Casey Matthews

BETHLEHEM - Casey Matthews wasn't taken in the first round of the April draft, or the second, or even the third. He was selected by the Eagles with the 19th pick in the fourth round. A total of 115 players went off the board before him. Yet, when the Eagles opened training camp last week, Matthews was doing something that very few of those 115 guys taken in front of him were doing. He was running with the first team. When the 4 1/2-month lockout ended last week and the linebacker out of the University of Oregon reported to the NovaCare Complex to pick up his playbook before heading up to Lehigh, defensive coordinator Juan Castillo called him into his office and informed him that he was going to be taking the first-team reps at middle linebacker.

Oregon needed a play. Casey Matthews set about making one. Down by eight, with less than five minutes to go in college's national championship game, desperately needing the ball back, Matthews came flying at Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. With his long hair falling across his shoulder pads, who could watch and not think of his older brother, Clay Matthews III, a quarterback-hunting linebacker with similar locks? Those with longer memories might recall their father, Clay Matthews Jr., a four time Pro Bowler.

It's the day after your first NFL game. Your team has won. The defense that you anchor in the middle surrendered just 13 points, and every Monday morning middle linebacker thinks you're overmatched. Half believe you should be given some time - but not much. The other half believes you should be benched immediately. Casey Matthews, welcome to Philadelphia. "I take it with a grain of salt," Matthews said Monday, fresh off the Eagles' season-opening 31-13 win over the Rams.

The Eagles sent running back Dion Lewis to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday for linebacker Emmanuel Acho. Though they had hoped to get a late draft pick for Lewis, the Eagles acquired a young linebacker for a player who probably would have been released. With LeSean McCoy, Bryce Brown, and a healthy Chris Polk at running back, coach Chip Kelly deemed Lewis expendable. Acho, a 2012 sixth-round draft pick out of Texas, spent last season on injured reserve with a knee injury. He suffered a meniscus (cartilage)

DEMECO RYANS - A two-time Pro Bowler, Ryans was acquired to be the answer to the question that has long loomed over middle linebacker. He has the pedigree, but has to bounce back from a down season in 2011. JAMAR CHANEY - After a fast start as a rookie, Chaney had a rocky 2011, starting at the strong side and then moving to the middle early in the season. He struggled at times, and will have to move back outside with Ryans in town. BRIAN ROLLE - Rolle was probably the team's most effective linebacker last season, and showed impressive power for his size.

Curtis Marsh had been following the Eagles' coaching search the last two weeks, checking for the latest updates on the interview process. That's why the Eagles cornerback was surprised when he learned Wednesday that Oregon coach Chip Kelly would be his next coach. Surprised, and excited. "I thought he was going back, like the reports said," Marsh said. "But when I heard the reports come out [Wednesday] morning, I was excited. " That's a sentiment echoed by a number of players.

Part Eight of an online-only series. Here is a look at the inside linebackers on the Eagles roster:   Projected first team DeMeco Ryans (6-foot-1, 247 pounds), 28 years old, 8th season; Mychal Kendricks (6-0, 240), 22, 2nd season When the Eagles acquired Ryans in March 2012, one of their stated reasons for his decline in production in his final season with the Houston Texans was the team's move to a 3-4 defense. The Eagles felt Ryans was a natural 4-3 linebacker.

Who: Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns What: Third exhibition game When: Tonight, 7:30 Where: Lincoln Financial Field TV: 6ABC Radio: WYSP (94.1-FM), WIP (610-AM), ESPN (97.3-FM) 5 THINGS TO WATCH TONIGHT VS. THE BROWNS:   1. Deeefense: Has to look less clueless than last week in Pittsburgh. This will be interesting, with the "ones" scheduled to play three quarters. Lotta talk last week about how the players are still feeling their way through the new scheme.

CASEY MATTHEWS said Juan Castillo called his defense together recently to say how proud he was that the unit is coming together. "We definitely noticed it this week. I think we've made more strides than in the other two, of just being more comfortable with each other," Matthews, the Eagles' rookie middle linebacker, said yesterday. Matthews and Castillo, both new to their jobs, have come under intense scrutiny since last Thursday's 24-14 preseason loss at Pittsburgh, the first half of which ended with the Birds trailing 21-0.

The second preseason game will be the best chance to watch the core players on the Eagles, because the starters will play from a half to three quarters against the New England Patriots on Monday. The starters are scheduled to play all three quarters, but coach Andy Reid said he would adjust based on what he sees. "I'll just get a feel," Reid said. "We'll just see how it all rolls and go from there. " Once starting quarterback Michael Vick is removed, rookie Nick Foles will play the rest of the game.

