PHILADELPHIA -- Two years ago, Lane Johnson was a rookie right tackle, relying on veteran right guard Todd Herremans to keep him straight on his blocking assignments.
Now Herremans is gone and Johnson is the veteran helping a revolving cast of candidates audition for the right guard job. Over the last three days, Matt Tobin, John Moffitt and Andrew Gardner have lined up to Johnson’s left. Whoever wins the job, Johnson would just like him to win it as soon as possible.
“I need to get that bond with him,” Johnson said after Friday’s practice. “I need to be on the same level. Even in pass protection, he helps me and I help him. It’s vital.”
Moffitt’s one-day ascension to the first team was a little surprising. He was not signed for the Eagles’ offseason workouts in May and June. Moffitt hasn’t played in a game since suddenly retiring from the Denver Broncos during the 2013 season.
“It feels good to be back,” Moffitt said. “The normalcy is kicking in as things get going. The muscle memory is starting to return.”
“He did decent,” Johnson said. “He was off balance a few times, a little bit sloppy with his hands. It’s something he’s going to learn with repetition. He’ll get better. Being out of the game so long, it’s hard to go in and be right on the money.”
Moffitt said he wasn’t even thinking about winning the starting job at this point. He’s got enough on his mind, learning a new offense, new calls and new blocking assignments. He said Chip Kelly’s offense was more like Denver’s scheme than Seattle’s, but it’s not easy to return after nearly two years away from the game.
Johnson won’t be surprised if he winds up working next to Moffitt.
“He could (win the job),” Johnson said. “It’s going to be hard though. Those other guys are competing real good too. They’ve been in the system a lot longer than he has, so he has a lot of ground to make up.”
Kelly said earlier in the week that the real evaluation of the offensive linemen will be based on the preseason games. That will be the only time Kelly gets to see the linemen work against defenders going all out to get to the Eagles’ quarterback. For Johnson, that’s frustrating, but he understands it’s a necessary process.
“It’s musical chairs right now,” Johnson said.
When the music stops, don’t be surprised if Moffitt is starting at right guard.