This is a very important time for the Eagles younger players because today they'll start working out as a group at the Nova Care Complex. They'll be on the field at 11:20am this morning and I'll have a report for you this afternoon.
This time is extremely important for these youngsters because most of the veteran players won't be around to take the majority of the reps. The younger players will get the work and the coaching attention so they can catch up to the veterans, mentally. That is the key to these workouts, coaches want to get these youngsters up to speed mentally so that they'll be able to compete with the veterans without a major handicap during training camp. A lot of times during these workouts, you can spot a rookie, who's picking up things so fast, that you can predict he'll be able to help the Birds in his first year.
The guy who will get most of the attention is rookie quarterback Kevin Kolb. He struggled with the snap, had some trouble digesting the west coast offense, making all of the reads and adjustments quick enough, at the first mini camp. This work will be vital to this youngster as he continues his progress. Kolb will get the chance walk to the line and try to get a pre-snap read. Next he'll be on the line of scrimmage and have to change the play or blocking. Then he'll try to hang on to the snap this camp and drop into the pocket and decipher what coverage he's seeing. Once he's done that he's got to make the necessary throws to get the ball to his receivers. I know the Eagles will want to see some improvement from him in his work against the blitz. It was understandable but the kid didn't know what hit him during the Birds blitz period. I would also like to see him start picking his head up and looking further downfield when he sets up in the pocket. He and Kerry Holcomb only looked short during the previous mini camp. They threw the short checkdowns to the backs and tight ends. I heard Holcomb was nicknamed "checkdown Charlie" earlier in his career.
Rookie draft pick Brent Celek and free agent Lee Vickers will get the chance to show their ability to run the tight end routes in the west coast offense. I'd love to see former Eagle Chad Lewis in here working with those kids because he knew how to run the tight end routes in this offense. He didn't have any speed, just like this two tight ends, but Chad got the job done, any way. One or both of these guys is going to be on the field during some very important plays in the upcoming season. They'll play short yardage and goalline, and I'm sure you know how important those plays can be.
thought Tony Hunt did a good job at the first mini camp, so it's important that he shows the Eagles staff that he's mastered more of the offense this time around. Hunt could work his way into Andy Reid's plans, if he gains Andy's confidence. Reid is big on guys knowing what they're doing. That's why Ryan Moats is still locked in his dog house and will remain there until he masters this offense. I think Hunt already understands more of this offense after one mini camp, than Moats did in his entire first year.
We might get a chance to see Bethel Johnson if he decides to attend the camp and the stress fracture he had in his leg is better. Jeremy Bloom had a good mini camp so Johnson has some work to due to show that he's more worthy of that return job.
New starting SAM linebacker Chris Gocong will get more work and attention from Jim Johnson and his defensive staff. He looked good in the mini camp but he's got to continue it. I liked what I saw of the guy backing up Gocong, Tank Daniels, so I'll be keeping an eye on him. Rookie Stewart Bradley has a lot of work to do.
2nd year middle linebacker Omar Gaither will likely be there and he can continue trying to make up ground on Jeremiah Trotter. Gaither was impressive in pass coverage at the mini camp, but he's got to show he can be physical in the middle, despite being much smaller than Trot. He'll only be able to do that in training camp, when they put on the pads.
The same is true of young defensive tackles Brodrick Bunkley and LaJuan Ramsey. Defensive tackles don't get a lot out of these workouts because without the pads on, all they can do is dance with the guards and centers.
In the secondary, I expect to see young safety Sean Considine in attendance, the former Iowa Hawkeye is slated to start at strong safety along side All-Pro Brian Dawkins. He needs to look better than he did at the first mini camp. He got turned around in coverage too many times. If he can't do a good job covering deep passes it doesn't make any sense in having him back there. Rookie draft pick C.J. Gaddis has a lot of work to do at safety. His head was spinning at the mini camp workouts when the defense was changing coverages. There's a chance he could get on the field some time this season, if he can be depended on to fulfill his assignments on the coverages.
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