Eagles current starting center David Molk at 6-1, 290 pounds says he needs to play bigger to be successful. Photo by Andy Lewis/ contrastphotography.com

Every player in the NFL plays to win the game regardless if it is his first game as a rookie or his 12^th season playing.

But when a player starts a game for the first time, it is special regardless of the outcome.

Eagles center David Molk got the first start of his brief NFL career last week against the San Francisco 49ers on the road.

The Eagles lost 26-21 but it was impossible for Molk not to bask in the moment, even if it was just for a moment.

“It was my first start ever,” said Mold, who played in 12 games his rookie year after getting drafted in the seventh round by the San Diego Chargers. “It was a dream come true for me.”

Molk signed as a free agent with the Eagles during the 2014 offseason after spending the previous season out of football. A four-year starter at the University of Michigan, he was released as part of the team’s final roster cutdown the following season.

Molk is known for his strength and technique, and that’s it. At 6-foot-1, 290 pounds, he is as small as it gets for an NFL lineman. Molk looks almost like a fullback as the line approaches the line of scrimmage each play.

The Big Ten Conference Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Award winner talked about how he compensates for his lack of size and is effective.

“Leverage is everything I got,” Molk said after a practice this week as the Birds prepared to meet the St. Louis Rams on Sunday at the Linc (1:00 P.M. FOX). “Leverage and strength. If I can play my game and use my technique on a guy without failing then I will be fine.

Molk was asked to talk about a technique he can use to compensate for his size disadvantage.

“If you watch a lot of offensive linemen in the league, they just kind of belly up to a (defensive) guy and stand there with him and absorb him with his chest…well with me and my size…that’s an instant….pfffffft….get out of here…I have to use my hands, I’ve got to push…I’ve got to pretend my body is bigger than it is by getting hands in and pressing up to extend my leverage points.”

In other words Molk must do what smaller quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Russell Wilson have learned to do, and that is player bigger than they really are.

“Without a doubt,” Molk said.

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said he thought Molk held his own against the 49ers, especially in the area a center is counted on the most.

“I thought he communicated well,” Shurmur said. “He got matched up — because they are a 3-4 team — he got matched up on a nose guard and he battled well and didn’t get beat clean. I thought he did a good job. I think he kind of — he played a game that we expected, you know, and I thought he communicated well. It all starts with the center and he had us going in the right direction most of the day.”

Molk was asked if Lane Johnson coming back from a four-game suspension would help improve a running game that through the first four games as been – to say the least – less than productive.

“Yes…it’s just another opportunity to put more inclined group of guys out there and make a push to get our running game going,” Molk said. “It’s all in just work and preparation. That’s what we are doing every day.”

***********************

Eagles injury report as of Friday October 3, 2014

Status Report

Out

Friday

C Jason Kelce (hernia), LB Mychal Kendricks (calf)

Questionable

Friday

CB Brandon Boykin (hamstring)

Probable

Friday

TE Trey Burton (achilles), CB Nolan Carroll (ankle), TE James Casey (knee), WR Josh Huff (shoulder), WR Jeremy Maclin (hamstring), WR Brad Smith (groin), T Matt Tobin (ankle), S Earl Wolff (knee)

Practice Report

Out (Definitely Will Not Play)

Wednesday

C Jason Kelce (hernia)

Thursday

C Jason Kelce (hernia)

Friday

C Jason Kelce (hernia)

Did Not Participate In Practice

Wednesday

CB Brandon Boykin (hamstring), LB Mychal Kendricks (calf)

Thursday

LB Mychal Kendricks (calf)

Friday

LB Mychal Kendricks (calf)

Full Participation in Practice

Wednesday

TE Trey Burton (achilles), CB Nolan Carroll (ankle), TE James Casey (knee), WR Josh Huff (shoulder), WR Jeremy Maclin (hamstring), WR Brad Smith (groin), T Matt Tobin (ankle), S Earl Wolff (knee)

Thursday

CB Brandon Boykin (hamstring), TE Trey Burton (achilles), CB Nolan Carroll (ankle), TE James Casey (knee), WR Josh Huff (shoulder), WR Jeremy Maclin (hamstring), WR Brad Smith (groin), T Matt Tobin (ankle), S Earl Wolff (knee)

Friday

CB Brandon Boykin (hamstring), TE Trey Burton (achilles), CB Nolan Carroll (ankle), TE James Casey (knee), WR Josh Huff (shoulder), WR Jeremy Maclin (hamstring), WR Brad Smith (groin), T Matt Tobin (ankle), S Earl Wolff (knee)