Part Eight of an online-only series. Here is a look at the inside linebackers on the Eagles roster:   Projected first team DeMeco Ryans (6-foot-1, 247 pounds), 28 years old, 8th season; Mychal Kendricks (6-0, 240), 22, 2nd season When the Eagles acquired Ryans in March 2012, one of their stated reasons for his decline in production in his final season with the Houston Texans was the team's move to a 3-4 defense. The Eagles felt Ryans was a natural 4-3 linebacker.

The Eagles sent running back Dion Lewis to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday for linebacker Emmanuel Acho. Though they had hoped to get a late draft pick for Lewis, the Eagles acquired a young linebacker for a player who probably would have been released. With LeSean McCoy, Bryce Brown, and a healthy Chris Polk at running back, coach Chip Kelly deemed Lewis expendable. Acho, a 2012 sixth-round draft pick out of Texas, spent last season on injured reserve with a knee injury. He suffered a meniscus (cartilage)

1. Chip Kelly's first name actually is . . . a. Erik b. Christopher c. Charles 2. Which is the only school Kelly lost to twice as Oregon's head coach? a. Stanford b. USC c. California 3. No Oregon player was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft during Kelly's tenure as head coach (since 2009). a. True b. False 4. Who was the highest Ducks player drafted since 2009? a. LaMichael James b. Patrick Chung c. Casey Matthews 5. The greatest Eagles player who played at Oregon is . . . a. Fenuki Tupou b. A.J. Feeley c. Norm Van Brocklin 6. Kelly's nickname "Big Balls" is . . . a. A reference to his use of medicine balls during training b. A reference to an anatomical anomaly c. A reference to his gutsy playcalling 7. How far is Eugene, Ore., from Philadelphia?

Curtis Marsh had been following the Eagles' coaching search the last two weeks, checking for the latest updates on the interview process. That's why the Eagles cornerback was surprised when he learned Wednesday that Oregon coach Chip Kelly would be his next coach. Surprised, and excited. "I thought he was going back, like the reports said," Marsh said. "But when I heard the reports come out [Wednesday] morning, I was excited. " That's a sentiment echoed by a number of players.

Having played two seasons under Chip Kelly at Oregon and his next two seasons in Philadelphia, Casey Matthews has a unique perspective on whether his former coach would make a good fit with the Eagles. "I think the fans here would love him," Matthews said Thursday. "They would love his attitude, his go-get-it mentality. " Matthews was neither advocating for the Eagles to fire Andy Reid nor was he suggesting that Reid would be gone sometime soon. But when he was asked about Kelly - considered the most likely college coach to make the jump to the NFL - and whether he would mesh with the Philly sports world, Matthews gave the affirmative.

Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks was benched for the first drive of Sunday's 30-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Coach Andy Reid said it was for "disciplinary reasons," and Kendricks confirmed it was because he was late to a meeting on Friday. "I had to be accountable," Kendricks said. "I let my team down. " Casey Matthews started at strong-side linebacker in Kendricks' place. He watched from the sideline while the Falcons went on a 16-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Kendricks entered the game on the second drive, when he was charged with a critical pass interference on third and 7. That gave the Falcons a first down, and they capitalized by scoring a touchdown.

Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks was benched for the first drive of Sunday's 30-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Coach Andy Reid said it was for "disciplinary reasons" and Kendricks confirmed it was because he was late to a meeting on Friday. "I had to be accountable," Kendricks said. "I let my team down. " Casey Matthews started at strong-side linebacker in Kendricks' place. He watched from the sideline while the Falcons went on a 16-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Kendricks entered the game on the second drive, when he was charged with a critical pass interference on 3d-and-7.

ANDY REID will not go in front of the cameras Monday to talk about putting players in a better position to make plays. No, as far as we know, Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie did not fire Reid after Sunday's lifeless, 30-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the team's third loss in a row. But the Eagles' offices are closed as the region hunkers down for Hurricane Sandy, and Reid's weekly 94.1 WIP radio show is canceled. The tentative plan is for Reid to speak to the media Tuesday, but with the Eagles not playing again until next Monday night in New Orleans, there isn't any great rush.

For the second straight Tuesday, the Eagles addressed their subpar special teams by releasing a player whose roster spot appeared safe not all that long ago. Last week, it was punter Chas Henry. This week, the Eagles waived linebacker Brian Rolle, who was the starting weakside linebacker just a little more than a month ago. Rolle's role had shifted to special teams after he was demoted. After the Eagles kick-return cover team was gashed by the New York Giants on Sunday, somebody presumably had to pay. "It is what it is," Rolle said during a phone interview.

Like most great leaders, DeMeco Ryans doesn't want credit. He doesn't want bouquets of praise for turning the Eagles defense around. The middle linebacker doesn't believe he's the missing piece to make the wide-nine work. And despite being called "Cap" or "Coach" since high school days, Ryans doesn't think much about why others follow his lead. "There's no magic tricks," Ryans said last week. "For me, I just go out there and be myself and try to do things the right way, so guys if they see me doing it the right way then they'll be more prone to listen to what I'm saying.