DT Beau Allen may have the biggest impact of a rookie. Andy Lewis/contrastphotography.com

By AL THOMPSON

Going by their preseason play, the 2014 draft class has a chance to be a special one.

Size, speed and football IQ are qualities this group has shown. What kind of impact will this class have on the success or failure of this season?

It is going to be fun to watch and see as the season unfolds starting Sunday at the Linc against Jacksonville.

Here is one look at this year’s draft picks who could have the biggest impact on the season.

BEAU ALLEN, DT: Allen has looked like an impact player since OTAs.

The 6-foot-2, 333 pound nose tackle has all the assets needed to be a successful run stuffer: Size, talent and quick feet.

Defensive coordinator Bill Davis said Allen was picked because of all the things he can bring to the table.

“We have a bunch of guys we picked that have NFL skill sets,” Davis said. “Beau in particular has got great size for the position of nose and quick feet to match that size. That’s really the combination in the NFL, the bigger the body, they can still move their feet, you really get excited about (those) guys. The first couple of days in pads, he’s been a very pleasant, not surprise, because when we picked him, we were excited about him being where he was, and the fact that we could get him on our team and see what he could do at nose.”

Against the New England Patriots in the Birds second preseason game, Allen made an impact the very first play in which he entered the game.

Allen got a great jump at the snap of the ball and appeared to distract Tom Brady for a blink of an eye. That was just enough as the future Hall of Fame quarterback made a bad throw that was picked off by cornerback Cary Williams who took it to the house for the game’s first touchdown.

“I actually didn’t see the pass,” Allen said recalling the play. “As a defensive lineman you’re always rushing the ball when those picks happen. I just heard the stadium go really quiet, then I looked and saw all the offensive linemen take off, so I was trying to get a block and lead the convoy. We had a lot of guys make a lot of good hustle plays, make some blocks and eventually led to a score.”

Allen is not going to post big numbers, like the play against the Patriots, his job is to set up teammates to make plays on the ball.

Teammate Jason Kelce, the Eagles starting center who lines up against Allen in practice, says the rookie is blessed with the right tools to be a good nose tackle.

“Beau’s got a lot of weight behind him, he’s a very strong player,” Kelce said. “And then on top of that he’s got really good agility. Between him, Bennie Logan and Damion Square, I have my hands full every single day.”

Allen was handful every game at Wisconsin.

Watch a Big 10 game while Allen was playing there and you will see, more often than not, he tied up two or more offensive linemen or running backs, creating opportunities for the Badgers defense.

“I played a lot of backside A-gap last year (at Wisconsin)…which means we got a lot of scoop blocks between the center and the guard. Our linebackers played the front side A-gap, so we had a linebacker behind me…No. 44 Chris Borland (third round pick by 49ers)…he got most of the stats. The scheme here is a little different. But I think the general idea of the 3-4 defense is the same. Use big d-lineman to plug up the inside, take care of those inside gaps and get the ball outside.”

Allen said he couldn’t evaluate the Eagles 2014 draft class, “That’s for you guys as outsiders to see.” But he did understand the importance of making an impact. That impact does not necessarily mean a sack or catching a running back behind the line of scrimmage.

Allen said the best way for him to have success and gain the trust of his coaches and teammates is to stay in the moment and just focus on the task at hand.

“I’m just trying to take a short view on things,” Allen said. “I am not going to look ahead. I don;t even know what our schedule looks like or who we play. We play the Jaguars on opening day and after that I have no idea. I had a friend call me and tell me how he can’t wait to see us play the Packers…in October…I didn’t even know were playing the Packers. I told him I’m just thinking about practice today and going to meetings. So I think if you take things one step at a time you’ll end up where you want to be.”

WR Jordan Matthews…Andy Lewis/contrastphotography.com

JORDAN MATTHEWS, WR: It may not be fair that Matthews is the player fans and observers look at as the replacement for exiled speedster DeSean Jackson.

The second round pick out of Vanderbilt has done a nice job of making a name for himself as a hard-nosed, hard working possession receiver and a player who can be trusted in tough situations.

