DRC is back, and impressing
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
DRC is back, and impressing
Jonathan Tamari
If you ask Eagles players who has made an impression in these early practices, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's name keeps coming up.
Back on the outside where he starred earlier in his career, Rodgers-Cromartie has looked spectacular in coverage, running with DeSean Jackson in one-on-ones, jamming Jeremy Maclin in seven-on-seven and using breathtaking make-up speed to close down gaps when he gets a step behind.
"He’s in his element," said wide receiver Jason Avant. "If you take a fish and put him on land, it doesn’t work well. He's an outside guy and hes always been fast. He’s so accustomed to being out there he can see the quarterback better."
DRC was back at practice today after missing Monday's voluntary session (the team said rain caused problems with his flight back to Philadelphia).
These practices are perfectly suited to his skills. There is no contact, and really no running plays, so the athletic corner can show off the best of his physical gifts, which include uncanny quickness for a player his height. He doesn't have to tackle, instead focusing on what he does best: shadowing with receivers.
The hitting and tackling will arrive in training camp, where we'll see if he can be a complete defensive back (last year, as Rodgers-Cromartie struggled to play in the slot, he also showed some questionable effort in making stops). But for now, he looks comfortable, and happy and teammates are taking note.
"He’s done a phenomenal job," Maclin said.
What stood out when talking to fellow Eagles, though, is that it's not just Rodgers-Cromartie's natural talent that has helped, but also his ability to read routes.
We'll have more on that from fellow Eagles and Rodgers-Cromartie himself tomorrow in the Inquirer and here on Philly.com.
Tuesday practice notes
-- Nnamdi Asomugha and Casey Matthews were out of practice today. Asomugha was excused for personal reasons the team said (though it's all voluntary anyway). Matthews was here at the Eagles facility. There was no immediate word on why he didn't practice. DeSean Jackson is also away this week to attend to a family matter, according to the team. Maybe the Eagles' LA contingent is preparing to celebrate a Kings Stanley Cup.
-- The Eagles are working on plays they play to use against NFC East opponents this week. Yesterday the scout team lined up as the Redskins. Today it was the Cowboys.
-- The scout work means there are fewer competitive drills. More of the practices instead focus on running through the kind of plays that the team hopes will work against specific opponents. That means fewer highlights to report, such as they are in OTAs.
-- Riley Cooper has had a rough couple days catching the ball. He had drops each of the past two days. After missing a pass today he took a long walk by himself to back of one end zone. Maclin and Avant both went to talk to him. Cooper could be in a battle for his job.
-- Avant said Maclin is emerging as a leader of the wide receivers due to his work ethic.
-- Defensive end Phillip Hunt said he has put on 12 pounds, getting him up to 257, to help his play against the run. Until last year he played in the CFL, where teams pass almost exclusively. He never had to play the run very much, he said.
DRC back to pro bowl form. Good news. The Eagles got DRC and Vinny Curry for Kolb. What a steal.— soulman386- Maclin is poised for his best year yet. Great to hear about his work ethic and leadership. May just have to take him in my fantasy draft this year!— Commish
- 5 - 4 - 3 - 0
Twelve Superbowl winners from the NFC East, and none of them has ever worn green.
I'm so excited! - I love the Eagles, but I hope they never win a Super Bowl on the off chance that it might make you less miserable. — bc3030
- Didn't they trade down and still wind up with Curry AND get Boykin too?— tpizza
- Ah, it's June and many zealots are hyper-excited by the men in shorts. I am reminded of June 2010, when many of these same zealots were even more enthused by the promotion of one Kevin Kolb to starting QB.
As I recall, the propaganda went something like this: Kevin Kolb (with his quick reads, quick release and pinpoint accuracy) would hit receivers in stride, thereby increasing YAC (yards after the catch) and allow our receivers to run free for more TDs.
Further, Kolb's quick reads would held the offensive line, who wouldn't have to hold their blocks as long.
