2008 Training Camp

[PhillyPhanInDC]

If they can get this kid's head in the game, they might has seriously gotten one of the biggest draft steals in recent memory...

King Dunlap holding court at Eagles camp
By LES BOWEN
Philadelphia Daily News

bowenl@phillynews.com

BETHLEHEM - There's a really excellent chance Tom Petty wasn't envisioning the Eagles' 2008 training camp when he wrote: "It's good to be king, if just for a while."
Petty had the right idea, though; even the this-might-not-last tone fits. Today, it's good to be King Dunlap, the humongous 6-9, 325-pound rookie offensive tackle from Auburn the Eagles drafted in the seventh round. It might not be so good to be King a month from now - the injuries and inconsistencies that led to Dunlap's senior benching at Auburn could recur - but Dunlap has done nothing at Lehigh but look like an up-and-coming NFL left tackle.

The coaches watching Dunlap work understand that, of course. Yet, they didn't draft the guy just to dismiss the promise he shows on the grounds that he turned out to be a huge disappointment in college, after being named to the preseason all-Southeastern Conference team last year.

As offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg put it yesterday: "[The benching] certainly meant something throughout the evaluation leading up to the draft. That was one reason we had the opportunity to select him in the seventh round. But he gets into our training camp, now it's a clean slate - let's go. He's got every opportunity to make the most of this."

Mornhinweg said Dunlap "has done a fine job to this point."

"There's no question he has the measurables - size, the long arms. It appears like he has the skill and ability to really be a good tackle," Mornhinweg said. "Now, we're early - he's got a lot of hard work and preparation left to go."

The other day, Dunlap was matched against defensive end Trent Cole in one-on-one drills. Cole, a Pro Bowl selection last season known for wide-eyed ferocity even in drills, kept finding himself steered wide of the imaginary pocket by the big rookie's long reach.

"He's going to find a place on this team," Cole predicted yesterday. "D-ends hate people with long arms."

Dunlap said he "definitely" feels encouraged. After Monday's practice, coach Andy Reid, who takes quite an interest in the offensive linemen, grabbed him for a few words as he left the field.

"He was telling me to keep working hard, he asked me how I thought it was. [Offensive-line coach Juan Castillo] told me going in it was going to be a battle; it's about what I expected," Dunlap said. "I guess I'm doing something good - he didn't really get on me about anything."

Over the weekend, when Reid was asked about Dunlap, he said: "He's a good athlete. He's got a little bit of a sore ankle, but he's played through that, and he's done very well with it. It hurts him a little bit, when he's being bull-rushed, because he can't put his foot in the ground, like he wants to. He's moving around very well. He's got very long arms and knows how to use them. He's not afraid to play the game out in front of him. I've been impressed with the way he's handled himself."

Dunlap's right ankle remains taped. He said he injured it late last season and posted slower-than-expected times at the draft combine because it was bothering him.

Dunlap, who said he has gained 15 pounds of muscle since being drafted, was asked if he feels he needs to prove himself to teammates, many of whom are aware of how his college career unfolded.

"Not really my teammates, more just everybody who had doubts about me," said Dunlap, who is officially King David Dunlap V. His father, King IV, played at Tennessee State and was a fifth-round pick of the Colts in 1969. "Coming in here, the coaches believe in me - they wouldn't have taken me if they didn't. But proving [outsiders] wrong, everybody who didn't think I would be any good, that's really my motivation right now."

[rjs246]

If the kid can play that takes a lot of the sting out of the potential Justice debacle...

[mussa]

good news indeed, def. not feeling good with justice being number two

[ice grillin you]

the OT version of hank baskett?

[mussa]

the OT's are fine...

[MDS]

gus johnson and charlie casserly are doing the preseason games

not sure if it was mentioned, but whatever. deal with it.

[Seabiscuit36]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp08/index

ESPN Preview of the eagles on the right hand side with LES

[Feva]

"Somehow, Andy Reid has to find a balance between Brian Westbrook and DeSean Jackson in the offense.  How is that workload going to be split up?"

Somehow???  What the farg kinda question is that?

[Seabiscuit36]

apparently DeSean is the truth?

I didnt understand that at all, I'd love ot see jackson step in right away, but he's gonna be a returner first.  Im really looking forward to seeing him hit the field

[ice grillin you]

unless every single thing weve ever known about 5'11 175lb nfl rookie wr's who also play in andy reids offense are untrue then that comment by bowen is one of the dumbest things ive ever seen written about the eagles....brian westbrook has to worry about losing touches to desean jackson....wtf?


also how do you make that prediction as well as a full season preview before a single preseason game has been played

[Father Demon]

also how do you make that prediction as well as a full season preview before a single preseason game has been played

Well, for starters, you have to be really good at guessing, but that's just a guess.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

also how do you make that prediction as well as a full season preview before a single preseason game has been played

Well, for starters, you have to be really good at guessing, but that's just a guess.

I'm more worried about Quinton Demps running onto the field and intercepting Donovan.  You just can't stop the guy from getting his.

[BigEd76]

Apparently Reggie Brown hurt his Achilles today but not bad enough to be noteworthy....

[Diomedes]

why take note of it then?

[Geowhizzer]

Because BigEd takes note of everything.