OLB reps could go to Smith, or to Jones
Marcus Smith is the most familiar name among contenders to be the top outside linebacker sub, now that Travis Long is out for the season. But newcomer Brad Jones has much more experience.
Reading between the lines here, the Eagles' coaches haven't seen enough of the new, improved Marcus Smith to totally get behind the idea of Smith as the new top sub at outside linebacker.
Chip Kelly talked to reporters Tuesday for the first time since former top sub Travis Long tore his left ACL (for the second year in a row), and Kelly said nice things about Smith's offseason commitment and his conditioning, as defensive coordinator Bill Davis had done the day before. But three days into training camp, nobody knows if Smith can really play now -- if he truly understands the defense, if the complete lack of instinct he seemed to show last season is something he can overcome.
"I think he's obviously way advanced from last year and he's not a rookie, but you could say that about (wide receiver Josh Huff) and all those other guys that are in the second year," Kelly said, when asked about his 2014 first-round draft pick. "I think he feels more comfortable. He came back in really good shape, did a great job in the conditioning test, and ran around the last two days. We're excited to see how that progresses."
Kelly was talking up alternatives, most notably former Green Bay Packer Brad Jones, a free agent signee who was working at inside linebacker until Long went down. One might think the athleticism of Kiko Alonso might make him a strong candidate to get some reps outside, but Kelly said that won't happen, that Alonso is still learning to play the inside in the Eagles' scheme.
"He's done it," Kelly said of Jones, 29, whose time with the Packers was equally split between inside and outside linebacker. "I think there's tape out there ... So it's not teaching him a new (position). It's putting, just like I was talking about with John (Moffitt, the veteran guard the team signed June 29th) -- putting it in our terminology, so he understands what the call is."
Jones lost his starting job with the Packers as an ILB early last season. He said yesterday an ankle injury was a factor. He said the Eagles told him he would be "a swing guy" when they signed him, so he wasn't surprised to be practicing outside Tuesday.
"I just work here. I follow orders," Jones said.
Jones won a Super Bowl XLV ring with the Packers. He said team cohesion here is "the same, if not better" than in Green Bay.