When Doug Pederson met with the media after training his team this morning, the Eagles first-year head coach was pleased with his team’s physicality after a lively practice that included ferocious hitting.
"Today was the first day I had two live periods during practice," Pederson said. "I felt like the energy was good, the competition was good. Anytime you do short yardage and situational football like that is to go live, the guys like it and they respond to it well."
Wednesday was the team’s first live tackling practice in four seasons. Pederson explained the importance of having players exchange blows during practice.
"It’s tackle football. It’s a physical game," Pederson said. "The other thing about it too is that competition. Most of our periods are fast-tempo thud where everybody is kind of staying up. Being able to tackle and really drive through guys, it’s so important to be able to do that and be able to be in the right position defensively. Offensively, where they’re gonna be, it just makes a difference. The tempo of the practice intensifies during that live period."
But with physical play during practice comes the risk of injury. Pederson detailed his philosophy on tackling in camp and how the need for contact can be a necessity.
"I’ve been around this business a long time, this is a contact sport and injuries are part of the game," Pederson said. "I’m not gonna shy away from the tackling, or shy away from the hitting. Do you want anybody to [get hurt]? No, you don’t want anybody to get hurt, but at the same time if we learn how to practice in pads, and take care of each other when we're in those situations, it’s just going to make us a better football team down the stretch. Guys will learn how to practice and play fast, and that’s what you want."
Wide receiver Hunter Sharp hobbled off the field grasping his right hamstring this morning, although the injury didn’t appear to be too serious.
The former offensive coordinator under Andy Reid stressed "one day at a time" when speaking about young players who demand a lot of themselves, specifically wide receiver Nelson Agholor.
“It is a fine line. Because you definitely want those guys to step up and mature and understand their roles," Pederson said. "You just continue to talk to them, and just on a daily basis, just give him something to focus on today, and then I’ll give him something to focus on tomorrow. And through all that he'll rise and he’ll be the leader that we know he can be, and the type of player that we know he can be."
One player that really needs to see the progress start is former first-round pick Marcus Smith. Now entering his third season, it may be a make or break year for Smith, and Pederson is impressed by his energy.
“Gosh, a lot of energy right now, gives you good depth at the end position," Pederson said. "[He’s] physical, starting to show that physicality that you want out of him and that position. He’s done a good job, these last couple of practices I’ve noticed him probably a little bit more. Just continued repetition with him and getting him some more reps, I think he’ll be a valuable piece to this defense."
Smith made the tackle that shifted the tide in favor of the defense during a spirited goal line session on Wednesday.
Patrick Del Gaone is a staff writer for Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Del_Gaone.
