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Aug 31 09 10:54 AM
2nd in Command!
Monday, August 31, 2009
By NICK FIERRO
The Express-Times
PHILADELPHIA | Keeping in theme with special-teams performances often being the deal-breaker for players on the training-camp bubble, rookies such as Victor "Macho" Harris and Moise Fokou and newcomer Eldra Buckley have really helped their chances for making the Eagles, to hear special-teams coordinator Ted Daisher tell it.
"Victor Harris ... Moise Fokou has done a good job," said Daisher, when asked to identify which young players have stood out most. "There is a variety of young players that every year impress you. Eldra Buckley has been excellent covering kicks and doing all the things that he does.
"They play fast, and that's what the preseason is for, to identify those players, put them in situations that they would be in in the regular season and see how they do," Daisher said. "As I said before, sometimes we react the way you want and sometimes we don't, but it's better to find out in August than September."
As far as that goes, Daisher also was impressed with rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin's decision to down a kickoff in last Thursday's win over Jacksonville.
"I know it probably doesn't appease the fans a whole lot," Daisher said, "but when he downed that ball that he caught 4 yards in the end zone, that made me very happy. I know the fans probably wanted him to run it out, but to me that was a good decision. He made a decision that he wasn't going to try to make a play when it wasn't there, and in a regular season game, that's what we want him to do.
"You don't want to be taking chances when you don't have to, and I was pleased with it."
Harris, a cornerback/safety who returned punts in college at Virginia Tech, hasn't done any return work with the Eagles in the preseason. However, he has managed to stand out and completely understands the value of what he brings to the table.
"(Coach Frank) Beamer ball, that was a big thing at Virginia Tech," Harris said. "A lot of people don't take special teams seriously. That is an important aspect of the game. Whatever I can do to help the team, that's what I'll do."
Buckley, locked in a heated battle with Lorenzo Booker for the third running back position, tries not to think about it as much.
"I'm just going to give it an effort," he said. "I mean, if I go out on special teams or running back, I'm going to give it all I've got. That's all I can do, see how the chips fall. Special teams is a big part of this game. I mean, if that's what it takes, I'll do it."
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