EMB Blog: 2021 Training Camp / Preseason

[bpac55]

From BGN.  Camp winners so far.  I know, I know.  It's been less than a week with no pads, but it's still content from guys who have watched practice.  

JORDAN MAILATA

The clear leader in the starting left tackle battle thus far. Mailata is having the best camp of his career. Just not seeing many bad reps or big mistakes from him.

JOSH SWEAT

Sweat has been splitting first team defensive end reps with Derek Barnett. Whereas Sweat was clearly behind the Eagles’ 2017 first-round pick on Jim Schwartz’s depth chart, Philly’s 2018 fourth-round pick is getting a chance to start under a new coaching staff. Sweat’s been making the most out of his opportunities, too, by regularly being disruptive. Barnett is also having a good camp, to be clear, but I’d put Sweat slightly ahead for now.

DAVION TAYLOR

Many expected Taylor to be the fifth or sixth linebacker on the depth chart heading into camp. Instead, he’s been LB1 (though Alex Singleton hasn’t practiced due to being on the COVID list). I can’t say I’ve seen Taylor stand out on a daily basis but he did have a good practice on Friday. Hopefully the quadriceps injury he recently suffered doesn’t keep him out long.

DEVONTA SMITH

Smith is responsible for the most exciting play in camp to this point. He burned Steve Nelson for a deep touchdown reception from Jalen Hurts. Moreover, Smith has seen a lot of targets while working with the first team offense. It’s clear he’s good and he’s going to be heavily involved in the offense. As he should be.

NICK MULLENS

He’s arguably been the best passer early on in Eagles training camp. Mullens has made good decisions and gotten the ball out quick. He’s making the case to be the No. 2 quarterback, though Joe Flacco might already have the job on lock.

TYREE JACKSON

I don’t know if the Eagles can reasonably rely on Jackson to play in a game this year. The former college quarterback is only in his first offseason as a tight end. But the 6’7”, 249 pound target sure is intriguing. He’s made a number of good catches and has shown more physicality than you might expect for a newbie to the position. At the very least, seems worth keeping around on the practice squad. Might find a way to push for the TE3 spot.

TARRON JACKSON

Good summer to be a T. Jackson. The Eagles’ 2021 sixth-round pick has stood out in 1-on-1s in addition to having some team drill success. Barring injury, he’s not poised to play much this year since he’s behind Brandon Graham, Sweat, Barnett, and Ryan Kerrigan on the depth chart. But he’s earning a DE5 spot on the roster. Jackson could be an important long-term piece since only Graham from the group above is signed beyond this season.

T.Y. MCGILL

Hard to get too excited about McGill since we’re talking about a player who turns 29 this season and has had 11 different NFL stints. But he’s popped as an interior rusher. The Eagles might want to keep him around instead of Hassan Ridgeway, who has been much more prone to injury. Could be anything from DT3 to DT5.

JONATHAN GANNON

The Eagles’ defense has been ahead of the Eagles’ offense in camp. They’ve been practicing with a lot of energy. JG, a fiery guy in his own right, deserves some credit for that. There’s also a level of intrigue with the defense given how Philly’s new defensive coordinator has been showing different looks, such as occasional 3-4 fronts.

 

Continued....camp losers

JALEN HURTS

I thought about putting Hurts in an "I don’t know” category. It’s hardly like he’s had a terrible camp. Up and down is probably the best way to describe it. I just don’t think that’s nearly good enough to convince the Eagles that he’s their guy. There hasn’t been any kind of "night and day” difference with Hurts and I think that’s what the team wanted to see. In fairness to Hurts, he’s not going to shine in practice settings as he can in the games due to his mobile ability. But it still would be nice to see him doing more with his arm in terms of improved accuracy and throwing with anticipation. There’s plenty of summer left for Hurts to turn things around. For now, we’re putting him in this section.

JALEN REAGOR

It’s only fair to point out that Reagor might not be in the best mental space right now after a childhood friend of his was murdered. We all feel for him as a human being. Evaluating him as a player, though, he’s just not off to an ideal start in camp. He suffered an injury (“lower body tightness”) while failing his physical and hasn’t yet been a full participant in practice. Ask yourselves: is this really how Reagor’s breakout season begins?

