After Brian Dawkins took the better deal in Denver and left his 13-year Eagles career behind, there was much angst in these parts. From an angry posting by an Eagles employee on Facebook to frustrated cries from season-ticket holders, it was as if the fans had lost a family member.

Well, the Eagles put a bow on their first off-season camp yesterday at the NovaCare Complex, and they managed to make it through without the unquestioned leader of their defense for most of this decade.

Dawkins' locker and the one next to it that housed his army of X-Men figurines have been filled by free agents Sean Jones and Rashad Baker.

Without Dawkins, "it was different," cornerback Sheldon Brown said. "But it was one of those things where you realized that the show is going to go on without him."

That was the sentiment throughout the locker room as preparations for the 2009 season officially began.

"That's the reality of the game," middle linebacker Stewart Bradley said. "Dawk is a great player. I'm grateful for the chance that I had to play with him. The knowledge I was able to [take] from him I think will help me in my career. Dwelling on him leaving isn't going to change the situation.

"We're excited about the guys we have in this locker room, and the talent we have . . . I think is abundant. I don't want to slight Dawk, because we appreciate everything he's ever done for us, but it's the nature of the game."

Even fellow safety Quintin Mikell understands that it's time to look forward.

"It's really weird, but it's a situation where he went and did something good for his family, and . . . we have to move on," Mikell said. "We're going to miss him, but at the same time you can't look back. Obviously, it adds pressure on us to go out and win games."

Perhaps the most legitimate reason for fan outrage over Dawkins' departure was the resurrection of the Eagles' defense as a dominating unit in 2009. The Eagles ranked third overall in yards allowed and fourth in points allowed. No team in the NFC allowed fewer points or yards. The defense created 10 more turnovers than it had the year before.

The objective, of course, is to get better.

Maybe that's possible even without Dawkins, who is the only starter from last season who did not return. Quintin Demps is penciled in to replace him at free safety, but Jones is also likely to have a prominent role once defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is done diagramming his master plan.

Brown said he thought defensive improvement was possible, but warned that people couldn't really tell anything after watching guys run around in shorts during off-season camps.

"The bar has been set high," he said. "Last year, we took a big leap back to the top. The communication was just there, and that's what is important. But right now you can't sit here and evaluate anybody. Everybody has talent in shorts. Sometimes a lot of people start hitting and forgetting. We'll learn a lot more about where we're at in training camp."

As for the loss of Dawkins' leadership, no one seemed all that concerned.

"If you're talking about a vocal standpoint, he was the leader of the Football team," Brown said. "Obviously, the next leader is going to be the guy who is making plays. There are a lot of great vocal guys in here, but if they're not making plays, nobody is going to follow them. That leadership thing only happens because people see other people working and they see their production and they watch how they do things."

Bradley, who calls the defensive signals, said that he was more than willing to take some leadership responsibility, but that he believed there would be more of a group effort in Dawkins' absence.

"I think a lot of guys are taking a proactive approach to it, definitely stepping up and being vocal," Bradley said. "I want to take it upon myself, just due to my position, because I'm doing most of the talking anyway. I think I was doing that last year.

"What Dawk brought to the table was an attitude and energy to the defense. That doesn't have to come from one particular person. It can come from the group. I think that will work itself out."

Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.