Opening week is here. We finally get to see the Eagles play in a game that counts when they take on the Panthers in Charlotte on Sunday. I'm certainly excited. The Panthers should be a good team this year and will provide a challenge in the first game of the year.

There are a lot of unknown factors as we head into the opener. Let's start with the offensive side of the ball. We have yet to see Brian Westbrook play this summer. The last time he was in action we were trying to move down the field in the closing minutes of the NFC title game. Westbrook has had a couple of surgeries this off-season and is supposed to be in excellent shape. I'm excited to see what he can do. Westbrook wasn't a dynamic presence last year. He lacked his normal burst and elusiveness. He got worked on this off-season so that he'd be able to play like the Westbrook of old.

We have yet to see our best five offensive linemen play together. That won't happen this week, but we'll at least have four on the field Sunday. Jason Peters, Jamaal Jackson, Stacy Andrews and Shawn Andrews all have good individual talent. The question for us is how they perform as a unit. Will there be some chemistry or will the group struggle initially?

The one player that most eyes will focus on up front is Shawn Andrews. He hasn't played in a game since Week 2 at Dallas last year. Andrews is now healthy and playing a new position, right tackle. He is our most physically gifted blocker. Andrews can be a star tackle. All he has to do is stay healthy and play up to his potential. Andrews is nimble, athletic and very powerful. If everything works out, Andrews could actually turn out to be an upgrade on Jon Runyan at right tackle.

Stacy Andrews will man the right guard spot. We only got to watch him in the preseason matchup with Jacksonville. I liked what I saw. He moved around well and didn't show any obvious signs of lingering knee problems. The challenge for Stacy will be playing the whole game. Does he have the stamina to play 65 or so snaps on a day when the temperature will be in the mid 80s?

The starting left tackle will be Jason Peters. The last time Tra Thomas wasn't on the field for us on opening day was 1997 when Jermane Mayberry held the left tackle spot. (What the heck was Ray Rhodes thinking?) Peters played in a couple of games this summer. He looked pretty good in the Jaguars game a couple of weeks ago. Peters gives us our most physical run blocking player on the left side in a long time. The question for him is how well he does in pass protection. Thomas kept Donovan McNabb's blind side clean for a decade. Now Peters has to live up to that standard.

This is a lot of change on the front line. It was needed. We had to get younger. It may take the line a couple of games to mesh and get up to full speed. They need to limit mistakes against Carolina. Julius Peppers is a pass rushing force when he's focused and playing hard. He had some issues with the Panthers in the off-season, but you have to think he'll set those aside and concentrate on terrorizing opposing quarterbacks with his freakish size-speed combo. Both Andrews and Peters are likely to face him. I think Carolina will move Peppers around so that teams can't always double team him.

The Eagles defense has undergone some changes in the last couple of months. Sean McDermott is now the defensive coordinator. I think he'll do a terrific job for the team, but nothing is certain. Steve Spagnuolo won a Super Bowl as the defensive coordinator of the Giants in his first season, but in his first couple of games New York couldn't stop anyone. They gave up 80 points in two games. McDermott doesn't have as much of a challenge. Spagnuolo had to install a new system and deal with completely new players. McDermott knows his personnel. The players know the scheme. Still, it would be naïve not to expect a bump or two in the road. You don't replace someone as special as Jim Johnson without knowing there will be some growing pains.

Omar Gaither hasn't started at middle linebacker since the 2007 season finale. That will change on Sunday. Gaither is back to being the man in the middle. Some fans are concerned about how he'll do against a power running team like the Panthers. Gaither isn't the most rugged linebacker in the league. He is a good tackler. Defensive tackles Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley will be charged with eating up blockers and letting Gaither stay clean so he can run to the ball and take down ball-carriers. If the tackles do their job I think Gaither will do fine and the run defense will be solid. Remember, Gaither did start at the MIKE spot for a top ten defense in 2007. He's got ability.

Probably the biggest surprise on the whole team is having rookie Macho Harris start at free safety. He played cornerback in college. He was a fifth-round pick. He sprained an ankle early in training camp and that slowed his progress. Did you really think stuff like that could keep a man named Macho out of the starting lineup? Harris wasn't given the job. He earned it. Harris did whatever the coaches asked. He played well in the camps and games. He led all defensive backs on the team with 10 solo tackles in the preseason. He also had a sack.

I understand why some fans think starting Harris is a risky move. He's new to the league, the team and his position. You have to keep a couple of things in mind. This move isn't a result of something that happened in the last week. This started with the post-draft mini-camp. The coaches quickly fell in love with Harris and he's continually impressed them. Also, you can't teach instincts. Harris had to learn the scheme, but he has an innate feel for the game of football that makes him play beyond his years. Coaches and scouts love instinctive players. Sunday will be a major test for him. Harris has to be quick to come up in run support. He also has to help contain Steve Smith, Carolina's star receiver. Harris must play smart and with confidence. Any hesitation could lead to big plays on the ground or in the air.

Keys To The Game

• The Eagles defense has to "set the edge" well. This is when a defensive end or linebacker is on the line of scrimmage and stays wide, so that runners can't get outside of him easily. The goal is for the runner to have to cut back inside, where the backside of the defense can get to him.

• Tackling will be critical. Steve Smith is hard to bring down. Miss him in space and he will make you pay with a big gain. Carolina's runners aren't easy to tackle. Tampa Bay really struggled with them in a late season game and the Panthers ran for 299 yards.

• The Eagles must get pressure on Jake Delhomme. He can be erratic when pressured and he forces the ball into coverage. Trent Cole has to come up big. It would be great to see Victor Abiamiri get pressure from the left side.

• Score touchdowns. The Eagles have moved the ball very well in recent years. Execution in the red zone has been a problem. That needs to change in 2009 and this would be a good week to start.

• Give McNabb time to throw. The Panthers have a new defensive scheme. They are playing more zone coverage than recent years. The new scheme has caused some coverage confusion. If given time, I think McNabb could have a big day. The linemen, tight ends and backs must block well so McNabb can get the ball to his receivers.

• The Eagles need to run the ball effectively, in short-yardage situations and otherwise. Westbrook could be a little rusty early on. LeSean McCoy will be playing his first NFL game. Leonard Weaver will be making his official debut as an Eagle. We have a lot of talent in the backfield. Now we need to see these guys move the chains and make some plays.

• Obviously the turnover battle is always critical to winning in the NFL. Winning the kicking game can also be significant. DeSean Jackson and Ellis Hobbs give us a definite advantage in the return game.