Ah, yes. The first day of training camp. Well, the real portion of training camp anyways. It was not as crowded as I expected up there. In comparison to 2003-2005 this was nothing. It was great to finally meet Ed, jeffryjpa and see Jerome99, FF, Susky and everyone else again. Today was not hot at all. There was a nice breeze blowing and it didn't feel like training camp at Lehigh at all. I only caught the morning session. The afternoon practice was spent BS'in in the lot with everyone.
If any of this was covered by Ed or Susky already, I apologize.
1. The first thing I have to say is this; Matt McCoy was all over the damn place today. I know its early and all of that stuff, but this guy blew up five plays in a row and was constantly around the ball in live drills. If he wasn't killing the ball carrier, he was nailing his blocker. His pads were poppin' all morning long. I forget who mentioned this to me, but one of the people in our group was standing by McCoy when he came off the field and Spagnuolo asked him how he felt and all he said was "I want more". He was the starter at the WLB spot all day.
2. Continuing on with the LBs and specifically the WIL spot...it appears as if Shawn Barber is indeed healthy and will be a big part of the nickle defense. He had quite a few reps today and one play I remember in particular was a sweep to his side and he took on his blocker and made the tackle as well. He knocked th blocker back pretty good.
3. One thing to remember is that this early in camp the defense is way ahead of the offense. Its like pitchers being ahead of hitters in baseball coming out of ST because of the timing associated with hitting. The defense can fly around all day long and the offense has to get their timing down.
4. My boy, Five Fo, almost had himself a nice pick of Garcia. Jeff put a little too much air under on down the middle and slightly right and Trot was right there. It was a tad bit too high and he was only able to knock it down.
5. Speaking of Garcia, it is nice to have an experienced backup. But one thing I noticed about him is that when he throws the ball it has a hump to it. You rarely see any lasers from his past 10 yards. Anything over that the ball seems to get too much air under it.
6. I also must pimp Jerome McDougle. He is noticably thinner (down to 250) and his burst is there big time. He chased Donovan down from his LDE spot to the right sideline and "sacked" him. He was a little too rough prompting Reid to give a few words to him. If Jerome continues this and you factor in Howard, Kearse and Cole we have great DE depth.
7. Darren Howard looks good. He beat Winston Justice twice pretty bad and stands up well against the run.
8. Josh Parry caught two nice passes today. His blocking was so-so and even though Tapeh wan't out there, I still feel and hope that Parry will be sent on his way. Nice guy and all, but I want more out of the FB position.
9. Jason Davis, the rookie UDFA from Illinois caught my eye today. He might not be the FB we start with, but I would place a bet that he makes the PS. The guy, despite being smallish, can deliver a blow and he has good hands.
10. Hank Baskett dropped 3 balls this morning. But he also made two very nice and not very easy grabs as well. He needs to be polished up.
11. Jabar Gaffney dropped an easy ball and also had one stripped from him by Dawkins. He caught a beautiful pass from McNabb and as he was going down Dawk got him and knocked it out.
12. Reggie Brown's hands are amazing. He did have a drop on a short out to the right but other than that? Solid. The thing i like about him most is that he is not a body catcher. He always has his hands in front of him and brings the ball in softly.
13. Trotter was talking smack from the get go. The first person he hit he started screaming "all day long! All day, baby!"
14. Sheldon Brown is a lockdown corner. In almost every matchup I saw in 7-7's he either jammed his guy off the route, guided them out of bounds or cut off the route. He looked very good.
15. Shawn Andrews looks like a totally different person. We all knew he was fast even when he weighed 385. But now that he has slimmed down he is a man beast out there. He gets his hands on guys and neutralizes them.
16. Jamaal Jackson, as we all saw last year, is a presence at the C position. His wide body allows the A gaps to not be given up as easy as Hank gave them up. He is much better, it appears, at the C-QB exchange too. He was the #1 C from the jump today.
17. Todd Herremans looked good too. He's tall and that stands out in the huddle, but he also has one heckuva mean streak. I was trying to watch his hands and arms today to see how he'd adapt inside but could not get too much of a view of that. I will watch more tomorrow.
18. Runyan is his same ol' self....nasty. He goes to the whistle. On one play he launched himself at a defender who was watching the pile and if the defender hadn't have moved at the last second he would've been DOA.
19. William Thomas (still don't sound right) was decent. He had two false starts and that seemed to be a minor problem on offense today. Going back to the timing thing, I think that might've had something to do with it. That and rust.
20. Greg Richmond got some reps at #1 SAM today. Dhani was still the starter but Greg was out there too. He was average. I had hoped for more but it is only day 1 - so we'll see if he can fight Bowtie for the spot.
