As the Eagles welcomed in second-round pick Nate Allen on Wednesday, they also made a quiet admission of a failed personnel experiment.

Getting Allen signed before too many training camp practices were missed was paramount because he's expected to be the starting free safety come the regular season.

Alex Hall was also expected to compete for a starting job - at strong-side linebacker - after he was acquired from Cleveland in April in the deal that sent cornerback Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong to the Browns.