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Rookie Watch: Kendricks, Boykins impressing

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Rookie Watch: Kendricks, Boykins impressing

POSTED: Tuesday, August 14, 2012, 12:34 PM
Eagles second round pick, Mychal Kendricks, right, gets pushed away by Emil Igwenagu during a blitz drill. (Michael Bryant/Staff Photographer)

Tuesday is the last day of training camp at Lehigh, so as the Eagles prepare to head to Philadelphia to resume camp Thursday, here's the latest look at how the team's top rookies are faring. They're listed in order of the eight most likely to see playing time this season.

Mychal Kendricks: The second-round pick was installed as the team's starting strongside linebacker from the get-go and he's shown why. His quickness and speed is unquestioned, now he needs to continue the learning the system and fine-tuning his techniques. He struggled at times against Pittsburgh to free himself from blocks, but he's an eager learner.

The hardest adjustment is "being able to use my hands a lot more with these linemen," Kendricks said. "They're really good and just being able to adapt to that has been the biggest challenge."

"Mychal is relentless," said defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. "You saw some of his big-play ability [against Pittsburgh]."

Fletcher Cox: Currently the backup left defensive tackle behind Cullen Jenkins, Cox has had a solid camp as he adjusts to defensive line coach Jim Washburn's wide-nine scheme. Cox, the team's first-round pick, should see meaningful time in the defensive line mix since the Eagles regularly rotate linemen to keep them fresh.

Brandon Boykin: Boykin, a fourth-round selection, is slated to open the season as the team's kickoff returner. He made good on his training camp productivity with a 46-yard kickoff return on his first touch against Pittsburgh. He's also in the mix for slot cornerback in the team's nickel package.

"Brandon is a good athlete," said Castillo. "He's smart, he's tough, and he's coming along. He understands the system and there is some good competition going on."

Damaris Johnson: Johnson has used training camp to go all the way from undrafted free agent out of Tulsa to starter in the team's preseason opener, after Jeremy Maclin tweaked his hamstring before the game. That's a meteoric rise up the charts, but Johnson's speed and elusiveness are hard to miss.

With increased practice reps, Johnson has been working on improving his route-running and working to make crisp cuts. "It's something we've worked on," said Johnson, who is also the team's first-team punt returner. "We just go in and dig out of every route, even when the ball isn't coming to you. Run the route as if you know you're getting the ball."

Vinny Curry: Curry is a little farther back on the depth chart--at third-team behind Trent Cole and Darryl Tapp--but that's more an indication of the team's line depth. Curry has been solid throughout camp.

"Our young kids put a lot of pressure on themselves because that is what kind of guys they are," said Castillo. "[They need to] just have fun and do what they did in college because that is what got them here. I think that's what Vinny did [against Pittsburgh]. Coach [Washburn] talked to him and Vinny just kind of relaxed and turned it loose and just played hard."

Dennis Kelly: The 6-foot-8 fifth-rounder is Todd Herremans' backup at right tackle and has been impressive in drills throughout camp. Particularly in 9-on-7 running drills, Kelly regularly has opened holes against the attacking defense.

Bryce Brown: Drafted in the seventh round because of his raw potential, Brown has looked impressive nearly every day of camp and is currently the third-team running back behind LeSean McCoy and Dion Lewis. He doesn't go down easily when hit, and he's produced some of the team's most impressive runs.

"Bryce is a really smart kid," said coach Andy Reid. "He's picking things up well and he's a big, physical kid.... It's important that he continues to fine-tune himself as we go here. But I would tell you he was one of the positives coming out of the [Pittsburgh] game."

Nick Foles: It's amazing what one quarter of game action and a huge shot of confidence can do for a player. It once appeared that if Nick Foles saw any meaningful playing time this season, then things had gone terribly wrong. Now, on the heels of his standout quarter against Pittsburgh, Foles not only looks like he could win the backup job, but he'd also be pretty good at it.

Not that Foles is content with his one shining moment. 

"If there is one thing I learned from college, it's that when you have games like that, you always have to improve on it," Foles said. "I'm not satisfied, and there is a lot of stuff for me to work on and improve on. I'm really technical with myself and I try to look at what I could have done better rather than what I did well."

