Summing Up

PHILADELPHIA – Tuesday was Eagles coordinator day at the Jefferson Health Training Complex, meaning reporters got to hear from defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and special teams coordinator Michael Clay.

Each coordinator provided their perspectives on specifics related to the Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders, as well as some things to file away ahead of a Week 2 matchup in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans.

Eagles WR Tay Wicks caught his first two passes with the Eagles, one was a touchdown.

Here are a few takeaways from weekly availabilities:

Last snap not his least

In the Eagles’ narrow 24-22 season-opening victory over the Washington Commanders, defensive tackle Moro Ojomo called game.

The Commanders were down two on the heels of a 12-play, 63-yard scoring drive with just a tick over a minute remaining in regulation. The offense stayed on the field for a two-point try. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, moving to his left, shoveled the pass to tight end John Bates, who was promptly swarmed by Ojomo, ending the looming suspense inside Lincoln Financial Field.

“It was just a great play by him individually,” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “Like he said, he saw the guard pull, so he immediately tried to cross the guy that was trying to block him, which he did successfully and made the play. Was a big play by him obviously, but to have the energy and the wherewithal to do that that late in the game was big.”

Ojomo, who has a flair for play recognition, fired off the ball and mustered enough energy on his 48th snap to preserve the Eagles’ lead. Ojomo’s instincts have revealed itself at various points the past few seasons, a trait that Fangio attributes to be partly inherent and a byproduct of the work he’s put in.

“I think part of it is to his effort,” he said. “His dogged effort plays a part in that, which he’s a little undersized as d-tackles go and he needs to have all that stuff working for him. But he does have good instincts, but he gives great effort and he’s tenacious.”

Optionality along the interior

With Eagles three-time Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson headed for injured reserve, the next order of business will be identifying an in-house replacement in the interim.

The logical answer would be second-year pro Drew Kendall, a center by trade who extensively cross-trained at guard in training camp. Kendall, a 2025 fifth-round pick, played sparingly last season, totaling just 89 offensive snaps. He did show well in the season finale, however, logging 62 snaps at center. The Boston College product this offseason increased his playing weight to 305 pounds, arming Kendall with a frame better suited to pull double duty if necessary.

The 25-year-old served as the Eagles’ top interior reserve throughout the summer, notably spelling Dickerson on the first unit whenever circumstances called for it. Kendall demonstrated a noticeable boost in play strength and now finds himself in a system that appears to ideally fit his skill set. He took a big step forward in his second summer.

Then there’s fan favorite Willie Lampkin, who along with Kendall quickly separated from a talented pool of young interior linemen. Lampkin, listed at 5-foot-11, 290 pounds, has natural leverage along with a powerful base and violent hands to displace linemen. He’s very technically sound. Like Kendall, Lampkin also repped at both center and guard in training camp, though Lampkin never moonlighted with the first team.

Both players are a reflection of the Eagles’ focus and planning when it comes to player development and clearly have a future in Philadelphia. Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion maintained a poker face about his replacement for Dickerson but lamented the Pro Bowl guard’s absence.

“It’s unfortunate with Landon, the guy’s a warrior, and we’ve got to get him healthy. In the meantime, we need guys to step up, but Drew’s had a really nice camp,” he said. “Willie [Lampkin]’s had a nice camp. Really, we have a lot of guys on our offensive line with a lot of position flexibility, versatility. We feel good about all of them. Obviously, Landon will be missed in the meantime, but we feel confident that guys are going to be able to step up and fill the void.”

The Eagles also have a versatile center in Cam Jurgens, who in 2023 started 11 games at right guard. This shake-up would entail a fairly significant shift, though Mannion wouldn’t disclose whether kicking Jurgens over one spot would be an option.

“We’re going to keep that in-house in terms of what our plan is for this week, just for competitive reasons,” he said. “Like I said, we have a lot of guys up front that can play multiple spots. We’ve been training them at all spots, so gives us some flexibility there.”

Wicks’ effort rewarded

The Eagles’ biggest offensive play Sunday against the Washington Commanders occurred with just under two minutes to play in the opening frame. On a 2nd-and-4, quarterback Jalen Hurts took the snap from under center, faked a handoff and waited patiently for the downfield shot to open up.

Slipping behind Commanders defensive backs Mike Sainristil, Nick Cross and Jeremy Reaves was wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who reeled in the moonshot 64 yards later for his first catch as an Eagle.

It was the kind of explosive play that was sorely missing last season from the Eagles’ offense. It also reinforced the budding chemistry between Hurts and Wicks that had been brewing all summer.

If the passing game is to evolve under first-year coordinator Sean Mannion, Wicks stands to be a prominent factor. Sunday’s performance – Wicks reeled in two of four pass targets for 73 yards and a touchdown – was a good start.

After the game, Wicks recalled the play, identifying his role as the clear-out on that particular play.

“First one, it’s a clear out,” he explained. “With J [Jalen Hurts], if he trusts you, he’s gonna put it up right there. Once I broke on the out, on the deep one, I seen the ball in the air and I kept running, and it was put on the money. I was able to run under it, and I gotta score that one.”

On Tuesday, Mannion offered his perspective on the play. The 34-year-old referenced a moment that took place on the practice field, where Wicks delivered a rep that highlighted what the Eagles strive to represent as an offense.

“I don’t want to disclose too much about our progressions, but it’s funny,” Mannion began. “Tay had that same exact rep in practice, and he ran full speed, full tilt, great effort, didn’t get the ball. We showed it in the offensive meeting; it’s not an accident. You give great effort at practice with or without the ball, good things are going to happen.

“I think it was a very emblematic play of what we want to be as an offense, giving great effort at practice, getting your brother open in practice. Then sure enough, you get into the game and the ball finds you. I’m a believer that those types of things happen when you give great effort day-in and day-out. There are so many examples of it, so many examples that go unseen. The protection unit, right? That was one of our cleanest pockets of the night, led to an explosive play.”

All hands on deck

Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay has lost several key contributors within the past calendar year. Over the offseason, tight end Kylen Granson and safety Sydney Brown departed. For reference, both finished top four last season for the Eagles in special teams snaps.

Fullback Ben VanSumeren would eventually signed with the Buffalo Bills before landing on the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs. Three-time All-Pro special teamer J.T. Gray was gone after the first preseason game. Cam Latu, another core-four player from a season ago, was waived during cutdowns and claimed by the New England Patriots.

The nature of a special teams coordinator is that you often work with whoever is at your disposal and coach them up. Sometimes they’ll benefit from continuity, the prime examples on the Eagles being cornerback Kelee Ringo, running back Will Shipley and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. As for the Eagles, they don’t have to worry about the buy-in aspect, as everyone from starters to key role players have moonlighted on special teams.

The team is fortunate to have a collection of selfless talent willing to do whatever needed for the betterment of the team.

“I think a lot of it goes into who they are as people, who they are as players,” he said. “Obviously, they’re going to go out there and give it all for the guys to the right and to the left of them. For me personally, it’s just cultivating a relation with these guys to get them like, ‘Hey, I may call on you for a few phases to help out the team,’ but anything that’s for the team, these guys are willing to go after and put their best foot forward.

“A lot of it just starts back in OTAs, setting the table on what we expect from a special teams unit, setting the example of like, ‘Hey, regardless of what round, undrafted, free agent, trade, we’re going to ask you to help this team out any way we can.’ The players have been receptive to it, and it’s really cool to see the fruits of their labor kind of show out.”

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is the Eagles beat reporter for InsideTheBirds.com