Starting left guard Allen Barbre says the Eagles new pace as well as the up-tempo pace from the last few seasons will help the Birds be more versatile. Photo by TJ Engler/ contrastphotography.com

The Eagles training camp under first-year head coach Doug Pederson is underway and so far – from an organizational standpoint – has received positive reviews.

Many players brought back from the Chip Kelly three-year era – particularly the offensive lineman are enjoying the slower pace that Pederson’s practices employ in contrast to Kelly’s break-neck tempo that had its backers and detractors.

Veteran guard Allen Barbre – who was signed as a free agent by Kelly in 2013 – talked about the positives of Pederson’s practices.

“It allows you to breathe a little bit,” Barbre said. “But also lets the defense breathe a little bit. Sometimes when you got rolling (In Kelly’s up-tempo offense), you had the defense against the wall, they were tired too. This (offense) allows us to sometimes take a breath and figure it out and make an adjustment right there and go.”

Barbre was asked if keeping the tempo down and huddling helped the quarterback more than anyone.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Barbre said. “It slows it down for everybody sometimes.”

All Pro tackle Jason Peters talked about how – with Pederson – the Eagles are practicing just like Andy Reid was back.

“It’s a grind,” Peters said. “I already knew that when I signed here with Andy Reid. I knew it was a grind and we were going to work hard in training camp. It’s harder than Chip’s training camp. It’s more physical. We are going to grind it out. Andy Reid’s going to run it. We are going to bang. There’s going to be a lot more banging. It’s going to be more o-line, d-line competition. So when we get into the season, we’re to be that much more physical.”

Both Barbre and Peters talked about how the Kelly up-tempo offense and how it could also come back as an asset this season.

“Something I’d like to hit on is that us being in that offense last year, whenever we want to go tempo, it’s no problem,” the 6-foot-4, 305 pound Barbre said. “Teams that don’t practice that way for a long time like we did, they don’t have that ‘tempo’ embedded in them. For them it’s kind of tough.”

Peters agreed.

“We’re going to be ready for it,” Peters said. “We’ve being doing it for the last three years. If we want to go to that we can turn the switch on and go to that.”

While Peter’s spot on the offensive line is secured, Barbre’s is not. The 32-year old out of Division II Missouri Southern State University is the starter but will have to fend off challenges from veterans Stefen Wisniewski, Barrett Jones, Matt Tobin and third round draft pick Isaac Seumalo.
Offensive coordinator Frank Reich talked about the competition at left guard.

“I mean, it’s a competition,” Reich said. “Allen’s a starter right now, but like every position, it’s competitive. Allen has done a great job. I’ve been very impressed with Allen and very impressed with the whole offensive line as a group. It’s funny, when I look at the O-line, and obviously you have to evaluate them individually, but there is a side of it [where you have to evaluate them as] a unit and they’ve just got to work together. At some level, and in my experience, they’ve got to be interchangeable parts.”

Barbre is entering his 10th season in the NFL. Before signing with the Birds, he has been with the Green Bay Packers (2007–2010), Seattle Seahawks (2010), Miami Dolphins (2010–2011) and back to Seattle (2011–2013). He has started 24 of the 64 NFL games he has played in.

His ability to stay focused and not give up may be his biggest asset.

“I just come out here and work everyday,” Barbre said. “Some days you ain’t so good, some days you’re on a little better. That’s what we’re here for, to work on our stuff and get better every day. If you approach it like that I think it helps everybody. “

Barbre just shrugged when asked about the stress of holding his spot in the starting lineup and the talent his is up against.

“I haven’t really given it much thought,” Barbre said. “I just come out here every day and approach it in a way that I can get better. Last year I didn’t play as good as I wanted, but I showed signs of doing good things. That’s what I am focusing on and taking it from there and having a good year.”

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii