Eagles To Start Rookie Center?

Could the championship starved Philadelphia Eagles really be considering starting a rookie at center? Could a team that is clearly going for broke this year really be considering it? Shockingly, the answer is yes. Sixth round draft pick, yes I did say sixth round, Jason Kelce has been practicing with the starters this week and will most likely get the nod over Jamaal Jackson in the third preseason game.

“No decision has been made. There is great competition there. Kelce has earned the opportunity to do this for a period of time and then we’ll make decisions as we go,” said offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. “Both (Kelce and Jamaal Jackson) are playing at a high level. Both are very different. You got one veteran with some great experience that is playing very well and then you have a rookie that shows awful a lot of talent that has many reps to go through to get to a certain point where we need him to be able to win a ball game. That’s where we’re at there.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Strangely if the Eagles do this then I’d be amazed at the decision but then again I wouldn’t.

I’d be amazed in the fact that the Eagles would then be starting two rookie offensive lineman and they’re not even on opposite sides of the line. Kelce and guard Danny Watkins help form the center of the unit; can a team with such aspirations really think of going with such inexperience up front?

But like I said part of me isn’t surprised by the decision. One, Jackson missed 15 games in 2010 with a torn triceps and also tore his ACL in 2009. With his recent injury the Eagles have to be thinking should we even let him on the field.

Another reason the move wouldn’t surprise me is that the Eagles offensive line was in need of an overhaul. Other then Jason Peters and Todd Herremans there isn’t much to speak of. With all the teams money being spent elsewhere this off season; they kind of had too see what the young guys can provide.

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If Kelce wins the starting job I have one legitimate concern and it’s not his experience but his size. Kelce is a small 6’3, 280 pound lineman. Yes, you read that right a 280 pound offensive lineman. I didn’t even know those kind of lineman existed anymore.

His size will either be a huge asset or be what makes him a failure for the Eagles. Thanks to his size it’s been sized that he’s very agile and quick for a lineman. How can that help? Well he’s got the agile Michael Vick at QB, he could wind up being that one offensive lineman who can get out in front of him when he starts to scramble.

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Should be interesting to see how this plays out. Some within the Eagles are playing this off as a depth building move. We’ll find our first answers Thursday; if Jackson is the starter then the whole debate was for naught. If it’s Kelce then watch the performance there could be a new camp battle in Philadelphia.

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Tags: Jamaal Jackson, Jason Kelce, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles