Brian Baldinger discusses Eagles QB Carson Wentz. Photo by Andy Lewis / contrastphotography.com

By Brian Baldinger

In week one of the Eagles 2014 season the names of Chris Clemmons and Alan Branch found themselves in the stat column with sacks against Nick Foles. as the season wore on more and more pedestrian names found themselves sacking the Eagle’s Quarterbacks to the tune of 32 for the season. Jackson Jeffcoat earned his first NFL sack along with Trev Williams and even a journeyman like Jeromey Mincey all sacked Eagle quarterbacks. The one thing all these players had in common was that they beat the Eagles 7 time pro-­bowl offensive tackle, Jason Peters, to earn their coveted stat.

At least 7, if not more, of the Eagles 32 sacks surrendered were the result of below average play from their star player. and in December when the Eagles collapsed no individual player on the Eagles collapsed more than Peters. I first met Jason Peters in the Spring of 2006 while making an off­ season tour of NFL teams for the NFLNETWORK. Their offensive line coach at that time was the legendary Jim “MOUSE” McNally. Mouse was all of 5’6″ with a brain that rattled like a box of coat hangers. But he was an excellent coach. He coached my brother, Richard, at Wake Forest and turned a below average athlete into a 12 year pro. He would leave Wake and become the offensive line coach of the Cincinnati Bengals and helped Anthony Munoz become one of the greatest lineman of all­ time.

His credentials only grew.vIn the Spring of 2006 Mouse couldn’t wait to introduce to me for the first time to Jason Peters. Even at that time he made the comparison of Peters to Munoz.. McNally had the task of converting the 320 lb. Peters from college tight end to offensive tackle. On that spring day my mother could see the talent and potential of Peters. Big and thick and fast with meat hooks for hands. All he needed was coaching and time and in Buffalo he had both. He would win the right tackle job for the Bills and by 2007 he would move to the coveted left tackle position.

By time Andy Reid traded for Peters in April of 2009 he was cemented as on of the best young lineman in the league and began getting paid like it too. When Chip brought his philosophy and wisdom to the Eagles in 2013 I said the day he was hired that the 5 most important players on his team would be the 5 starting offensive lineman. I thought it was ironic that Chip’s choice for offensive line coach was Alabama’s Jeff Stoutland. While coaching the Crimson Tide to a couple of National Titles he used Jason Peters as his role model for technique and dominance to his college players, many who would go on to starting throughout the NFL.

Peters would go on to earn his 2nd 1st team all­ pro selection in 2103. He was the most dominant lineman in the league without a close second. Shady would win the rushing title and the Eagles lead the league in rushing. Chip’s offense was the talk of the NFL and in large part because they had phenomenal play from Peters. He would line him up all over the place and tell his opposition that we are running behind #71 and stop us if you can. He was handsomely rewarded with a new 5 year contract after the 2013 season and had earned every penny.

As a guy who is a self titled film geek his performance was better than some of the Hall of Fame left tackle inductees like Willie Roaf and Johnathon Ogden. Perhaps only the mighty Walter Jones could lay claim to playing at Peters ability in the last 30 years. So it was alarming when Peters did not play at that level in 2014. Was it the natural decline of turning 32 with lots of snaps, games, and nagging injuries? Was it the frenetic pace that Chip practices and plays at? Could it be the shuffling of offensive lineman in and out of the lineup due to injuries and suspensions? Regardless, even Peters, admitted that he did not play to his standards

in 2014, and especially in the month of December when they needed his all ­pro best. He changed his diet eliminating ice cream and other sweets. He began riding his bike around the city of Philadelphia. He has dropped 25 pounds going from 345 to a svelte 320. And through limited action in 3 preseason games he looks a lot more like the Peters of 2013 than the one who declined in 2014..

With 2 new guards inserted in the lineup, Barbre and Andrews, Peters could really help with a regained form. And he has the the task of protecting the blindside of Sam Bradford. Bradford has shown a deft touch, with a quick release, and a surgeons understanding of where to go with the football.

The key to the Eagles dismantling the Cowboys from the throne of the NFC East is the play of the offensive line. Specifically if their all­ pro left tackle, Jason Peters, plays like the player he once was. If we see the 2013 version of Peters rest assured Eagle Nation the E A G L E S will win the East and we will be at the Linc in January begin their quest to host the NFC in Super Bowl L.