Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Preview: Position Battles

Eagles fans can smell this certain time of year as soon as the NFL Draft concludes. Yes, it is training camp. The time where tens of thousands of Eagles fans decked in midnight green flock to Lehigh University to get their sneak preview of the team.

The 2009 training camp will entail numerous depth and position battles. From the frequent battles along the offensive and defensive lines, to the war that will be waged at free safety, the 2009 training camp will be one to remember.

We begin our position battles preview at a position that was guarded for 13 seasons by Brian Dawkins, free safety.

FREE SAFETY: Sean Jones vs. Quintin Demps

This competition will be watched with impeccable detail, as both the second-year player Demps, and incoming free agent Jones each have the talent to be productive starters.

Quintin Demps:Andy Reid wasted little time announcing that Demps would be given the first crack at the starters job this offseason. Demps, a fourth-round draft pick in 2008 saw decent playing time at safety in 2008 due to his duties as the teams kick returner and some occasional time at cornerback.

Demps will be facing some significant questions coming into camp. Can he do all of the things that the Eagles ask of their safeties; step up against the run, pressure the quarterback, and make big plays in  coverage.

Demps' maturity will come into question as well. He took some bad rookie penalties in 2008, most notably an ugly roughing the passer penalty in the Eagles crushing loss in the NFC Championship game. But as they say, with age comes maturity.

Sean Jones:That brings us to Sean Jones. Jones is a sixth-year player from Cleveland, where he flourished for the lowly Browns. The fact that he played for Cleveland may have been the main reason the Eagles were the only team to contact him this offseason as a free agent.

In his three seasons as a starter, Jones posted Pro Bowl numbers. He intercepted 14 passes: five in 2006, five in 2007 and four in 2008. He posted 243 tackles: 111 in 2006. 96 in 2007 and 56 in an injury plagued 2008.

Given his resume, there should be no doubt that Jones will get a fair chance to start for the Eagles in 2009. He has the size and speed to perform as a free safety. He looks to be a sure tackler, is always ready to lay the big-hit, and has a nose for the ball, all qualities of a certain player who used to occupy that position.

DEFENSIVE END: Darren Howard vs. Chris Clemons vs. Victor Abbiamiri vs. Juqua Parker

This has to go towards the top of the list of battles coming into camp for the Eagles. Four players, who have the combined skills of the next LT, and yet none of them were able to separate themselves from the pack in 2008.

Darren Howard:We start with the Eagles sack leader in 2008, Darren Howard. Howard rode the momentum of a very productive offseason into training camp, where he quickly impressed Jim Johnson. Howard then followed his solid training camp with his best year as an Eagle, tallying a team high 10 sacks.

However, Howard saw little time as an every-down end, registering a meager 26 total tackles. If Howard can show some more versatility as a run-stopper rather than just a pass rusher, he could very well be the full-time starter in 2009.

Chris Clemons:We now shift to the Eagles second splash in free agency from 2007-2008, Chris Clemons. Clemons came off of a strong season in Oakland where he tallied eight sacks, mostly as a third down rusher. The Eagles saw enough of him to sign him to a very lucrative five-year deal.

However, Clemons was sidelined for a good portion of training camp last summer when he suffered from severe dehydration. As the season began, Clemons saw little time on the field, but made an impact as the year wore on.

His playing time increased in the second half, where he registered all four of his sacks, two coming in the Eagles 44-6 trouncing of the Dallas Cowboys in the seasons final game.

If Clemons could have avoided that dehydration spell, he may have pushed Darren Howard to being cut, and earned himself some significant playing time. Like the aforementioned Howard, he will need to show that he can be more than just a pass rusher in camp to land a starting job.

Victor Abiamiri: We now look to third-year player Victor Abiamiri. The former Notre Dame standout battled through a wrist injury that sidelined him for a good portion of the year, only to make a big impact late in the season.