Let's fast forward to today:
"Since signing Kolb last summer, [Arizona] has dished out $17 million to a quarterback with a 6-10 career record in five seasons. That includes a 3-6 mark in 2011. Meanwhile, Skelton is 7-4 as Arizona's starter and will earn $490,000 this year (that figure, ladies and gentlemen, is an appropriate price tag for an unproven NFL passer).
Look, it's no surprise Kolb has to morph into a ball of fire this season. Had the team -- in another universe -- signed Manning, Kolb would be playing in another city at a vastly reduced rate. As it stands, don't expect Arizona to take on his $9 million salary in 2013 if he pushes out another, well, Kolb-like season. Not with Larry Fitzgerald in his prime, waiting for someone to fill Kurt Warner's shoes. We saw what this team accomplished with a top-flight passer.
Too many jobs are on the line in Arizona to allow this pet project to float along past 2012." - tpizza, I was just about to say the same thing. What a great trade.
And we also finally got to see the end of the Donovan trade play out this off season. We netted Nate Allen, Casey Matthews, and Demeco Ryans when all was said and done.— shamburg82 - Yes and they also traded for Jason Peters, giving up 3 picks, and getting a guy who only played 3 seasons before rupturing his achillies. So the loss of that 1st, 4th, and 6th kindof evens it out. This season they are obviously getting nothing for all those picks as Peters stares and watches the games. Great pickup. If only this group could actually draft a Jason Peters, but instead they get King Dunlap. Thus, a microcosm for why Andy Reid has never won a Superbowl and never will.— CharlieGarner25
- Yes, but those draft picks could have eventually gotten injured and you would blame Reid for bust draft picks.
Judging player personnel moves based on later injuries that would have been impossible to foresee is either the work of a master troll or a complete moron.
Which are you CharlieGarner25?— bc3030 - bc3030....adressing THE EAGLES, these are not things that are "unforseeable".
As a GM the goal is to DRAFT the youngest best player you can, that will play for you for 8 or 10 years at a high level. If you cannot draft those players and instead have to trade 3 draft picks to other teams to get them, after they already have 5 years of wear and tear on your body, you are losing that battle. They keep drafting poorly so they have to get other teams Used Goods, which are MORE LIKELY TO GET INJURED, will NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY AS LONG SINCE THEY ARE OLDER ALREADY, and COST WAY MORE SO YOU CANT SIGN AS MANY OF THEM (usually). ITS A LOSING STRATEGY THAT TEAMS THAT BUY A TON OF FREE AGENTS DO NOT WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE NFL. study teams that draft well...read Ron Wolf's book...(a SB winning GM)...you will see these moves the Eagles have made are mostly poor or mediocre at best. Which is part of why Reid and Lurie have never won a SB and never will together. - But every year the Eagles have more draft picks than any other team, so what's your beef?
The first rounder the Eagles traded for Peters was the 28th pick in the draft, and they got one of the best offensive tackles in football for it. That's a good move by any objective standard.
Jason Peters was an undrafted tight end. So if you want to classify the Eagles' failure to draft him as a mistake, 31 other teams also made the same mistake.
The Eagles have perfected Ron Wolf's philosophy and are now better at it than he ever was. If you want to blame someone for not reaching your expectations, blame the coaches. The front office is certainly giving them capable players.— bc3030 - lol, uhh you clearly do not know what you are talking about. Ron Wolf hated complacency and resting on ones laurels and fired about half the people in Green Bay when he got there, which transformed them into the winner they became. He fired alot of people, as soon as was neceasry and he was a drafting expert recruited by Al Davis helping draft all the great Raiders in the 70's that won Superbowls. The guy would outdraft every team in the league, and not waste money on old free agents. You clearly did not read his book and have no idea what you are talking about. Another sad day for Eagles fans.
- There ya go Charlie... Way to be your typical moronic self.— Cr0we
- lol, thank you. Its great that Andy made a good trade, but the amount of draft picks they usually waste in trades far outwighs the occasional "good" move.— CharlieGarner25
