Going into his 11th season with the Eagles, Brian Dawkins is showing no signs of slowing down. On the contrary, he's actually speeding things up this season, after more than a decade in Philadelphia. Not only will Dawkins be playing his regular free safety position this season, he is learning another position in certain packages as well, that of outside linebacker. Dawkins, who loves a challenge, can't contain his enthusiasm about being given such a great opportunity. "Excitement is not the word I'd use," said a visibly pleased Dawkins on Wednesday. "If there is another (stronger) word you use for me, put it there because that's what I'm feeling like. Learning a new position, learning how I have to read guards and if they are going to run out and get you. "Putting me closer to the line of scrimmage is great because I believe it's going to allow a lot of other guys to free up, because you can't watch me to see if I'm going to come down and blitz, I'm already down there." Dawkins realizes that a player at his age isn't normally given this type of opportunity. A player in his 30s is usually given fewer responsibilities, but defensive coordinator Jim Johnson felt the need to give Dawkins more. "He's putting me closer, more in the action," said Dawkins. "To me, it shows how much he respects me and realizes how much I can do for this team with the blessings I have. I'm very excited for the opportunity to get up there with the big guys and add to the pressure up front." Another Eagle learning a new position is running back Bruce Perry, who saw some time at cornerback at Wednesday's practice. Dawkins said it's nothing new to see an athletic guy like Perry on the other side of the ball, and that he would help Perry out in any way he could. "It's a lot different," said Dawkins. "He's used to coming forward all the time, everything going downhill and forward. Now he has to retreat a little bit and work on his footwork. It'll be a new experience for him and we'll give him a little bit of a hard time, but help him out at the same time." With all that has surrounded this football team over the past year - new players coming in, players leaving, injuries, off-the-field problems, Dawkins is focused on one thing ...returning to the winning ways the Eagles are used to. "What we are trying to do now is get back to where Eagles football is and has been prior to last year. And that's what we are trying to do," said Dawkins. "And even go a step further and be the last team standing. That's what we are trying to do. Defensively, we are trying to go out and dominate and cause havoc, pure havoc. Offensively, up-tempo, spread the ball around, get some points on the board and special teams the same thing. "Give us field position, make some big plays on special teams. Last year is gone. There is nobody in that locker room thinking about last year, other then the fact that we don't want to be 6-10 again." As the regular season kicks off this Sunday against the Houston Texans, Dawkins and the rest of the Eagles defense will get their chance turn that record around and make things happen on the field.