It took Victor awhile, but when the Eagles hit the stretch run, he stepped his game up, in limited playing time, posting two sacks. In the postseason, Abiamiri saw an increase in workload, and made the best of it, tallying six tackles and a sack in two games.

Like Chris Clemons, who knows what could have happened had he not gotten hurt in the beginning of training camp. Given his skill set and size, Abiamiri could be one of the front runners to land the starting role at defensive end. That is if he can stay healthy. 

Juqua Parker: Now, we turn to Juqua Parker. JP came flying out of the gates as a sleeper to make the Pro Bowl, tallying 4.5 sacks in the team's first six games. Parker has the potential to be the every-down end the Eagles are looking for, but will need to put a full season together, not just six games.

As the season wore on, Parker saw his role as a run stopper diminish a bit with the emergence of Victor Abiamiri. Relegated to more of a pass rusher, Parker failed to register a sack in the teams final eight games. He and Howard may be the odd men out in this grouping, Parker more than Howard due to production in 2008.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Akeem Jordan vs. Omar Gaither

One of the changes that led to the Eagles resurgence in 2008 was Akeem Jordan's emergence in the second half of the season. Jordan replaced then starter Omar Gaither, who was having a solid season in week 12. Andy Reid and Jim Johnson made the change to give the defense a bit more speed, which is what Jordan brings to the table.

Akeem Jordan:Jordan flourished in 2008 following him being inserted as the starer, tallying 45 of his 61 tackles in his six starts. Jordan brings more athleticism to the table than Gaither, his speed and acceleration make him a reliable player against the run and in coverage.

He even garnered high praises from former middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, "When I saw this guy in camp, I said "If he gets to start, he'll be a Pro Bowler." That would send shivers up any young linebacker's spine.

If Jordan continues to improve his tackling ability and play recognition skills, he should have no problem holding on to that starting spot, that is if he can improve as I mentioned.

Omar Gaither: Being relegated to a backup in 2008 had to leave a bad taste in the mouth of Gaither. You go from being a very promising young player to a backup in a flash. Before being benched, Gaither was on pace for a big year, posting 59 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 10 starts.

Gaither is a bigger linebacker than Jordan, which gives him an edge as a pass rusher as well as a run stopper. He possesses adequate speed, but tends to be a liability in coverage against tight ends. He does a good job of wrapping up the ball carrier and has solid play recognition skills, which should give him a very good chance at winning his job back.

Right Cornerback: Sheldon Brown vs. Ellis Hobbs.

The addition of Hobbs raised some eyebrows on draft day. The Eagles already had themselves a solid group of corners, and then they throw the curveball that gets the media and fans swarming. Hobbs is projected to push Sheldon Brown for the starting job in training camp.

Sheldon Brown: It is really a shame that we are discussing Sheldon Brown's job being up in the air, due to the fact that he has been a rock at cornerback for the past five seasons.
No corner the Eagles have had in the past five years has been as solid as Sheldon in coverage. Sheldon's rare combo of cover ability, speed, and hitting prowess makes him a dangerous man in the secondary.

It would really shock me to see him lose his job in camp this year, even with the addition of Ellis Hobbs.

Ellis Hobbs: Hobbs has the potential to be a very good corner in the NFL, but his inconsistencies helped push him out of New England. He has the speed and ball skills to be an explosive corner, but just hasn't put it all together.

He is easily beaten on double moves and has the tendency to take some very bad penalties. He could see a shot at Sheldon Brown's starting job due to his contract situation.

Dime Cornerback: Jack Ikegwuonu v. Victor Harris

This is one of the more intriguing battles coming into camp. Ikegwuonu will be trying to prove that Andy Reid made the right move drafting him in the fourth round of last years draft. Meanwhile Harris will be mearly contending for a job.

Jack Igegwuonu: Ikegwuonu spent the entire 2008 season on injured reserve due to a torn ACL that he suffered while training for the combine. Prior to the injury, many scouts had him as a late first to early second round pick.

