Casey Matthews

The Eagles are nowhere close to a sinking ship, but the waters were rough enough for the team to shuffle its linebackers after two games. No one was benched, however, despite the swelling call for rookie middle linebacker Casey Matthews to be demoted. Instead, Jamar Chaney will move into the middle, where he showed signs of promise late last season. Moise Fokou will replace him at strong-side, and Matthews will slide outside to weak-side in place of Fokou. Apparently, two games of watching running backs gash the middle of Juan Castillo's defense was enough for coach Andy Reid to make the moves with the home opener against the New York Giants looming Sunday.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - When training camp opened and Casey Matthews started the Eagles' first practice at middle linebacker, many assumed it would be a matter of time before the team found a veteran to take the job. But two weeks and many player transactions later, Matthews is still the man calling plays in the center of the Eagles defense. With the regular-season opener one month away, it's looking more likely that the team will rely on the fourth-round draft pick to replace Stewart Bradley.

PITTSBURGH - If the fallout from Michael Vick's GQ interview and the subsequent loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers prove anything, it's that the Eagles will be in the crosshairs. "That comes along with the territory," Vick said after Thursday night's 24-14 preseason defeat. "But we accept that challenge. It's not going to be easy. Each and every Sunday, it's not going to be easy. "This is a tough game, and every week you've got to bring your "A" game, and if you don't, you're going to be embarrassed.

Looking for another fix to their linebacker woes, the Eagles demoted Casey Matthews as their weakside linebacker - a week after sliding him over from the middle - and replaced him with Brian Rolle . Rolle will start in the Eagles' base defense, and the two rookies will split time in the nickel. Jamar Chaney will remain at middle linebacker, and Moise Fokou will stay at strong side. Rolle confirmed the move, which some speculated would happen, before practice Wednesday.

Looking for another fix to their linebacker woes, the Eagles demoted Casey Matthews as their weakside linebacker - a week after sliding him over from middle - and replaced him with Brian Rolle . Rolle will start in the Eagles' base defense, and the two rookies will split time in the nickel. Jamar Chaney will remain at middle linebacker, and Moise Fokou will stay at strong side. Rolle confirmed the move, which some speculated would happen, before practice Wednesday.

Andy Reid confirmed Friday that he will use all of his linebackers, shuffling them in and out depending on the package, when the Eagles open the season Sunday at Cleveland. Since the Eagles traded for DeMeco Ryans in March up until, really, Friday, Reid has said that Ryans is a three-down player. Now he isn't. "I've been very happy with DeMeco," Reid said. "I'm just giving everybody an opportunity. The one thing we've got is experience with play time at positions there. Everybody's going to have an opportunity to get in and do their thing.

Well, it was a great 2011 season for the Eagles. Maybe a few minor problems here and there, but nothing that can't be fixed with a little more hard work and putting players in better positions to succeed. The season highlight film will be released any day now, and those season-ticket renewals will be appearing in a mailbox near you very soon. Make sure to look for them. With 2011 in the rearview mirror, it's time to look ahead and get things moving in the right direction for 2012.

The linebackers, safeties and offensive line have specific deficiencies. None of those deficiencies should be surprising. None of this will change. The defenders in question cannot cover running backs or tight ends. They tackle poorly in the middle of the field. They are susceptible to power runs, especially as games progress. The linemen - configured AFTER the final preseason game - cannot win battles at the line of scrimmage. Inside of the behemoth tackles, their physical profile - athletic, light and cagey - implies that they should not be winning those battles.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - There is a trio of stars waiting to take the field at cornerback. There's a two-time Pro Bowler at one defensive end and prize free-agent signings at the other end and defensive tackle. At safety, the Eagles have two second-round picks. And then there is linebacker, where the top of the depth chart has a fourth-round rookie at middle linebacker and two seventh-round picks on the outside. The most experienced linebacker currently on the first team is Moise Fokou, who is entering just his third season.

The Eagles linebackers know what you think - and they don't like it very much. They can look at the roster just like anyone else and count the star players, the high draft picks, the respected veterans on all the other units. And, well, that leaves them, doesn't it? "We know that people don't expect us to do what we need to do," said second-year player Keenan Clayton, listed as the backup to Moise Fokou at the weakside spot. "They always look down at us and always try to find an excuse not to like us. But we're not going to allow any excuses.