AFTERNOON PRACTICE

• 3:02 PM: END OF PRACTICE. It was a good punting display in the afternoon, with both punters putting on a very good display. It's hard to pick a winner from the two today, so we'll call it a push for now. That's it for today though from Lehigh, we'll be back tomorrow for the final two practices of training camp.
  
  
• 2:58 PM: Now it's Rocca's turn to try the pooch kick. Rocca continues to employ his unique, end-over-end kick when he's trying to pin the opponent deep, and it proves effective. His first two kicks hit at about the five and check up.
  
  
• 2:52 PM: The punting marathon continues, and Johnson works on his pooch punts. Johnson does a pretty good job, and most of kicks stay out of the end zone and are downing inside the 15.
  
  
• 2:45 PM: Now it's Rocca's turn to kick out of his own endzone. His first two kicks are very good, not quite as long as Johnson's bomb, but both go over 50 yards. His third is average.
  
  
• 2:42 PM: The team now works on punting in a backed up scernario from inside the two yard-line. Johnson's first kick isn't great, but his second one is outstanding, soaring over the returner's head and bouncing towards the opposite endzone. The crowd gives its approval.
  
  
• 2:39 PM: Lost in the shuffle of the punt off is the work being done along the lines. Segrest is paying just as much attention to the receiving team line, who are working on rushing the punter and getting back to block for the returner. Meanwhile the punters are both beginning to fade, which could be expected as each punter has been punting consistently for the last 15 minutes.
  
  
• 2:34 PM: Both punters are pretty good today, and it's tough to tell who might have the advantage for the day. The crowd applauds after every good kick, which is fairly often. The punters have a stiff breeze at their back, and many of the kicks from both punters go over 50 yards.
  
  
• 2:28 PM: Dirk Johnson follows Rocca's performance with two very good kicks. About the same height and distance as Rocca's. 
  
  
• 2:25 PM: The focus shifts to the punting game. The first punt of the day is a bomb by Sav Rocca, and the crowd gives a round of applause.His second one isn't quite as good, but still forces Bloom to backpedal several steps before he can make the grab.
  
  
• 2:20 PM: The special teams workout is sfairly thorough, and the group even spends some time working on covering free kicks after safeties. After that, David Akers tries a few onside kicks, but the team doesn't appear to be working on recovering or defending the onside kicks.
  
  
• 2:17 PM: The practice is taking place on Field 1, closest to the locker room. The two sets of stands set up adjacent to the field are filled with fans, even though much of the morning crowd has cleared out. The fans present break into rendition of the Eagles Fight Song.
  
  
• 2:13 PM: It's nearly impossible to evaluate individuals in these coverage drills. Nothing is full contact and the returners run without the threat of being hit. It seems right now this is mostly about instruction. The four guys receiving the kickoffs right now are cornerbacks Rashad Barksdale and Nick Graham, and wide receivers Zac Collie and Jeremy Bloom.
  
  
• 2:06 PM: The session starts out with special teams coordinator Rory Segrest instructing about kickoff coverage. Segrest is trying to make sure his coverage team stays in their lanes as they flow to the returner.
  
  
• 2:00 PM: A good crowd of players is gathered for this afternoon's special teams workout. The special teams workout shouldn't be nearly as long as a normal practice, and there is no hitting. It's a cliche to say this is where some borderline players can make the roster, but it's also true. The special teamers will be monitored closely in the preseason, so these instructional practices are important.

MORNING PRACTICE

• 10:42 AM: A few commments after practice. First, injuries. The big news of the day was an update on L.J Smith. Head coach Andy Reid said Smith suffered a groin injury that was unrelated to his sports hernia, but was suffered in the same area. The seriousness was not elaborated on, and his condition will be closely looked at. Ironman tackle Jon Runyan left the practice early. The word from Andy Reid is back tightness, which at the moment doesn't sound too serious. Guard Scott Young also left practice. A full injury report will follow soon on the site. Reid also announced this morning would be the last morning of live contact for the rest of training camp, ending a marathon ten-day stretch of morning practices with a hitting period. The afternoon practice will a special teams practice at 2:00 PM today. We'll be back this afternoon with a minute-by-minute update of the goings-on this afternoon.
  