He displayed solid quickness and ball skills in college that make him an interesting player. But what is yet to be determined is how he will react to finally getting on the playing field in 2009.

Victor Harris: The Eagles saw enough in the former Virginia Tech standout to draft him in the fifth round. He projects more as a safety in the NFL, but has the playmaking ability to make in as a corner. This competition with Ikegwuonu should give him a solid chance to make this team and see some playing time.

Receiver: Brandon Gibson vs. Reggie Brown vs. Hank Baskett

We now shift gears to the offensive side of the ball. Where an always hot-button issue will house a big competition as we approach camp.

Brandon Gibson: The sixth-round pick out of Washington State in this year's draft has the potential to be a sleeper in 2009. He has all the makings to be another Muhsin Muhammad type receiver. He is a solid underneath receiver with a decent burst and solid leaping ability.

Camp will be huge time for him, not only because he is a rookie, but he needs to silence the doubters and skeptics who pointed out his struggles catching the ball as a senior. This kid has the talent and the character, now it is all about putting it all together. I really like him as either a fifth receiver or a solid practice squad addition.

Reggie Brown: Disappointment. That is the only word that comes to mind when considering Reggie Brown's performance, or lack there of in 2008. This is a make or break camp for Brown, sadly.

After showing flashes of being a future star during the 2005 and 2006 seasons, this guy has simply fallen off a cliff. Dropped balls, poor routes, injuries you name it, he has simply fallen apart.

If Brown can prove in camp that those ugly drops are a thing of the past, he may sneak on to this team. It will be interesting to see how he performs come July. Which Reggie will show up? The motivated player who makes big plays? Or the guy who drops passes and saw little playing time in 2008? Only time will tell I guess.

Hank Baskett: Some people would have Jason Avant here instead of Hank, but Avant is just too reliable over the middle and is the Eagles Mr. Third Down. Anyway, on to Baskett.

After coming to the Eagles via trade prior to training camp in 2006, Baskett turned heads with his leaping ability and down field prowess. But he has rarely flashed those abilities in his three years in Philadelphia.

Baskett has the tools, great leaper, solid speed, good hands, decent route runner, it is just a matter of putting it all together. Hank provides the Eagles with a deep threat and a goal line presence, but he needs to do those things on a more consistent basis. In 2008 he showed signs of improvement, but fell off a bit later in the year.

In camp he should see some significant competition from Gibson and Brown.

3rd String Running Back: Walter Mendenhall vs. Lorenzo Booker vs. Eldra Buckley

This one should be a doozy folks. The power and speed back the Eagles have lacked for years against the two shifty, scat backs who probably will not make it past the first cut.

Walter Mendenhall: Here is another player who is on my sleeper list. Mendenhall was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent following the draft. He could provide the power and speed combo the Eagles have lacked since Duce Staley. He is a load to bring down at 227 pounds to go along with a 4.4 40-yard dash.

At Illinois State in 2008, Mendenhall averaged a stunning 6.3 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns on just 126 carries. He is the older brother of Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall. It should be exciting watching this guy in training camp.

Eldra Buckley: I see Buckley as more of a gamebreaker more than a tackle breaker given his size. The Eagles do not need a gamebreaker, they have two at the top of their crop of backs. However, he may have a chance on this team as a special teamer.

Lorenzo Booker: What do Freddie Mitchell, Quintin Caver, Barry Gardner, and Lorenzo Booker all have in common? They all turned out to be all hype. Now that may be a bit premature given the fact that Booker has been with the team for all of a single year.

But this guy had Eagles fans and coaches salivating during training camp, where he displayed the explosiveness and versatility that made him the nations to running back in high school.

But that player never showed up for game time. It won't be camp that decides Booker's fate really, it will be the preseason games.

The Eagles will begin training camp Sunday, July 26, with rookies and selected veterans scheduled to report to Lehigh.

All remaining veterans are scheduled to report July 29, with camp breaking at Lehigh on Aug. 12.