Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has a lot of new toys to work with this season and one of them is middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, who is back in the starting lineup after missing all of last season with an ACL injury. Sure, Bradley looked impressive in the OTAs during the spring, but how would the knee hold up when the pads went on and the hitting was live?
Bradley displayed his ability to move in a 7-on-7 drill when he stepped in front of wide receiver Jeremy Maclin to pick off a Kevin Kolb pass.
"The coverage we put in this year allows me to square up and face the quarterback and then use my lateral speed to make plays on the ball," Bradley said. "It was the first time we ran it and it caught them off-guard."
During a rep in the 9-on-7 drill, Bradley was in the backfield and popped LeSean McCoy before he had a chance to make a cut.
"It's funny for me because I've been cleared of the knee for so many months now I don't feel like it's an issue in my mind," Bradley said. "I've been doing so much running and speed work that I felt like I had normal offseason prep. I feel as good as I ever have, really."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 12:35 p.m., July 31