  
• 10:16 AM: END OF PRACTICE
  
  
• 10:13 AM: Rory Segrest tutors his crew on kickoff returns for a bit, with Jeremy Bloom and Ryan Moats fielding a majority of the kicks.
  
  
• 10:10 AM: Dereck Faulkner ends the live period with another great catch, making a diving grab in the endzone on a 20 yard pass from Kelly Holcomb. The horn sounds and a special teams period begins to end practice.
  
  
• 10:07 AM: Ryan Moats gets outside and makes a nice cut, running down to the one yard line on an eight yard gain. The defense makes a stand though, and on the next play forces a Moats fumble that is recovered in the end zone by Takeo Spikes. Jeremiah Trotter emerges from the pile of linemen triumphent, pumping his fist and yelling in celebration.
  
• 10:03 AM: Finally the offense break through. McNabb completes a pass to Kevin Curtis, who eludes a tackler and dives down to the five yard line. On the next play, Correll Buckhalter takes the inside handoff, is hit at the two, and muscles his way across the goalline.
  
• 10:00 AM: After the first team offense is stopped, the second team tries its luck. The offense once again comes up short, and the stop features and a nice stick by Tank Daniels on Michael Gasperson.
  
  
• 9:56 AM: We finally have our first live, hitting period of the day. The offense starts at the defense's twenty yard line going towards the end zone. The defense looks good, however, collapsing the pocket on McNabb and forcing either sacks or hurried throws.
  
  
• 9:48 AM: McNabb is having one of his better days. His second time around in the 7-on-7 today, he drops a ball over top of coverage perfectly to Jason Avant for a 20 yard gain. The next play, he hits Reggie Brown for an 18 yard play, and the one after that, it's Matt Schobel's turn to catch a ball for 12 yards. The Avant throw is probably McNabb's best of the day.
  
  
• 9:42 AM: Kelly Holcomb and Greg Lewis hook-up on a deep passing play. Lewis burns his man, and Holcomb lets the ball go down the left side. Lewis makes a fine adjustment on the ball in the air, his head turning and looking over his left shoulder at the last second as he makes the catch.
  
  
• 9:36 AM: The team splits up, and a 7-on-7 drill starts up on the main field. The first-team defense looks good to start off, as they allow a few completions but they are all underneath and not McNabb's primary options.
  
  
• 9:29 AM: There is a break from the team period, as David Akers and E.J Cochrane take turns booting a few field goals.
  
  
• 9:25 AM: An interesting observatioon as the first team offense wraps up its work. Nick Cole is working out at right guard in place of Shawn Andrews, who the Eagles announced yesterday will miss at least a few practices. Previously, it was thought Scott Young and Max Jean-Gilles would battle it out to fill in for Andrews, but here it is Cole getting reps with the first team.
  
  
• 9:21 AM: As the rain lets up, McNabb competes a strike to Reggie Brown over the middle for a 12 yard gain. This isn't a full-contact period. Still just a thud drill.
  
  
• 9:17 AM: The entire teams gathers on the main field for an 11-on-11 period, and the crowd is really buzzing, clapping and yelling E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles! chants. And they love what they see on the first play. McNabb escapes from close quarters and decides to scrambling. Weaving down the field for, if there was hitting, would probably be about a 10 yard gain. The crowd roars its approval, seeing McNabb show a bit of mobility.
  
  
• 9:12 AM: The rain is really beginning to pick up now from a mist to a steady rain. Still Dereck Faulkner manages to provide the play of the day up until this point. Faulkner runs a go-route with Joselio Hanson in tight coverage. Faulkner's left arm gets tangled with Hanson, but the big receiver manages to reach out with his right hand and snag the ball, securing it with the one hand even as he hits the ground. It's a spectacular catch good for a 40 yard gain, and Faulkner gets a standing ovation from the crowd.
  
