Eagles green in more ways than one as season approaches

Published: Sep 05, 2010 at 03:34 PM

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles could go into their opener at home against the Green Bay Packers with 12 rookies and five more new players from the team that earned a wild-card playoff spot last year.

"It doesn't scare me," coach Andy Reid said Sunday, a day after the Eagles made four trades and reached the 53-man roster limit.

"I look forward to the challenge of coaching the guys. The guys look forward to the challenge of playing and learning everything and they've taken that attitude right from the get go. There's been great energy. Now, is everything right?

"No. But, we're going to continue to work at it and get it that way. As long as that attitude stays that way and the energy level's that way, good things happen."

The Eagles' current 53-man roster also includes 20 players on the offensive and defensive lines. Both lines have always held a soft spot for Reid - and new general manager Howie Roseman apparently shares that sentiment.

"That's a lot of lineman, but we've done that in the past," Reid said. "So, I don't mind that. We put a lot of emphasis on the lines. I think it's very, very important. I think we're strong at the other spots, too. I'm not worried about the other spots, but I want to make sure that I'm very comfortable and that we're very strong upfront on both sides of the football."

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The Eagles' 10 offensive linemen include starters Jason Peters and Winston Justice at the tackles; Todd Herremans and Nick Cole at guard; and Jamaal Jackson, coming back from a torn ACL, at center. Reggie Wells, acquired from Arizona, will back up both guard spots.

Herremans (foot injury) played sparingly in the preseason, and Cole (calf injury) and Jackson did not play at all.

All five practiced together Sunday in a brief workout at the NovaCare Complex. It was the first time the entire team practiced since Reid could remember.

"I can't tell you the last time that happened," Reid said. "But this is a good time for it to happen."

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