Eagles Training Camp: 10 Observations After Opening Week
PHILADELPHIA - Here are 10 observations as the Philadelphia Eagles head into Week 2 after three open practices…
1. Jalen Hurts has looked better than any of his previous three summers, probably because he established himself last year and has more confidence than at any point in his still-blossoming career.
He has yet to throw an interception, his deep passing has, for the most part, been on point, and seems to have a better understanding of where to go with the ball.
It also helps that he has his primary weapons back – A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert.
“He played so well last year, but I would say the biggest improvement is the mental part for him, being able to check to plays, know when to alert to it (and) when to change it,” Goedert said. “When he sees something, he can get to the play he likes and he’s doing it really fast, giving the offense time to dissect it. His mind, his mental game, has been really good.”
2. Rookie first-round picks Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith look like the real deals. Of course, coach Nick Sirianni will tell you it’s early and the pads have yet to come on - and he has already said that more than once – but it’s hard to imagine either player shrinking once contact begins in earnest.
3. Christian Ellis is the team’s best coverage linebacker and I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing. I do think that the Eagles need to add more depth here, because Nicholas Morrow hasn’t shown much yet.
4. A new defensive coordinator may be just what safety K’Von Wallace needed. His snaps have declined each year since he arrived in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, but he is getting plenty of first-team looks and has looked solid.
5. The safety position may be better than some think, though there have been reports that the Eagles are doing some summer shopping at the position, and every good team needs at least three good safeties.
Corey Graham was the Eagles’ third safety in their 2017 Super Bowl season and Reed Blankenship was that guy last year. This year, the Eagles appear to have five solid safeties battling it out with Reed Blankenship, Terrell Edmunds, Justin Evans, rookie Sydney Brown, and Wallace competing for time.
6. Quez Watkins had a nice couple of days while Olamide Zaccheaus hasn’t been very visible. Watkins is clearly the team’s No. 3 receiver at this stage.
7. Speaking of receivers, Britain Covey looks even quicker this year, especially during some snaps in the slot. He creates separation and should once again be the fifth receiver, but two who have I kept an eye on have been Deon Cain and Joseph Ngata, and I like most of what I have seen from them so far.
8. It’s tough to judge offensive and defensive linemen at this point in camp without pads, but Josh Sweat has really looked quick and is difficult to block. His sack production has gone up each year and topped out at 11 last year. I expect that number to rise again this season.
9. James Bradberry had a terrific first week and looks to be playing with more confidence in his second camp with the Eagles, but an unheralded cornerback who impressed me is undrafted free agent Mekhi Garner, a long, rangy defender at 6-2, 212 pounds from LSU. He has shown a consistent ability to get his hands on a receiver at the line of scrimmage in press coverage.
Let’s see what he can show when the pads come on, and it would be nice to see him get an occasional rep against Brown and Smith.
10. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota has been too inconsistent for my liking, but I get it – it’s early and he’s learning a different system.
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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