Some Love for the LBs

Posted: August 2nd, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | Comments Off on Some Love for the LBs

The Eagles have an outstanding DL. The secondary has good potential, if the right guys get healthy and play to their potential. LBs? That’s a bit of a mystery.

Let’s talk about the LBs.

From Zach Berman.

During an installation period for the back seven, the three linebackers are Zach Brown (SAM), Bradham (MIKE) and Kamu Grugier-Hill (WILL). I understand the Eagles try out different combinations this time of year and it’s not even a full-team drill, but it’s nonetheless noteworthy that Bradham is in the middle and Brown is on the strong-side.

Bradham has filled in as the middle linebacker in Jordan Hicks’ absence in past seasons, although I figured the Eagles wouldn’t play him there with other options. If nothing else, this is something to monitor in the coming weeks, especially when Bradham is healthy.

I have been curious about where the projected starters would line up. This makes the most sense. Bradham can play all three spots, but putting him in the middle makes sense. KGH and Brown are the better athletes. You want them in space.

Nothing is written in stone. Bradham isn’t healthy right now. And Brown has not been overly impressive. He’s not even a lock to make the team at this point.

Jimmy Bama noticed good play from Nate Gerry.

Nate Gerry has been been getting first-team reps alongside Grugier-Hill over Zach Brown. Gerry got his hand on a couple of footballs today. He got a piece of one intended for Zach Ertz, who caught the deflection anyway, but not without a bobble first. Ertz could not get two feet in bounds, and he almost face-planted into the goal post. Great effort, and a little scare there.

Gerry is a third-year player and has gotten each season. We don’t know what his ceiling is. He might be a backup and STer. He could develop into a starter. He’s at least headed in the right direction. I’m happy that Gerry didn’t sulk with the signing of Brown. Gerry seems to be working as hard as ever and doing what he can to earn a roster spot, as well as possibly some playing time.

Mr. Bama was also impressed by Grugier-Hill.

Grugier-Hill made what I thought was the play of the day. In red zone 7-on-7’s, Wentz fired a laser over the middle, which Grugier-Hill picked clean out of the air for an INT. It was one of those throws where the ball was intended to travel 20-25 yards on a line, so Wentz he put extra heat on it. However, Grugier-Hill snatched it out of the air with Grant Fuhr-like reaction time after it only traveled 10 or so yards. Grugier-Hill has shown a flare for the splash play this summer.

KGH has been one of the stars of Training Camp. I’m really excited to see him in action next week. KGH has gone from just being an athlete to being a playmaker. His combination of skill, ability, athleticism, instincts and experience are all closer now than ever before.

L.J. Fort, T.J. Edwards and Alex Singleton have all had their good moments, but none of them has consistently stood out. Paul Worrilow has missed time due to injury.

If Bradham is healthy and KGH lives up to the summer hype, the LBs will be good. Brown needs to pick his game up. Gerry needs to keep improving. You won’t mistake this group for Seth-BE-Willie T. anytime soon, but they could be pretty good. 

*****

I have to give Mike Kaye some credit. It feels like he started the Greg Ward hype train recently and that’s been picking up steam.

Jeff McLane was impressed.

Greg Ward deserves some mention. The receiver has caught nearly everything thrown his way and Eagles coaches are paying notice. He’s been the second slot receiver behind Agholor. He probably had the catch of the day when he reeled in a back-shoulder pass from quarterback Nate Sudfeld. Ward stands only 5-foot-11, but he has a pretty good vertical and had to rise for that ball.

Brandon Lee Gowton wrote about Ward and another young WR, Carlton Agudosi.

 If you’ve been keeping up with BGN’s practice notes, you’ll recall that a wide receiver by the name of Carlton Agudosi has been making some highlight plays throughout the offseason. I’ve previously referred to the 6-6, 220 pound receiver as the Eagles’ new version of Ifeanyi Momah. That comparison isn’t perfect, though, because Agudosi is actually looking better than Momah.

Agudosi’s size really stood out with the Eagles doing a lot of red zone work today. By my count, he had at least four red zone touchdowns. One came in a 3-on-3 scenario where Clayton Thorson didn’t see anyone open so he just lobbed it up and Agudosi caught the jump ball. Then it was Nate Sudfeld who hit Agudosi for three touchdowns during a 7-on-7 red zone drill. One of those touchdowns was a perfect fade throw from Sudfeld that allowed a leaping Agudosi to make the play.

Agudosi did have two drops in practice, including one on what would’ve been a nice deep completion.

Still, a good day for Agudosi. Pederson mentioned him first when asked about some more of the unheralded standout players from training camp so far.

I don’t have Agudosi making the 53-man just yet but he’s put himself in roster bubble conversation. Practice squad might be the realistic bet.

This is what you want from young guys. You want them to make plays and get everyone’s attention. Agudosi and Ward have a long way to go before truly pushing for roster spots, but they are impressing so far. Even if they don’t make the final roster, they could be developmental players.

Ward has had a habit of disappearing in the preseason so I’m fascinated to see how he does this August. Maybe he’s ready to keep playing well and truly open some eyes.

*****

Sidney Jones has impressed everyone. Here are Mike Kaye’s thoughts on him.

It’s hard to think of a defensive player who has performed better than cornerback Sidney Jones over the last four practices. Jones produced two interceptions and several pass breakups during the four-practice stretch this week.

Jones produced a highlight early on in Thursday’s practice. The cornerback picked off quarterback Carson Wentz during 11-on-11 red-zone drills. Wentz targeted tight end Richard Rodgers in the end zone and Jones snatched the ball out of the air. Later on, Jones broke up a pass from Wentz to wide receiver Nelson Agholor.

Rasul Douglas has probably been the most consistent cover cornerback during the entirety of camp but Jones has made splashier plays. Douglas had an impressive break up during 11-on-11 drills, as Wentz produced a perfectly placed pass to Agholor across the middle. The ball hit Agholor’s hands but Douglas forced him to drop the ball. Following the play, Agholor playfully punched Douglas’ chest pads while the cornerback was on the ground.

The battle between Douglas and Jones for the “third starting cornerback” job has been the closest competition so far.

Jon Runyan used to never come out of the lineup. He feared getting hurt and losing his job to someone. You wonder if that could happen to Ronald Darby and/or Jalen Mills. Douglas and Jones have both played well this summer. If they continue that through the preseason, it will be interesting to see what the coaches do when everyone is ready to play.

One thing we do know. Avonte Maddox will definitely be out there somewhere. No one is coming for his job.

*****

QUICK HITS

Corey Clement is alive.

This was the first we’ve seen this summer from Corey Clement, who stepped on the field with the second team in this drill and had a couple of passes thrown his way in the flat, the second of which he caught and showed a bit of wiggle on his way to the end zone. On the injury front, it was good to see Rodney McLeod continue taking part in 7-on-7s, as he stepped up to stop a receiver on a slant route midway through the drill. – Fran

Good to have him back.

***

It was bizzaro day. Donnel Pumphrey and Clayton Thorson had their best days of TC. Thorson is a rookie and has been completely overwhelmed. Pump is either a very late bloomer or just not that good. You decide.

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