John Smallwood: As preseason games loom, it's harder to focus at Eagles camp

BETHLEHEM - Comparatively, this training camp has been shorter than most of the ones the Eagles have had under Andy Reid.

But the last week of training camp at Lehigh University is always the time when the dangers of fatigue and lapses of concentration can lead to steps backwards in a team's progress.

And considering the Birds will break camp on Wednesday to get ready for Thursday's preseason opener against the New England Patriots, Reid wants to make sure his players understand the importance of focus over these next 2 days of two-a-days.

"We've got situations that drive the practice - whether it's a backed-up situation or a 2-minute situation," he said. "So it's important that the guys stay focused as they finish up camp, and it's important that we get all that in before we play a game, whether it's special teams, offense or defense."

Reid said he understands how players can start to look ahead to playing that first game against a real opponent, but added, "About a day-and-a-half before we play New England, then we'll start worrying about New England.

"Not that [the players] are not thinking about it, but we won't actually start putting things in and working, from an offensive standpoint on the 3-4 front and on the defensive standpoint of their offense game, until a day-and-a-half before."

It's mostly a mental battle the players will have to contend with over the next couple of training camp sessions. It's only natural that the first preseason game being so close might occupy thoughts.

For the veterans, breaking camp means it's time for them to finally get an evaluation of where the team is by going against somebody else at NFL game speed. It's a chance to learn where they are and how much farther they need to go.

For rookies and free agents, the anticipation of the game against New England has to be dominating their thoughts because it's their first shot - for some, maybe the only shot - at impressing the coaches with what they can do in a real game, not just a simulated one.

The problem with both of those situations is that looking ahead can lead to mistakes in the present, and the last thing Reid wants is for the Eagles to take a couple of sloppy practices into the first preseason game.