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Brandon Boykin

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Eagles Predictions Sure To Go Wrong

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy MaclinWith the opener just two days away, it’s time for some predictions that we’ll likely look back and laugh at a few months from now.

We came up with 10 questions that focus on the Eagles’ 2012 season. Here’s how we see things playing out.

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Eagles Wake-Up Call: Bracing For ‘Nickel Nnamdi’

With the established veteran out the door and the job handed to a fourth-round rookie, it is fair to ask what the contingency plan is at nickel corner, and how this all might affect Nnamdi Asomugha‘s role. Brandon Boykin has essentially been handed a starting gig, as the Eagles were in the nickel almost half the time as a defense last season.

The decision to part with Joselio Hanson (now with the Raiders) and ride with Boykin was driven by both performance and finances, as general manager Howie Roseman explained.

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Confident Boykin Ready To Step in

Eagles cornerback Brandon BoykinBrandon Boykin was checking Twitter Friday afternoon when he got the news.

“People were saying ‘Congratulations on winning the slot position.’ And I’m like what? What’s going on? Did somebody make an announcement or something?” Boykin said. “I checked my Twitter, and it said Joselio [Hanson] had been released or whatever, and like 10 minutes later, he called me.”

The Eagles rookie cornerback played with the second team for all of training camp, but in the preseason, he mixed in with Hanson and the starters. The coaches liked what they saw and decided the athletic fourth-round pick was ready to get on the field right away.

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Why the Eagles Chose Boykin

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin.The Eagles’ decision to part ways with veteran Joselio Hanson signified one thing above all else: They have confidence in rookie Brandon Boykin.

If the coaches had their doubts about Boykin, they could have held on to Hanson, let him start the season as the nickel cornerback and gradually eased the rookie into that role. Instead, Boykin gets the nod right away.

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DB Review: Boykin Or Hanson?

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin.From Nnamdi Asomugha to Brandon Boykin to Jaiquawn Jarrett, here’s a look at how the Eagles defensive backs performed Friday night against the Browns, after having re-watched the game.

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10 Things To Watch: Eagles Vs. Browns

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin.Here are 10 things I’ll be keeping an eye on tonight when the Eagles take on the Browns.

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Gap Narrowing Between Hanson, Boykin

Eagles cornerback Brandon BoykinWith 18 days left until the Eagles open their season in Cleveland against the Browns, competition for the first-team nickel corner job appears to be heating up between Joselio Hanson and Brandon Boykin.

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DB Review: Asomugha Showcases Tackling Skills

Philadelphia Eagles CB Nnamdi Asomugha.From Nnamdi Asomugha to Brandon Boykin to Nate Allen, here’s a breakdown of how the Eagles defensive backs fared Monday night, after having re-watched the game.

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Eagles Wake-Up Call: Kendricks, Boykin To Get Tested

Philadelphia Eagles LB Mychal KendricksWhat better way to test drive a couple of your rookies than to put them up against the best the NFL has to offer in an exhibition setting?

That will be the case for Mychal Kendricks and Brandon Boykin, who get to see how they stack up against the league’s elite Monday in New England.

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DB Review: Issues For DRC, Asomugha, Jarrett

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi AsomughaHere is my player-by-player review of the Eagles defensive backs after having re-watched Thursday night’s preseason game against the Steelers.

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Instant Observations: Eagles vs. Steelers

From Jaiquawn Jarrett’s struggles to Nick Foles’ arm, here are instant observations from Thursday night’s Eagles-Steelers preseason game.

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10 Things To Watch: Eagles vs. Steelers

Philadelphia Eagles undrafted free agent Damaris Johnson.Football in Philadelphia makes its long-awaited return tonight as the Eagles host the Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast locally on 6-ABC.

Tim and I will be there, and we’ll be hosting a live chat right here, so be sure to join us.

Meanwhile, here’s a cheat-sheet for you: 10 things to keep an eye on this evening.

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Castillo: CB Cliff Harris Still Learning

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Juan CastilloOne of the Eagles’ undrafted free agents who has a chance to make the team is cornerback Cliff Harris.

But since an NCAA rule prohibited Harris (Oregon) from participating in spring practices, he’s still playing catch-up.

“Cliff is a competitor,” defensive coordinator Juan Castillo said today. “He is still learning our system. The hard thing is that when you miss those OTAs, it’s hard, so he is just trying to get a complete understanding [of the defense]. In the classroom, he understands the scheme, but when it is going fast, I think that is the part in time he will get better and better at.”

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Eagles Rookie Report

Philadelphia Eagles rookie cornerback Cliff HarrisCould two undrafted free agents make the 53-man roster? Here’s an update on the status of several Eagles rookies at this point in training camp.

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Boykin, Johnson Start Off As Returners

The Eagles don’t plan on using DeSean Jackson as their primary punt returner this year.

“I want him to concentrate on the receiving end of it,” Reid said. “And most of all, we think we have guys that can contribute there and be effective, and that are explosive players. Now we have to see.”

For now, two of those guys are fourth-round pick Brandon Boykin and undrafted free agent Damaris Johnson.