Eagles counting on Cole as their starting center

Nick Cole knows what it's like to be counted out.

Undrafted coming out of New Mexico State in 2006, Cole was at the back of the pecking order when it came to practice repetitions and had to work his way onto the Eagles by showing what he could do in preseason games.

"It's a lot tougher than it is just getting drafted," said Cole, a burly lineman who also plays guard. "You've got a lot more to prove."

Four years later, Cole will enter training camp next week as the favorite to be the Eagles' Week 1 starter at center, a critical position for the offense and new quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Much of the offense's success depends on the team finding a capable replacement for Jamaal Jackson, the anchor of the offensive line who is recovering from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 27. Jackson will miss all of training camp and is widely expected to sit out at least some, if not most, of the regular season.

The contenders to fill in, along with Cole, are Mike McGlynn, who is entering his third year in the NFL but did not see any playing time in 2009, and A.Q. Shipley, a Penn State product who spent last season, his rookie year, on the Steelers' practice squad.

Despite Jackson's injury, the Eagles did not add any experienced linemen in the off-season.

"We're comfortable," coach Andy Reid said. "We've got Nick, who can step in there, and I've worked McGlynn and Shipley."

The team's many offensive-line injuries last year gave the backups and starters experience working with shuffled lineups.

"They've all played so much, and we've had success with so many different combinations," Reid said, dismissing concerns about continuity and chemistry on the line.

But the Eagles struggled without Jackson, most notably in two season-ending blowouts to Dallas. In the nearly three full games after Cole replaced Jackson, the Eagles gave up 11 sacks and rushed for just 169 yards.

It's not yet clear when Jackson will return. Reid said Jackson would miss all of training camp and conceded that it would be a "stretch" for him to be ready for the team's Sept. 12 opener.

Cole, the most experienced of the contenders, has the best shot to win the starting job in Jackson's absence.

"They're all going to compete. Nick's a good player, though," Reid said.

Still, Cole said he is eyeing practice the same way he did as an unheralded rookie.

"You're always fighting for a position. . . . I'm used to that," Cole said.

Whoever wins the center job will need not only the strength and technique to stop snarling defenders but also the smarts to call out blocking assignments.

"As far as technique, it's pretty much the same thing [as playing guard]. But as far as responsibility, you've got a lot more on your shoulders. You've got to make the calls and make sure everybody's on point," Cole said.

McGlynn, who has previously played guard, will be battling to make his first real impact in the NFL after being taken in the fourth round in 2008, out of Pittsburgh. At 6-foot-4, he has more height and length than Cole and Shipley, who, each listed around 6-0, are the two shortest linemen on the roster.

After McGlynn spent two years learning on the bench, Reid said it is time to see him on the field.

"He just needs an opportunity to get in and play. That's kind of the stage he's at," Reid said.

McGlynn said he is approaching camp as "an opportunity."

Shipley, too, is looking to take another step in his career after spending last season with the Steelers battling nose tackle Casey Hampton in practices.

He has faced questions about his size, though, particularly his arms, which are shorter than most coaches want for holding off defenders. Shipley said he was looking forward to showing what he can do.

"It's going to be a tough fight," he said. "That's what training camp is for."