The Drubbing

Tonight at 7:30, who's inviting me over to watch the game?

Eagles nation is getting ready for the preseason to kickoff tonight at Lincoln Financial Field versus the New England Patriots. Training Camp is officially over and this is when we start to see if any of the predictions and rumors come true. I am looking for a few things tonight:

1) How will the defense respond to Sean McDermott as the Defensive Coordinator?

2) What free agent/rookie addition will have the more immediate impact?

3) Does Donovan McNabb actually end up playing a quarter and a half tonight?

4) Can the Eagles make it out of the game and preseason without any more injuries?

5) Last but not least, do the Eagles try to re-sign coach Matt Nagy to fill a QB roster spot before kickoff?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you most likely heard about the passing of Jim Johnson, the Eagles popular and well-liked Defensive Coordinator who had been a mainstay on Andy Reid’s staff and responsible for much of the success the Birds have had over the past decade.  Johnson succumbed to cancer on July 28, 2009. Sean McDermott was named Defensive Coordinator to replace Johnson. It will be interesting to see how the team responds to McDermott and whether or not he is able to successfully add his own wrinkles to the scheme.

With a busy off-season, where the Eagles added the likes of tackle Jason Peters, safety Sean Jones, o-lineman Stacy Andrews, running back LeSean McCoy, wideout Jeremy Maclin, defensive back Ellis Hobbs among others, I am looking forward to seeing how they all blend into the mix. We won’t get an idea of what the offensive line can do until the injury bug stops nipping McNabb’s protectors. Both Stacy and Shawn Andrews, as well as Todd Herremans are out for the foreseeable future.

If McCoy and Maclin are able to adjust to the West Coast offense and make significant contributions like WR DeSean Jackson did last year as a rookie, McNabb will be a happy guy. With the many capable receivers (that’s an odd statement to attach to an Eagles receiving corps) on the roster it will be a numbers game. Either Hank Baskett or former second-round pick Reggie Brown could be the odd man out.

Andy Reid’s comments about who is going to play and for how long should be a coin toss. I think if McNabb and the offense are able to put together one, maybe even two, strong drives that “quarter and half” marker will be shelved quickly. With the injury list growing, it wouldn’t surprise me to see all of the big guns playing it safe on the sidelines earlier rather than later. Reid knows what he has in his veterans and will likely play it safe.

With that said coach Matt Nagy will not be suiting up for the Eagles. Earlier in the week the NFL nixed a contract that would have put Nagy on the players roster. Instead, once McNabb finds a safe place on the bench, A.J. Feeley and re-signed QB Adam DiMichele will get the reps for the majority of the game.

Tonight should be a fun one. There is a lot going on and a lot to look forward to. Now I just need to find a way to watch it – I don’t think my cable package picks up the broadcast.