ANDRE DILLARD

I just don’t think Dillard is a good football player. He struggled as a rookie, he didn’t look good in camp last year, and now he’s having more issues this summer. He might be overcompensating with his issues against the bull rush because he’s been beaten by quickness as well. Dillard’s been badly beaten too often — physically and mentally — in both 1-on-1s and team drills. He’s not always a total turnstile out there but he’s clearly not as good as Mailata.

JOE FLACCO

I’ll never understand why the Eagles gave him $3.5 million guaranteed. He’s been outperformed by both Hurts and Mullens. Flacco’s struggled with accuracy issues.

JAKE ELLIOTT

Small sample size but not great to see Elliott go only 4/6 on field goal attempts after having the worst season of his career in 2020. We’ll see if he can turn it around.

BRANDON BROOKS

The hamstring injury Brooks suffered early on the second day of training camp isn’t believed to be serious. That being said, he’s already missed at least two full practices since then. Brooks missing time isn’t doing anything to silence questions about the soon-to-be 32-year-old’s durability.

KENNY GAINWELL

Gainwell’s flashed a little as a pass-catcher, which is important. He hasn’t popped at all as a runner, though. Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, Kerryon Johnson, and Jason Huntley have all been better than him in that regard. Gainwell will likely make the roster but I wonder how much he’ll actually play. He sure won’t be returning punts considering how much he’s struggled to field them.

ZACH ERTZ

Ertz is reportedly "not happy” about still being in Philly.

HOWIE ROSEMAN

Really on-brand for me, right? I just don’t think it’s a great decision to have Ertz practicing. He’s one injury away from the Eagles being on the hook for $8.5 million that they could otherwise clear and roll over to next year. Beyond the Ertz thing, I have Roseman down as a loser due to the Carson Wentz injury situation. That’s obviously not Howie’s fault but it’s bad for the Eagles that it seems like they won’t end up getting a 2022 first-round pick for Wentz.

[bpac55]

Here is CSN's stock up/down report.  A lot of similar thoughts to the winners and losers from BGN.

It drives me crazy that they didn't sign Nick Mullens to be QB2 from the get go.  He's exactly the kind of QB you want as the backup.  Cheap, young and capable of coming in to win a game or 2.  I have no idea what they were thinking bringing in Flacco and giving him all of that money.  Just a horrible FA signing.  Jake Elliot needs to step his freaking game up.

 

 

[BigEFly]

2 hours ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

I know why the vaccine matters.  But unfortunately a large portion of our country doesn’t.  Without hitting certain % goals, we will fail to hit herd immunity.  

I suspect that for some, it is difficult to get vaccinated.  I am just back from the county/home town of my folks in the middle of South Dakota.  It’s fifty plus miles round trip to the nearest drug store.  I was in areas of Texas where it’s closer to 100 plus miles.  Doctors?  Hardly.  Then you have people that are hourly employees and working when pharmacies and clinics are open. Rural availability is a huge issue.  As is for urban poor.  

[BigEFly]

1 hour ago, bpac55 said:

I hope Jackson is legit.  Would be such a pleasant surprise to have a huge, athletic tight end coming up in the ranks.

I also hope the Josh Sweat hype is legit.  Word in a lot of the reports I've read is he's been the best Eagle on the team by far during camp.  Man that would be great to have a young stud step up at DE.

I think Jason Huntley is a candidate.  Every day he's popping off long runs and lots of tweets about his long speed.  

Until a strong wind blows him over.

[BigEFly]

1 hour ago, eagle45 said:

There needs to be a delineation of award criteria.

Nasty Nate award is for a player who never should have been hyped, 6th round or later/udfa, who develops immense expectations in camp and then doesn't make the team.  

Jerome McNabb award is for a 1st thru 3rd round draft pick who sucks in years 1 and/or 2 and then is massively hyped up as a stud in camp.  

Travis Fulgoat award is for a lousy player who plays well for a stretch, is labeled a franchise cornerstone, and is then never heard from again.