  
• 9:08 AM: A meeting of the minds occurs on the sidelines between Eagles radio announcers Mike Quick and Merrill Reese and new Eagles Television Network color commentator Ike Reese. The former Eagles linebacker and special teams whiz gets plenty of yells from the crowd as he stands on the sidelines. As Donovan McNabb switches fields to throw some balls to the wideouts, he stops and greets Reese, the two exchange a joke or two before McNabb is off.
  
  
• 9:05 AM: The team splits up,  half the team works in the 9-on-7 thud drill running the football. Brian Westbrook gets a handoff and deftly maneuvers through the line, speeding up once he hits the open field. Meanwhile on the other field, the wide receivers and defensive backs are going one-on-one.
  
  
• 9:03 AM: The horn blows and the team splits up. The corners and wide receivers stay on the field with the quarterbacks to work a drill I haven't seen before. Two wideouts line up on the same side against two corners and a safety playing overtop. McNabb completes two consecutive passes underneath against the coverage. On one of the catches, WIll James is in position ready to light up the pass catcher, but it is a non-contact drill, and James pulls up. Jason Avant makes a great grab, turning and reaching around Joselio Hanson in coverage.
  
  
• 8:59 AM: A light rain is starting to fall here, and the slick turf appears to catch up with Nick Graham, who slips in coverage allowing Zac Collie to make a reception along the sidelines.
  
  
• 8:54 AM: The tight ends are apparently being featured in this drill. Lee Vickers makes a nice catch 15 or 20 yards downfield on a ball that was thrown behind him by A.J Feeley. I notice Jerome McDougle standing up and playing what appears to be the joker position in a pass coverage. It's a position usually occupied by Juqua Thomas, but McDougle is getting a look here.
  
  
• 8:51 AM: The 11-on-11 is just a thud drill for now. On the first play, McNabb tosses a pass in the flat to tight end Brent Celek, who gets a shot to run with the first team for a bit. After the play, he is replaced by Matt Schobel.
  
  
• 8:49 AM: The horn sounds and the whole team moves to the main field for some 11-on-11 work.
  
  
• 8:45 AM: As the group install continues, the offense works in a few plays out of the shotgun. McNabb tosses to Kevin Curtis 20-yards downfield, and as it has all week, a connection between the two receives a round of applause. Meanwhile, the offensive linemen are working on run-blocking, getting off the line and pushing their man downfield rather than backing up in a pass-blocking scenario.
  
  
• 8:37 AM: It's time for the daily group install period. The first package is one with both Brian Westbook and Correll Buckhalter in the backfield. Buckhalter is lined up in the fullback position. The Eagles utilized this two-back package a few times last year. McNabb snaps the ball, and hits Buckhalter on a checkdown. The next play is a misdirection screen play to Westbrook. It's obvious how many times the first team offense has run this play before, and it looks like clockwork out there on the field.
  
  
• 8:29 AM: A few players are back on the field today. Running back Tony Hunt is on the field after suffering an ankle sprain after Thursday's practice, as are defensive tackles Ian Scott and Montae Reagor, who have each missed significant time during camp. Linebacker Dedrick Roper is back practicing, and running back Brian Westbrook, who at the afternoon practice yesterday, is out on the field today.
  
  
• 8:24 AM: The warm-up period is still in session. The offensive linemen are working as a unit, moving the blocking sled down the field. The shuffle in and out in three groups. After one group moves the sled, the whistle blows, another group of players lines up, and takes their turn to hit the sled, and so on. After about nine or ten hits the sled has made its way close to 40 yards down the field. After that is over, the offense migrates over to the main field, and the crowd gathered stands and cheers to greet the team.
  
  
• 8:15 AM: And we're ready to go for what really is the second to last day of training camp practices. Sunday will be a short walk-through, so it's really just today and tomorrow of normal workouts. It rained in the Lehigh Valley for most of last night, and the weather is still a bit overcast and foggy. The ground is wet, so we'll have to keep a close eye on the player's footing throughout the morning workout.. Donovan McNabb is out and interacting with the crowd a little bit before things get going. The horn blows and the positional warm-up period begins.