Storylines Aplenty For The Eagles As They Face Off With The Ravens Saturday Night



Marcus Smith, last years disappointing 1st round draft pick, has suddenly been thrust in the spotlight due to him tweaking his hamstring in yesterday's joint practice. In fact yesterday he was trending on Twitter which I'm sure was news to him because of how little he has contributed to the Philadelphia Eagles' football team.  Nevertheless it does put the team in a spot because the depth at outside linebacker is extremely thin due to Travis Long's ACL tear earlier in camp. Vinny Curry is going to play in Smith's spot, although he's used to rushing the passer exclusively and the position is new to him.  The good news is it will only keep Smith out of 3 preseason games and he should be back for the start of the regular season.

Sam Bradford is slated to start but according to him "you never know what coach is going to do" but he's hopeful as the second preseason game approaches.  His health is of major concern to everyone as the season honestly hinges on his ability to stay healthy and it's why Head Coach Chip Kelly is thinking long and hard about whether getting Bradford some reps in a meaningless game matters. Most people and that includes me believe that he should at the very minimum get a quarter's worth of action to get over the jitters of playing in a live contest after a two year layoff.

DeMarco Murray has been coasting ,honestly,  in camp and Kelly is managing his reps with a keen eye especially after coming off a 400+ touches season last year with the Dallas Cowboys.  The media in Philly thinks DeMarco is hurt and Kelly isn't spilling the beans but as told to MMQB's Peter King, Kelly is very aware of the downward slope of backs after handling the ball 400+ times the season before and said "it matters how he was managed coming into the next season". 

These are the storylines coming into preseason game number 2 for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eagles vs Colts PreSeason Game Observations

I know it's very early and it was the first Preseason Game but I'm take this opportunity to knock off the rust and start writing again.  Here's what I saw after watching the game a total of three times and noted some things.

1. Marcus Smith Is A Project - He needs a coach to keep their foot in his ass and to emphasize when you go out there you need to play like every play is a resume builder! Encouraging signs still looking for violence (in my Coach Azz voice)

2. Jalen Watkins May Be Chopped - He cant tackle and he looks queasy as a outside corner. Nickel job is going to Biggers if he continues to play well.

3. Najee Goode Looked Bad - I Liked Goode till I saw him Sunday, he didn't shoot through the gaps when he had to and waited for contact from a lineman instead of going for the ball carrier. He battling for a spot, better play better next game.

4. Taylor Hart Didn't Impress - He didn't get off blocks or stun his blocker and I always saw him going sideways or backwards, he has to improve to get in the rotation.

5. Bryan Braman May Be The Third OLB - I was impressed with his violence and will to be a game-changer. Need more angry players on Defense which was lacking last year.

6. John Moffitt Will Win RG Battle - He needs to knock the rust off after his 2 yr. layoff and will not start until game 3. Tobin and Gardener are backup types who offer depth, Moffitt was a starting player and looks like he fits he just needs to get back and comfortable.

7. Nelson Agholor And Miles Austin Will Play More Than Riley Cooper and Josh Huff - Huff needs to get the ball more in the pre-season and show something  or they will go with Austin who's at the very least reliable and I'm a Huff fan.

8. See you Earl Wolff, Get Comfortable Ed Reynolds - Wolff is injury prone and you cant make the club on the sidelines. Ed is ball hawking like he did at Stanford but what happens when the safety is asked to cover which we ask them to do in this Davis defense.

9. Raheem Mosert Is A Practice Squad Stash - I like what I saw with him, he's in a battle with Kenjon Barner but will lose because Barner offers a little more in Special teams.

10. Sam Bradford Watch - I'm waiting to see how he performs with these open receivers that Chip Kelly's offense seems to always produce.  Mark Sanchez is a backup period and we saw that. Matt Barkley played well but against 2nd and 3rd teams. Tim Tebow is a gadget dude and stays as a third stringer. Wonder how many games he's active though.