Patrick Causey, on Twitter @PhillySportsPMC
The Philadelphia Eagles had their first practice of training camp yesterday. Chip Kelly's drastically rebuilt team was finally taken from the abstract and put on full display. Here are 10 points you need to know following Day One:
1. Sam Bradford is Healthy and Ready to Go
Sam Bradford said that if he was not ready to go by the start of training camp, something would have gone horribly wrong.
Well, Bradford eased concerns of many in the greater Philadelphia area by being a full go at practice today. He also got rid of the bulky knee brace we last saw him wearing, opting instead to wear only a sleeve.
2. DeMarco Murray was Held Out of Practice
If Bradford was encouraging, the Eagles other marque addition on the offensive side of the ball was anything but: DeMarco Murray was conspicuously scraped from participating in 7-on-7 drills today.
According to NJ.com Matt Lombardo, Murray might have suffered a minor setback during the initial drills:
Source on DeMarco Murray sitting out #Eagles practice: "I think he may have gotten banged up when he was training." http://t.co/tSMEUKd59h
— Matt Lombardo (@MattLombardo975) August 2, 2015
I have cautioned that Murray might have injury issues all year given his injury history and the absurd amount of times he carried the ball last year. This injury is not a good omen for things to come. Hopefully Murray can bounce back tomorrow.
3. Jordan Matthews Catches Everything
Jordan Matthews is really good, and catches pretty much everything thrown his way.
Jordan Matthews is the best WR on this team right now. Catches everything and is huge
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) August 2, 2015
I am excited to see Matthews take his game to the next level this year. I am expecting big things. Grab him in your fantasy leagues pronto.
4. Rookie JaCorey Shephard Took Boykins Snaps at Nickle
Chip Kelly heaped praise on sixth round pick JaCorey Shephard during his press conference.
After trading Brandon Boykin to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a coke and a bag of peanuts, Shephard took most of the first team reps at nickle. It looks like the Eagles are going to give Shephard every opportunity to win the starting spot.
Here's hoping the rookie can rise to the occasion.
5. Starting Wide Receivers
Josh Huff and Riley Cooper got the majority of first team reps outside, while Jordan Matthews took a majority of the first team reps in the slot. Eagles first round pick Nelson Agholor took most of his reps with the second team.
No surprises there. Kelly made Matthews earn his first team reps last year, and it looks like he is doing the same here with Agholor. It shouldn't take long for Agholor to impress. The only real question is whose spot Agholor will take. My money is on Cooper; I expect big things from Huff this year, and think Cooper becomes the odd man out. Something tells me a lot of Eagles fans would not be upset by that.
6. Bradford was Rusty, but Took all First Team Snaps
Bradford reportedly looked rusty today, which is to be expected given that he has been sidelined by injury for almost two full years and is learning a new offense on the fly.
#Eagles QB Bradford got in quite a few reps. He has a lot of work to do because he doesn't look smooth and fluid back there. #FlyEaglesFly
— Garry Cobb (@GarryCobb) August 2, 2015
Bradford got all of the first team reps, while Sanchez took all the reps with the second team. It's still early, but something tells me this quarterback competition is already over (barring injury, of course).
7. Starting Secondary
Again, no surprises here: Byron Maxwell and Nolan Carroll man the outside, while Malcolm Jenkins and Walter Thurmond are the starters at safety.
8. Expect Them to be Markedly Better than Last Year's Unit
The Eagles had one of the worst secondaries in the league last year and had a dramatic overhaul of that unit this offseason. Maxwell was the big money free agent addition, while Thurmond could turn out to be an under the radar signing (assuming he can stay healthy, which is a big IF). Carroll has been praised by Chip Kelly for putting in the hard work this offseason. And Malcolm Jenkins, the only holdover from last year's starting unit, will continue to be the quarterback of the group.
Former Philadelphia Eagle personnel man and current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick had high praises for the Eagles unit:
Can quickly recognize the level of athletic ability in rookie DB's that has #Eagles staff excited. Tall, versatile, profile fits.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) August 2, 2015
Skill level in #Eagles secondary from last year to this year at corner not even worth comparing. They have MUCH more to work with in '15.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) August 2, 2015
9. First Team Offensive Line
From left to right: Jason Peters, Allen Barbre, Jason Kelce, Matt Tobin and Lane Johnson.
The guard spots are the areas to watch, as the Eagles are counting on a journeyman in Barbre and a career backup in Tobin to replace All Pro guard Evan Mathis and 10-year vet Todd Herremans. Kelly and his staff obviously have faith in them. It will be interesting to see if Tobin and Barbre can validate it.
Side note on Tobin: while other players might be given shots here and there (like Dennis Kelly and Andrew Gardner), it seems like this job is Tobin's to lose.
10. It's Day One, Stop Reading too Much into This
Seriously. It's the first day of training camp. Everything could change tomorrow. Sanchez could take all first team reps, Murray could be a full participant, and Gardner could take Tobin's place. We are still a long way away from the first meaningful game, so just sit back, enjoy, and pray Sam Bradford's knee holds up.
