Ted Daisher

Two Eagles sources confirmed yesterday that former Eagles quarterback Doug Pederson will rejoin the team as a coach this season, but he will not be the team's new quarterbacks coach. One source said that Pederson will work as the team's quality control coach on offense, a job that James Urban had performed the last two seasons. Pederson was coach Andy Reid's bridge to Donovan McNabb in 1999 when both the coach and the quarterback were in their first season with the Eagles. Pederson will leave his job as the head coach at Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, La. A source also confirmed that defensive-line coach Pete Jenkins will retire, and that special-teams coordinator Rory Segrest is the leading candidate to move into that role.

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg acknowledged yesterday that one reason the Eagles have given up 25 sacks so far this season, vs. 23 all last season, is that Donovan McNabb was being more mindful of getting the ball out last year. "As you go through sacks, in my history, two-thirds of the sacks are normally [on] the quarterback, there is a chance to get the ball out. [In] only about a third is there absolutely no chance to get the ball out," Mornhinweg said. "I thought he did an excellent job of that last year.

RUSH OFFENSE   RUSH OFFENSE: LeSean McCoy played well in his first NFL start, averaging 4.2 yards per carry and rushing for a 5-yard TD on a direct snap. Eagles ran the ball 15 times for 55 yards out of the Wildcat/spread option. Grade: B-plus   PASS OFFENSE   Kevin Kolb racked up his second straight 300-yard passing game, including 64- and 35-yard touchdowns to DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek. Completed 70.6 percent of his passes and didn't throw an interception.

DeSean Jackson doesn't need any more motivation. The Eagles wide receiver, however, was provided with some earlier this week when Dallas cornerback Mike Jenkins made some comments that could have been taken as provocative. Jenkins was asked how the Cowboys' secondary, which kept Jackson in check in the first meeting, would be able to contain the explosive receiver in Sunday's NFC East showdown. "The main thing is they try to catch you off-guard," Jenkins said of the Eagles' offense and Jackson's big-play tendencies.

The Eagles will likely play their final game at Giants Stadium tomorrow. The 33-year-old home to the Giants and Jets will cease to exist sometime next year, making way for the new billion-dollar stadium being built next door at the Meadowlands. While the Eagles have had some great moments in North Jersey - the Herm Edwards and Brian Westbrook miracles to name two - coach Andy Reid said there is one aspect of the stadium he won't lament when the wrecking ball commences. "I'm not going to be sad to see - hopefully, they move the seat - the guy that when I come out of the tunnel talks to me about how many salad bars I need to visit," Reid said.

They celebrated at midfield early yesterday morning for a long kick that will be long forgotten when the Eagles line up for their season opener Sept. 13 in Charlotte. David Akers' 60-yard field goal was that impressive, drawing the loudest reaction of the day from the overflow crowd at Lehigh University. "Basically, we try to set up situations to challenge him every day," special-teams coordinator Ted Daisher said. "We want to make it difficult every day for him. " Akers made the 60-yarder with relative ease.

Despite indications that Jeremy Maclin would be signed, sealed, and maybe delivered to the Eagles in time for Flight Night, the rookie wide receiver and the team that drafted him 19th overall had yet to reach a contract agreement last night. Maclin has skipped seven days of training camp and missed his first opportunity to play at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles held their inaugural fund-raising practice last night. What once was described by both sides as a mere formality is starting to resemble a holdout.

Other than the fact that he reinjured his quad and allowed a sack of quarterback Donovan McNabb, it was a fine Eagles debut for left tackle Jason Peters on Thursday night against the New England Patriots. Peters, thanks to the breaking news that the Eagles had signed quarterback Michael Vick, didn't receive much attention after his first game. "He had several good plays where you could see his athletic abilities," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "Our offensive line played well together as a unit.

Practice was over and Rob Myers was halfway into the locker room on Sunday before he heard a voice beckon from the field. Andy Reid had subjected his team to a practice that lasted beyond two hours, and Myers was ready to call it a day. "Coach wants you to do special-teams work," Ted Daisher, the Eagles special-teams coordinator, said to Myers. The tight end turned around and slowly jogged back onto the field. Myers understands this: It can only be positive if the Eagles spent an extra 15 minutes after practice with a rookie free agent from Utah State who missed his senior season with turf toe and was cut by the New York Jets before training camp even started.

If the Eagles' depleted linebackers and secondary are likely to be targeted by San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers and his bevy of skyscraper-tall receivers, then the onus for stopping the Chargers may fall on the defensive line. "It starts up front," Eagles defensive end Trent Cole said. "The D-line will have to set the tone and it will fall back from there. If we create problems, get in [Rivers'] face and cause interceptions - that's all, folks. " That's pretty much been the story thus far this season.

