Finally it has arrived! Eagles football is among us in the form of the first week of the preseason. Lets talk about some of the players to keep a close eye on not only in the starting lineup, but for those second half players battling for a spot not only on the Eagles, but in the entire NFL.
5 Players to watch on O:
1. Allen Barbre RT: With Lane Johnson suspended for the first four weeks of the NFL season, Barbre will have to fill in at right tackle and play some tough pass rushing teams. In a few starts last year at left tackle Allen Barbre really impressed. With all the athleticism at the O-line that made the offense so dynamic last year, will it be the same without Johnson?
2. Jordan Matthews WR: The second round pick has more pressure than any other rookie. With Cooper and possibly Maclin not playing tonight, expect to see Matthews get a lot of reps with Nick Foles and the first team. Lets see how Foles and Matthews chemistry is coming along from camp. If he can excel on the outside, maybe the Eagles can be more flexible putting Maclin, Ertz, Sproles, and others in the slot if they have more options on the outside.
3. Ifeanyi Momah WR: The 6'7 phenom has come along way from last year at camp. His routes are much more crisp, and hes finally using that size to his advantage. With probably only 5 receivers being kept, and we can assume Maclin, Cooper, Matthews, and Huff are all locks, there is one spot for Momah, Benn, Smith, and a few others. Can Momah earn a spot through the preseason? We will find out tonight.
4. Darren Sproles RB: Of course we have to see how Chip Kelly uses Sproles. Will he be on the field with McCoy? Is he going to be used more in the slot or at RB? Honestly probably both and more. Kelly is going to use Sproles and McCoy a lot of different ways because he can! McCoy can line up at receiver too if Sproles runs a better route at RB. One play to keep an eye out for is a double screen to both backs.....this is going to be fun.
5. Mark Sanchez QB: Sanchez has not played since Week 3 of last year's preseason. In the heat of a QB competition, can Sanchez hold off second year Matt Barkley? So far at camp Sanchez has been impressive and has really made a connection with rookie Jordan Matthews. Lets see how Sanchez runs this no huddle offense. Limit the turnovers and he should win this backup job and the Eagles should be comfortable with him at the #2 gig.
5 Players to Watch on D:
1. Marcus Smith III: The first round pick has everyone talking. A complete 3-4 outside linebacker with incredible speed and athleticism. What has the Eagles even more excited is he has been only playing defense for a few years. Billy Davis has told the media that Smith has been lining up at the JACK position on defense which is where Connor Barwin starts. Does that mean Barwin will come off on pass rushing situations to let Cole and Smith hunt? I doubt it, expect to see a rotation entirely between the 3. Most of the time though you will see Cole and Barwin. During pass rushing situations you will probably see all three on the field.
2. Nolan Carroll II: Carroll has looked solid in camp so far. He has shown that he can do many things that Bradley Fletcher can't do with his athleticism. If Carroll locks down his assignments tonight including getting some looks against Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, you may just see Carroll knock out Fletcher for the other outside corner job.
3. Earl Wolff: The secondary is the only spot on defense that is in a competition for starting spots. Other than Malcom Jenkins at safety, and Brandon Boykin in the slot, nobodies spot is safe. Earl Wolff is coming into his second year and looked good when in last year. He will be in a full out battle with Nate Allen for the other safety job. If Wolff can show some signs of improvement and being able to make plays on the ball that Nate Allen really didn't do last year, Wolff may have a chance to beat out the solid veteran in #29.
4. Beau Allen: The rookie nose tackle has made some noise at training camp so far. Allen is a strong, low centered player that can help out a lot in run stopping. Bennie Logan is the starter now at NT, but if Allen impresses during the preseason, the Eagles may go to the more traditional NT.
5. Jaylen Watkins: This pick of a player to watch is mostly because of how interested I am in Watkins. A athletic specimen that has shown that he can play both corner and safety is something Chip Kelly will love on defense. The more Watkins has played during camp, the more comfortable he has been according to fellow corner Brandon Boykin. Watkins makes this secondary one of the deepest spots on the roster.
As for the return men, expect to see Darren Sproles and Brad Smith on punt return duties, I don't expect Sproles who is so talented at returning to not be used. On kickoffs Nolan Carroll has looked good at camp with his speed, he and either Brad Smith or Sproles will get kickoff duties as well. The Eagles have a lot of options on returns including Josh Huff and Brandon Boykin as well so we will see where the Eagles go in that aspect.
