More Than Meets The Eye

PHILADELPHIA — Confidence and bravado are common characteristics that accompany the cornerback position, the latter at times even bordering on excess.

Stationed on an island, in most cases, the spotlight is unavoidable.

The nature of the occupation lends itself to down-to-down volatility and vulnerability, requiring those to be long on fortitude and short on memory.

Viewing it through the lens of Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, those inherent traits were on display from his earliest battles in the spring, with the rookie often chiding the team’s Pro Bowl receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, at times for running what he deemed to be a “trash route.”

GETTY IMAGES: Versatility has already become an asset for Eagles first-round CB Quinyon Mitchell, who has played three positions.

From the onset of May’s OTA practices, Mitchell – picked 22nd overall in April’s NFL Draft – looked the part of a first-rounder, proving sticky in coverage, anticipating throws, and showcasing as much of a physical side as the glorified passing camp would allow.

But history teaches that spring practices require context and hardly constitute as the definitive measuring stick.

While it’s a case-by-case basis, those who ace the spring semester should often be graded on a curve.

But so far this summer, Mitchell has proved to be a special case, unveiling a broader skill set and football acumen than initially anticipated when the 23-year-old joined the pro ranks from Toledo.

His expansive bandwidth and rapid grasp of Vic Fangio’s defense initiated the notion of coaches cross-training him this summer at nickel cornerback, a new position for Mitchell.

For Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker, it became apparent early that Mitchell was equipped to don multiple hats.

“In the spring, we noticed that,” Parker said Sunday. “Because he only played one position in one defense his whole college career, [we] didn’t really know what his football acumen would be  — like the overall aptitude that he can reach — but when we kinda noticed he could handle a lot in a short span of time, we decided this is something we wanna explore.”

Mitchell’s poise and assertiveness has carried over to training camp, where he’s has embraced that new role, albeit perhaps temporarily, as the Eagles work to configure their most effective secondary combination.

Aligning inside presents its own unique set of challenges, as many receivers have two-way go routes that allow for some freelance and cause guessing games for nickels.

There’s also considerably more ground to cover, in addition to increased responsibilities in the running game.

To play nickel, one must also have a comprehensive overview of the entirety of the back-end operation. It’s often a job reserved for the most astute and versatile defensive backs, those adept at playing in space and who have a strong communication skills.

“Nickel essentially is really a linebacker position,” Fangio expanded. “You know, if you go back to the traditional 4-3, if you stayed in a 4-3, a linebacker would be walked out on that slot. Well the linebacker leaves the game and now you’re in nickel and the nickel is on that slot.

“So essentially when you pare it down, he’s playing linebacker-type zones more involved at the run than a corner is.”

With second-round pick Cooper DeJean sidelined the first three weeks of camp because of a hamstring injury, the coaches experimented with Mitchell inside, unlocking the full potential of the secondary while also providing an adequate contingency plan.

Much has been thrown at Mitchell throughout camp but the rookie defender has responded to every challenge, to no surprise of Parker, who pinpointed what he saw from the first-round pick to suggest the interim move would be an ideal fit.

“Just overall football awareness,” he said. “Whenever you see guys have good spatial awareness, splits and awareness around him from an offensive and defensive perspective, you try him in there to see if it works, and it has.

“Kinda had that thought in the spring, and then kinda went full throttle with it in training camp. And it’s been good.”

While the move is viewed as temporary – acting as a placeholder until DeJean inevitably overtakes the role, kicking Mitchell to his natural outside position – it’s provided optionality, an essential tool in navigating the attrition that a 17-game schedule yields.

Mitchell, who has repped at outside, nickel and dime during camp, has experienced some late nights in absorbing and immersing himself in a complex playbook.

Aside from veteran defensive back Avonte Maddox — who has been a trusted, respected resource for Mitchell in many ways — and perhaps veteran corner-turned-safety James Bradberry, Mitchell could be the corner most well-versed in the inner workings of Fangio’s scheme.

Mitchell, who has already encountered memorable showdowns against Brown and Smith, the latter of which he’s seen more of lately, has largely acquitted himself well.

His reps, feisty and technical, are often a daily must-watch.

It’s hard not to marvel at his aversion to backing down. Sometimes, Mitchell even offers a stare-down and calculated banter following a rep.

The moment never appears to be too big.

Smith or Brown, of course, will then make a play that brings the learning curve into perspective.

Even still, the early returns have been outstanding, as the Eagles have already uncovered more than even they could have envisioned at this stage.

“He’s doing a good job,” Parker said. “The main part is just the mental and just the feel in there. You’re kinda playing three positions at once – you’re a linebacker, safety and corner, kinda all mixed. So, the main thing is communication and job description and he’s handling it well.”

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