 

Nasty Nate: Are there really any udfa type players being hyped at all this year?  Buttler and Tyree Jackson?  

Jerome McNabb: Taylor with competition from Dillard and Reagor.

Fulgoat: Nate Herbig seems ripe for this one with competition from none other than Jalen Hurts.

What about the Na Brown award for WRs that "catch everything " in camp and couldn’t catch a cold if sneezed on.  

[LeanMeanGM]

26 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

Here is CSN's stock up/down report.  A lot of similar thoughts to the winners and losers from BGN.

It drives me crazy that they didn't sign Nick Mullens to be QB2 from the get go.  He's exactly the kind of QB you want as the backup.  Cheap, young and capable of coming in to win a game or 2.  I have no idea what they were thinking bringing in Flacco and giving him all of that money.  Just a horrible FA signing.  Jake Elliot needs to step his freaking game up.

 

 

Only explanation I can think of is they weren’t sure of Mullens injury situation back in March. Otherwise it makes no sense at all. 

[LeanMeanGM]

2 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

What about the Na Brown award for WRs that "catch everything " in camp and couldn’t catch a cold if sneezed on.  

JJAW is the perennial winner 

[Diehardfan]

Hurts just isn't the guy and the sooner the Eagles see that the better. This entire season feels like a waste because they are going with him.

[EaglePhan1986]

30 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

Hurts just isn't the guy and the sooner the Eagles see that the better. This entire season feels like a waste because they are going with him.

I think the bulk of the Eagles brass knows this but you still have to play to win. 

[jmac+djaxallday]

4 hours ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Imagine being dumb enough to still rationalize not getting the shot because it doesn’t prevent you from getting Covid.  
 

You’d hope people would educate themselves.  

The problem is that the NFL's stupid policy actually makes it more likely for vaccinated players to get COVID than unvaccinated players (who are forced to always wear masks) - which of course defeats the whole purpose of incentivizing them to get the vaccine in the first place (to be available).

And since NFL players aren't as likely to get seriously ill/hospitalized as the general population, the other arguments for getting it become mostly moot.

[WentzFan11]

 

[austinfan]

6 hours ago, Diehardfan said:

And half the Yankees. Seriously, lots of players didn't have the shot last year and everything was ok. The sky isn't falling. People need to chill the fresk out, especially if they got the shot..cause the shot protects us, right? Not fully,  but things will be fine. Made it through an entire 16 weeks without any vaccines last year.

The Delta variant is to first generation COVID what Cox is to McGill as a DT.

In about two more weeks, you'll see record numbers of infections.

And it's not just deaths, by the time this is over, long-haulers will number in the millions.

[Diehardfan]

38 minutes ago, austinfan said:

The Delta variant is to first generation COVID what Cox is to McGill as a DT.

In about two more weeks, you'll see record numbers of infections.

And it's not just deaths, by the time this is over, long-haulers will number in the millions.

Things in India don't back that up. May was crazy, but they are mostly doing fine now with the vaccines kicking in. I hope people get the shots, and if they have a booster I'm getting one as soon as I can, but people who don't shouldn't be hated IMO. The season will be fine.

[D-Shiznit]

3 hours ago, Diehardfan said:

Hurts just isn't the guy and the sooner the Eagles see that the better. This entire season feels like a waste because they are going with him.

They are just waiting on Watson, as soon as the environment develops to trade for him, Lowie will go after him crazy Eddie style.

[Infam]

5 hours ago, bpac55 said:

Here is CSN's stock up/down report.  A lot of similar thoughts to the winners and losers from BGN.

It drives me crazy that they didn't sign Nick Mullens to be QB2 from the get go.  He's exactly the kind of QB you want as the backup.  Cheap, young and capable of coming in to win a game or 2.  I have no idea what they were thinking bringing in Flacco and giving him all of that money.  Just a horrible FA signing.  Jake Elliot needs to step his freaking game up.

 

Of course BLG would add Hurts to losers too. That one was obvious before it started, he got his narrative made up. Hate how negative this guy has been for years.

Agree on Flacco though, wasted money.

