Kendricks out to end Eagles' LB woes

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If he keeps making plays like this, at some point all the jokes about the Eagles drafting another linebacker in the second round will end.

On the first day of his first minicamp, rookie second-round pick Mychal Kendricks began what he hopes is a summer-long campaign for a starting outside linebacker spot.

Is he another Barry Gardner, Quintin Caver or Matt McCoy or have the Eagles actually drafted themselves a young, athletic OLB who isnt going to embarrass himself when he does get out there? Kendricks is determined to end the Eagles linebacker jinx once and for all.

Saturday morning, in his first practice as a pro, Kendricks made the defensive play of the day, skying high over a crowd to intercept rookie Nick Foles, who was trying to connect on a 30-yard pass to tight end Brent Brackett.

Later, Kendricks seemed surprised at all the questions about a play he considers routine.

Thats just doing my job, he said. Thats not anything out of the norm for me or anything special. Thats what Im supposed to do and thats what Im going to do.

It might not be outside the norm for you, Mychal, but you didnt have to watch Gardner, Caver and McCoy. And the rest of the outside linebackers the Eagles have dragged through the NovaCare Complex the last decade.

Yeah, hes pretty confident.

Just another play. No biggie.

He ran a wheel route, carried him to the flat, he went vertical, took him vert, the balls right there, it was pretty easy, he said. I feel like I can cover, and thats what they brought me in for, and thats what Im going to focus on.

A lot of things to remember here. Kendricks was facing a rookie quarterback whos also in Day 1 of rookie camp, and he was covering a tight end whose NFL experience amounts to a few weeks on the Eagles practice squad last year.

So this isnt the time to get carried away.

Still. Was nice to see a young outside linebacker actually make a play.

Other than offseason pickup DeMeco Ryans, the Eagles projected middle linebacker, the other linebacker spots are up for grabs. Jamar Chaney has the most experience, Brian Rolle played well last year, and Moise Fokou and Akeem Jordan have been around a while.

But Kendricks isnt shy about telling anybody wholl listen that he plans on being out there once the season opens in Cleveland on Sept. 9.

Still have to earn my stripes here, he said. I have some big shoes to fill. Im trying to start. Thats my whole goal, and Im going to keep working toward that goal. Im not going to sit here and say Im the starter. Im not, they havent said anything about that, but Im going to sure try.

Kendricks worked on the strong-side at practice on Saturday. There arent a lot of linebackers in camp who have any kind of chance to make the team. In addition to Kendricks, theres first-year pro Monte Simmons, who spent some time with the 49ers last season, and four tryout linebackers who arent under contract -- Jameson Frazier from BYU, Frederic Plesius of Laval, Ryan Rau of Portland State, Sam Fehoko of Texas Tech.

So this is a great situation for Kendricks. Hell have plenty of opportunities to learn these few days and get a ton of reps.

Its cool, he said. When the vets get here, its going to be a whole other story, but right now, Im with guys my age, theyre going through the same experience Im going through, so its all pretty cool. Im comfortable. Were out on the field, were working together, and camaraderies good.

Kendricks spent 10 minutes cordially answering questions, but when somebody asked him how a 5-11 guy can cover NFL tight ends who are routinely 6-6 or 6-7, he was curt.

It doesnt matter, he said. It doesnt matter.

That was it.

Everywhere he goes, Kendricks gets the height question, and hes obviously tired of it. Fact is, 5-11 isnt classic NFL height for an outside linebacker.

He knows the only way to shut people up is to do it on the field.

It doesnt matter because at the end of the day, Im going to have to go out there and do it, he said. And if I do it, I do it. If I dont, then Ill probably get cut.

Everythings going to handle itself. Thats why I say it doesnt matter. Because Im going to try my hardest, Im going to do what I can do, and hopefully everything will take care of itself. So I dont really stress about it, and I dont think you guys should either.

E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com

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