Philadelphia Eagles

Ten takeaways from day eleven of Eagles Training camp

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NFL: Philadelphia Eagles-Training Camp
Jul 28, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews (81) runs with the ball during training camp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The heat was almost as intense as the action on the field in South Philadelphia today as the Eagles completed their eleventh practice of Training Camp. Hard hitting seemed to be the key focus here..but it was a day filled with big positives..and a few concerns. Here are ten takeaways from today’s practice.

Injuries:
Ryan Mathews and Brandon Brooks returned to practice today, but it was in limited capacity. Mathews left the session early after participating in some team drills while Wisniewski was taking the first team RG reps, meaning that Brooks can ease his way back into the program.

But things took a sour turn as the day went on. Tight end Zach Ertz was hit by rookie Blake Countess and left practice early as a result with a head injury. Ertz also sustained a head injury after the Detroit Lions thanksgiving blowout, but is reported to be clear of a concussion.

Defensive end Marcus Smith also left early with a head injury and according to the Eagles, was being evaluated with Ertz after practice. It was later revealed that Smith does in fact have a concussion and will have to go through the NFL’s concussion protocol before he can return.

Wide receiver Jordan Matthews sustained a low hit from Jalen Mills before limping to the sideline toward the end of practice. But luckily, it doesn’t seem that serious.

Matthews will likely miss a couple of days while the soreness clears up, but otherwise there’s no reason to be concerned. It was a day of big scares for the Eagles, but luckily..there’s no major injuries to report.

 

Watkins looks red hot:
After moving over to the Safety position, Jaylen Watkins has been shining. With Malcolm Jenkins absent and Rodney McLeod away due to a death in the family, Watkins has grabbed the opportunity to steal the show with both hands.

Jim Schwartz wants to ensure that there’s solid depth behind his starting tandem..and Watkins could well be a dark horse to secure a roster spot.

 

Wentz continues to show “raw” talent:
Raw being the word. It’s clear from the inconsistencies that a lot of work still needs to be done, but every now and again you see flashes of the potential that the Eagles believe he can one day live up to.

It’s one thing hearing how well he’s developing..but myself like many others just can’t wait to see him in action during the pre-season and get a taste of what the future holds.

 

Daamnnn Daniel!:
Chase Daniel has been widely regarded as the most consistent of the three Eagles quarterbacks but today, that wasn’t the case.

It seems rare that Daniel has an off-day, but it looks as if the Eagles backup QB struggled a little more than usual in Friday’s practice.

 

Brandon Graham heats up:
Brandon Graham has had a fairly quiet camp so far, but he exploded onto the scene today. Considering that the rotation at the DE position is far from cemented, it’s encouraging to see Graham really attack with pre-season just around the corner.

Graham was interviewed by SiriusXM earlier today and said the following, I think it’s fair to say he’s flourishing in this new culture.

 

Bradford finds his rhythm:
There may have been a few sacks and wobbly passes, but from what reports are suggesting, Sam Bradford had a solid morning on Friday.

The Eagles starting QB has had his fair share of picks and misfires..but right now he seems to be very comfortable in Doug’s Offense. In a scheme that demands quick reads and accuracy, Bradford is finding his stride at the perfect time.

 

Cornerback competition:
The Cornerback competition has been vicious so far and through all the Grymes and Mills hype, we’re forgetting about last year’s sleeper, Denzel Rice. The undrafted sophomore corner from Coastal Carolina isn’t going down without a fight.

Rice got himself onto the field toward the end of 2015 when the injury bug was at its worst..but he’s keen to prove himself worthy of a 2016 roster spot. In a position battle where so many are impressing, it’s hard to stand out..but Rice is doing a good job.

 

DT dominance:
We know that Logan and Cox could well become one of the best interior duos in the league this season, but even in Training camp, the two are doing more than turn heads.

….Damn…..

 

Rowe making the most of first team opportunity:
Eric Rowe needs to attack every Training camp session with the same intensity as he has been all week. With Carroll seemingly absent, Rowe found himself lining up with the first team..and made sure everybody knew about it.

 

Physicality is the name of the game in Philadelphia now..and Rowe has been doing everything he can do adapt his game. These kind of plays in first team scenarios are only going to bode well for the second year corner.

 

Coaching intensity:
If there’s one thing that was prominent today, it was the intensity that every coach brings to the table. We will have more on this in our podcast later today, but this is a group of coaches that aren’t afraid to turn up the heat.

There’s definitely a culture change in Philadelphia..and it all starts at the top.

 

 

Mandatory Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

About the Author

Liam Jenkins

Liam is a 29-year old sports journalist from the UK and founder of the Philly Sports Network. Having now ran PSN for a decade, Liam’s focus remains on building a platform containing the most complete coverage of ALL of Philadelphia’s sports teams.

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