Training Camp Opens

Posted: August 17th, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | Comments Off on Training Camp Opens

The Eagles practiced in pads today for the first time. It was a limited practice, as you might imagine, but there was still enough for our intrepid reporters to share their observations of the greatest team ever assembled (give or take).

We’ll open with an injury update.

Ugh. Not what we wanted to see.

Hargrave has a pec strain and will miss a couple of weeks. Not ideal for a guy who is learning a new scheme and expected to be a difference-maker.

Barnett’s injury isn’t as serious, but is more troubling in a way. He’s had injury issues each year. This season he was supposed to stay healthy and have a breakout year. Not an ideal start for him.

J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is coming off a terrible rookie season. He needs to stay healthy, get a ton of reps and play better. Watching practice wasn’t on his to-do list. Not an ideal start to JJAW’s sophomore campaign.

Peters is a crusty veteran, but this is his first time at RG. Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but this isn’t an ideal start to the strangest season of his legendary career.

Things are never easy for the Eagles.

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LINKS

Jimmy Kempski

Zach Berman / Bo Wulf

Jeff McLane

Brandon Lee Gowton

Fran Duffy / Dave Spadaro

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After reading all the practice reviews, here is what stood out to me:

Carson Wentz had good chemistry with rookie receiver Jalen Reagor. With limited reps, it is critical for the two of them to get on the same page right away. Reagor ran with the 1’s, alongside DeSean Jackson and Greg Ward. The Eagles aren’t messing around. They need Reagor to contribute as a rookie and they are pushing him to do that.

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Fellow rookies Quez Watkins and John Hightower each showed serious speed and had some highlight moments. These guys have to earn roster spots, let alone playing time, so it is important for them to flash early. They need to show the coaches and their teammates they belong.

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The OL depth chart with Peters out.

1st – Dillard – Seumalo – Kelce – Pryor – Johnson

2nd – Mailata – Opeta – L. Juriga – Herbig – Driscoll

You may wonder who Luke Juriga is. He is a UDFA from Western Michigan. Why is he the backup C? Peters is out at RG. That means Matt Pryor moves up to the starting line. The team put Nate Herbig as the #2 RG today. Herbig will likely be the backup C, but he is getting cross-trained at guard. I don’t think Juriga has wowed the coaches in walkthroughs to the point where he’s climbing the depth chart.

I am happy Mailata is back at LT. He looked more natural there in 2018 than he did at RT last summer.

Dillard was in and out of practice today. Ugh. He needs every rep he can get.

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Corey Clement impressed a few people. Very encouraging to see him back and looking good. Elijah Holyfield also had a couple of good reps. The Eagles just might not need a veteran RB if the young guys stay healthy and look good.

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Rookie LB Shaun Bradley had a solid hit on Dallas Goedert and was there for a sack on another play (no tackling today). He got reps with the backup Nickel LBs. Good start for him.

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Will Parks was the #3 safety. K’Von Wallace was working with the third team. I know Wallace was a fan favorite and I expect him to play this year, but he might need some time to carve out a role.

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Reagor dropped 2 punts in ST’s drills. The Eagles will work on that a lot. Reagor can be dynamic with the ball in his hands so you figure out ways to get him on the field.

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QB Jalen Hurts had a good day. Neither he nor Nate Sudfeld got a lot of reps, but Hurts showed real good touch on some throws. He is light years better than Clayton Thorson was last year.

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The Alshon Jeffery mystery continues to evolve. He was at practice and pretty talkative on the sidelines, with players and coaches. He and Carson Wentz chatted for a bit. A few months back we thought Jeffery had to be a goner. The Eagles have fought that idea the whole time. Now I’m starting to think Jeffery might just stick around.

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About that Wentz guy. Sounds like he had a good day. This was the highlight of the day.

So good to see Wentz healthy and focused on football.

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