Player Updates
Posted July 29th, 2024 | 1 Comment »Every Training Camp practice gives us another chance to learn about the players and the team. Let’s take a look at a few players of interest.
James Bradberry
I have been highly critical of Bradberry during the offseason. He was awful last year and I have been anxiously awaiting his departure. Bradberry spoke to the media recently and I have to give him a lot of credit for his candor and self-awareness.
Bradberry noticed the Eagles adding corners so he went to the coaches and brought up moving to safety. This would give him a chance to get reps and maybe carve out a role to stick with the team.
“I have a bigger body,” he said. “I have the size of a safety. I feel like I can cover tight ends. I covered tight ends last year. I covered tight ends when I was with the Giants. I feel like I’m smart enough to learn the role. Of course, I didn’t always show that I was physical last year, but I feel like I can be physical.”
Physical? Kind of. In coverage, yes. As a hitter and tackler? Not so much. That is the biggest challenge as I see it. Bradberry has to prove that he will be aggressive. If you don’t do that at safety, you’re turning good gains into huge plays.
I think Bradberry realizes that older corners coming off a bad year aren’t going to have many suitors. Better to try to stick with the Eagles than to hit the streets and be looking for work. This situation isn’t likely to pan out, but I do give him credit for being honest and trying to figure something out.
Grant Calcaterra
Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said in his press conference that Grant Calcaterra is the number two TE for now. He was drafted in 2022 and only has 9 catches in his first two seasons. That is hardly compelling, but he has shown good athleticism. He does have legit potential. Calcaterra has to show that he can be a functional blocker. If so, he could be a solid backup TE.
Moore got the ball to multiple TEs during his time in Dallas. The Eagles have not thrown much to the backup TEs in recent years. It will be interesting to see if that changes under Moore. Calcaterra is off to a good start in camp so he’s doing his part to win the job and show the coaches they can trust him.
Will Shipley
Fran Duffy had some good notes on the Eagles rookie RB.
The star of the drill was rookie running back Will Shipley, who showed off outstanding route-running skill and quickness and shake in and out of cuts to separate and win as a receiver. Saquon Barkley had a couple of nice wins against linebackers as well. The drill ended with all of the linebackers doing push-ups before moving over to the primary field. That wouldn’t be the last we would see of Shipley this morning, as he took a shallow cross in a later team period and ran away from the defense for a big gain that may have scored in live action.
Barkley will be the workhorse. Kenny Gainwell will be the primary backup. There is still a role for Shipley because of his skill set. He can run, block and catch. You can play him on third downs or in obvious passing situations.
Tyler Steen
With Cam Jurgens moving to C, that leaves RG for Steen to win. He is dealing with an ankle injury and has missed a couple of practices. That’s not a huge deal, but it isn’t ideal either. Steen needs as many reps as possible. With him out, Darian Kinnard got reps with the 1’s. Mekhi Becton has played LG and RT so far. I think the Eagles really want Steen to be the RG so that Becton can be a key backup at G and T.
Nakobe Dean
Devin White and Zack Baun generally line up as the starters. Dean works with the 2’s and is also the only LB in the dime defense. Jimmy has liked what he’s seen so far.
Nakobe Dean has been active the first three days of camp, particularly as a blitzer which was a strength of his at Georgia. He didn’t show much in camp his first two seasons, but he’s flying around so far this camp.
Fran has liked what he’s seen.
Another player in the back seven who flashed to me on Thursday was linebacker Nakobe Dean. The third-year linebacker was in on several wrap-ups of Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell this morning, and I could feel the energy and passion he was bringing to the defense in practice. Any time the first- or second-team units finished a series of reps, they sprinted to the goal line for extra conditioning. Dean was the ringleader on defense urging his teammates on to get running each of those times.
This is an encouraging start for Dean. Fangio is a veteran coach who knows how to get the most out of players. Let’s see if he can work his magic with Dean.
Britain Covey
Covey only has 4 career catches. The Eagles love him as a punt returner, but have not given him much of a shot to play WR. Covey is opening some eyes in camp with his receiver play. Here is Jimmy Bama’s take.
Britain Covey made a ton of catches all over the field, including a deep ball from Kenny Pickett that beat Quinyon Mitchell. Covey isn’t thought of by many as a contender for the WR3 job, and certainly he’s a longshot, but maybe he should be given a legit opportunity to show what he can do in the regular offense? Maybe there’s a role for him, given the wiggle he has shown on punt returns?
Covey is talented enough to be an effective role player. He’s never going to be a volume receiver or star receiver, but he has the skill set to get open as a slot receiver and catch the ball. I would like to see him get more of a chance to show what he can do.
Ben VanSumeren
Jimmy has finally learned to embrace BVS.
During special teams drills, Ben VanSumeren consistently stands out. He seems to always have the best reps. I didn’t have him on my pre-camp 53-man roster projection, but I now believe he will make it.
He has also flashed on defense at times. BVS is a terrific athlete. Fangio loves guys like him and wants to see if BVS can become a good role player or even more.
Jalyx Hunt
Several people have mentioned Hunt flashing on both special teams and defense. He is a small school rookie, but Hunt is also an explosive athlete with a big time motor. I think he’s been better than people had anticipated.
_