5 Players to watch on O:
1. Allen Barbre RT: With Lane Johnson suspended for the first four weeks of the NFL season, Barbre will have to fill in at right tackle and play some tough pass rushing teams. In a few starts last year at left tackle Allen Barbre really impressed. With all the athleticism at the O-line that made the offense so dynamic last year, will it be the same without Johnson?
2. Jordan Matthews WR: The second round pick has more pressure than any other rookie. With Cooper and possibly Maclin not playing tonight, expect to see Matthews get a lot of reps with Nick Foles and the first team. Lets see how Foles and Matthews chemistry is coming along from camp. If he can excel on the outside, maybe the Eagles can be more flexible putting Maclin, Ertz, Sproles, and others in the slot if they have more options on the outside.
3. Ifeanyi Momah WR: The 6'7 phenom has come along way from last year at camp. His routes are much more crisp, and hes finally using that size to his advantage. With probably only 5 receivers being kept, and we can assume Maclin, Cooper, Matthews, and Huff are all locks, there is one spot for Momah, Benn, Smith, and a few others. Can Momah earn a spot through the preseason? We will find out tonight.
4. Darren Sproles RB: Of course we have to see how Chip Kelly uses Sproles. Will he be on the field with McCoy? Is he going to be used more in the slot or at RB? Honestly probably both and more. Kelly is going to use Sproles and McCoy a lot of different ways because he can! McCoy can line up at receiver too if Sproles runs a better route at RB. One play to keep an eye out for is a double screen to both backs.....this is going to be fun.
5. Mark Sanchez QB: Sanchez has not played since Week 3 of last year's preseason. In the heat of a QB competition, can Sanchez hold off second year Matt Barkley? So far at camp Sanchez has been impressive and has really made a connection with rookie Jordan Matthews. Lets see how Sanchez runs this no huddle offense. Limit the turnovers and he should win this backup job and the Eagles should be comfortable with him at the #2 gig.
5 Players to Watch on D:
1. Marcus Smith III: The first round pick has everyone talking. A complete 3-4 outside linebacker with incredible speed and athleticism. What has the Eagles even more excited is he has been only playing defense for a few years. Billy Davis has told the media that Smith has been lining up at the JACK position on defense which is where Connor Barwin starts. Does that mean Barwin will come off on pass rushing situations to let Cole and Smith hunt? I doubt it, expect to see a rotation entirely between the 3. Most of the time though you will see Cole and Barwin. During pass rushing situations you will probably see all three on the field.
2. Nolan Carroll II: Carroll has looked solid in camp so far. He has shown that he can do many things that Bradley Fletcher can't do with his athleticism. If Carroll locks down his assignments tonight including getting some looks against Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, you may just see Carroll knock out Fletcher for the other outside corner job.
3. Earl Wolff: The secondary is the only spot on defense that is in a competition for starting spots. Other than Malcom Jenkins at safety, and Brandon Boykin in the slot, nobodies spot is safe. Earl Wolff is coming into his second year and looked good when in last year. He will be in a full out battle with Nate Allen for the other safety job. If Wolff can show some signs of improvement and being able to make plays on the ball that Nate Allen really didn't do last year, Wolff may have a chance to beat out the solid veteran in #29.
4. Beau Allen: The rookie nose tackle has made some noise at training camp so far. Allen is a strong, low centered player that can help out a lot in run stopping. Bennie Logan is the starter now at NT, but if Allen impresses during the preseason, the Eagles may go to the more traditional NT.
5. Jaylen Watkins: This pick of a player to watch is mostly because of how interested I am in Watkins. A athletic specimen that has shown that he can play both corner and safety is something Chip Kelly will love on defense. The more Watkins has played during camp, the more comfortable he has been according to fellow corner Brandon Boykin. Watkins makes this secondary one of the deepest spots on the roster.
As for the return men, expect to see Darren Sproles and Brad Smith on punt return duties, I don't expect Sproles who is so talented at returning to not be used. On kickoffs Nolan Carroll has looked good at camp with his speed, he and either Brad Smith or Sproles will get kickoff duties as well. The Eagles have a lot of options on returns including Josh Huff and Brandon Boykin as well so we will see where the Eagles go in that aspect.
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