Fake Game 1: Eagles at Steelers

I'm not going to do a full preview for preseason games, but here are ten players to watch as the Eagles return to the field for the first time since the 2007 season.

1) QB Kevin Kolb. He's expected to be the franchise QB starting as soon as next season, and it'll be interesting to see how far he has come in the past year. Last preseason, I thought he looked pretty good. He took some shots downfield and seemed to move around well in the pocket. However, his brief regular season time was quite forgettable. With an extra year in the offense and without the burden of being a wide-eyed rookie just trying to survive, he should look more comfortable out on the field.

2) RB Lorenzo Booker. Acquiring Booker for a second day pick was a pretty quiet move on draft day, but the Eagles are hoping he can play a role in their offense. As a rookie with Miami, he was unable to find the field much, and when the team made changes in their coaching staff and front office, they decided there wasn't a place for him anymore. Booker has opened eyes at training camp. His speed and quickness can create matchup problems for opposing defenses, and the Eagles will do everything they can to get him and Westbrook on the field at the same time.

3) WR/KR DeSean Jackson. In April, a lot of mock drafts pegged Jackson for the Eagles in the first round. Those got the team right, but the Eagles got better value on him by taking him 20, 25 spots later. Jackson has nuclear potential in the return game, and his elusiveness goes unmatched by most NFL players. In training camp so far, Jackson has even been able to contribute offensively, with reports out of Lehigh saying he catches everything in sight. As long as he can avoid those pesky hamstring injuries that limit his athleticism, DeSean Jackson should be an asset to the team this season.

4) T Winston Justice. Justice came under heavy criticism last season, and for good reason. His technique was horrible, and he was embarrassed on two occasions, one of which was on national TV. He may not be able to play LT in the NFL, but he can still be a part of the Eagles' future plans. However, he has to work hard and prove to the coaching staff that he can be a player in this league. Even if defenses are typically vanilla in a preseason game, the Steelers' 3-4 will present unique pass rushes for Justice to pick up. I don't know if he's on the roster bubble, but a bad preseason certainly can't help him.

5) T King Dunlap. I hate to include two offensive tackles here because I'm one of the only people who enjoys watching them play, but Dunlap is an interesting case. As the tallest Eagle, he has the size to be the dominant LT this team will need once Tra Thomas departs, but he's missing a couple important qualities for linemen. He has terrible technique, and he's not very tough. He was benched in his senior season at Auburn, but the Eagles just couldn't resist passing up on his size and potential. Getting into a live game will help him adjust to the NFL, and Andy Reid will be able to see what he has.

6) DL Darren Howard. You've probably noticed that every player so far has two years of experience or less, so what's an eight year veteran doing on the list? According to anyone who has seen him play this camp, he's quicker and in better shape than ever. His first two years as an Eagle have been disappointing, to say the least, and fans are still waiting for a return on the team's investment. After Victor Abiamiri's injury, Howard may have to step up and play a bigger role in the rotation than previously expected. If he can contribute anything positive this season, it'll be a plus.

7) DE Chris Clemons. Despite his dehydration scares in the early stages of camp, I'm pretty sure Clemons is going to play tonight. He piled up sacks with the Raiders last year, and the Eagles signed him to bolster a pass rush that was pretty lacking last season. Even if he's going to be in a limited pass rushing role, it'll be interesting to see how Jim Johnson works him into the defense and how his speed can improve the defense.

8) MLB Stewart Bradley. Bradley was thrust into the starter's role after the Eagles parted ways with Takeo Spikes, and he's going to be expected to use his size and athleticism to be a force in the middle of this defense. Overall in 2007, the Linebackers were solid. This season, they're the youngest starters in the NFL, and they're going to have to grow in a hurry. As MLB, Bradley calls all of the plays, so his football IQ will be tested early this preseason in the huddle.

9) LB Joe Mays. Mays was just a 6th round pick from a small college, but a lot of fans want to see how he plays. He was a big time player in the lower ranks of college football, and the Eagles hope he can contribute on special teams. He's an aggressive player with a nose for the football, and his hard working attitude could help him overcome a lack of height. I'm not sure if he'll ever become anything, but there is a lot of training camp buzz around this guy.

10) S Quintin Demps. The Eagles emphasized team speed this offseason, and I've probably used speed, quickness and athleticism too many times when doing these write ups. With that being said, Demps could be one of the biggest playmakers in the secondary. He can return kicks and contribute on special teams. At UTEP, Demps also showed the knack for the big play on defense, with several big interception returns for scores. I don't know if he'll start this year or even make the team, but he could be a weapon if he makes adjustments to the NFL.