Another Camp Update

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Another Camp Update

Posted: August 10th, 2023 | Author: Tommy Lawlor 

Dallas Goedert is one of the best tight ends in the league. He is one of the best Eagles. Despite that, there are times when he feels overlooked.

Jimmy Bama had a good nugget on Goedert.

Dallas Goedert catches everything that comes his way. Early in practice, Terrell Edmunds had good positioning on Goedert (a rarity for any defensive player this camp when trying to cover Goedert), but it didn’t matter. Goedert reached in front of Edmunds and made the catch. Later, he beat Christian Elliss, which is nothing new. Linebackers simply haven’t had a chance against him.

I’ve seen reports out of Giants camp marveling at how Darren Waller has been uncoverable, and I think that Goedert hasn’t gotten that same level of attention in Philly (a) because the Eagles have two star receivers also regularly making plays, while the Giants don’t, and (b) Goedert isn’t new here. In other words, saying that Goedert is good isn’t exactly breaking news. But just to be clear, Goedert has had an outstanding camp.

Several other beat writers have pointed out Goedert’s strong showing this summer. Jalen Hurts should take another step forward as a passer this year and that could mean more production for Goedert.

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I’ve been happy to read about Sean Desai mixing up looks in camp. Here are some of the variations I’ve read about.

• 4 safeties at the same time
• A 4-man DL with Fletcher Cox at DE
• Stand up LBs in the A-gaps
• Using Terrell Edmunds as a LB in a nickel package

As fun as it was to see the Eagles pile up 70 sacks, the defense needs to be able to be creative when going against elite QBs. You can’t count on pressure. Defenses must slow them down with different looks and coverages.

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Your daily LB update. This is from Zach Berman.

Nakobe Dean was back from his ankle injury as a full participant and took work with the first-team defense. The injury cost him about a week, but he still has more than enough time this summer to cement himself as the top linebacker. I’m expecting Dean to remain in that role even after Philadelphia added Myles Jack and Zach Cunningham on Sunday.

"They added competition to the room,” Dean said. "They bring a lot of insight. A lot of questions we can ask them.”

Jack and Cunningham were second-team linebackers Thursday. Nicholas Morrow and Christian Elliss rotated with the top unit.

Glad to hear Dean is back. He needs all the work he can get as he prepares for his first season as a starter. The Eagles have high hopes for Dean. They brought in Jack and Cunningham for depth and competition, but the Eagles LBs will succeed or fail this year based largely on how Dean plays. There is a lot of reason for optimism, but it is fair to point out he isn’t guaranteed to be the player we all want him to be.

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Another good nugget from Jimmy Bama (don’t tell him I said that).

Josh Jobe has had a good summer after making the team as an undrafted rookie free agent a year ago. On Thursday he stuck with Joseph Ngata after a double move and caused an incomplete pass, and he had a nice pass breakup while working against Tyrie Cleveland. Jobe has had some good battles so far with A.J. Brown as well. In my view he is the team’s fourth corner right now, comfortably ahead of guys like Zech McPhearson, Kelee Ringo, Greedy Williams, or anyone else not named Darius Slay, James Bradberry, or Avonte Maddox.

Jobe impressed me last summer and I thought he had a shot to be a key backup this year. Sometimes young guys will flash as a rookie and then lose their edge. This is especially an issue for UDFAs. Thankfully Jobe is as locked in as ever. He’s had a strong showing in camp and has made you wonder if he could develop into a future starter.

Zech McPhearson was the top backup last summer. This year he’s been playing as the #2 slot. That’s good. He fits that role and the team needed an upgrade over Josiah Scott.

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Here is Zach on the backup WRs.

Olamide Zaccheaus has stood out more for highlight-worthy plays than consistent production this summer, although he was one of the top performers in the short session Thursday. He made an impressive catch along the sideline with Avonte Maddox in tight coverage during seven-on-sevens. Nice pass from Hurts, too. (Zaccheaus’ high school teammate, D’Andre Swift, also showed good quickness in the passing game when he took a screen pass to the second level.)

And

It was interesting to see undrafted rookie receiver Joseph Ngata get some work with the first-team offense. It was a series with DeVonta Smith and Quez Watkins on the sideline, so this doesn’t suggest Ngata will be a first-teamer. But it’s validation for what I’ve thought throughout camp: He’s the best of the down-the-depth-chart receivers and will make a compelling case for the 53-man roster. Ngata was a top recruit at Clemson who was hindered by injuries in college. He’s 6 feet 3 and 217 pounds, giving him good size on the outside. Pay attention to him in the preseason.

AJ, DeVonta and Quez are the top 3 receivers. Things are open after that. Zaccheaus is more experienced and more athletic so he’s likely to be #4. Ngata has played better than I anticipated and could be pushing for a roster spot.

The thing I like is that they’ve got different builds and skill sets. The Eagles are looking for good players, not a defined size or type of receiver. Go find good players and figure out how they fit your scheme.

Britain Covey has had good moments, but he feels like more of a returner than a receiver. We’ll see.

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Another good DL note from Fran Duffy.

Kentavius Street got a finger tip on a throw late in the day to help force an incompletion. Street has (maybe not SO) quietly had a really solid camp, showing the ability to play inside and outside and be a disruptor against both the run and pass. I’m excited to see how he figures into the line rotation.

I’m really interested to see how Street plays in the preseason games and how he’s used this season. He is athletic, but has tweener size. Street was a key backup for the Saints last year. He could prove to be a good role player for the Eagles. With Javon Hargrave now in SF, the team needs interior rushers. That’s where Street is at his best.

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