PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles selected Micah Morris in the sixth round in the spring, adding to their collection of young talent on the offensive line.
Morris, 23, showcased his athleticism and raw power during training camp, repping at both guard spots.
As a rookie, playing time is expected to be scarce, as Morris is further down in the pecking order. The Georgia product profiles as a developmental prospect who will have an opportunity to hone his craft behind the scenes – on one of the top offensive line units in the NFL.
On Wednesday, we chatted for our first installment.
Andrew: So, first, man, how would you assess your first training camp?
Micah: First, I mean, my experience was first of all blessed, obviously, that the Lord made my dreams come true. Just being able to come into a situation, from the University of Georgia, a great college, a great, great program, to another great program in NFL with the Eagles. And then, you know, the main thing is the transition. The transition was something I was worried about obviously, because I was at Georgia for five years.
I got used to Georgia, Georgia, Georgia, Georgia, and it was the transition. But coming to an organization like this — not only a prestigious, program, organization — but then when I was a freshman, JD, JC, Nolan, Smael’s in my grade, Kelee, all those guys were there, so just having those big brother roles and brother roles already here made the transition much smoother. And I would say on the field with Coach Kup, he’s a great coach. Obviously, he’s, I guess, closer to my age range ’cause he was a former player himself. He just got done playing not that far long ago, so he was in my shoes. So, he understands, the transition itself and he’s very eager to explain and critique and just talk through things ’cause he understands that I’m a young buck. I’m a young guy just trying to get the ropes. And obviously, there’s a lot of work that can be done that has been done technique-wise since I’ve been up here, and Coach Kup has been very critical in that, as well as Coach G, assistant O-line coach.
Andrew: You mentioned all the players that you played with at Georgia that are now here and standout players in the NFL. How did that help prepare you for this?
Micah: The cliche, iron sharpens iron. At the University of Georgia, it truly is that, obviously. I mean, all the guys I just named are elite football players. They were elite in college and they’re elite now. Just going through that, I guess, gauntlet, so to speak, of scout team my freshman year, going against Jalen Carter, JD and Nolan. Now essentially the same thing, giving them reps and learning myself through the scheme and the system of the team.
But just knowing that the end goal is what I wanted to be because it’s already been proven from Georgia, from my time being scout team there to when it was my time to play there. I was able to execute and just trusting the process and doing it against people that I know are gonna help me get better every day ’cause they did it for me in college. I know they can do the same thing for me here.
Andrew: I’m sure you’ve picked the brains of Landon and Tyler, but how about the inverse of that? Do you talk to Jalen Carter? Do you talk to Jordan Davis about certain things that maybe they’re seeing in your game?
Micah: Yeah. Most of the time, actually, I talk to Nolan because I like to see his point of view because he’s not necessarily an interior guy, so he’s more of an edge rusher, so to speak. Obviously, he can play whatever, but just seeing him, the main thing with me is technique-wise, fumble situations I feel like I’ve always been comfortable in, but just now just honing in on technique and being a more technical player. And with the edge, obviously the tackles, they gotta have the proper handles ’cause they’re on an island most of the time. So, just getting things from Nolan’s point of view, little tips he gives me about hand placement, striking, foot alignment, squaring up the defender. Things like that just is instrumental, very, very critical for my development.
Andrew: Now if you think back to the spring, to the last preseason game, where do you feel you’ve shown the most growth in your game?
Micah: Definitely eye progression and consistency. I feel like one of the things is that I knew I could ball. I knew I could dominate at times, but then just trusting the technique that comes with it. That was the thing that I feel like I lack at times. And Coach Kup and Coach G have been critical in helping me build that confidence and understand that if I trust the fundamentals and technique, have the proper eye progression, trust the people beside me — Jake [Majors] — it’ll be good and it’ll all work out.
Andrew: How do you go about staying patient when you’re accustomed to being out there, then you come to the NFL, and you kind of have to feel your way out?
Micah: Well, I mean, it wasn’t a quick process for me at Georgia. It took me five years to have the opportunity to come to the league. So, I understand waiting my role and just being like a sponge, you know? Absorbing all the information, the keys, the tips that the older guys, the people that are playing are doing. Learning from their mistakes and just learning from the tips and tools that they give me. So, just be ready for whenever it’s my time. Whenever the team calls upon me, I’m ready to take care of business.
Andrew: What can you tell me about Chris Kuper as a teacher?
Micah: As a teacher, he’s amazing. I mean, it’s like kinda eye-opening and I’m very appreciative of him, just because I’m so young. I’m a rookie, and just him being so open and willing to just sit down and explain things in, I guess, a layman’s term — just being able to not, I guess over-explain is not the word — but just really break everything down and explain it in a way that myself and everybody really can understand.
If you have questions, I mean, it’s an open room to speak up. It’s not like he’s gonna tell it to you and then that’s it. No. Like, if you have questions, he’s always telling you, ‘Speak up, ask me,’ ’cause he wants us to all be on the same page and he understands that the offensive line is five people moving as one. So, it’s important.
Andrew: Because he played right guard in the NFL, does he naturally gravitate to that position?
Micah: Yeah. Sometimes when he’s showing me stuff, he’ll catch himself showing it from the right guard position and be, ‘Ah, that’s on the right.’ But yeah, he’s awesome though. He’s awesome.
Andrew: How would you classify his coaching style?
