Eagles' Wisniewski fighting for a starting spot
Stefen Wisniewski has started in every NFL game of his career, so the opportunity to work alongside the Eagles' first team offensive line this past week hasn't been unfamiliar.
Stefen Wisniewski has started in every NFL game of his career, so the opportunity to work alongside the Eagles' first team offensive line this past week hasn't been unfamiliar.
But with starting right guard Brandon Brooks expected to return to the lineup later this week, Wisniewski's midnight hour is fast approaching. Soon he won't be tandem blocking with center Jason Kelce and right tackle Lane Johnson, nor will he be facing defensive tackles as talented as Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan.
He has seemingly done everything possible to keep a starting spot, but the Eagles didn't hand over $17 million guaranteed for Brooks not to play right guard, and, for some reason, coach Doug Pederson has virtually locked Allen Barbre into left guard.
Wisniewski refuses to concede anything. He may have signed a contract that is four years and $38 million less than what Brooks signed for, and he may have three fewer years of experience with the Eagles than Barbre, but the six-year veteran with 77 NFL starts said that he's optimistic about his chances.
"I think at least one of the jobs is open on the inside. That's my impression," Wisniewski said on Sunday. "It seems like Doug believes in competition and letting the best man play. I think that's the way it's going to work out."
Asked about Wisniewski's performance in place of Brooks, who has been sidelined with a hamstring strain, Pederson gave a response that seemed to indicate that he foresees the 27-year-old Penn State product as a sixth man off the bench who can fill in at one of the three interior positions.
"He's a smart kid, and somebody that is definitely going to fit into the mix in the rotation at guard for us," Pederson said. "As you know, this is typical of a regular season. Those guys that get nicked up and miss a couple days, you know, the next guy steps up, and it's that mentality and he's done a nice job handling that."
Wisniewski hasn't been a backup in a long time. He had to earn the center spot last season after signing a one-year deal with the Jaguars. But he started all four years in Oakland - mostly at center - after the Raiders selected him in the second round of the 2011 draft.
When he signed with the Eagles in March, a few weeks into free agency, Wisniewski made it no secret that he was disappointed he hadn't gotten better offers. He admitted on Sunday that he's playing with a chip on his shoulder, as was evident on Saturday when he pancaked Bennie Logan during the first padded practice of training camp.
"It's definitely motivating me, but I've always tried to play physical," Wisniewski said. "You got to be careful in practice because they're your own teammates. You can't tee off quite the way you'd like to. But you still got to show that you're a tough guy."
Wisniewski may not have pulled his driver out on Logan, but he swung at him with at least a three wood. The hit came during a run play in which the right guard trapped the right defensive tackle. Logan never saw it coming.
The Eagles interior defensive linemen will sometimes be susceptible to pulling blocks in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's aggressive scheme. Logan wasn't in the mood to talk on Sunday, but Cox gave Wisniewski credit.
"In this defense, you sometimes never know when those [trap blocks] are coming," Cox said. "But he's getting after it."
Wisniewski hasn't played at guard since his rookie season when he started 15 games. The next 62 have been at center. The Eagles obviously don't have a hole at center, although Kelce should have something to prove after he struggled last season.
Virtually everyone on the offensive line does. Scheme played a significant part in last year's woes up front - particularly in the run game. But no one on the line played his best and it was a minor surprise that Pederson endorsed Barbre at left guard as early as May.
Chip Kelly, and many other coaches, would have never committed that early. The former Eagles coach refused to name Andrew Gardner his starter throughout camp even though he spent nearly every practice at right guard with the first team. Pederson's approach, it would seem, is one of reassurance - especially for a veteran like Barbre.
The reality is that few players have security in the NFL. That's why Wisniewski said he doesn't have to balance his own self-interest versus the team's when he's on a one-year deal.
"The way the NFL works nowadays - most contracts are for under two years," Wisniewski said. "Even when guys sign big five-year deals, how many years are guaranteed? Two usually. And even if you're on a long-term they can trade you. Guys come and go all the time.
"I think every player just kind of takes the mind-set that I'm just going to play my best wherever I am. If they want me I'll play somewhere else. All you can do is play really well for the team that you're on."
Wisniewski said that he expects to get snaps at center as camp progresses. His versatility will increase his odds of making the 53-man roster. But he's shooting for higher.
"I'm competing for [a] job," Wisniewski said. "Maybe it's not right guard, but whatever. Playing against good competition is the best way to get better, so I'm definitely enjoying that."
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