The one thing the Eagles absolutely couldn't afford Sunday, as they lined up to kick off after David Akers' 45-yard field goal provided them a 10-point lead with 4:35 left in the fourth quarter, was a huge San Francsico return. The game was in hand, the clock just needed to tick. Pin the 49ers deep, break up a few long throws, get the ball back, run more time off, go home. Akers kicked to the sideline on his left, and the Eagles seemed to get downfield in good order. Returner Ted Ginn Jr. started running laterally, which is often the kiss of death on a kickoff return, as the coverage personnel get more and more time to pursue.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - When the Eagles broke training camp on Aug. 12 of last year, the team was thought to be in disarray. The middle linebacker was out for the season, three-fifths of the offensive line was sidelined by injury, and a budding tight end had torn up his knee for the second consecutive August. Somehow that team finished the season 11-5 and reached the playoffs. A year later, a younger Eagles team - average age 24.2 - is considerably healthier at the conclusion of camp.

BETHLEHEM - When the Eagles hired Bobby April as their special-teams coordinator, they made an investment. April is the NFL's most prominent special-teams "name. " You don't bring him in - he doesn't agree to come - unless there is going to be a practice emphasis on special teams, and a roster emphasis on backups who have elite special-teams skills. You can see that extra time being logged right now at Lehigh, and you can also see guys suddenly appearing on the scene, such as wideout Kelley Washington and recycled linebacker Tracy White, who are primarily special-teams stars.

The Eagles were inferior to the Dallas Cowboys in every way during their two mirror-image losses that ended the season well short of their stated goal, and their special teams were part of that regret. That problem was among the first to be addressed. The Eagles announced yesterday that Ted Daisher was out after just one season as special-teams coordinator. He was replaced by Bobby April, a longtime special-teams coordinator who has spent the last six seasons in Buffalo. One team source said the move was more about acquiring April than getting rid of Daisher.

If the Eagles think Quintin Demps' ankle is sound enough for the safety to return kicks, then the job is his once again. But if Demps isn't healthy enough to return kicks - which is likely - it appears as if Jeremy Maclin has supplanted Macho Harris as next in line. Harris fumbled twice Sunday against Denver, with one lost fumble leading to a Broncos touchdown. "I hope I get in there," Harris said. "But right now it's Maclin. " On Thursday, Eagles special-teams coordinator Ted Daisher said that Harris would be the backup against Dallas tomorrow.

DeSean Jackson doesn't need any more motivation. The Eagles wide receiver, however, was provided with some earlier this week when Dallas cornerback Mike Jenkins made some comments that could have been taken as provocative. Jenkins was asked how the Cowboys' secondary, which kept Jackson in check in the first meeting, would be able to contain the explosive receiver in Sunday's NFC East showdown. "The main thing is they try to catch you off-guard," Jenkins said of the Eagles' offense and Jackson's big-play tendencies.

The thing about great returners who put up numbers over the long term is, often they're guys who are limited to special teams. If a returner is a key starter, particularly on offense, he tends to phase out of regular returning as the years and dings accumulate. Brian Westbrook is an excellent example of this. Brian Mitchell would be the other type, the guy who made his living primarily as a returner. DeSean Jackson is putting up punt-return numbers this season beyond what anybody in Eagles history has ever done.

The Eagles will likely play their final game at Giants Stadium tomorrow. The 33-year-old home to the Giants and Jets will cease to exist sometime next year, making way for the new billion-dollar stadium being built next door at the Meadowlands. While the Eagles have had some great moments in North Jersey - the Herm Edwards and Brian Westbrook miracles to name two - coach Andy Reid said there is one aspect of the stadium he won't lament when the wrecking ball commences. "I'm not going to be sad to see - hopefully, they move the seat - the guy that when I come out of the tunnel talks to me about how many salad bars I need to visit," Reid said.

This boot was not made for practice. Jeremy Maclin was held out of practice for the second straight day as the Eagles wide receiver recovered from a nagging case of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He was walking around the NovaCare Complex yesterday wearing a protective boot, but the Eagles continued to insist the starter will be able to play Sunday against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium. "Oh yeah," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "I think he'll be fast.

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg acknowledged yesterday that one reason the Eagles have given up 25 sacks so far this season, vs. 23 all last season, is that Donovan McNabb was being more mindful of getting the ball out last year. "As you go through sacks, in my history, two-thirds of the sacks are normally [on] the quarterback, there is a chance to get the ball out. [In] only about a third is there absolutely no chance to get the ball out," Mornhinweg said. "I thought he did an excellent job of that last year.