21. Gocong did some drops today and at least he can move out of his stance and not fall down when trying to change directions quickly. He lined up over the TE ona few plays and did OK. He also covered some backs in the flat too. He is bigger than I thought he would be. Very nice size for a SAM.
22. Dedrick Roper had a couple of nice plays. I wouldn't write him off as an automatic cut yet. He could win a spot on the STs.
23. Bruce Perry is a favorite of mine. That guy can flat out hit the freakin hole. He is bulked up but he still runs low to the ground with his shoulders square and delivers a blow. I am rooting for him big time.
24. Ryan Moats has bulked up too. His upper body is noticably thicker and that guy gets lost behind the OL. The defense cannot find him when they run between the tackles. He finds the smallest of creases in the defense and gets through them with a quickness. His pass receiving skills are seemingly better too.
25. LaJuan Ramsey is a guy to watch out for. He could be the 5th DT easily. He is holding his own against the big OL and not getting blown up.
26. But he will have to fight with Keyonta Marshall for it. Marshall made two nice stuffs today on inside running plays. He is a Hollis Thomas Jr. Nothing flashy but gets penetration and can get to the backs.
27. Ed Jasper did nothing really of note. I think he will not make it. Only way I see him making it is if Ramsey and Marshall are hurt.
28. Trent Cole is a beast. He bull rushed WilliamTra twice today and he is non-stop. Could turn out being one of the best value picks by the Eagles in a long, long time. Solid player.
29. Second team OL was; Justice--Jean-Gilles--Fraley--Young--Armstrong
30. Adrien Clarke was working in with them too at RG.
31. The most amazing thing to me about Mike Patterson is his speed and quickness. I was trying to watch the DL's hands come up off the ground as the ball was snapped and Mike was usually the first to get out of his stance. His pursuit is very nice and the fact that he is short helps him. He burrows under the OLs pads and gets that lverage needed to make a drive to the pocket.
32. Correll Buckhalter looked very good. Other than his little limp that he has when jogging (and he had that last year too) he is cool. When he's running full out you cannot tell his knees contain parts that could be used in the space shuttle. The only blemish on CBuck's day was he dropped a swing pass from Donny Mac. He had a very sweet catch down the left sideline as he went in motion out of the backfield.
33. I saved this one for last because it was the hit of the day....L.J Smith caught a little pass from Donovan and turned up the field and headed towards the left sideline. Quintin Mikell met him there and LJ bulldozed him. Actually, I should say he destroyed him. We were standing about 10 feet from where Smith dropped Mikell like he was hot.
It was a solid first practice in my opinion. I didn't get to see some things and I will focus on a lot more tomorrow when I am in the stands. I will have a better view of the whole field then. TodaY i was limited to what we could see from the sidelines.
Donovan looked like himself as well. We all know he's slimmed down and it shows when you see him up close. He was throwing darts and had nice touch on the deeper stuff too.
As always, please feel free to ask questions if I seemed to have missed anything.
Phreak, I live for these reports each camp season.
Well done, and I look forward to each one you put out. :yay
You're getting me excited, Phreak. School starts for me next week, and the Phils suck, so what the heck, let football season start already!
Good job, Phreak. 8)
awesome report as usual. Thanks Phreak.
questions:
nobody has even mentioned Matt Schobel yet. How has he looked? Chad Lewis clone or better?
Max Jean-Gilles, come on! is the big man killing people or what?
did you notice any particular CB depth chart after Lito/Sheldon... did Strickland, Wynn, Ware, Hood.. standout anywhere?
Ive heard that Koy was not the kick holder anymore. true?
Demon - I have fun being up there and doing it, bro. Good time up at Lehigh watching the Birds.
Whiz - Yo, I felt like a kid when I got there today, I am 26 years old and I still feel like a little goddamn kid when I walk on those fields. Not ashamed to admit it. ;D
MURP - I totally forgot about The Schoboat. He didn't really stand out today other than dropping one pass and then getting rolled up on by one of the backs. He is a little thinner than Chad but much faster. I like his speed down the seams.
MJG pimp tight is huge. Paint him yellow and stamp CAT on his ass. He's a bulldozer. He has to work on staying down. Looked a little high out of the stance today. But I saw him move out one DT, Jasper I think, and he killed him.
After Lito and Sheldon it was Hood and Strickland from what I saw. They were interchanging a lot. I will watch more tomorrow. But I know this - its time for Matt Ware to shtein or get off the pot. He should be MUCH better by now. Just didn't see anything from him today. Wynn was so-so. If he wants a job, he better improve his PR skills.
On eagles offical site, it said that Considine was the guy who got run over by LJ?
