The competition for playing time is still high and that will likely increase during an 82-play scrimmage scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at 3:15 p.m.

“It’s our last scrimmage before our mock game and a lot of guys have a lot to play for,” O’Boyle said. “I’m expecting the team to play hard.”

A few starting positions have been settled, but a majority of the positions will be evaluated following the scrimmage.

“We’re getting better every day and I’m seeing a lot of improvement, especially with how well the new guys are breaking into the system,” he said. “The defense is playing better every day and I know that because the offense is inconsistent.

We’re making too many mental mistakes that we shouldn’t have at this point but we’re going to overcome them.”

The Eagles don’t have much time remaining for preseason work. They open the 2010 season on Saturday, Aug. 28 against the University of Mary and preparation for the Marauders will begin Tuesday night.

“We’re going to introduce Mary to them tomorrow night. After that, all our focus will be on them,” he said.

The Eagles have opened three of the last four seasons with wins over Mary.

O’Boyle also noted that he’s been pleased there haven’t been major injuries during fall camp. The two most notable injuries occurred during Friday’s afternoon practice when Tau Ho Ching, a junior transfer from Snow Junior College, and Benj Vigil, a redshirt freshman from Akron, Colo., both received medical attention.

Ho Ching, who is vying for playing time on the defensive line, broke a non-weight bearing bone in his leg, and Vigil, a promising linebacker, suffered a second degree ankle sprain. O’Boyle said he expects both of them to recover completely.

Several other players have been kept out of practice for minor injuries, but mainly for precautionary reasons.

The Eagles will have one more scrimmage following Tuesday’s tilt. The mock game scrimmage will be on Saturday at 11 a.m. and the service team game will begin at 11:40.