Last weekend, we took a look at the "leap year" prospects of the Eagles players heading in their 2nd season. One of those was C Jason Kelce, who I mentioned would be taking the responsibility of making line calls this year. Last year, that was Michael Vick's job.

Some of you vehemently disagreed with this idea, claiming that under Howard Mudd, the center would never make line calls. However, it appears that this is not the case. Kelce confirmed to CSNPhIlly that he will be making the line calls this season.

"Last year, my involvement in the protections was just to get us started," Kelce said. "Whatever the rule was for the week, whatever the rule was for the protections for a given opponent, I would get us started. It was Mike's job to make the corrections to make the audibles if that first initial play was off or if the defense was giving us something we weren't expecting.

"Now, they're giving me a little more leeway to make those corrections. We're not eating as much time off the clock. We're not having me make a call, then having Mike change it. We're trying to eliminate as much of that as we can."

This is the standard way line calls work. Even in Indy, Jeff Saturday had the job. Peyton Manning was free to change the calls as he saw fit, just as Michael Vick will be, but the center makes the majority of the calls and adjustments. The only reason it didn't work that way last year was that Kelce was a rookie and had no offseason to learn.

Last year, DeSean Jackson was certainly not acting as a guy his teammates should look up to. He allowed contract concerns to dominate his season, affect his play and attitude. In the end though, he did get his new deal and is approaching this season with a new attitude. As a key player, who is now signed long term and entering his 4th year.. he's a veteran and says that his focus is now on becoming a leader.

"Being a leader, carrying the guys with me, and stepping up and being accountable. That's the biggest thing that this team needs. With myself, [QB Michael] Vick, [WR Jeremy] Maclin, [RB LeSean] McCoy, [TE Brent] Celek, as far as the offense goes, it starts there first and foremost. We have to go out there and help our defense out by going out and scoring as many points as possible. As long as we're able to do that and lead as leaders and everybody watches us and follows along, it doesn't have to be any screaming and yelling or anything, but as long as we can lead by example and we're going out there and showing the young guys what to do out there, everyone else will follow."

Lead as leaders!

DeSean says that the goal is consistency.

"Yeah, that's the biggest thing honestly. You can't just have times of playing well and times of playing terrible. We just have to try and figure out what we're doing and stick with it. That's our identity. We don't want to be a team that's known for its ups and downs. We want a team that ‘s known for being solid all around, and keeps getting better every day. As long as we keep coming out on this field every day and doing work, I think it's going to show and rub off on Sundays."

Ex Eagles scout and current NFL.com list maker Daniel Jeremiah ranked his top 10 "duos" in the NFL this week. He picks pairs on both sides of the ball and at a bunch of different positions. The Eagles got one duo on the list, their starting defensive ends, Trent Cole & Jason Babin.

If you love an attacking brand of football, there is nothing prettier than watching these two guys crouch down in their four-point stances and explode off the line of scrimmage. They are both polished pass rushers and pursue the quarterback with a relentless passion. They combined for 29 sacks last season.

I don't think it's that controversial to say that these guys formed the best pass rushing pair of defensive ends in the NFL last season. Now, if they both played the run like Trent Cole does... they'd be the best pair of DEs period.

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DeMeco Ryans was brought to Philadelphia for a dual purpose. First, to finally solidify a middle linebacker position that hasn't had a good, consistent starter since who knows when.... But also, to bring some leadership to what was a very young and inexperienced LB corps last season.

The thing is, Ryans developed as a leader in Houston over the course of 6 years. So he can he just step in here on day 1 and expect the guys to see him the same way? How long does it take to become a leader?

"It doesn't take long," said Ryans. "it just takes time to learn the guys, the locker room, and get comfortable around here. Being here over the last month and working out with the guys, I'm starting to get more and more comfortable."

Of course, the only real question about Ryans entering this year is his health, which he said his no concern.

"I'm hitting the ground running and not slowed down by any injuries or anything like that. I'm happy to be out here and able to be running full speed out here with the guys."

With the likes of Andre Johnson and Arian Foster, Ryans faced some pretty decent offenses practicing in Houston. So where his early thoughts on the Eagles O?

"There are a lot of playmakers and a lot of speed, that's one thing I see coming out. There's a lot of speed on offense and things are happening very fast out there. I see a lot of playmakers. I'm excited about our offense, and going against them is going to be tough for us. That's what you need is to go against a tough offense in practice because it makes game day a lot easier when you're facing opposing offenses."

LeSean McCoy showed up to Eagles OTAs this week a very happy and very rich man. The 23 year old Eagles RB enjoyed breakout season in 2011 leading the NFL in TDs and finishing fourth in rushing. The gaudy stats aren't making Shady complacent however.

"I have so much room for improvement," he said. "I think of all the stuff I've done so far with yards, touchdowns, and blocking, but I look at tape and see so much that I could do to get myself better. A lot of players think they have something that they need to get better at. I'm one of those guys where I'm always trying to work hard, compete, and get better."

McCoy says the desire to constantly get better and never be satisfied comes in part from his mentor, Brian Westbrook.

"I try to model myself after [RB] Brian [Westbrook], who no matter what he did or how great of a game he had, he watched film and figured out what he could do better. I try to take little stuff from each player's game, and with Brian, I take a lot of stuff from his game. There are some things I could definitely do better as far as picking out things out and getting better."

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Michael Vick met the media yesterday afternoon after conducting what was, amazingly, his first OTA as the starting QB of the Philadelphia Eagles. He said that this is the time of year when the foundation is laid for future success.

"We have an opportunity to do some special things. This time right now has been valuable, and we have to go out and work as hard as we can to get the hard work and preparation in. It can be equivalent to something special down the road. That's what we're hoping for and that's what we're working towards. We have to keep grinding and understanding that nothing is going to come easy."

When asked how important it is to get the work in this year that they couldn't last offseason, Vick was clear.

"You can see how important it is. [At this time] last year, we would've been off probably vacationing or something. Now, you're out here detailing your work and trying to get better as an individual and better as a team. Everything happens for a reason, and this year there's a chance for us to gel together and know one another and work on being the best players we can be."

And as for what he needs improve this season? Vick was clear on that too.

"Obviously, the turnovers because that's something that can be corrected, and my accuracy - slowing my feet down and not getting too anxious and excited. I can do that from time to time, and I have to work on it. If I do it, then it will take my game to another level. I feel like I'm getting there, so I'm going to continue working hard."