As always great report Phreak :yay :yay
I hear Max looks incredibly overweight. Did it seem to effect his movement?
Nice report overall Phreak. :yay
Could've sworn it was Mikell. Considine was in the area and came in late but I am 99% sure it was Mikell. I thought it was Sean at first myself but one of the guys in our group said it was Mikell who was on the bottom on LJ. LJ got up and set the ball down (no fumble) to taunt him a little.
MURP - Diggler was holding today. But I'll tell you what...they better find another #3 because Timmy Chang ain't it. If they want to keep Koy as the holder then Jeff has to be the 3rd guy. I don't know how that will jive yet.
I thought Simoneau was in that play somewhere, too...but I'm pretty sure Mikell was the guy.
The only time I noticed Simoneau was when I saw him coming in to work with the 2's and said to myself "get gone, Sim".
I hope Omar Gaither works out as a MIKE.
Did anyone light Scott Young on fire so I never have to hear about him ever again?
It was Mikell. I think I wrote Considine earlier but fixed it in the other thread
Quote from: Eagles_Legendz on July 25, 2006, 10:26:53 PM
I hear Max looks incredibly overweight.
from pics i saw, he looked very overweight
did mcnabb look like he was mentally scared?
Jay, did you see this from Dave?
QuoteSo I love different perspectives: Toward the end of the first practice I stop by and chat with a national television football guy. He tells me how much he didn't like the way Matt McCoy played, that he was "soft" and that he didn't "get off blocks".
Then I have lunch with the discussion board moderators and they said they looked specifically at McCoy and that he was "great." Then I talked to Tom Heckert during the afternoon practice and he said he thought McCoy had a "really good" morning practice. Whom do you believe? Heckert. He's the only one who watched the film.
So to summarize:
|-------------------------------x--------------------------------|
Sal Pal Heckert You
:-D
Ed. your chart is not quite complete:
<----------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------x--------------------------------|
IGY Sal Pal Heckert Phreak
I might try and head up Saturday.....I want a snazzy orange sticker :deion
Actually, just want to meet some people and watch the Eagles practice....I met Phreak and Eaglez a while back, bout when I was 15 or 16,....It'd be nice to meet some others.
Hopefully by Saturday Bunkley will be signed.
Quote from: BigEd76 on July 26, 2006, 12:29:18 AM
Jay, did you see this from Dave?
QuoteSo I love different perspectives: Toward the end of the first practice I stop by and chat with a national television football guy. He tells me how much he didn't like the way Matt McCoy played, that he was "soft" and that he didn't "get off blocks".
Then I have lunch with the discussion board moderators and they said they looked specifically at McCoy and that he was "great." Then I talked to Tom Heckert during the afternoon practice and he said he thought McCoy had a "really good" morning practice. Whom do you believe? Heckert. He's the only one who watched the film.
So to summarize:
|-------------------------------x--------------------------------|
Sal Pal Heckert You
:-D
Haha :-D
Maybe I should talk to Joe B. tomorrow and see if he'll hire me.
Nice report Phreak...you have a hell of a memory, my friend (he works without notes, folks).
Yeah, I don't understand Sal Pal's opinion at all. He must not have been watching the same practice we watched, yet he was standing near us for a good part of it (talking on his cell phone, staring off into the hills). I'm not ready to annoint McCoy the starter yet, but I was impressed with the plays he made while he was out there...I remember at least two plays where he effectively anticipated running plays, filled the hole, and stuffed an RB for no gain.
Enjoyed meeting you, FF, Romey and the other fellas from the EMB yesterday...was a great day at TC.
Sorry we missed you Sus, that was mostly on me for being late to meet up with Ed and FF for the ride.
Well done Phreak once again :yay
piece on howard from todays wash post...
Eagles' Howard in a Rush To Jump-Start His Career
Defensive End Glad to Be Rid of Saints
By Les Carpenter
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 26, 2006; E01
BETHLEHEM, Pa., July 25 -- Into the first real football practice of the summer he roared, pads clattering, helmet cracking. Darren Howard had been waiting for this day for a long time, for years really, desperate to have a new start, a new team, a new attitude.
And now he finally had it with the Philadelphia Eagles, two bitter final seasons in New Orleans behind him. And on this first day, in the first drill, they were pitting him against William Thomas, the team's towering left tackle, a giant of a man with three Pro Bowls to his name and a reputation for flattening pass rushers.
Try to get past him Darren, let's see what you got. Then the whistle blew. And all the losing and contract fights with the Saints exploded inside him. The defensive end lurched from his crouch and shoved past the startled Thomas. In an instant, he was gone.
