Bend, Don’t Break

PHILADELPHIA – There was a play during Thursday’s Eagles training camp practice that began in typical fashion, with quarterback Jalen Hurts dropping back to scan the field.

This time, however, Hurts was forced to retreat, flushed from the pocket. He settled for an incomplete sideline heave to wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

Later in the session, there was another play that initially appeared promising – with running back Saquon Barkley taking a handoff up the middle – but the hole quickly closed, and Barkley was met for what would have likely resulted in a loss of yards in a tackling scenario.

The defensive catalyst in both plays was gigantic defensive tackle Jordan Davis, a polarizing third-year player who enters the 2024 season with lofty expectations following a relatively lukewarm career start.

The early emergence of Davis, who entered training camp noticeably slimmer, could’ve been expected, as new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had pointedly praised the mammoth lineman before practice.

“I thought Jordan showed some good movement ability,” Fangio said of Davis’ first practice Wednesday. “Was able to bend his body that I don’t think I’ve seen him do before. So, it’s encouraging right now.”

GETTY IMAGES: Third-year DT Jordan Davis has to prove he can play more snaps for his newly exhibited “bend” to become part of his arsenal.

Never one to mince words or heap empty praise, Fangio’s words carried considerable weight – no pun intended – when offering a glimpse into the work that the 340-pound Davis put in this offseason to undertake a more prominent role.

Tasked with the burden of masking the loss of mainstay Fletcher Cox, who retired during the offseason, Davis is taking the baton and being asked to fulfill the promise that comes with being a 2022 first-round pick.

The 24-year-old Georgia product, along with fellow defensive tackle Jalen Carter, now represent the nucleus of the Eagles’ defensive front, headlining a youth-infused unit ripe with upside.

The defensive line’s ability to capitalize on its promise is largely dependent on Davis, who last season logged a career-high in snap share percentage (45 percent) but struggled after October because of poor conditioning and an inability to maintain his playing weight.

While a snap increase is in the forecast under Fangio – a necessity, given the line’s depth concern –  Davis appears prepared to handle the workload.

Davis, who spoke to reporters Wednesday, conveyed a sense of urgency.

While he was initially drafted as a space-eating defensive tackle with developmental traits to eventually become a pocket-pusher, Davis has worked to reshape his body and focus, fixating on details.

The bend Fangio mentioned is an essential function for defensive tackles in terms of leverage, but has hardly been a cinch for the 6-foot-6 lineman.

The key, he said, begins with being able to get his air.

“The more conditioned I am, the more effective I am,” he said. “And the more effective I can be, the more technique I can play with.

“I’m not saying every rep is perfect, but it’s better. And that’s one thing that I try to do, is just when I go inside, and I look at film every day, I wanna make sure that I’m getting better from the last practice.

Davis said his mindset is simply to be better than the day before.

“I know it’s cliche, but the little things add up,” he added. “And that’s what I’m trying to work on. If it’s something I need to work on, I’m gonna assess it, I’m gonna watch film. That little stuff adds up. Just that little, what can I do to alleviate my weakness and make my weaknesses my strengths?”

Davis emphasized consistency in his conditioning to produce down-to-down, citing fatigue as the main reason for for lapses in his technique.

While he might not be wired to evolve into a pressure-based interior player, Davis’ power and ability to reset the line of scrimmage will have an enduring impact of those around him.

The ability to bend, engage with – and eliminate – blockers will be foundational to the success of Fangio’s unit.

And if the bend Fangio observed can be impactful, perhaps Davis can elbow his way into one of Fangio’s four-man rush lines – which last year seemed like an impossible ask just one season later.

Davis, also primed to undertake a leadership role in his most critical season to date, is out to prove he can play with better leverage and be equipped to thrive in any alignment.

“You naturally just stand up all day,” he said. “Walking around 6-6, I’m the highest in the room, but you don’t wanna play high. You don’t wanna play high, because you’re gonna get rooted out.

“Especially with a – not saying he’s short – but a short center like Cam [Jurgens], like [Jason] Kelce. Those guys are a little bit shorter, their center of gravity is a little bit lower, and you wanna make sure you play on their level, because once they get under you, it’s over with.”Davis spoke about simplifying his job to “sell it better,” without always executing the splash play.

“Making sure I eliminate the man in front of me,” he said. “I think that’s a better mindset that I go into with this year, is just making sure that I destroy the block. Then when I destroy the block, nine times outta ten, the ball is either gonna appear or its gonna be outside and bounced out.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.