Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Shuffled line won’t keep Birds from running
PHILADELPHIA » There are several areas the Eagles want to improve before they reach the regular season. Wisely, head coach Doug Pederson isn’t going to force all of them into the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field (7 p.m., NBC10, WIP 94.1-FM).
Pederson would like to see a semblance of a running game. And he’s also hoping quarterback Carson Wentz can hook up with Alshon Jeffery, the high-priced free agent receiver. Defensively, the Eagles want to evaluate how newly acquired cornerback Ronald Darby can fit into their plan.
The Bills aren’t a very good football team, rookie head coach Sean McDermott performing a makeover that also included the trade of first-round talent Sammy Watkins to the Los Angeles Rams.
In other words, the Bills are a good opponent with which to get back on track after a so-so 24-9 preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers.
“I think we want to establish that we can run the ball,” offensive tackle Lane Johnson said. “We missed a few blitz pickups the last game and it cost us a few yards. We saw that they were going to blitz. We just didn’t know how often, which was 90 percent of the time. So we were kind of caught off guard. Usually people don’t do that in the first preseason game. So, picking up those blitzes and we’re trying to run the ball.”
Johnson could find himself starting at left tackle as Jason Peters might not be back, having been excused to take care of family business. With Hal Vaitai nursing a knee injury, Matt Tobin could start at right tackle. Chance Warmack will play right guard if the Eagles keep Brandon Brooks (ankle) sidelined for another game.
“Obviously whenever you’ve got another guy in there you’ve got to make sure communication is on point,” center Jason Kelce said. “But I mean, this is a situation that happens all the time. And obviously the last two years we’ve seen a lot of guys go in and out of the lineup. That’s why these backup guys, the sixth, seventh guy, it’s crucial that that person knows what to do and is familiar with everybody so he can go and do the job.”
The Eagles are hoping for a little more production from running backs LeGarrette Blount and rookie Donnel Pumphrey, who weren’t exactly quick Offensive tackle Jason Peters (71) will miss tonight’s preseason game with the Buffalo Bills while dealing with a family issue. to the holes. Pumphrey, the fourth-round pick out of San Diego State, came out aggressively last week but was done in by a fumble and a muffed punt.
“I’m really just putting last week behind me because this game, a lot of it is in your head,” Pumphrey said. “I mean, I went back into practice thinking about those two fumbles and I ended up fumbling two more times. A lot of guys came up to me and talked about it and were telling me to just forget about that stuff and move on and just play like the reason they drafted you. And that’s what I’ve got to do, just go out there with the confidence that I do have within myself. Just play the game, and really just showcase why they picked me.”
It’s unclear if running back Wendell Smallwood (hamstring) will play. He was tearing it up in the tackling practices.
If Jeffery and Torrey Smith start at wide receiver, the game will see Nelson Agholor’s heralded start at the slot receiver position. He will at least get a chance to show he can do the job.
The Eagles know running back Darren Sproles poses mismatches when lined up in the slot. They also want to look at Pumphrey there. If Agholor stumbles, tight end Trey Burton would be the closest thing Wentz would have to a security blanket in the slot.
“He’s just a reliable player,” Wentz said of Burton. “He’s a reliable player. He’s smart, he recognizes coverage really well. He’s going to be where he needs to be and he’s going to make plays when they’re there. Having that chemistry, having that relationship with a guy like that, who’s played a lot of football, he’s been in those situations, he’s played slot receiver, he’s played tight end, you name it. So just having that relationship, I feel I can really trust him and that makes me play more confidently and faster. I feel very confident with him on the field.”
Burton was recruited to succeed Tim Tebow at quarterback at Florida. Burton scored six touchdowns in one game, five rushing and one receiving. None of those scores came from the slot, where the Eagles sure look like they’re going to try the committee approach this season.
“I’m comfortable there, for sure,” Burton said. “I think part of it fits my strength. Part of it is I did it a lot in college. I’ve done it a lot here. I’ve been getting reps at it a lot.”
Pederson isn’t sure if his first-team offense and defense will go one series or two. What he wants to see is a team that gets after it much more than in the opener. Even the special teams struggled as they were gashed on punt returns, allowing a touchdown.
“I want to see us execute better,” Pederson said. “I want to see us take care of the football better. I felt like we were a little sloppy and loose in the second half with some of the turnovers. I thought our first units, to start the game the way they did, came out ready to go. We played a lot of people in that game and sometimes the game can be a little fast for guys that aren’t used to that.
“We’ve got to clean up stuff. We’re still in training camp mode, so we’re still evaluating our players, putting them in situations to try to be successful. But just clean up a few things and try to win the game.”