John Roach @ 12:34 PM  Permalink | 28 comments
28 comments
Comments  (28)
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:23 PM, 08/14/2012
    right on foles, get em...
    defroe
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:31 PM, 08/14/2012
    This has the potential to be the best draft class that the Eagles have chosen in a decade. In three years, this group should produce at least three starters, and the rest on the roster as strong depth. Kendricks may be the best LB on the roster by the end of the season, Cox and Curry will be starters soon enough, Boykin could be the returner this team has lacked for years, Brown could be McCoy's replacement in several years, and Foles may well be the man who replaces Vick in a season or two. Not too shabby. Of course ... I could be wrong, but this group inspires some honest excitement for this year and the future.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:09 PM, 08/14/2012
    "Foles may well be the man who replaces Vick in a season or two. Not too shabby. Of course ... " Foles may replace him this year if Vick gets hurt(as usual)?? The kid has a lot a poise, reminds me of Big Ben when he came out of Miami of Ohio, I think, although not as strong
    as Ben but smart and a strong, accurate arm. He has the skills sets
    and size to be a top 10 QB.
    mikey48
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:22 PM, 08/14/2012
    There is a difference between starting for the Eagles and dominating the competition. Hope they will turn out to be difference makers, instead of starting this year and then get replaced by the new crop next year.
    penncrow19
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:27 PM, 08/14/2012
    polk has looked good too... hope they hang on to both him and brown
    zwarte piet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:27 PM, 08/14/2012
    polk has looked good too... hope they hang on to both him and brown
    zwarte piet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:29 PM, 08/15/2012
    Yeah Polk has a lot of potential, probably would get picked up if they tried to sneak him on the PS. I'm curious what they do, rumor is they may actually try and play Polk and/or Brown at the FB slot to get them on the field more and even move the TE to the FB slot like NE did often with Hernandez last season. That would leave Havili as the odd man out.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:29 PM, 08/14/2012
    I've been pretty harsh on Howie and the other decision makers but this looks like it could be a pretty solid draft. However we won't know for sure for a few years so everyone should just settle down.
    guyguy4
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:53 PM, 08/14/2012
    if this crop helps get us a winning record and go far in the playoffs i will buy andy reid big macs for a month
    Evil Overlord
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:56 PM, 08/14/2012
    I'm also liking this draft and I agree with the above bloggers, this draft could pay good dividends this year and in to the future. Hope they stay healthy. Curry is the sleeper of the draft, did not get the publicity Cox and Kendricks got or even Boykins for that matter. Local kid who was an Eagles fan before he got drafted. ESPN wouldn't film at his house during their draft show because his family had Eagles memorabilia around the house !!! Your loss ESPN !!!
    Delaware Doc
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:06 PM, 08/14/2012
    In the chat earlier today, guy said Brown could be the one to not make the cut? by all indications hes outplayed Polk I thought, or both have looked good? Good for Dennis Kelly, cant have too many solid O linemen. Hope kendrick has the speed to get around guys or beat them to the hole if he has trouble shedding blocks.
    peteike
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:26 PM, 08/14/2012
    Howie has won me over with this draft... go Eagles!
    jmb53
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:40 PM, 08/14/2012
    I would feel more confident heading into the season with Trent Edwards as the starter over Michael Vick... I'll get bashed... But you'll see my point by mid-season.. Vick stinks.. Turnover machine... Reckless with the football.. An injury to Vick is this team's only hope!!
    FetchDixon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:06 PM, 08/14/2012
    Nor am I ready to anoint this draft as the best ever. But isn't it amazing the kind of results you get when you draft smartly, instead of reaching because you think you know more than anyone else? That's been the overriding concern most have with the Eagles' drafts - and their reaches become busts. This year, they picked best guy available for the most part (Curry, Boykin, even Kendricks and down the line) and, walah!, good potential up and down the lineup.
    pfes
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:10 PM, 08/14/2012
    I heard Brian Westbrook on Sirius NFL Radio the other day who suggested...and I agree with him...that the Eagles sign Donovan McNabb as a back-up. Totally makes sense: 1) Vick; 2) McNabb; 3) Foles to start the season and maybe Foles moves to 2) at some point. Putting all your #5 hate aside for a moment: he knows the offense better than anyone on the roster (including Vick), he's won more games both in the regular season and the playoffs than all the other QBs on the roster combined, he's available. Seriously, as a one or two game fill-in he'd be immeasurably better than Kafka or Edwards.
    chesapeake


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