[E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles]

On 7/31/2021 at 4:14 PM, jwill2420 said:

Toughest guy sir. And I just put everyone who agreed with Alphagrands post about Goedert being the only Eagle deserving a big contract extension. You was one of the guys who gave it a thumbsup. I hope your not another old guy who losing his memory around here?

Meh.  I accept my "old guy" status with pride.

Welcome to my Dirty Dozen!

[greend]

On 7/31/2021 at 8:13 PM, vaeagle2 said:

gotta start somewhere , i'm not gonna hate on jalen for doing his job at practice but go ahead if you need to.

No but you'll hate on others basing it on a practice. 

57 minutes ago, E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles said:

Meh.  I accept my "old guy" status with pride.

Welcome to my Dirty Dozen!

Please don't quote that idiot. 

[Iggles_Phan]

9 hours ago, bpac55 said:

Here is CSN's stock up/down report.  A lot of similar thoughts to the winners and losers from BGN.

It drives me crazy that they didn't sign Nick Mullens to be QB2 from the get go.  He's exactly the kind of QB you want as the backup.  Cheap, young and capable of coming in to win a game or 2.  I have no idea what they were thinking bringing in Flacco and giving him all of that money.  Just a horrible FA signing.  Jake Elliot needs to step his freaking game up.

 

 

Flacco was a bad signing?  Gee... I'm shocked.  Howie has been so impressive this offseason... or so I've been told.

[Penn7980]

17 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Flacco was a bad signing.  Gee... I'm shocked.  Hoiwe has been so impressive this offseason... or so I've been told.

Flacco may be the #3 QB at this moment.  Yes, it is early.  By the reports thus far, he has not shined.  He has a rich guaranteed contract which may be hard to cut him.  Nice handi-work that Howie has done.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles]

27 minutes ago, greend said:

Please don't quote that idiot. 

No worries.  He went on Ignore earlier.

[Iggles_Phan]

8 minutes ago, Penn7980 said:

Flacco may be the #3 QB at this moment.  Yes, it is early.  By the reports thus far, he has not shined.  He has a rich guaranteed contract which may be hard to cut him.  Nice handi-work that Howie has done.

 

Best part is that he'll cost money to next year's cap if they keep him... or cost more on this year's cap if they cut him.  Howie gave himself a poison pill.  

5 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Well, doesn’t sound like Hurts has shined either.  So what does that mean?

Howie sucks? 

[Solomon]

4 hours ago, Infam said:

Of course BLG would add Hurts to losers too. That one was obvious before it started, he got his narrative made up. Hate how negative this guy has been for years.

Agree on Flacco though, wasted money.

I don't even go to BGN anymore because of how obvious BLG's bias is. Even if a player he doesn't like has a great game he always has to throw in something negative as well, no matter how small or inconsequential it may have been. 

[UK Eagle]

6 hours ago, austinfan said:

The Delta variant is to first generation COVID what Cox is to McGill as a DT.

In about two more weeks, you'll see record numbers of infections.

And it's not just deaths, by the time this is over, long-haulers will number in the millions.

Re: the Delta variant.  We had a lot of fuss over here in the past 4-8 weeks that it was going to cause 100,000-200,000 cases a day, thousands of deaths, etc. We basically opened back up,  while the Euros and other things were happening and there has been a lot of socialising as a consequence. The case numbers/track and track pings did go up, but hospitalisations and deaths were a lot lower than other peaks. At this moment, it's kind of blown itself out while we are the most open we've been in months and months. Autumn and Winter are unknowns.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

Ergo, if players, coaches and fans who are 80+ or have comorbidities remain unvaccinated, then they are at a big risk, as many colleagues in India suffered with. Vaccinations did seem to break the chain that has been present before.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles]

36 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Well, doesn’t sound like Hurts has shined either.  So what does that mean?

4 wins this year and a new QB next season.

[ToastJenkins]

9 hours ago, Diehardfan said:

Hurts just isn't the guy and the sooner the Eagles see that the better. This entire season feels like a waste because they are going with him.

only if viewed in a vacuum. this season will be used to clear cap hell and identify young players to build around. I am on record as thinking Hurts is not good enough. but we will find out alot about our new coaches as well.