UNLESS a new head coach is coming in, I rarely care much about Training Camp. With a returning HC, we already know most of the starters, the system, the culture, yadda and so forth. Most fans get excited about who’s going to beat out whom, for one of just a few open starting gigs. But that’s mostly picking gnat shit out of pepper, so I don’t bother.
I do want to weigh in on a few things though, and I want to say them early.
1. For everyone wondering who the two Safeties will be, between Reed Blankenship, Terrell Edmunds, and Sydney Brown, here’s the logic on what to expect. Early on, expect Blankenship at FS prioritizing deep coverage, and Edmunds at SS with emphasis on the box.
Edmunds will also be used like a third LB at times, stealing snaps from OLB Nick Morrow. In that situation, you may see all three Safeties on the field at once.
There’s a lot of “either/or” thinking being done around this roster. Don’t succumb to that. Think “AND!” Think in terms of possibilities, and what you can get out of those possibilities. Fences are for cows; borders are for places, and limits are for coupons. WE, are talking about people. So think “AND!” Because it certainly seems like this is how the coaching staff is leaning.
2. Anybody buying into WR Quez Watkins based on the camp he’s having so far, is buying fool’s gold. I’m not saying he won’t deliver and be a quality third WR. (I’m praying that he does.) However, Quez didn’t lose our faith in Camp. He lost it last year, during games. He lost it having balls PULLED FROM HIS HANDS. Versus both Washington and Dallas, no less!
Quez has already shown us that he can contribute to losses, and even be the reason we lose. He now has to show us that he’s part of why we win. Especially if, (knock wood) injuries should force him into a number two role.
3. Let’s be clear, OLB Haason Reddick is not underpaid. He signed his 3yr, 45M$ contract last year. Yes, there are a few pass rushers making more than him now; but that’s how the free agency carousel works. His turn at the feeding trough comes around again in 2025. Possibly sooner, if the Birds want to talk extension. But if he wants to fuck around, let him find out.
Reddick has always been a player who was great at producing sacks and pressure. Leadership and vision however, have been cultural aspects lacking in both his Arizona and Carolina teams. Given that he’s not really one of our leaders, it’s not hard to imagine that he could go to a place like Washington or New York, and again put up numbers, but not make playoff noise.
I’d like to see Reddick rotate with rookie OLB Nolan Smith, this year and next. However, if Reddick becomes a headache in ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, it would be smart to trade him (after 2023) out of the conference (maybe to Las Vegas), and elevate Smith to starter. The loss is Reddick’s to take.
4. Finally, we’re about to get to know Nick Sirianni. Yeah, hes already been here for two years. We’ve seen his kids. He’s cussed at a camera. He’s been really fun so far. That however, was with Jonathan Gannon and Shane Steichen, the respectively departed Defensive and Offensive Coordinators. Both had been with him from the beginning of his tenure here in Philadelphia.
Sirianni tapped those guys, because he’d worked with them before. They were of similar philosophies and understandings. They were his boys! Enter the replacements in OC Brian Johnson, and DC Sean Desai. These are not his boys. These are men who have to learn his vision and buy into it. Especially when things get tough.
Johnson has been the QB Coach here since 2021, when Sirianni first got here. So you think he’d already be on-board. And you’d be wrong. Under Steichen, the Eagles hardly threw the ball to our RB’s. Johnson has been telling anyone capable of hearing, that the Eagles will be pulling a 180 on that, this season.
Under Steichen the Eagles relied on QB Jalen Hurts to supplement our RB’s, with his 304 carries, 1544 rushing yards, and 23 touchdowns over the last two years. It’s a pace that I’ve been saying, will kill him. As a former QB, Johnson agrees, and wants to see the ball dumped off to RB’s in order to minimize Hurts running. He’s also been a close friend of Hurts’ family for 20 years and likely wants to protect Jalen from unnecessary risk.
Desai has come in preaching nastiness. He wants teams to fear his defense. This is a departure from the cold, snarky Gannon, who preferred no labels on his system. Desai has preached situational football, which was not really a strong suit of Gannon, who was much maligned for his either unwillingness or inability to make defensive adjustments during games.
Both of these men represent a break from what Sirianni came in preaching. It’s relatively easy during OTA’s and during meetings to agree, and to go along with something that maybe one of them doesn’t agree with. When the games count, and the losses mount, and the questions get stiffer in front of the media, and in the GM’s office; that pressure could lead to more pushback between coaches.
So now we’re going to see how Sirianni manages that. If the Eagles get out to winning like last year, there won’t be any headaches at all. If it’s in anyway tougher than last year, Sirianni is going to have to keep a steady hand on the rudder. And we’re about to see if he can.
EAGLEMANIACAL.com 