Competition. A simple word, but one that has been echoing around the NovaCare Complex since Spring. It’s also a word that Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson has ensured that year two of his tenure with the team is built on. From OTA’s to Training Camp, Pederson has ensured that there’s a relentless mentality at every position, and competition at each roster spot. But with the genetic makeup of the team becoming clearer each day, the attention now turns to what lies ahead.
The Birds are coming off of a strange 2016 season in which they finished 7-9. The expectations are much higher for the upcoming year and understandably so…but clicking pieces into place doesn’t happen overnight. Simply getting guys reps to build chemistry won’t solve 100% of your problems either. After a few tweaks here and there, Pederson has refined his outlook for Training Camp in order to replicate an environment the team would be grinding in during a regular season game.
After bringing back the 10/10/10 practice last year and re-introducing live-hitting, the Eagles suffered several Training Camp scares. Jordan Matthews, Zach Ertz, and Malcolm Jenkins were among those who sustained an injury during the heat of last year’s competition…but this year, things are different. The physicality aspect however, remains the same.
“Well, the key today was obviously protection.” Doug Pederson told the media after Tuesday’s practice. “We want to make sure that no one is getting hurt in these situations and [we are] teaching the secondary to keep their target up high. I didn’t want them to go low on receivers or running backs out in the open, and you saw that today. That was good to see.
But at the same time, it is part of the conditioning process of the bodies and the mind, and understanding that football is a physical game and we need to do this from time to time.”
The targeting up high comment may sound like something minor, but it was just under one year ago that Jalen Mills laid a low hit on Jordan Matthews that saw him miss valuable pre-season reps with his new quarterback. The thudding of pads can once again be heard around the NovaCare Complex and rightly so. Football is a contact sport and you won’t get any better at tackling if you’re not in a situation to practice it in the run up to the regular season. This was vital for an Eagles team who in 2015 struggled to wrap up receivers on a consistent basis.
One year later and Pederson’s mentality is the same. The difference is that the players are now prepared for it. Chip Kelly’s practices that were held in Lehigh simply ran differently. It was a different kind of environment for the players and a different kind of physicality. After one year under the tutelage of the former Kansas City Offensive Coordinator, players knew what to expect coming into the second Training Camp in his command.
“I took the same approach as last year.” Pederson said. “I wanted to make sure the guys understood that we were going to hit and we were going to have a couple live sessions. Today was a live day, but not every period today was live, only two [were]. I believe on Thursday I’ve got another one.
The guys are prepared for it. They understand it. I think it’s great. It does fuel some emotion, positively. It fuels the competition. It’s good to see.”
That familiarity makes a world of difference to a roster as young as that of the Eagles. Of the 90-man roster, 51 players have had less than three year’s worth of NFL experience. As a Head Coach, there was more that Pederson had to implement during his first season. The playbook, the relationships, the structure. This year…it’s all about coaching and reaffirming that players come in with the right mindset…and it makes the world of difference.
“I think just understanding the way I come to camp [in terms of] the preparation, the structure, the days we’re going to hit, the days we’re not.” Pederson told reporters. “I think it’s just important that, from my standpoint, I communicate that way. I think going into this camp, the guys are aware of that.
It’s like no big deal. They expect it, and they come out and they work hard.”
While some veterans have had extra days off and there have been some minor bumps and bruises along the way, there has not yet been (touch wood) anything serious on the injury front after one week of Training Camp. But with temperatures high and competition levels even higher, live-tackling made it’s re-appearance at the NovaCare complex today…creating a situation that the Birds will likely be facing to some degree later in the year. It’s something Pederson once again went on to explain to the media.
“Yeah a day like today, because this is like the early part of the season. September and sometimes even October, you know, you’re in the heat of the day and you’re playing those one o’clock games. In our case, Week Two at noon in Kansas City, it’s going to be 90 plus.
These are great days to condition the guys and to see the mindset of the football team.”
The first time around is always going to be bumpy, but with the majority of the roster having experienced what camp was like under Pederson in year one, they’re able to come in mentally and physically prepared for more of the same in year-two. It’s allowed the Eagles to amp up the intensity, push that extra bit harder, and create an environment that’s not only going to grow the team, but prepare the young roster for the rigors of another NFL season.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
