Top units play smash-mouth ball

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - After 32 Eagles practices over 18 days, Andy Reid finally allowed his first-team offense to face off against his first-team defense during a live, full-contact portion of practice.

The result was good theater, as good as anything on HBO's Hard Knocks, the reality series that is chronicling New York Jets' training camp.

Reid would never allow cameras the behind-the-scenes access that coach Rex Ryan and the Jets have granted HBO. But Monday morning's action at Eagles training camp gave fans an up-close glimpse of the team's top units playing smash-mouth football.

The drill took place from the 10-yard line and in. On the first play from the 10, the Eagles' nickel defense blitzed quarterback Kevin Kolb, who managed to get the ball to wide receiver Hank Baskett out on the flat. Baskett appeared to have possession until cornerback Joselio Hanson came up and jarred the ball loose.

On the second play, defensive end Trent Cole batted down a Kolb pass at the line of scrimmage. When the offense lined for play No. 3 from the 6-yard line, the always chatty cornerback Asante Samuel yelled to his mates on defense, "It's a run."

It was not.

Kolb faked a handoff, rolled right and then threw across his body to running back Martell Mallett on a misdirection play. Cornerback Ellis Hobbs was pinned on a block, and Mallett coasted into the end zone.

On the fourth and final play from the 4-yard line, Kolb pitched a shovel pass to Mallett. Juqua Parker read the play and hopped on Mallett, but the running back carried the defensive end across the goal line for a score.

Or did he?

Many on the sidelines thought Mallett had come up short, but Reid raised his arms in the air, signaling a touchdown.

When the second teams collided next, Mallett scored again after hooking up with quarterback Michael Vick. The offense called another pass on the next play, but Vick had to throw the ball away. Six straight throws prompted Samuel to tease the offense.

"Line up and be a man," he yelled before cautioning teammates to "watch out for the Statue of Liberty. Watch out for the flea flicker."

Vick threw to running back Eldra Buckley short of the goal line and cornerback Trevard Lindley came up and made the stop.

After the afternoon practice, Reid was asked if he had watched any of Hard Knocks yet.

"No," Reid said, "I live it."

- Jeff McLane