Philadelphia Eagles: Eight Players Who Need To Step Up In 2010

Pigskin primetime is right around the corner.

It's the most wonderful time of the year for football fans, when questions are answered and rosters are finalized as NFL teams prepare for the regular season.

The process is slow, but it's exciting to see football teams come to form.

The Philadelphia Eagles are a team to watch because training camp begins with competition at every position on the field.

It's no secret that players like Desean Jackson, Asante Samuel, Trent Cole, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek are integral parts of this team's success.

They come to play every Sunday, and have made themselves known as some of the best at their positions in the NFL.

Then there are the role players who are counted on almost just as much to play their best football every Sunday.

This year the Philadelphia Eagles will need to play team football, with every individual doing what he needs to do in order to help the Eagles win.

Here are the players on the Philadelphia Eagles who will need to step up and play their best in 2010.

Michael Vick

Now that Michael Vick has a clean slate, he can concentrate on football.

Now that Donovan McNabb is out of Philly, Vick will have an increased role this season with Kevin Kolb under center.

Both games, that Michael Vick saw the most action, were when Kevin Kolb was the starter at quarterback.

When he is called upon, Vick needs to perform at a high level and help this team put points on the board.

After one season to get his game sense back, Vick will be counted on in certain situations to help this team win.

Lesean McCoy

Lesean McCoy has all the talent needed to be the successor of Brian Westbrook.

Andy Reid utilizes quick backs who have receiving ability as well.

Under Reid, this is McCoy's season to prove that he can carry the load in Philadelphia and be the number one running back.

Leonard Weaver, Mike Bell, and Charles Scott will be other forces used in the running game, but McCoy is going to be heavily relied upon to deliver on a consistent basis.

McCoy impressed last year by gaining 637 yards rushing, a Philadelphia Eagles all-time rookie record.

He was also ranked third among the top NFL rookies in yards rushing and ranked second in total yards from scrimmage with 945 yards.

"Shady" McCoy is a tremendous talent at the running back position and there is still room for improvement.

Look for McCoy to shrug off the "sophomore slump" and prove that he is capable of big things for this franchise.

Stewart Bradley

After suffereing a torn ACL last season, Stewart Bradley was determined and focused on recovering fully.

Driven and concentrated, Bradley has made that full recovery to make sure he is ready to be the leader of this fierce defense.

Bradley, the the anchor of this Philadelphia defense, needs to return to his form in 2008 when he was second on the team with 151 tackles.

With Bradley healthy, I am comfortable saying this linebacking corps is one of the fastest and fiercest in the NFL.

There is plenty of talent at the linebacker position, that is no secret.

But it all starts with Stewart Bradley.

Nate Allen

It's safe to say that Nate Allen will most likely be the starter for the Philadelphia Eagles at free safety come the beginning of the regular season.

After inking a four-year deal with the Birds on Tuesday, Allen rushed to camp and finally settled in at around 2:30am for a 6:15am practice the next morning.

Although undersized, Allen has proved he is ready to be the starter for this team filling the vacancy left by Brian Dawkins.

One of the most exciting players in South Florida's short history, Allen, finished his college career with 224 tackles and nine interceptions ranking fourth on the school's all-time list. Throw in four defensive touchdowns and you know Allen is a playmaker.

As a rookie with the Eagles, there are high expectations so he is going to have to learn fast and continue his playmaking skills in Philadelphia. But he is more than capable of stepping up and helping this team win.

The Newcomers on The Defensive Line

Pressure on the quarterback is the most important way to improve a defense.

You pressure the quarterback, you disrupt the offensive timing, and everything goes haywire.

The Philadelphia Eagles made it one of their goals this offseason to improve along the defensive line.

That they did.

Players like Brandon Graham, Ricky Sapp, Darryl Tapp, and Daniel Te'o-Nesheim are the newcomers who will improve the defensive line tremendously.

One player to keep an eye on is Jeff Owens. The 6'1", 304 pounder out of Georgia is a huge body at the defensive tackle position.

He will hopefully be a force who can penetrate the pocket quickly, causing quarterback hurries and disruptions in the running game.

Along with Trent Cole, Brodrick Bunkley, and Mike Patterson, this defensive line is very capable of wreaking havoc upon opposing offenses.

Nick Cole

Who knows when the cherished Jamaal Jackson will be fully healthy and ready to go.

That's why Nick Cole needs to step up and play the center position like his life depends it.

Cole is not a natural center, but he has stepped in for Jackson and continues to progress so the Eagles won't miss a beat on offense.

It's essential Cole is comfortable with the offensive timing, because last season there were games where it was apparent Cole would get jumpy and false start.

He needs to be as reliable as Jackson and take advantage of this time at training camp to talk with Kolb and get the timing of the offense down.

Cole is very capable, but he needs to work hard this training camp to make sure he is ready for the big responsibility of being the center for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cornerback Starting Opposite Asante Samuel

This is perhaps the biggest question mark coming into training camp for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Will the Sheldon Brown trade turn out to be a mistake?

Not if Trevard Lindley can step up.

With the fourth round pick the Philadelphia Eagles received from the Cleveland Browns for Sheldon Brown, they drafted Lindley out of Kentucky.

He will be expected to step up at what could be the starting cornerback position.

Lindley is not the only back expected to step up, however.

Ellis Hobbs and Joselio Hanson are two other candidates for the spot opposite Asante Samuel.

Hobbs is returning from a neck injury suffered in 2009, and Hanson has always been a contributor, but now has more responsibility than ever.

It will be essential to the success of this Philadelphia defense to have corners step up every Sunday.

Kevin Kolb

By far, the player with the most pressure on his shoulders is Kevin Kolb.

Replacing a player like Donovan McNabb is no easy task, but from what Andy Reid says about him, Kevin Kolb is ready to take the reins of this football team.

He is always cool and collected, and will only get a chance to improve as the season progesses in 2010.

However, as he will find out, the fans of Philadelphia don't offer much time to grow. They want wins and they want them now.

Kevin Kolb will have to be accurate and poised in the pocket. He will have to find his weapons like Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek on a consistent basis.

The one with the most to prove in 2010, Kolb will have to be ready to lead this team through the toughest division in the NFL and a very tough schedule.

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