Kelee Ringo stood behind the stage, waiting for his turn to face the Eagles’ media and answer the many questions he knows are coming.
Are you going to be a starting cornerback this year?
Did not playing many reps at the position last season hinder your development?
Ringo politely answers every question with thoughtfulness and in-depth responses as if he were reading off a teleprompter, but that is because every answer is sincere. The work he is putting in and the knowledge he has attained from two years of on-the-job training with the Eagles has been intense, and will be tested during training camp. Kelee is ready for his moment.
Patiently Waiting
Ringo is just 22. Had he been drafted this year, he would be one of the youngest top corners selected in this past season’s NFL Draft. Except he has been on an NFL roster for two years, gaining valuable experience. Ringo is happy with his choice to come out at a young age, and believes the difference in the game is so vast that he has a head start on where he would have been if he stayed at Georgia.
“I feel (staying in school) would have changed a lot, for sure. Coming into the league much older, I feel like, you have a good amount of experience in the game, but it’s night and day from the league versus college.”
All eyes will be on Kelee this summer during training camp. He will be in a battle for the starting corner job with the Eagles, opposite of Quinyon Mitchell. A job that Big Play Slay held down for five seasons, where he earned three Pro Bowl nods, two trips to the Super Bowl, and a World Championship. Ringo knows the shoes he has to fill are big, and he has paid attention to the work ethic and daily routines, while also putting in the work.
“ Taking that next step of focusing on your technique. From little things like stretching, I learned the playbook. All different things that can help you get an edge over all besides just your talent. That’s the main thing I’ve been focusing on right now.”
Like a sponge, Ringo has absorbed everything he could from the Eagles’ experience-filled DB rooms over the last two seasons; now he wants to experience on the field, all of the whys behind the whats.
“Somebody can always tell you but until you step your foot in there, you don’t really understand why. I’ve always been a person to understand ‘Why am I doing this? How can this help me? How can this help my game?’ Just always getting smarter and understanding the game overall can definitely enhance myself.”
Year 3 with the Eagles
Kelee has been dedicated and put in the time and effort, but the only way to get better is by being on the field. Something Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio has mentioned.
“He needs to learn to play the game, and that comes with reps.”
In the limited reps at corner last season with the Eagles, Kelee was very solid in coverage. He allowed minimal separation and appeared to recognize routes quicker than he has in the NFL and during his time at Georgia. He wants the chance to prove he is the guy for the job and display it over a full season.
But, until he wins the job, the doubters and the questions will keep coming, and the work and attention to detail will remain the same, while the answers will work themselves out on the field. His desire is to be the starting corner, but he relishes the opportunity to get on the field and contribute to the Eagles in any way he is asked.
“Whatever opportunity I get to help the team, that’s what my role is gonna be. Whether that’s playing corner, playing gunner on special teams, just go out there and play for Philly.”
Kelee reportedly looked good at mini-camp and has had a strong off-season, with the fruits of his labor showing a glimmer of his vast potential that he hopes will carry over on game days. Despite saying all of the right things and being a team player with every quote you will hear, including sharing his willingness to take any role he is asked to do, there is a burning desire to be the starter. There is also a hope that later in the season, he will have answered all of the questions that he’s being asked this summer, and that he will win the job and will not be asked these questions again. He has the size, speed, and talent to not only start at corner but also be an elite player. Until he does, all eyes will be on Kelee.
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Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
