HERE'S HOW defensive end Brandon Graham, who has gone up against Halapoulivaati Vaitai in practice most of the season, knows Vaitai is ready to start at right tackle Sunday at Washington. It will be the NFL debut for the Eagles' fifth-round rookie.
Graham said that before he starts his pass rush on Vaitai, "I have to think."
"When you have to think on a guy, that's when you know, 'All right. I respect him, a lot.' He is not a pushover. He is definitely going to compete.
"Working together with the first team (this week), the communication is going to be real good, because I'm sure he knows everything he's supposed to do.