What To Look For In Eagles’ Preseason Debut
Danny Watkins and the O-Line
With the lockout wiping out valuable learning time, preseason games are more valuable than in years past. But no matter the circumstances, the primary objective always is to escape with all your key players unscathed.
Enter rookie Danny Watkins and the new-look offensive line. The Eagles’ first-round pick, following a snag in contract negotiations, has had limited time to get acclimated to his role as starting right guard. And he’s had even less time to get comfortable playing alongside right tackle Ryan Harris.
Meanwhile, fellow rookie Jason Kelce is working in with the first team, so it is very possible that Michael Vick will be operating behind two different centers Thursday. There are a lot of new pieces that haven’t had a lot of time to mesh. A wrong step or a missed assignment can put the signal-caller in harm’s way.
Even though the game doesn’t count, the hits do.
“You can ask any of the O-linemen, and that’s going to be their No. 1 priority,” said Watkins of protecting Vick.
“It’s all about building chemistry. At camp we’ve been getting a little bit of that, but when the bullets are flying, that’s when it starts getting integrated and you build that chemistry.”
Juan Castillo’s Debut
Andy Reid has used various methods at camp to help simulate a game environment, including using headsets to send in the calls from the sideline. But ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby, as new defensive coordinator Juan Castillo knows.
“I haven’t done it in the NFL. So just like all of us it will be my first time and I’ll get better every game,” Castillo said.
“I think this is good for him. I think this is the next step,” Andy Reid added. “And we’ve done the mock situations out here, we’ve done the ‘move the ball’ periods out here, he’s used the headset, so this is the next step there. And then, the communication process – I will be listening to that. The communication process with players and I’ll do the same thing on the opposite side of the [ball]. I have both lines going. He’ll be on the field but the feedback that he’s getting from the box on substitutions and so on. So I’ll be listening to the whole procedure.”
Even though this is his first crack at being a coordinator — let alone on the opposite side of the ball from which he’s operated for the last 16 seasons — Castillo has not exactly eased his way into the position. In fact, as Keenan Clayton can attest, he’s charged head-first into the post. His energy and histrionics have been one of the defining elements of this training camp.
And Reid doesn’t appear particularly concerned at how he’ll handle the live action.
“I really haven’t worried that much about it,” said Reid. “I really want to see the players do their thing. I won’t be watching Juan. I’ll be watching those guys.”
Casey Matthews and Co.
The linebacker position is by far the most intriguing in our view. How will Casey Matthews fare as the starting middle linebacker? Will he live up to the family name? Is Jamar Chaney poised to break out, or is he overhyped? Will they need to bring in a free agent to take over one of the starting spots?
Here’s a look at their mentality heading into Thursday night’s game.
Special Teams
It’s been a while since we’ve had to pay the kicking game any mind, but there are now a pair of rookies manning two critical, if overlooked, positions. Fourth-round selection Alex Henery is inheriting the post that David Akers had manned since 1999. His leg in camp has been strong, but not always true. Chas Henry, out of Florida, takes over for Sav Rocca.
Also of note is that Johnnie Lee Higgins, formerly of the Raiders, is expected to return kicks.
Comments