Eagles All Smiles In Final Walkthrough
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The end of camp, and the beginning of the real stuff, is near.
Wearing shorts, jerseys, baseball caps and the biggest smiles since they arrived at Lehigh, the Eagles went through a brief walkthrough Thursday, the final piece of preparation for Friday’s preseason opener against the Jaguars.
The Bethlehem area is a little too serene for men who thrive in more of a coliseum setting.
“You put the players in a players’ environment, in that stadium, and all of a sudden just something goes off,” said head coach Andy Reid. “You put them in that venue right there, and the juices crank up. We’re all creatures of habit. And the players, when they get in that stadium their juices are going to flow. It doesn’t matter if it’s a practice, a preseason game, a regular-season game – they are going to be ready to roll.”
The body language Thursday echoed as much. The players get some much sought-after down time before heading to Lincoln Financial Field on Friday night for a 7:30 kickoff.
For the rookies, the anticipation level is particularly high.
“I’m treating it like it’s a real game,” said first-round selection Brandon Graham. “I just want to show them that I’m ready to compete, ready to make plays.”
Kevin Kolb and the starters are expected to play a quarter, with Michael Vick manning the second team until about the midway point of the third quarter. There is a chance Vick will see some snaps with the first team should the Wildcat be called upon, Reid said, but that first stanza is certainly more intended for Kolb to get some work.
Several bodies will be sidelined because of injury. That list includes Hank Baskett, Mike Bell, Jamaal Jackson, Todd Herremans, Nick Cole, J.J. Arrington, Macho Harris, Victor Abiamiri and Fenuki Tupou.
Mike McGlynn will get the nod at center, one of several players getting a chance to prove their worth because of injuries.
“The opportunity is there,” McGlynn said. “What you do with it is what matters.”
Contact Tim McManus at tmcmanus@phillysportsdaily.com.
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