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Yes it's only Spads, but anybody else have any reports? I'm just glad to get any info, even if it's Spads twisted.
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A Pause From Camp, With Some Observations
The Rookie (and selected veterans) Camp resumes on Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex and the instruction from the coaches to the players and from the players to the coaches. Feedback is important in these camps. Communication is vital. A player needs to have a clear vision of what to do. More than anything else, this is a camp for the minds. A young veteran like Tony Hunt welcomes the opportunity to take snaps at the halfback position. Every rookie soaks up the reams of information sent his way.
I've watched two days of these practices, added on to the post-draft camp, and here are some things I've seen and experienced. I'm leery of talking about anything on the field, because what you see now isn't necessarily what you get. A more realistic picture is painted when the pads go on. But I know it's what you like, and I'm here to please ...
* It is hard not to be impressed with Lorenzo Booker. On the field, he catches everything, he moves around the formation and he runs away from defenders. Booker has made very few mental mistakes, which is critical as the coaches assess just how much they can use Booker. One thing is clear with the young man, though: He is pleased as punch to be here. In every interview Booker emphasizes how happy he is to be an Eagle and to be used in the role he envisions, which is as a spot running back to get out in space, to have an opportunity to catch the football and showcase his speed. You're going to come to like Booker very quickly. He is a thoughtful interview, animated, well spoken.
* DeSean Jackson dropped a pass in Thursday's practice. What is significant here is that it was the first pass -- and only -- I've seen Jackson drop in his practices. The Eagles came right back with the same call and Jackson made the grab. He has outstanding hands. That much I can tell, pads or no pads.
* Catching kickoffs the other day in practice of the ball machine: Jackson, Quintin Demps, Tanard Davis, Booker, among others.
* Speaking of Demps, he can run and he can play the football. I see that. What happens when the pads go on, and how he learns the system, I don't know. But Demps has the physical gifts to cover in the NFL and he knows what to do when the football is in the air.
* I've watched a lot of the offensive line practices and it's really interesting to see how precise everything has to be. Juan Castillo is a great coach and a demanding one, and the young players understand that if they do what he tells them to do, they're going to make it in this league. I think seventh-round draft pick King Dunlap has excellent feet. I think he needs to be better conditioned for training camp. He has a chance. Interior linemen Mike McGlynn and Mike Gibson seem to have picked up the footwork well. McGlynn is what he is: A tough guy who is going to back up at this point at the guard spots and at center. Nick Cole has a roster challenge here, along with the other backup guards.
* Kevin Kolb worked a scramble drill the other day and looked great. He has good mobility, a strong and accurate arm and he has a good command of the offense. My sense is that he is going to play a lot in the preseason. The Eagles want to get a good look at him.
* It's very difficult to say much about the linebackers, because they can't hit and they are clearly in a learning process. Joe Mays runs well, is an intelligent and respectful young man, and Andy Studebaker has some impressive physical ability. I think Studebaker will be assigned to Chris Gocong and shadow him every day of the training camp and in the preseason. Gocong is a good model for Studebaker to follow.
* From a technique standpoint, Trevor Laws seems pretty well advanced in terms of understanding what Pete Jenkins wants from the defensive linemen. Laws has a chance to play this year. I still don't know who the fourth defensive tackle is here, though. Jeremy Clark? Darren Howard in a hybrid role? Who?
* I'm excited about Bryan Smith. I'm not the least bit worried about his weight -- he is up to 241 pounds, as noted the other day here -- and he is an eager learner. The terms I hear about Smith is that he "plays like his hair is on fire." Great. That's what you want.
* I talked to Dan Klecko on Thursday and he is an engaging guy. Klecko has his weight around 275 pounds and has shown on the field some really nimble footwork and good hands. He admitted he still has a lot to learn about fullback, but I get the feeling he is going to make a strong run at the position in training camp. He provides, potentially, such a physical dimension to the position, and he could really help on special teams in the wedge and running down in coverage.
* Of the receivers in this camp not named DeSean Jackson, I would say Jamal Jones is showing up the most. That should be the case. Jones has NFL experience with the Saints. The rest of the group is just too young to judge right now.
* I think Marcus Paschal is a much better player now than he was in December. He has a lot more confidence about the system and about how he fits in. It is going to be a dogfight to see who wins those fourth and fifth (if the Eagles keep five) safety spots. I see Paschal, Demps and J.R. Reed in the mix for one or two spots.
