Andre Dillard Wants to have Fun in his First NFL Start

Rookie first-round draft pick will line up at left tackle in primetime against the Cowboys and premier pass rusher Robert Quinn

If Andre Dillard’s idea of fun is trying to block Robert Quinn and any other Dallas player who lines up across from him at left tackle for the Eagles on Sunday night, well, he’s probably in the right business.

"He's a very good played,” said Dillard, about Quinn. “He's been in the league a while. He's very fast and very disciplined. It'll be very fun to go against someone like him."

Fun may be a an elusive quality to find, considering that Dillard’s first start will come in a game with high stakes, being for first place in the NFC East, in front of a nationwide audience in primetime and in a big rivalry game on the road.

Some fun.

Peters, who is sidelined with a knee injury, gave Quinn the nickname of “Slinkyman,” because, as right tackle Lane Johnson explained, “He can bend the edge really well, probably the best in the league. He’s as advertised.”

Quinn has five sacks in his first season with the Cowboys and 74 in his nine-year career, so Dillard will have his hands full, to say the least.

“We have a lot of conversations with our players and we’ve talked with Andre,” said head coach Doug Pederson. “I've learned that - I go back to how we handled Big V (reserve lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai) in his first start down in Washington a few years ago. Same way. You don't want to clutter his mind. You want him to be as free as he can be and let him use his ability to play.”

Pederson added that Dillard will get some help in different play designs, whether it’s with a tight end, a running back, or even from left guard Isaac Seumalo.

Dillard got a little taste of “the fun” last week in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He played 47 snaps after Peters hurt his knee after just 18 offensive plays.

"It was a really good experience to get the feet wet, get a feel for the competition of the game,” said Dillard.

Johnson remembers his first start as a rookie back in 2013 against the Washington Redskins in the first game of Chip Kelly’s ill-fated run as Eagles head coach.

“I was nervous as hell,” said Johnson. “Mike Vick back there (at quarterback) and that’s all who we played with in Madden. It was a lot of fun.”

Asked if he can share his emotions with Dillard, Johnson said: “Yeah, but the thing is when you have so many people in your ear, all you can do, especially on the road, you have to get off the ball, get off the snap count and work on staying low and being good with your hands.”

It’s a tall order, but at least Dillard will be having fun. Maybe.

“Andre is going to be fine,” said Pederson. “He's looking forward to the opportunity … He had a really good test last week with a great edge rusher in (Vikings DE Everson) Griffen over there in Minnesota. So he'll be able to carry that over this week.”