Big Takeaways from Philadelphia Eagles' 1st Preseason Game

The Philadelphia Eagles flexed their muscles in their preseason opener 36-10 home win over the Indianapolis Colts, despite missing key contributors in Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, Kiko Alonso, DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks. It's just preseason, so wins and losses mean just as much as your favorite ice cream flavor, but the takeaways from preseason games do matter, including who shines and who shrinks.

The talent of the Eagles early-round draft picks flashed early and often during Sunday's game. Rookies are often a mixed bag, as we saw last year with 2014 first-round pick Marcus Smith, who we'll touch on a little later, but Nelson Agholor and Eric Rowe seized their opportunity from the jump.

Agholor can fly. Here's the play where you realize: OK, this kid is going to make a Pro Bowl or multiple Pro Bowls; it's a matter of when not if.

"

Nelson Agholor, fast: pic.twitter.com/z0iAtKEJES

— SB Nation (@SBNation) August 16, 2015"

Agholor had three catches for 57 yards, but this play on a poorly thrown ball by Mark Sanchez forces us to believe it won't be long until he forces his way onto the field full-time. On the Eagles first unofficial depth chart released before the game, Agholor was listed as a second-teamer in the Eagles three-wide set, behind second-year stud Jordan Matthews, veteran Riley Cooper and speedster Josh Huff.

Talent always rises to the top.

"

Holy crap. Nelson Agholor is legit. Just made a great catch on Sanchez pass then catch and run for the TD. Kid is gonna be good.

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) August 16, 2015"

"

That's what a first rounder looks like. Wow, Nelson Agholor.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) August 16, 2015"

Along with Matthews and Huff, the Eagles could have a trio of young receivers who create fear in a defensive coordinator's mind.

Rowe the solution

Another rookie, second-round pick Eric Rowe, stepped up as well in Sunday's preseason game. The cornerback out of Utah is expected to play a huge role in fixing an Eagles secondary that was picked on again and again late last season.

He matched up on Colts first-round pick Phillip Dorsett on several occasions, providing solid coverage on the deep threat from Miami.

After a short Dorsett catch early in the second quarter, Rowe didn't give up on the play and fought back to punch the ball out, forcing a turnover. 

Those are the sort of plays that the Eagles defense missed last season.

With prized free-agent acquisition Byron Maxwell holding down one side of the fort, the Eagles could really use Rowe to step up to man either the opposite corner spot or the nickel cornerback spot, vacated by the trade of Brandon Boykin.

Safety valve

The Eagles' biggest worry coming into Sunday's preseason game wasn't Bradford's health or who would start at right guard.

It was who would be the third safety.

The candidates: Earl Wolff, Chris Maragos, Chris Prosinski, Ed Reynolds and Jerome Couplin.

Not very inspiring, right? An oft-injured former fifth-round draft pick, two special teams aces and two 2014 practice squad players respectively.

In a slightly above average safety group, none of those players would make a roster based on their safety talent (Maragos and Prosinski could make it via special teams).

But the Eagles don't have that luxury, and all signs pointed to Wolff, who has been a colossal disappointment after a promising rookie year, making the team by default.

That was until Sunday. 

According to NJ.com's Eliot Shorr-Parks, Wolff re-injured his knee right on cue and could be looking at another surgery that could cause him to miss the rest of the preseason. 

Wolff's absence left an even bigger hole, with Chip Kelly desperately needing someone to step up.

Enter Reynolds.

The Eagles 2014 fifth-round pick has been largely invisible since entering the league and was much of an afterthought on making the 53-man roster before his MVP-like two interception, three pass deflection performance Sunday.

To understand the significance of his performance, you have to realize the depth of his struggles. He became a running joke during training camp practices.

"

Ed Reynolds almost had an interception, then he remembered he was Ed Reynolds, and was like "nah I'm good"

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) August 8, 2015"

Sunday, all of that was erased; he looked like a completely different player. On both of his interceptions, he showed his natural playmaking ability, and although it was in the fourth quarter against the Colts third team, he looked like the best player on the field.

“He showed up, not only two interceptions, but had a big tackle on the kickoff return after that late in the game," Kelly raved to PhiladelphiaEagles.com after the game. "I think he's a guy that's pushing to make the 53‑man roster, and I'm happy for him right now."

It's not a stretch to say Sunday's performance catapulted Reynolds from looking for a job to one snap away from being a starter. 

Delivering the rush

Marcus Smith is likely the most maligned player on the Eagles roster. First-round picks are usually graded harshly, but Smith couldn't even scratch the field consistently on special teams last season.

But Sunday, we saw life from Smith. He flashed early and often, supplying pass rush and run support on several plays. He resembled a player who could play a significant role on this team.

He'll need to continue to show progress to at least adequately fill the Brandon Graham third outside linebacker role. Sunday showed something we haven't seen since he was drafted: signs of talent.

Bryan Braman, another outside linebacker fighting to make the team, shined when he got his opportunity Sunday.

Braman, who is better known for his special teams skills, made his presence known on the defensive end with two second-half sacks. The latter, a strip-sack which ended with the Colts third-string quarterback suplexed on the ground, should headline his highlight reel.

"

Check out the big play by former #LBCC Football standout @50_Braman for the @Eagles as he crushes the Colts QB https://t.co/h1t8Uohcv0

— LBCC Athletics (@lbccvikings) August 17, 2015"

That's a guy you want on your team.

Looking forward

As always, it's just preseason, so we have to be careful not to overreact. But the players who shine in August are often the players who make the team in September and are key contributors when the injury bug hits in November and December. There's a lot to be excited about for this Eagles team, especially when Sam Bradford is able to give it a full-go.

No mention of Tim Tebow until now because, honestly, his performance did little to show he belongs on the Eagles roster. Matt Barkley, however, at least upped his trade value, with a strong showing minus one interception. Mark Sanchez was shaky at best, but as a wily veteran, I'd attribute his performance as an outlier rather than a big worry.

The youngsters looked good. Nelson Agholor, at least early on, is looking like a more than adequate replacement for Jeremy Maclin. Marcus Smith will need to supply meaningful snaps for a man-formation-centered defense built on getting pressure from its outside linebackers. He was a first-round pick for a reason. Fans should expect an effective, yet unspectacular season from him.

Ed Reynolds will need at least one more strong preseason game to lock up a roster spot, and I believe he gets it. But that doesn't mean Eagles fans won't be holding their breath if Malcolm Jenkins or Walter Thurmond go down during the season. Safety depth is still the weakest on the team by far.

Oh and early prediction: Kenjon Barner makes this team. It'll mean Chip Kelly will have to keep four running backs, but I can't see how he keeps off a guy so fast and talented in the backfield and as a returner. Plus he went to Oregon!

Even in the preseason, a win is still good to see. Just don't book your Super Bowl ticket yet, Eagles fans. More than anything, the most important stat in a preseason game is injuries, and the Eagles came out clean in that category Sunday.