After three games in which he allowed 10 quarterback hurries and four sacks, per Pro Football Focus, Lane Johnson pitched a near shutout against the Giants. The rookie right tackle said he tinkered with his pass protection technique and was more aggressive off the snap. "Coach Stoutland likes the vertical step," Johnson said, "but I think this way suits me more." . . . Poached from Houston's practice squad three weeks ago, cornerback Roc Carmichael has played the gunner position on punts opposite Brandon Boykin. Carmichael said he never played the position until coming to Philly. And yet, he already has two tackles in two games. . . . Cedric Thornton is one of seven veterans - Vick, Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper, Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman and Colt Anderson are the others - that will be free agents next offseason. But the third-year defensive tackle is the only one that will be restricted, meaning the Eagles have exclusive rights to retain Thornton if they tender him. The Eagles could be looking to sign him to a long-term contract, however, considering how well he's play so far this season. . . . Jason Avant did not rank his one-handed catch last year in Tampa as the best of his career. He ranked a few grabs in pivotal games as more important, but in terms of sheer acrobatics, Avant said the one-handed diving catch for a touchdown he made in the 2003 Michigan-Northwestern game was the finest of his career.