Reich furthers Eagles message, downplaying any Carson Wentz mechanical tweaks

Now that we've spoken to Carson Wentz, Doug Pederson and Frank Reich about Wentz' s offseason, at least one thing is clear: The Eagles do not want to build their 2017 narrative around Wentz's mechanics, and how they might or might not have been tweaked in his work during the winter in California with passing coach Adam Dedeaux.

It's easy to understand their reasoning. Think about every loss this fall becoming a referendum on the quarterback's release point or lower-body movement, replete with much amateur dissection of every frame of every replay of a key incompletion or interception.

The quarterback, head coach and offensive coordinator have downplayed the idea that any changes are significant, or that big change was needed after Wentz's rookie season. Reich, speaking to reporters Monday at NovaCare, spoke glowingly of his second-year QB's work in OTAs, which resumed shortly after Reich's news conference.

Asked if Wentz's release has gotten quicker, Reich said: "I don't know if it's gotten quicker; I've always thought Carson has a good release. He's like all our other players, trying to fine-tune things, working on mechanics, fundamentals. … Each of our players try to tighten a little something up you see here and there.

"I think he's looked really good. I'm excited about how he's looked. He worked hard. (Quarterbacks coach John) DeFilippo's doing a great job. I wish you guys could sit in some of the quarterback meeting rooms and watch the drill tape. (Note: so do we, Frank.) … We pick at everything. That's what coaches do. You pick at everything, we try to find the positive things, reinforce those. If we see something we don't like, you bring it up."

Reich said he can see growth in Wentz in his second year "from a leadership standpoint, just kinda coming in and (taking) ownership of the team, just being comfortable with the guys, guys being comfortable with him. It's just totally different, last year coming in here as the No. 3 quarterback.

"On the field … his pocket movement has been really good, just in the drills that we've done. … Little subtle movements, without going farther than you need to, going farther up in the pocket than you need to – just little, subtle movements in the pocket are very important for the quarterback, and then to be able to reset and throw with accuracy.

"As a quarterback, you're always challenging yourself on accuracy. How accurate can I be? And I think so far, his accuracy has looked very good."

Asked about Wentz's work in California, which occurred early in the offseason, when he was prohibited from working with Eagles coaches, Reich said: "I didn't have any issue at all, to be honest with you. As coaches, I would've loved to have given him a few weeks off of rest, and then 'Come on, let's go. Let's get into the lab and let's work.' Back when I was playing and Coach Pederson was playing, that's what we did. We took a little bit of time off and we were back in the building, throwing with receivers and talking with our coaches.

"That's fine. It's a different era; you can't do that anymore. Carson's like a lot of our players – they have an itch to get better. So if I'm a player, I'm going to find ways to get better."

Reich said he understands a lot of the work involved "target line and weight transfer." Reich added: "I think his footwork has been good."

Reich said DeFilippo has done a good job of working with Wentz on a specific problem last season – Wentz's moving up in the pocket when pressured, as is taught, but sometimes moving too far before stopping to reset.