Prime 10 issues I wish to watch at Eagles coaching camp

Top 10 things I want to watch at Eagles training camp initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Coaching camp is my favourite time of the yr to cowl the NFL.

It’s not prefer it was but it surely’s nonetheless a grind. There’s nothing like spraying on some sunscreen and strolling into the warmth to look at apply after apply in the summertime.

As at all times, I’m fairly excited for Eagles coaching camp. It kicks off with the primary apply of the summer season on Wednesday morning.

So listed below are 10 issues — in no specific order — I’m trying ahead to watching over the subsequent few weeks:

1. Cornerback competitors

There are many place battles about to happen with the 2024 Eagles however none of them are extra thrilling than at cornerback due to the expertise degree gathered on the place. We noticed that on show this spring and now the actual battle begins. The Eagles’ cornerbacks have been a weak point in 2023 however that’s now a transparent place of power. Irrespective of who wins the 2 open beginning gigs, the Eagles must be in fine condition.

We all know Darius Slay goes to be a beginning exterior nook in 2024. The veteran is coming into his twelfth NFL season and is the one cornerback who has a job locked up. However that leaves the opposite beginning exterior job and the nickel nook job large open.

At exterior cornerback, it’s Quinyon Mitchell vs. Kelee Ringo vs. Isaiah Rodgers. I used to be impressed by all three in a restricted viewing window throughout OTAs. The Eagles drafted Mitchell at No. 22 general and would most likely like to see him run away with this job. But when he doesn’t, they’ve two different extraordinarily intriguing choices. Ringo has a yr of NFL expertise below his belt and is definitely youthful than Mitchell. And Rodgers didn’t present any indicators of rust this spring after a yearlong suspension. He has expertise within the NFL and is able to compete.

And at nickel cornerback, it’s actually Cooper DeJean vs. Avonte Maddox vs. Tyler Corridor and possibly even Eli Ricks. However actually, it looks like that is going to return right down to DeJean vs. Maddox, though DeJean is reportedly going to begin camp on the NFI with a hamstring harm. Whereas Maddox has the expertise, the Eagles did lower him this offseason earlier than bringing him again. They usually’re additionally getting him some work at security. DeJean is a rookie second-round decide so he received’t be handed a job however he may earn it over Maddox.

2. Kellen Moore’s offense

This offense goes to look totally different in 2024. Nick Sirianni admitted that the offense obtained stale on the finish of 2023 and he’s proper. The Eagles fired Brian Johnson and introduced in Kellen Moore to interchange him. However the massive distinction is that Moore is now operating that facet of the ball with an offense he’s putting in — an offense that Jalen Hurts stated was 95% new.

We noticed indicators of that new offense within the spring. Extra pre-snap movement, totally different formations, totally different personnel packages. However now we’ll actually begin to see the total offense get put in. It’s price noting that the Eagles’ offense was clearly behind the protection through the spring, which isn’t stunning. It’s additionally not one thing to fret about within the spring. However we’re going to wish to see enchancment over the subsequent few weeks in coaching camp.

All eyes are at all times going to be on Hurts, however that’s very true this yr in one other new offense. Hurts has talked earlier than about his craving for continuity with the teaching employees on that facet of the soccer however that’s clearly not taking place this yr. He has a brand new offense to good and we’ll most likely get a good sense of his consolation on this offense this summer season.

3. Saquon Barkley

This one is fairly easy. The Eagles’ most enjoyable new participant is the previous No. 2 general decide. The 27-year-old is a two-time Professional Bowler but it surely’s honest to surprise what model of Barkley the Eagles are getting in 2024. Can he return to his peak type or is he simply now not that man?

It was a bit out of character for Howie Roseman to signal a operating again to a three-year, $37.75 million deal however the Eagles assume they discovered a market inefficiency and recognized a solution to actually enhance their offense at one of many few locations they actually may with a beginning participant. When Barkley is at his greatest, he’s capable of make some wow performs. Hope we get to see a couple of this summer season.

4. Younger defensive linemen

Fletcher Cox retired this offseason and the Eagles traded away Haason Reddick. Whereas Brandon Graham returns for his fifteenth and last NFL season and Josh Sweat for his seventh, all eyes can be on the younger gamers up entrance.

Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Bryce Huff and Nolan Smith are all anticipated to be main items for the Eagles in 2024 and maybe past. They usually all must reply some questions on themselves.

5. Nick Sirianni’s function

Throughout a sit-down interview with Eagles beat reporters after the spring, Sirianni admitted that it was troublesome to surrender management of the offense to Moore this offseason however he did it as a result of he knew it was in the most effective curiosity of the group.

This spring, I attempted to maintain a detailed eye on Sirianni throughout practices and did discover him divvying up his time a bit otherwise, which has additionally been occurring behind the scenes within the assembly rooms. Sirianni, as he identified after the season, remains to be the Eagles’ head coach however his day-to-day function is altering a bit with the addition of Moore. The Eagles are now not operating Sirianni’s offense so he wants to make use of his time a bit otherwise.

Sirianni isn’t the one CEO head coach within the NFL and it’s not loopy to assume this setup may work. However it will take a little bit of getting used to for him, his gamers and those that observe apply every day.

6. James Bradberry at security

The Eagles stated this spring that Bradberry was getting time at security however we by no means obtained to see it as a result of he suffered an harm. In the end, this one may not likely matter. Will Bradberry be on the roster this yr as a security? I nonetheless don’t assume so. However I’m curious to see how he’ll take a look at the place. Bradberry has been within the NFL eight seasons as a cornerback however possibly he actually can play security.

I’m nonetheless of the assumption that Bradberry received’t be on the Eagles’ 53-man roster at the beginning of the season. However possibly he can show he has some place versatility this summer season and possibly Howie Roseman can pull off a commerce.

7. Mekhi Becton’s function

The Jets drafted Becton with the No. 11 general decide again in 2020 and though he confirmed promise he by no means actually lived as much as that draft standing. He was a beginning left sort out and actually didn’t wish to play every other place. That’s why it was so notable this spring once we noticed Becton taking snaps at proper sort out after which left guard.

Due to his utilization at OTAs, I’m very curious to see the place Becton is lining up this summer season. Is he going to be the Eagles’ swing sort out and get snaps on each side of the road? Or are the Eagles going to place him at guard and doubtlessly even compete for the beginning proper guard spot?

At 6-7, 363 kilos, Becton is completely monumental. Even on a line with Jordan Mailata, Becton’s dimension nonetheless stands out. He may find yourself being an necessary piece on the roster in 2024 and I’m trying ahead to seeing him in motion.

8. Kickoff technique

Nobody actually is aware of what to anticipate from the NFL’s new kickoff guidelines, which makes it very intriguing. The Eagles aren’t going to utterly expose their technique however they’ve obtained to apply it at the least a bit bit. And we’ll get to see the highest guys who they’ve again there returning kicks.

In the course of the spring, the Eagles used two break up returners on the kickoff — one on either side. They’ll most likely use a bunch of various mixtures throughout apply and through the preseason video games.

9. Cam Jurgens at heart

It’s going to be a bit bizarre to be at coaching camp this summer season with out Jason Kelce. However the future Corridor of Famer formally retired after the 2023 season and the Eagles are going ahead with Jurgens as his substitute.

After a yr at proper guard, Jurgens is again at his extra pure place as he takes over at heart. He obtained an opportunity to play subsequent to Kelce in 2023 and that have ought to actually assist Jurgens as he strikes ahead. The 2022 second-rounder out of Nebraska was drafted to finally exchange Kelce and is lastly getting that probability.

However this received’t be the primary time Jurgens has gotten prolonged work at heart with the first-team offense. Again in 2022, Kelce missed most of coaching camp after getting a clean-out on his elbow and Jurgens ended up changing him for a lot of the summer season and carried out properly. That was two years in the past, although, so now Jurgens must be much more ready for the job.

10. CJGJ’s vitality

There’s little question that C.J. Gardner-Johnson is a little bit of a personality. We noticed it through the 2022 season however we haven’t seen it in coaching camp but. The Eagles traded for CJGJ simply earlier than the beginning of the 2022 season after camp was already over. However we’ve heard loads of tales about how talkative Gardner-Johnson is on the apply subject and the way a lot vitality he can carry.

I’m trying ahead to watching that. You want some gamers who’re keen to combine it up a bit and are capable of hold issues aggressive all through a protracted, grueling and generally tedious coaching camp.

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