Eagles Wake-Up Call: Rookies Riding High

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The early returns on the 2012 draft class are pretty impressive.  Here’s a snapshot of some of their accomplishments through three preseason games:

Nick Foles: 63 % completion rate, six touchdowns, two interceptions.  He leads all QB’s in touchdown passes and is second to only Matt Ryan in passing yards.  Has a 112.2 quarterback rating. 

Bryce Brown: Averaging 5.4 yards/carry, has two runs of 20-plus yards. 

Damaris Johnson: Averaging 55 receiving yards per game and 24 yards per reception, with one touchdown. 

Brandon Boykin: Averaging 28 yards per kick return.  Pushing Joselio Hanson for starting nickel corner. 

Cliff Harris: Two passes defensed and an interception. 

Vinny Curry: Leads team with 14 tackles. 

Mychal Kendricks: Second on team with 13 tackles. 

Fletcher Cox doesn’t have any statistics that wow you, but he’s been starting at D-tackle and could conceivably have the biggest impact of them all.  There’s Dennis Kelly, who started at right tackle in Todd Herremans’ absence Friday, and running back Chris Polk as well. 

While some will fade into the backdrop come the regular season, odds are that at least a couple will contribute when the calendar flips to September. 

“You’ve got some ballers,” said Kendricks. 

WHAT YOU MISSED

Though the Foles excitement is tempered a little more internally, one teammate concedes that the QB is having “times of greatness.”  One person responded on Twitter saying that would be his fantasy team’s name this year. 

Sheil did a review of the offense’s performance overall.  Demetress Bell is still struggling. 

The defensive line continues to impress, and the Eagles are facing some difficult decisions with cut-down day right around the corner.  Or are they? 



WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Matthew Berry of ESPN wrote about his experience as a panelist alongside Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy for a fantasy football event hosted by Mike Missanelli.  He was able to get a couple good fantasy nuggets out of it. 

After explaining how the fantasy scoring worked, I asked Vick point-blank which Eagles receiver I wanted this year.  Kudos to Vick and McCoy for answering.  DeSean Jackson, said Vick.  McCoy agreed.  Really, I said?  Not Jeremy Maclin? “ I don’t know … DeSean’s catching a lot of balls in practice,” Vick said.  They had nothing bad to say about Maclin, but Jackson is the one they were talking up. 

Here’s a piece from Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer for a Browns perspective.  Let’s just say there is not a ton of confidence emanating from the city of Cleveland after Friday night. 

If this was the vanilla version of the Philadelphia Eagles, Brandon Weeden could be in for a long afternoon when they return Sept. 9 with their full array of flavors. 

Reuben Frank at CSN Philly details Trent Edwards‘ push to claim a roster spot, which would come at the expense of Mike Kafka. 

WHAT’S NEXT

Practice at 11:00.  Andy Reid will address the media after that.  Then it’s Flight Night at Lincoln Financial Field at 7:30.