For a moment, there was silence on the practice fields at Lehigh University. The Eagles were not used to this kind of thing happening, not to the most cherished of their offensive linemen. Then came the shouts, the whoops, the howls of hope across the morning.
"He beat me sooo bad," Thomas later moaned as he walked off the field.
They all better notice around here, because Howard might just be the best chance the Eagles have if they're going to find a way past the taterskins, Giants and Cowboys in the NFC East. For all the talk about Donovan McNabb and whether this team can throw the ball or find the right mix of running backs, the real story of Philadelphia's comeback is tied to its defense. The team that tied for second in the league in points allowed in 2004 fell to 27th last year. It didn't matter if Terrell Owens was around to carry the offense or not, because the NFL's most aggressive defense couldn't stop anybody.
There were many reasons for that, but in the end it was determined the Eagles could not stop the big play because they couldn't generate a pass rush, and because the pass rush is the crux of what defensive coordinator Jim Johnson does best, they realized they needed to do something.
So on the first weekend of free agency, the Eagles set up a meeting with Howard, hopeful of getting their hands on his 44.5 sacks from the past six seasons. It turns out they barely had to sell themselves. By the end of the weekend, Howard had canceled visits to Kansas City and Seattle and signed a six-year, $30 million contract with Philadelphia.
As much as the Eagles wanted him, he wanted them.
He had been thinking about this place for a long time, ever since the Saints first placed their franchise tag on him in 2004, keeping him from becoming a free agent, then further angered him by naming him their franchise player last season as well.
"My next team was already in the back of my mind," he said.
It's really a perfect fit. Last season, the Eagles' other top pass rusher, Jevon Kearse, was double-teamed by offensive lines who never worried much about who the team was sending on the opposite side. Howard is the one who can take those away, releasing Kearse to be himself.
This is something Kearse undoubtedly noticed as he watched Howard make Thomas look like a human revolving door.
"It's tremendous to me," Kearse said.
Johnson added: "We just didn't get the rush we've been getting [before last year]. . . . We think we've improved that with Darren Howard."
Of course, Howard was supposed to be the perfect fit in New Orleans, too. He came out of Kansas State as a second-round pick in 2000 with a mountain of potential, a powerful pass rusher who would work wonderfully with Saints coach Jim Haslett, who loved aggressive defenses. But there were problems in New Orleans. Howard had 25 sacks his first three years, then dislocated his right wrist in the first game of the 2003 season and missed eight games. The next year, the team made him its franchise player and the bitterness set in.
Last season he played only 12 games and had just 3.5 sacks. The Saints didn't even bother with the franchise tag. Not that Howard cared. He was ready to leave.
"I'd say this is a dreamy situation for myself," he said. "I was on a franchise the last two years that didn't commit completely to me. [The Eagles] gave me an opportunity to play six years here. They have to give me a commitment here and I have to give them that same commitment."
Howard does not hide his wounds from New Orleans. He still is openly bitter about being franchised his last two years with the Saints and remains somewhat shellshocked by the team's nomadic 2005 season after it was forced from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. All of this makes him better, he said.
"Everyone around here is complaining they were 6-10. We went through Katrina and were 3-13," he said. "Someone once told me, 'You don't know how sweet the sweet is until you taste the sour.' And there was nothing more sour than last year."
For now, Howard loves the Eagles. He sees stability here even as most people still shake their heads at the season-long earthquake that was Owens last year. He sees this as the ultimate winning organization, even though the Eagles finished last in the NFC East last season and might well be in the same place this fall.
And on the first day of training camp, he showed everyone how much he wanted to be here by making the team's best offensive lineman look very, very ordinary. Which had to be good news for a team desperate to have something positive.
After all, Howard might just be the best reason the Eagles have for hope.
Phreak thanks for the great synopsis as usual.
Nice article from the Post today, im happy he recognizes how important he is to the D Line puzzle
I find the phrasing about Tra's pro bowls a little funny.
Anointing him our best offensive lineman? Maybe, but I'd have picked Runyan.
i think hes referring to the article saying 'three pro bowls to his name'...as if hes made the last three and intimating thats hes somehow one of the best tackles in the nfl
Actually, I thought it was funny that William Thomas has 'three pro bowls to his name.'
Howard made a great early impression yesterday. As the article mentions, he batted down several passes and spent a lot of time in the backfield.
Likewise, McDougle looked quick and strong, just as we heard from minicamp reports.
My early thoughts are that the Eagles pass rush will indeed return this season, which will help the secondary get back to being one of the very best in the NFL. The question marks on the defense are still the OLBs, but this has the potential to be a very good D.
i totally forgot we had barber back.