The Eagles have been getting their young players a lot of action during this preseason and the results have been positive.  2nd year QB Kevin Kolb is off to a decent start this preseason as he is putting distance between himself and veteran A.J. Feeley on the depth chart.  Kolb has completed 26 of 48 passes (54.2%) for 236 yards passing with 1 TD pass and 1 interception (66.0 QB Rating).  As good as Kolb has looked, second year running back Tony Hunt has been better.  He has carried the football 11 times for 97 yards (8.8 ypc) with a TD run as he is trying to move up the Eagles’ depth chart.  Rookie WR DeSean Jackson is leading the Eagles with 12 catches for 122 yards (10.2 avg) and he has also returned 8 punts for 49 yards (6.1 avg) during the preseason. 

The Eagles’ defense has also been playing very well this preseason.  They have only allowed 200.5 yards of offense per game and 14.5 points per contest.  The most impressive thing about the defense is that no one player is really standing out which means they are playing well as a team.  The Eagles hope the defensive effort continues into the regular season.

The final score is mis-leading in last night’s game as the backups outscored the Panthers 24-3 in the fourth quarter to win.  Donovan McNabb did not look sharp last night as he completed 11 of 24 passes for 98 yards.  2nd year QB Kevin Kolb completed 14 of 27 passes for 155 yards with 1 TD pass (33-yarder to Greg Lewis) and 1 interception.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 11 yards last night.  Holder/Punter Sav Rocco attempted a pass on a fake field goal and it was intercepted and returned 78 yards for a TD by cornerback Richard Marshall of the Panthers.  2nd year RB Tony Hunt was outstanding for the Eagles last night as he carried the football 5 times for 79 yards (15.8 ypc) with a 51-yard TD scamper.  Lorenzo Booker pitched in with 25 yards rushing on 6 carries (4.2 ypc) against the Panthers.  Brian Westbrook rushed for 14 yards on 5 carries (2.8 ypc) last night and he also caught 2 passes for 17 yards (8.5 avg).  Rookie WR Desean Jackson had a nice game leading the Eagles last night with 7 catches for 71 yards (10.1 avg).  Greg Lewis also had a solid game with 3 catches for 44 yards (14.7 avg) with a 33-yard TD grab from Kevin Kolb.  Kevin Curtis pitched in with 4 grabs for 35 yards (8.8 avg) last night.  The Eagles finished up with 139 yards rushing on 22 carries (6.3 ypc) last night.  The Eagles also completed 25 of 52 passes for 247 yards last night. 

Linebacker Justin Roland was the leader on a outstanding effort by the Eagles’ defense last night as he had 3 tackles, recovered a fumble and he intercepted a pass that he returned 74 yards for a TD.  The Panthers finished up with 78 yards rushing on 27 carries (2.9 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 33 passes for 134 yards last night.

Last year the Eagles suffered a lot of injuries but they surged at the end of the season winning their last three games setting themselves up with some momentum heading into 2008.  Andy Reid has made the Eagles into a contender almost every season as he learned well from Mike Holmgren in Green Bay.  Reid has been the head coach of the Eagles for 9 years now and he has compiled a 88-56 record (61.1%) during the regular season and he is also 8-6 (57.1%) is the post season.  The NFC East is a very tough division top to bottom but Reid is a master tactician who should have them ready to play every single week giving the Eagles a legit chance to return to playoff form.

The Eagles have released 37-year old DT Kimo Von Oelhoffen which could signal the end of his NFL career.  He played in 8 games (1 start) with the Eagles last season and he only made 2 tackles.  Von Oelhoffen has now played in 197 games in his NFL career and he made 356 tackles, defensed 14 passes, had 26.5 sacks and he forced 4 fumbles.  Don’t look for anyone to pick him up because of his age and the Eagles won’t miss him.

This was a defensive battle earlier tonight in Pittsburgh.  Donovan McNabb played well in the first half of the game as he completed 10 of 13 passes for 97 yards with 1 TD pass.  Kevin Kolb replaced him and he was o.k. completing 12 of 21 passes for 81 yards.  A.J. Feeley appeared out of whack tonight completing only 6 of 14 passes for 51 yards.  2nd year back Tony Hunt was busy carrying the ball 6 times for 18 yards (3.0 ypc).  Correll Buckhalter also had a decent game with 18 yards rushing on 6 carries (3.0 ypc).  He also added 3 catches for 15 yards (5.0 avg) tonight.  Lorenzo Booker pitched in with 16 yards on 4 carries (4.0 ypc) in his debut with the Eagles.  Rookie WR Desean Jackson led Eagles’ receivers with 5 catches for 51 yards (10.2 avg) in his first game in the pros.  The Eagles finished up with 61 yards rushing on 20 carries (3.1 ypc).  They also completed 28 of 48 passes for 210 yards against a tough Steelers’ defense.

Linebackers Akeem Jordan and Joe Mays led the way for the Eagles tonight with 6 tackles apiece.  Rookie DT Trevor Laws also had a solid first game in the pros with 4 tackles and a sack.  The Steelers rushed for 118 yards on 35 carries (3.4 ypc) tonight.  They also only attempted 16 passes completing 9 of them for 71 yards.  The Eagles defense was outstanding but they need the offense to convert yards into points.