Philadelphia Eagles safety Earl Wolff is in line to make his first NFL start against Peyton Manning. Image via PhiladelphiaEagles.com
As far as first career NFL starts go, Earl Wolff couldn't have drawn a more difficult opponent.
Wolff, the Eagles fifth round draft choice out of North Carolina State, could be in line for his first professional start Sunday against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos if Patrick Chung is unable to go at safety.
Chung sat out Wednesday's practice at the Novacare Complex for the second day in a row which makes Wolff's first NFL start Sunday closer to reality than ever.
For Wolff, this would certainly qualify as baptism by fire going up against the NFL's leading passer who enters week four with 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
"It's a great opportunity," Wolff told reporters at his Novacare Complex locker Wednesday. "Peyton's a great quarterback, he's one of the best to ever do it. He may pick at me because I'm a rookie but I'm ready for him."
Still, all of the confidence in the world won't be enough to save Wolff or his defensive backfield if Manning has time in the pocket. There's a certain cat and mouse element to playing against Manning who acts as his own offensive coordinator out on the field and can adjust to just about anything a defense shows him pre-snap.
"He's a coach on the field," Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis said Wednesday. "Every coverage you call is designed to take something away but you give something else up. Peyton has a great understanding of what your defense is strong at and weak at."
Opponents have averaged a 67% completion percentage against the Eagles this season while throwing for five touchdowns and two interceptions through the first three games.
None of those opponents in the forms of Washington's Robert Griffin III, San Diego's Philip Rivers or Kansas City's Alex Smith have the skillset or offensive weapons around him as Manning.
"Peyton is a general when it comes to being out there on the field," Wolff explained. "He's the best one out there right now and you can't show him what you're going to be doing because he'll pick you apart."
Matt Lombardo is the Editor-In-Chief of Eagledelphia and also an on-air personality on 97.5 FM The Fanatic in Philadelphia. Join the conversation and follow Matt on Twitter.