Micah: I feel like he understands the players, ’cause every person’s different. He knows who needs that, who needs that tough love and who needs to be pulled to the side. For me, I was fortunate enough to have all types of coaches at the University of Georgia, so I’m more of, Coach me, Coach. As long as I understand, at times, it’s more so about understanding the message, not the tone. So, hard coaching doesn’t really impact me negatively. But he’s done both with me and with others, so he understands the players and knows which work, what style works for them. He applies that.
Andrew: A lot of young [interior] linemen. You, Willie, Drew, Jake have gotten a lot of work in the preseason and showed a lot of progress. Do you guys have sort of a built-in camaraderie, having worked and repped together all summer?
Micah: Definitely. I feel like it’s natural. Not even just repped together this summer, but just O-linemen in general, ’cause it’s five of us with the same goal. Keep the quarterback clean and make the holes for the running back. But definitely, like you were saying, the young guys that you mentioned, I feel like we all are pretty close. Especially, like, I would say during OTAs we got really close.
At first the rookie minicamp was just, uh, me, Kel [Markel Bell], and Jaeden [Roberts], who’s, who’s not here now. But, uh, it was just us three really, and then like as OTA started, you know, met Jake, Drew, Willie. Then obviously, you know, the older guys as well. But like as far as the young crew, yeah, we all became pretty close ’cause we’re the ones taking the reps with each other and just getting through it together, grinding together, getting better together.
Andrew: How about off the field, Micah? How about acclimating to Philadelphia? I’m sure it’s a big change.
Micah: Yeah. I mean, honestly, I haven’t had too much time to explore the city ’cause, I’m still at the hotel right now. But I got an apartment and we’re just waiting for my furniture to get there, so hopefully I’ll be able to experience it a little bit. But the main thing is the main thing, and that’s football and just taking it week by week, game by game.
Andrew: Now, are you a fan of good cuisine?
Micah: Yes, I am actually.
Andrew: What’s your food of choice because this city pretty much has everything.
Micah: Well, the only place I’ve been to was Del Rossi’s for the cheesesteaks and I loved it. That was, that’s the place I went.
Andrew: That’s a good start.
Micah: I don’t know. Do you have anything? I’m open.
Andrew: I have a lot.
Andrew: But I also understand that you’re a big movie fan?
Micah: Yeah, I love movies.
Andrew: You’re an AMC A-lister?
Micah: It started when I was a kid. So, it started, the first “Iron Man” movie. I don’t even know if they do this anymore, this… I’m not like I’m old or nothing, but you know how, like, if you listen to a radio show and like you call in for a chance to win tickets, blah, blah, blah? My mom’s coworker, or her best friend/coworker when she was working at Wells Fargo, won tickets to the “Iron Man” movie — the early release, like back in what ’08 or whenever the first Iron Man came out — and she didn’t wanna go to it.
So, she gave it to my mom for me and my dad to go, and that was the first movie that I went to that I can remember in person, and I was in love with it. And then, “Avatar” is my favorite movie of all time. The first time I saw “Avatar,” like, it was like mind-blowing. To this day, I still love “Avatar.” It’s my favorite movie. And then, just going to a movie I can just like relax and nothing else matters but the film and I just love film.
Andrew: Well, I do that myself. I’ll go to the movies solo.
Micah: Yeah, exactly.
Andrew: It’s a good way to unwind.
Micah: Get you some popcorn, a drink, you good.
Andrew: Yeah, that’s all you need.
Micah: Just vibe out. That’s it.
Andrew: Any movies that are out right now that kinda catch your eye?
Micah: Let me check the last ones I went to. I just went last week.
Andrew: ‘Cause I just saw the movie, “Tony” about Anthony Bourdain, about how he became a food critic. That was a cool movie.
Micah: I’ve not seen that. That’s sick. The last one I went to, I went and saw “By Any Means” on the 4th. That was good. That one had Wahlberg in it.
Andrew: That’s on my list.
Micah: Yeah, that was good. Then I saw the Coyote movie from…
Andrew: Oh, Coyote vs. Acme or something?
Micah: Yeah, something like that. But yeah, that was funny. That was funnier than I thought it would be. Then I saw Spider-Man, then Insidious. Why Not Only. Super Troopers 3 was hilarious.
Andrew: Wait, is this Letterboxd? Or do you just have a list?
Micah: No, it, it just shows the last ones I went to. I’ll just read you the last ones I went to.
Andrew: Okay.
Micah: Yeah, these are the last ones I went to the past four, four months.
Andrew: The last question that I’ll end with, and we’ll kinda do that every week, what’s one thing that you’re looking to work on?
Micah: Football-wise?
Andrew: Yeah, football-wise. Or not … it doesn’t have to be.
Micah: I’ll give you two. The first one, football-wise, I would say is making sure I have the proper footwork. My technique and hand placement has improved. Obviously, I’m gonna continue to work on that, but footwork is the next thing that I wanna take the next step on. Having the proper footwork, ’cause then that’ll also… that added on with the hand placement and the power that I possess will take my game to another level.
And then outside of football, just getting into my apartment, finishing up getting my apartment, getting settled in and seeing the city a little bit, enjoying myself.
Andrew: I’m gonna have to give you some places to check out, food-wise.
Micah: Yes, sir. Got to. Please do.
Andrew: All right. Appreciate it, man.
— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is the Eagles beat reporter for InsideTheBirds.com.
