3 Things We Learned in July
With the Eagles set for an off-day Tuesday, training camp will enter the dog days of August on Wednesday.
3 Things We Learned in July
Red Zone: 3 Things We Learned in July
With the Eagles set for an off-day Tuesday, training camp will enter the dog days of August on Wednesday. And even though the team has experienced just three days of live hitting, and the coaches are hewing to the "It's still early" line - which it is (not for the Phillies, but I digress) - here are still a few things we've learned about the Eagles so far.
Starting battles are few, on-field fights could be many
For a team that slogged its way to an 8-8 record last year, there are surprisingly few open competitions for starting jobs in the base offensive and defensive sets. There are none on offense, unless you count the fullback position, which even the Eagles aren't too concerned about, as Les Bowen writes.
On defense, weakside linebacker could be the only spot possibly up for grabs, but Brian Rolle is penciled in and he's looked quick and comfortable. With DeMeco Ryans at middle linebacker and rookie Mychal Kendricks on the strong side, the coaches could possibly tinker with the backup rotation, but the starters for now seem secure.
However, once again a fight broke out Monday when wide receiver DeSean Jackson and cornerback Brandon Hughes came out swinging. This follows on the heels of fights Saturday that included Derek Landri and Demetress Bell and another with Danny Watkins and Ryan Rau. Three fights in three days of hitting; should be a wild August.
The rookies show promise
The Eagles top three draft picks could all see meaningful playing time come the start of the season. Kendricks is in as starter now, and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and defensive end Vinny Curry will be part of a deep and talented defensive line rotation.
With the injuries to Riley Cooper and today to Ron Johnson, sixth-round pick Marvin McNutt's chances continue to rise. The 6-foot-3 receiver is the tallest of the corps with Cooper sidelined.
Fourth-rounder Brandon Boykin could get the nod as primary kickoff returner, while undrafted free agent Damaris Johnson got the first reps in practice today as the punt returner. The coaches also like the play of seventh-rounder Bryce Brown, but don't expect to see him pushing aside LeSean McCoy or Dion Lewis for playing time.
Michael Vick must stay healthy
We already knew this before camp - heck, even the President knew it when he told Vick's teammate Nnamdi Asomugha to tell Vick to slide.
But the difference in arm strength and accuracy is, well, disarming when Vick steps aside and current No. 2 man Mike Kafka gets his reps. Sure, Kafka knows the system and he could possibly manage a game in Vick's absence.
But if Kafka is needed to replace an injured Vick, the field will become much shorter and DeSean Jackson's chances to be a deep threat will decrease.
Does that mean Jarrett and Allen are definitely starters? I think they could both lose their starting jobs, but maybe not.— djack10- No, at this point, Allen and Kurt Coleman are the starting safeties in the base D set. Jarrett had a good day of hitting the other day, and he's certainly someone the Eagles would like to see step up. But Allen and Coleman are getting the first reps.— John Roach
- It's amazing how almost every report on the Eagles treats them like they are the 79 Steelers. This was a dreadful team last year. If you don't remember try to find some footage of their games against the Seahawks and Cardinals last year.
With that absolute slop less nine months old, and shockingly very few changes to the team, it's shockingly become a foregone conclusion that the Eagles are the team to beat in the NFC East (with the World Champions in our division) and that there's no reason to even challenge any of our untouchable starters.
Oh that's right, they have a full off-season now and everyone's "paid". Okay.— guyguy4 - guyguy we had a top ten defense and offense however you want to slice it some turnovers by the offense and some poor tackling and erratic play by the def ...we have 2 new linebackers and a new tackle how many changes do you propose ....the giants won the bowl but they had a poor def all year and finished with a negative point differential we want to win the superbowl but we are not using them as standard bearers for this division.......spoiled by success were you a fan when we finished 3-13 that's dreadful 8-8 is just disappointing
— positive eagle - Of all the linebackers in camp it is the existing Eagles who are making the plays as best that I can tell. Cheney is having a hell of a camp in it's early beginnings. I've yet to notice Ryans making a play. Camp has been pretty brutal and the defensive linemen are heating up pretty nicely. Brandon Graham is noticed and raising a ruckus with his play. Nobody can block Cole and Dixon is a load for most anyone in Camp to block, King Dunlap holds his own against anybody thrown in front of him.— Dexter
- Iv'e noticed it is pretty quiet on the Ryans front. What up with that. Any reports ???— phillyroni
- When I was camp on Saturday, Demetress Bell did a pretty good job on Trent Cole.— jacka123
