Youth was served for the Eagles in their 34-14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, especially on offense. Third-year quarterback Kevin Kolb led an offense that featured a second-year DeSean Jackson and rookie Jeremy Maclin at wide receiver, third-year tight end Brent Celek and a rookie running back in LeSean McCoy.
It was a coming out party for McCoy, who got the nod in place of Brian Westbrook who was out with an ankle sprain. The rookie from Pittsburgh ran for 84 yards on 20 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown run.
"It felt pretty good for my first start," McCoy said. "I was so nervous. Getting out there and after my first hit, got the pace down pat. It's just a normal football game."
McCoy took several snaps lined up as the wildcat quarterback for the Eagles, and he felt comfortable in the role.
"We practiced that all week," he said. "I knew the time would come, I just didn't know it would come that fast and that much. We ran it quite a bit. I guess it's somethig special, a different look."
McCoy and Maclin have become fast friends as the Eagles pair of early-round draft picks in 2009, and McCoy was happy to share his first start with Maclin.
"Yeah it was pretty cool, coming in together, me and Jeremy have been pretty tight the whole time," he said. "It was something special."
McCoy proved in training camp and the preseason that he was an explosive runner who also possessed good hands for a running back, but he showed something just as important against the Chiefs - he's comfortable in pass protection picking up blitzes.
"If you want to play in this game you need to hold onto the ball and you need to be able to block," McCoy said. "I want to play a little more so blocking is kind of my thing.
"Knowing I was going to play so much, I didn't want to make any mistakes."
McCoy wants to get on the field and contribute as much as possible, but he's also comfortable in his role as Brian Westbrook's backup.
"He's like a big brother to me, even though I'm taller," McCoy said about Westbrook. "He'll help me out anytime of the night, I can call him. He's really getting me prepared for whatever. Whether it's a start or just a break in the game, whatever I need he's been there for me."
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 7:37 p.m., September 27