Matthews caught all nine passes thrown to him against New England for 104 yards. But the the following week, he caught just two of the three passes to him against Pittsburgh.

Those two games showed two things about the 6-3, 212 pounder: Matthews can put up big numbers in the NFL spotlight and that he must work on consistency. His size, work ethic and soft hands will no doubt make it is easy for Chip Kelly and quarterback Nick Foles to lean on him more as the season unfolds.

Matthews had his own idea about how to make an impact this season.

“At the end of the day, it’s about going out and doing your job,” Matthews said. “That is the quickest way to make an impact. Just go out, come in here and do your job. Not feel like to have to take over the world, and be a world-beater. I try and do things outside the box….just stick to the plan, stick to what the coaches tell you to do and go do it.”
JOSH HUFF, WR/KR: Huff gave Eagles fans a taste of what the kick return could be like this season. Adding veteran Darren Sproles was already an upgrade from last year, but when Huff made a video game out of Soldier Field, returning a kickoff against the Bears 102 yards for a score and a 21-14 halftime lead, a whole new look on special teams was forming.

Huff suffered a shoulder injury against New England the following week and missed the rest of the preseason. The former Oregon speedster will return sooner than later Eagles fans hope.

In the meantime Huff is trying his best to make an impact.

“I feel that any rookie coming into the NFL is looking for a big splash,” Huff said after a recent practice. “ Just to get that name notice or to get that team notice. Fortunately I was able to do that against Chicago when I returned a kick for a touchdown. The following week I had a setback. My whole point is to still get better each and every day whether I am practicing or not practicing. The way I do that is to do the little things…working a tennis ball drill to improve your hand-eye coordination. When it is my time to come back, I am definitely looking to make and impact on the team.”

MARCUS SMITH II, OLB: No one will argue that the Eagles took Smith earlier than he should have been taken. As a first round pick, a player is expected to make an impact on the lineup. Smith has admitted it affected him and his progress as a NFL player. The Birds are solid at linebacker with Trent Cole, Connor Barwin. DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks. All are having a solid preseason. Add in trusted reserves Najee Goode and the resurgent Brandon Graham, Smith has his work cut out for him. Davis said Smith must get used to the speed of the game.

“Going forward, he’s going to get a lot of reps,” said Davis about how Smith needs to play in the preseason in order to get used to the speed of the NFL. “The game is moving too fast in his brain right now in my opinion. As soon as it slows down for him and he can settle down and play with little more confidence, I think he’ll continue to grow. He’s got the skill set. It is part of growing pains that you have with young guys. I think Marcus is fine. He’s going to be fine. He’s got to relax, settle down and trust his technique and those plays instead of going and trying to make plays, which I think he’s in that mode. He needs to just do his job and let the plays come to him.”

Smith was credited with four combined tackles against Pittsburgh, tied for the team lead.

TAYLOR HART DE: Hart was drafted in the fifth round out of Oregon. After registering two tackles against the Bears in the first preseason game, the 6-6, 281 defensive end has just one tackle over the last two games. Opportunities are tough to come by in the NFL ,and Hart must find a way to find make his impact.

“I think it’s just like in life, at practice or in games. If you are not consistent, if you have just one big play, you’re just a wonder guy,” Hart said. “It is tough for coaches to look at you and say ‘can I trust that guy’ if there are only flashes. For a rookie, we have to do what we’re asked to and try and be as consistent as we can and make the plays that are asked of us.”

Sometimes it takes time for players to develop and emerge. It would be ridiculous to judge cornerback JAYLEN WATKINS, the fourth round pick out of Florida and fifth round pick ED REYNOLDS a safety out of Stanford. Watkins had an interception and a defended pass against Chicago but has been quiet since, while Reynolds had four tackles and a defended pass after three preseason games including two tackles against Pittsburgh.

In addition to the all-star caliber play of safety Malcolm Jenkins, the solid play of veteran safety Nate Allen and second year player Earl Wolfe will keep Reynolds on special teams and for now the practice squad.

The same can be said about Watkins. Cary Williams, Bradley Fletcher, Nolan Carroll ll and Brandon Boykin will be a tough group to get minutes away from.