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With Eagles camp around corner, questions remain

Fear not, Eagles fans, your dreaded summer of Phillies losses and minimal football talk is almost over. In one week, Eagles rookies and select veterans will report to camp at Lehigh University. In just 10 days, on July 25, the full Eagles squad will begin training camp.

Michael Vick's stats per game decreased in every major category last season. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Michael Vick's stats per game decreased in every major category last season. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

Fear not, Eagles fans, your dreaded summer of Phillies losses and minimal football talk is almost over.

In one week, Eagles rookies and select veterans will report to camp at Lehigh University. In just 10 days, on July 25, the full Eagles squad will begin training camp.

Just like that, many fans will finally have an excuse to turn from the runaway train that seems to be the Phillies and get to the real questions of August - such as who's going to be the Eagles' backup quarterback.

Nnamdi Asomugha has now been in this defense a full year, DeSean Jackson has a new contract, and Michael Vick has two healthy legs. And in 10 days, we'll get our first extended look at the team since Week 17.

Here are 10 of the biggest questions facing the Eagles.

1. What can we expect from Vick?

 Where else is there to start? In the quarterback-driven NFL, Vick has to be better this season.

After a torrid 2010 campaign, Vick's stats per game decreased in every major category last season. None hurt the Eagles more than his turnovers.

Vick's 14 interceptions were more than he had thrown in any of his previous eight seasons. He added 10 fumbles to that turnover tally. His QB rating of 84.9 was lower than that of the Dolphins' Matt Moore.

He has played all 16 regular-season games only once in his career. A fair expectation is 13 games, the same number as last season. It's unrealistic to ask Vick to limit his interceptions to six, like in 2010, but 14 is too high. If Vick can play in 13 games, throw 20 touchdowns, and limit his interceptions to 10, Eagles fans should be happy.

2. Who is the backup quarterback?

 If we're figuring that Vick sits at least a few games, the attention then turns to who will play for him while he's out.

The Eagles added intrigue to the backup-quarterback question by selecting Nick Foles in the third round of April's draft. Last season, Mike Kafka threw 16 passes, but none after Sept. 25. The former fourth-round pick will likely enter camp in the No. 2 role, but he will need to show he can be a more efficient passer to solidify the backup role.

3. What will the Eagles get out of Nnamdi Asomugha?

 The cornerback was the prize of the last summer's rushed free-agent market. His performance on the field, though, was worth far less than the $60 million contract he signed.

Best-case scenario: Asomugha was struggling in a zone defense that was foreign to him but was played because of the now- departed Asante Samuel. Worst-case scenario: Asomugha peaked earlier than the Eagles expected and is now on the downside of his career.

4. How will the offensive line do without left tackle Jason Peters?

 The five-time Pro Bowler has been protecting Eagles quarterbacks the last three seasons. But in March he ruptured his right Achilles tendon, which will keep him out for the season.

Shortly after Peters' injury, the team signed Demetress Bell to a five-year deal. Bell started in Peters' place when Peters was traded from the Bills to the Eagles. He's an athletic lineman but does not possess the strength and experience of Peters. It will be interesting during camp to see how his game progresses.

5. Is there enough depth at running back behind LeSean McCoy?

 After McCoy, the three Eagles running backs have a combined one season of NFL experience. That season comes from the presumptive backup, Dion Lewis, who was arrested this month on charges of falsely reporting an incident, which is a felony.

Lewis carried the ball more than twice in a game only once last season - Week 17, when the Eagles were out of the playoff picture. Behind him are rookies Chris Polk and Bryce Brown.

6. Who gets most of the playing time at the third cornerback spot?

 Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie have the first two cornerback spots locked down. The battle for the nickel back, then, is between incumbent Joselio Hanson, who has played there the better part of the last six seasons, and fourth-round draft choice Brandon Boykin.

Hanson played less last season in the suddenly crowded Eagles cornerback camp, opening the door for the flashy Boykin, who was expected to go higher in the draft. Hanson is typically solid and dependable and knows the defense. Boykin returns kicks and is faster with a lot of potential, but is still a rookie.

This will be one of the biggest position battles during camp.

7. Who will emerge as the team's best strong safety?

 The Eagles drafted Jaiquawn Jarrett out of Temple in the second round in 2011 with hopes that they nabbed their safety of the future. But Jarrett recorded tackles in only four games last season and didn't do enough to show coaches he deserved to start.

Kurt Coleman got the majority of the playing time, but he lacked consistency. He had his moments - three interceptions against Washington, 11 tackles against New England - but hasn't solidified the position the way this defense needs.

Oshiomogho Atogwe played for the Redskins last season and could contribute.

8. Is this the year Brandon Graham breaks out?

 The Eagles moved up to select the defensive lineman 13th overall in the 2010 draft - two spots ahead of Jason Pierre-Paul.

Graham tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in Week 14 of his rookie season and didn't play again until Week 9 of last season. When he returned, he didn't look like a top-15 pick.

If he can stay healthy and return to the form that made him a first-round choice, he could be in line for a breakout season. If not, he may be labeled as a bust three seasons into his career.

9. Which rookie will contribute the most?

 Before taking Foles in the third round of the draft, the Eagles selected two defensive linemen and a linebacker.

First-rounder Fletcher Cox is expected to rotate with Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson, while second-rounder Vinny Curry could get in the mix on passing downs.

But it's second-rounder Mychal Kendricks who will likely see the most playing time, mainly because of a lack of competition at linebacker.

10. Can DeMeco Ryans solidify the middle of the defense?

 In five seasons with the Texans, Ryans was named to two Pro Bowls and was the defensive rookie of the year in 2006.

But after a torn left Achilles tendon shortened his 2010 campaign, Ryans managed just 64 tackles in 2011 before Houston shipped him to the Eagles. If Ryans can return to anywhere near the form he was at the beginning of his career, the Eagles got a steal. If not, they will have a big void in the middle of their defense.