* Kris Wilson is an impressive player in this camp. He runs really well. Really well. He catches the ball well. I'm looking forward to seeing him in training camp. The Eagles have some talent at the tight end position.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
A Pause From Camp, With Some Observations
The Rookie (and selected veterans) Camp resumes on Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex and the instruction from the coaches to the players and from the players to the coaches. Feedback is important in these camps. Communication is vital. A player needs to have a clear vision of what to do. More than anything else, this is a camp for the minds. A young veteran like Tony Hunt welcomes the opportunity to take snaps at the halfback position. Every rookie soaks up the reams of information sent his way.
I've watched two days of these practices, added on to the post-draft camp, and here are some things I've seen and experienced. I'm leery of talking about anything on the field, because what you see now isn't necessarily what you get. A more realistic picture is painted when the pads go on. But I know it's what you like, and I'm here to please ...
* It is hard not to be impressed with Lorenzo Booker. On the field, he catches everything, he moves around the formation and he runs away from defenders. Booker has made very few mental mistakes, which is critical as the coaches assess just how much they can use Booker. One thing is clear with the young man, though: He is pleased as punch to be here. In every interview Booker emphasizes how happy he is to be an Eagle and to be used in the role he envisions, which is as a spot running back to get out in space, to have an opportunity to catch the football and showcase his speed. You're going to come to like Booker very quickly. He is a thoughtful interview, animated, well spoken.
* DeSean Jackson dropped a pass in Thursday's practice. What is significant here is that it was the first pass -- and only -- I've seen Jackson drop in his practices. The Eagles came right back with the same call and Jackson made the grab. He has outstanding hands. That much I can tell, pads or no pads.
* Catching kickoffs the other day in practice of the ball machine: Jackson, Quintin Demps, Tanard Davis, Booker, among others.
* Speaking of Demps, he can run and he can play the football. I see that. What happens when the pads go on, and how he learns the system, I don't know. But Demps has the physical gifts to cover in the NFL and he knows what to do when the football is in the air.
* I've watched a lot of the offensive line practices and it's really interesting to see how precise everything has to be. Juan Castillo is a great coach and a demanding one, and the young players understand that if they do what he tells them to do, they're going to make it in this league. I think seventh-round draft pick King Dunlap has excellent feet. I think he needs to be better conditioned for training camp. He has a chance. Interior linemen Mike McGlynn and Mike Gibson seem to have picked up the footwork well. McGlynn is what he is: A tough guy who is going to back up at this point at the guard spots and at center. Nick Cole has a roster challenge here, along with the other backup guards.
* Kevin Kolb worked a scramble drill the other day and looked great. He has good mobility, a strong and accurate arm and he has a good command of the offense. My sense is that he is going to play a lot in the preseason. The Eagles want to get a good look at him.
* It's very difficult to say much about the linebackers, because they can't hit and they are clearly in a learning process. Joe Mays runs well, is an intelligent and respectful young man, and Andy Studebaker has some impressive physical ability. I think Studebaker will be assigned to Chris Gocong and shadow him every day of the training camp and in the preseason. Gocong is a good model for Studebaker to follow.
* From a technique standpoint, Trevor Laws seems pretty well advanced in terms of understanding what Pete Jenkins wants from the defensive linemen. Laws has a chance to play this year. I still don't know who the fourth defensive tackle is here, though. Jeremy Clark? Darren Howard in a hybrid role? Who?
* I'm excited about Bryan Smith. I'm not the least bit worried about his weight -- he is up to 241 pounds, as noted the other day here -- and he is an eager learner. The terms I hear about Smith is that he "plays like his hair is on fire." Great. That's what you want.
* I talked to Dan Klecko on Thursday and he is an engaging guy. Klecko has his weight around 275 pounds and has shown on the field some really nimble footwork and good hands. He admitted he still has a lot to learn about fullback, but I get the feeling he is going to make a strong run at the position in training camp. He provides, potentially, such a physical dimension to the position, and he could really help on special teams in the wedge and running down in coverage.
* Of the receivers in this camp not named DeSean Jackson, I would say Jamal Jones is showing up the most. That should be the case. Jones has NFL experience with the Saints. The rest of the group is just too young to judge right now.
* I think Marcus Paschal is a much better player now than he was in December. He has a lot more confidence about the system and about how he fits in. It is going to be a dogfight to see who wins those fourth and fifth (if the Eagles keep five) safety spots. I see Paschal, Demps and J.R. Reed in the mix for one or two spots.
* Kris Wilson is an impressive player in this camp. He runs really well. Really well. He catches the ball well. I'm looking forward to seeing him in training camp. The Eagles have some talent at the tight end position.
I guess we might expect a more cautious Spads this season during training camp.
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