Eagles Nolan Carroll working his way into a corner

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nolan Carroll II. (Matt Rourke/AP)EAGLES DEFENSIVE coordinator Bill Davis said yesterday he was excited about Nolan Carroll, who has emerged as the top candidate to start at cornerback opposite Byron Maxwell.

And yet, somehow, Davis wasn't all that excited about Carroll during 2014's late-season's death spiral, when the play of starting corners Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams helped knock the Birds out of playoff contention. Davis' unit finished 31st against the pass and allowed the most big plays in the NFL.

If Carroll is such a strong starting option in 2015, why was he limited to a dime role last season, even as Davis' secondary collapsed in a charred,…