Pederson eager to see what rookie QB Wentz can do in game action

DOUG PEDERSON remembers his first NFL preseason game, as a rookie quarterback.

"It was late in the fourth quarter, and I knelt down three times. Three knees, in Miami," Pederson recalled recently. "Dan Marino, Scott Secules and Scott Mitchell were the three" quarterbacks ahead of Pederson on the depth chart that 1991 training camp, he said. Mitchell was the up-and-coming QB who got most of the work that night.

Pederson, then an undrafted rookie from northeast Louisiana, wasn't facing great expectations. Were his parents watching?

"Heck, no. It was too late. They were in bed."

Pederson's first preseason game as an NFL coach, Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field against Tampa, ought to produce more memories, for Pederson and for his rookie quarterback, Carson Wentz.

Wentz, the second player chosen in the NFL Draft, is scheduled to play the second half. These preseason games will be critical to Wentz's development, given that, for now, the coaching staff's plan is to keep him on the sideline in the regular season. Pederson seems eager, though, to give the home crowd a sense of why the Eagles expended resources to trade up and draft Wentz.

"He's very comfortable where he's at. He's getting better every day . . . I've seen a lot of young quarterbacks that come in and struggle mentally, with the terminology and just the overall volume of offense that we have in at this time, but I haven't seen that from him at all," Pederson said. "We haven't had any communication breakdowns in the huddle with him. Very pleased with where he's at, mentally. Now it's just a matter of continuing to detail his work, and fine-tune some of the mechanics."

Asked what he will look for from Wentz as the rookie makes the jump from North Dakota State to the NFL, Pederson said: "The biggest thing is just his decision-making. The timing of throws, the accuracy of throws. How well he, in turn, manages the offense, how well they move. And basically, allowing him to just have fun and cut it loose. He's such a mobile guy that when he can scramble and get on the perimeter, he has the ability to make some tremendous throws, and accurate throws out of the pocket."

Pederson will script some plays for Wentz and for all the QBs, he said. He plans to call plays himself, and to talk to his quarterbacks directly through their headsets. It will be interesting to see whether Pederson sticks with this plan long term or decides he needs more of an overview, and delegates more to offensive coordinator Frank Reich, who also will be on the sideline Thursday, Pederson said.

"Offensively, from a speed standpoint of calling the plays directly to the quarterback from myself, that is probably the biggest issue," Pederson said. "And then it just keeps you so in tune to the game. You're focused not only offensively, but when the defense is back out there you are looking at how your players are playing. You're kind of that quarterback on the sideline. Being in that position for so many years has led me to be in this position on game day."

Pederson said last month he didn't sleep the night before training camp opened.

"I'm gettin' that way right now," he said Tuesday. "Just kinda keyed up for it . . . It might be a restless night (Wednesday)."

Quite a few banged-up Eagles won't play against the Bucs. That number includes left tackle Jason Peters (quadriceps), wide receiver Jordan Matthews (knee), safety Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring) and linebacker Mychal Kendricks (hamstring).

Pederson said Matt Tobin, who struggled mightily last year at right guard, will start for Peters. He indicated that, in a more long-term Peters absence, he might move right tackle Lane Johnson, but for now, he'd prefer to keep Johnson where he is. This was hours before reports surfaced about Johnson possibly facing a 10-game suspension for a second performance-enhancing drug violation. Neither Pederson nor anyone else from the Eagles commented on that.

Pederson said Nelson Agholor and Chris Givens will start at wide receiver, with Rueben Randle in the slot. He said Najee Goode, the only veteran backup at linebacker, will take Kendricks' spot.

The only mild surprise was when Pederson said Chris Maragos and Jaylen Watkins will alternate in Jenkins' safety spot. Ed Reynolds has gotten most of the first-team reps. Asked about Reynolds, Pederson said he "is actually up all four quarters in this football game."

Pederson said Kendricks should be able to practice when the team reconvenes Saturday.

In addition to the starters already mentioned, defensive tackle Mike Martin (knee), rookie running back Wendell Smallwood (quad), wideouts Hunter Sharp (hamstring) and Marcus Johnson (quad), cornerback JaCorey Shepherd (hamstring) and defensive end Marcus Smith (concussion) will sit.

Asked whether seventh-round rookie corner Jalen Mills is ahead of Eric Rowe, last year's second-round rookie who started down the stretch, Pederson said, "at this time he is, yes."

Asked about Mills, profiled in Monday's Daily News, Pederson said: "I just think every day he comes to work. The aggressiveness in his style of play, he's got a lot of (pass breakups) and he's got hands on the ball. He's willing and eager to want to be in that position. So, everything that I have seen from Jalen is definitely thumbs up. I just look forward to these games now with him."