‘You Could Feel His Speed’

The first training camp practice for the Philadelphia Eagles provided some clues to how the team will look during the 2023 season.

On the latest episode of “Inside The Birds,” Adam Caplan and Geoff Mosher provided intel from the Eagles’ first official camp outing.

Eagles first round pick Nolan Smith was a standout in the team’s first training camp practice

Marcus Mariota

Adam Caplan: “Mariota struggled, timing was off. He was not comfortable. I think part of it is they only had six practices in the offseason and he doesn’t know these players very well…If you look overall, he was just off a little bit.”

Running Backs

Caplan: “It was a lot of passing because it was more 7-on-7 and situational stuff, but the running backs are catching the football…(D’Andre) Swift caught some balls, (Kenny) Gainwell caught some balls. We don’t know if it was checkdowns, but I’m interested to see how much of it was designed to the backs.”

Geoff Mosher: “Nick Sirianni mentioned it and it was seen at the training camp practice that you’re going to have different guys rotating in and out. You have so many running backs with so many different skills and you’re going to want to see them all with the first team and second team at different times.”

Right Guard

Mosher: “It makes sense that Cam Jurgens is the first guy up at right guard. This is his second year, he is a second round pick, and he had played right guard a little bit last year in OTAs and camp until Jason Kelce had elbow surgery.”

Caplan: “What we had heard was Jurgens was ahead of (Tyler) Steen on technique and footwork…Coaches will tell you if you don’t have technique down, you don’t play. With Steen, this is new to him, he has never played inside before. They drafted him to be their long term starter, there’s no question about that, but he has to learn it.”

Linebackers

Mosher: “Christian Elliss is out there and makes nice plays, but Howie Roseman was asked in the press conference if he has guys he is confident in outside of Nakobe Dean and Nic Morrow, and he didn’t name a name. He basically says whatever he needs to do to improve the team, he is willing to do, which is a signal that he has his eyes elsewhere if need be.”

Nolan Smith

Caplan: “One person said you could feel Smith’s speed. The guy called it unusual for his position. I think clubs let him drop late in the first round because he’s smaller, but so what? This kid has a real ability, his movement is really good.”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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