the chains, that’s all you can ask from a backup.
3. The rookies
The young guys will see their largest chunk of preseason playing time in the first game, so those border-line hopefuls looking to make the team need to stand out.
However, the three Eagles rookies under the biggest spotlight Thursday will be starting strongside linebacker Mychal Kendricks and top returners Damaris Johnson and Brandon Boykin.
Last season’s experiment with rookie linebacker Casey Matthews is still fresh in the minds of Eagles fans, so Kendricks needs to transfer the speed and quickness he’s shown in camp into game action. Unlike Matthews, Kendricks isn’t the middle linebacker, so having a veteran like Ryans will help his development.
Johnson and Boykin have the talent to make an impact this season, but there’s a reason there are no rookies on the Eagles late-game “Hands Team.” Special teams coordinator Bobby April loathes turnovers.
April has emphasized to his group how the punt and kick teams can impact a game, even mentioning last year’s NFC Championship miscues by Kyle Williams that kept San Francisco from the Super Bowl. It’ll be a long walk to the sideline for Johnson or Boykin if they mishandle a kick in the first game.
Gonna Be A Special Year.— dmanphilly- OPTIMISM! Yes!
I never watch preseason as it's generally a waste of time but I'm going to watch some of tomorrow night's game. Anxious to see how Graham plays along with Cox, Curry, Hendricks and Ryans. Also want to see the UFA rookie RBs. It's only preseason and our #2s vs. their #2s isn't really a test but it's something.— tpizza - Getting very excited about this year— dragoon6
- The 1st preseason game is always fun. Even though the starters will only see a few series, its a good time for the young guys and especially our two safeties to start getting their bearings together for the season. When I look at the team on paper, yeah they look good. Bringing back most of the team, outside of the big hole with Jason Peters, but the glaring issue keeps coming up and that is the safeties. Im not sold on Coleman, Allen, and Jarrett. You could make a case that none of em should be starters.
Some great discussions also going on about the Eagles at Fanland.com— craigsmith33 - I know it's just preseason, but I really want the birds to beat the Steelers!— Breaking Bad
- I NEVEr WATCH PESEASON! Y? Because im always so disapointed with every eagles draft! Honestly, Im sooo PUMPED about tmrw night! I really believe that in 3 years we will be saying that this eagles draft was on of the best drafts that ANY team has had in the best decade! We got what will become SERIOUS BALLERS at every phase of the draft and I believe when its all said and done, that we will have gotten some real studs in the late rounds and even in Undrafted draft picks! I am so pumped for tmrw its incredible!~— johnGiam
- y am I so pumped?
Fletcher cox doesnt even remotely resemble any DT that has worn agles green in over a decade. You gotta see this man in person. He dwarfs the entire line! I really believe in Kendricks. Going into the draft I wanted to use the 1st 2nd rd pick on Kendricks, and the 2nd on Lavonte David, but the bucks moved up and stople him...well Vinny Curry is a helluva consolation prize that I thought would have never been there again when we picked again in the 2nd round! HOMERUN! I liked Fowles, who Baldinger RAVES about as being the story of camp, but I didnt like the pick because I wanted Boykin and didnt believe we would get him in the 4th round. HOMERUN! boykin can not only be a special return man, that we have lacked on kickoffs skince B.mITCH, but I also believe he can be a very rare type of corner that can play both inside and on tjhe outside at a high level (if you need a replacement on the outside for injuries. 3 years from now, BRYCE BROWN will be the steal of the draft! polk will be converted into a fullback (and he would probably be the best potential Fb we have had since WEAVER was healthy. I adore cliff Harris! 1st/2nd round talent..taking a flyer on the problem child was a move that I absolutely know will opay dividends in the future! So you see, for the 1st tiome in my life time, the draft went exactkly how I wished but never believed it would go. So, how can I not be so excited for tmrw night?— johnGiam - Kafka as #2 is a big mistake that is going to cost us big time. Its is the weakest link on a superbowl contending team, and with MV injury history is season breaking decision by AR... He always leaves a huge whole in the team...But you got to love it.— FROM THE BEACH
- Kafka as a backup is no worse than Ty Detmer.— PsychoPathetic1
- Why is everyone complaining about Kafka? If anything, the only way to describe him is unproven. Anyway, name one team that is competing for a super bowl that would be fine if their starting QB gets hurt. Who's Green Bay's back-up? How about New England? Pittsburgh? That's right, the answer is none. And don't give me Tebow, he's a media-produced fad. I guarantee you, if he looked like quasi-moto (have no idea how to spell that), nobody would care.— Hes_Looking_Middle_In
- Sorry pizza but theres an article out saying Graham's not playing tonite.....Suprise!! You might have to wait another year. Not to worry though. We can read all the same articles at next years training camp about how he's all heart, he's got a chip on his shoulder,he's got something to prove and he's as good as JPP etc.etc.etc. What he should say is, How he's learned how to take up space and they pay him for it.— Geno D
- LOL!!! GREAT POINTS!!! YOU'RE IN MID-SEASON FORM GENO. — bedpan
- does anyone know why graham isnt playing today? i cant find that article... i was pretty excited about him playing and getting to see him do something...anything on the field today...— breeze4400
- Brandon Graham tore his acl again! SIKE!!!! lol he is out with a shoulder problem!— johnGiam
- lol...scared me for a minute... well maybe he is scared and doesnt want to actually really get hurt against the steelers first team o-line. lol... saving it for the season...dud— breeze4400
