Kurt Coleman has had a pretty good week. He hopes his good fortune can creep into the beginning of next.
When Nate Allen suffered a neck sprain during Sunday's win over the Colts, all eyes turned to Coleman - a rookie seventh-round pick. Instead of feeling pressure, Coleman simply smiled.
"I knew I was ready to step up to the occasion and play my style of defense, play my 1/11th and just made the plays that came my way," Coleman said.
The Colts were unable to take advantage of Coleman's inexperience as he finished with four tackles in the win. Then again, Coleman was a three-year starter at Ohio State and had 10 tackles in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, so he's no stranger to big-time action.
On Monday, Coleman received a call from secondary coach Dick Jauron that he was not going to be fined for the helmet-to-helmet hit on Colts wide receiver Austin Collie. While the hit drew a personal foul, the NFL ruled that the only reason it became a helmet-to-helmet hit was because strong safety Quintin Mikell hit Collie into Coleman.
"I took a big sigh of relief because that would have hurt," Coleman said regarding a potential hit to his wallet. "I was fortunate not to get the fine."
Now, with Allen still on the mend, Coleman is in line to make his first career start on Monday night - in primetime, no less - against the Redskins.
"It's going to be great. It's going to be a great test for myself and this team. Washington beat us the first time around at our home. Now, we're going to their place and we have to get a W," Coleman said. "We have a good feeling around here, a good vibe. It's a great test for us going into the next half of the season."
If Coleman does indeed start, he will be the fourth rookie to do so for the Eagles - and third on defense - this season. Coleman credits the maturity of this year's rookie class for being able to step up and make an immediate impact.
"Ever since we came in for minicamp, I thought a lot of guys took things very professionally, seriously and the willingness to get better every single day I think that's what creates the biggest difference from this team to other teams," Coleman said. "If we're not prepared, things are going to happen, big plays are going to happen."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 4:15 p.m., November 11
