Inside Training Camp: August 6

you updated on that list right now. Nothing really serious here, Chris, but some injuries that are keeping some players you'd like to see out on the field, particularly when Delle Smallwood. See what kind of reps he can get, a kind

of contribution he can make to this offense. Certainly, he looks so great when the shells and shorts were on in the spring and the early part of training camp, and he said, you know what, you can't wait to see how he's going to handle the physicality of running in between the tackles, how hold up in pass protection. And unfortunately we haven't been able to see that because he has not been out there since the pads went on.

So as Eagles try to figure out how the running back rotation will work, Ryan Matthews is back on the field, and the coach were very happy with how he's performed. Darren Sproles, He's Darren Sprowles. We know what we're gonna get from him this season. But who are gonna be those guys? You know, third, fourth, fifth on the depth chart, you figure Smallwood was in a good position to work his way in there carve out some playing time, but unfortunately we just haven't been able to see him healthy

during these contact drills. And hopefully that will change very soon and perhaps Smallwood gets back on the field in the next couple of days and gets ready for Thursday, and if not, we'll see a lot of Kenyon Barner, and we'll see a lot of Byron Marshall and Cedric O'Neill and that crew and see how the Eagles fair in preseason game at number one. But none of those injuries considered long term, and so that is the good news. During a very physical camp, Eagles backing off on Saturday

with the ten ten ten work. After practice, offensive coordinator Frank Reich talked about the offense and focused on a really deep and talented group that could leave the Eagles in the passing game this year. That's the tight end position. And that is where we start with Frank Reich, offensive coordinator. You're right, tight ends is a strength of this roster,

of this offensive unit. And you know, if you look at Doug System and what they did in Kansas City with their tight ends and how we'll utilize them here, it'll be very consistent with that. And we got the players to do it, you know, we can mix it up. They're all really good, smart route runners, every one of them, and so we expect really good production from that unit. Zach has a great feel on route running. You know,

he just knows how to create leverage. He knows how to use his body, he knows you know, he's a big catch, catch radius. You know, Trey trays like a wide receiver out there. You get him out there, He's got the speed, he's got natural instinctive moves for a tight end. And one of the surprises for me though, has been Brent. You know. I mean I came in here thinking, you know, hey, Brents are blocking tight end. But the guy knows how to run routes. He's really

smart receive. He's a really smart route runner. And I have a lot of confidence in them. So and I know the quarterbacks do as well, so that's a really good thing for us. Yeah, our three tight end personnel package is a really strong package dress just because of the versatility of those players. They're all very instinctive route runners. They're all good block you know, they can all block, So it's a way to it's a different way to

try to create a mismatch. You know, sometimes you can create a mismatch by getting a guy who's bigger and stronger than a than a corner covering him. You know, those corners are used to covering small, fast guys. Now all of a sudden, you get a big you know, someone like Trey Burton or Zach Ertz, who are big guys, big catching radius, and you know, sometimes dB struggle with

that a little bit. Those guys know how to use their body and their catch radius to their advantage, so we gotta find ways to continue to use that to our advantage. It's truly consistent with what Frank has been saying throughout the spring and through the summer that the Eagles tight ends, including Brent Selik, who's not just a big, blocking, burly guy, they're going to be a big part of

things in this offense. I think we all expect that five tight ends led their individual teams and receiving last season could have happened for the Eagles this season. I don't know exactly what that will be the case, but the tight ends are obviously going to be a big focal point of the receiving game. And that's something that we thought would happen back in twenty thirteen when the Eagles drafted Zach Ertz in the second round out of Stanford.

You had urged Brent Seliki, figure they're going to try to get those guys on the field as much as possible. Well, that never really came to fruition during the Chip Kelly era. Now you're factor and Trey Burton, who has really made strides throughout the course of this training camp, and the Eagles have three prolific pass catchers that they can utilized

to create mismatches. And Dave, you understand this. The Eagles offense really want to look weekend a week out to see what the best matchup that they're gonna be able to get. And it's just gonna be so difficult when you look at these tight ends to see a linebacker or a safety or a corner whoever you want to put against these tight ends would be able to hold

up against them in coverage. The Eagles, I think can dominate the middle of the field here in twenty fifteen, and the fourth tight ends, the fourth tight end to

consider Chris Pantel, who's been working as a fullback. So it is very likely I think at this point as we watch practice, the Eagles will carry four and you see them in practice moving the tight ends around the formation, bunching the tight ends, and as we've talked about looking for the very best matchups, now, zach Ertz is somebody that you want to see blossom from the very beginning of the season at a tremendous end of the two

and fifteen campaign. Zach Ertz also understands just how Doug Peterson used the tight ends in Kansas City, led by Travis Kelsey, a Pro Bowl player last year. Is there a comparison between what the Eagles have on paper and in the preseason here to what Kansas City has done with its tight ends or it's talks about that in a whole lot more. As he looks at this group in total, Yeah, I mean, our guys are a little different than their guys, they have pretty much two blocking

tight ends and one receiver. In our opinion, we have three of both three blocking and three receiving tight ends in that set, So I think it's I think it's gonna help us a lot in those situations when you have one receiver in three tight ends in the game, defenses don't really know whether to go base or nickel. But if they're gonna put an extra linebackers, it's gonna be tough for them to stop us in the passing game.

In my opinion. Obviously, we gotta go out there and make plays when the time comes, but I think that's the mindset behind putting three of us on the field. Last week, we talked about Jason Peters on my list of mies most Invaluable Eagles. I think that's the word what to use, but Jason Peters is the way up there. Zach Ertz also really high on that list of Eagles you must have on the field this year. I think

he catches north of eighty passes this year easily. I think that you watch him in these preseason moments, these training cameras, he is being targeted over and over and over. Now he's improved in line blocking. He's too much of a matchup problem. When he's lined up wide, he's too big for his safety, He's too fast for a linebacker. Zach Ertz, I believe, will be the leading receiver on this team and maybe the receiver best suited to stretch defenses.

There's no real burner on the outside, so if you can get Ertz lined up against a linebacker, you want him going vertically. Linebackers just can't run with Zach Ertz. So he's off to a great start this summer, and I think everybody's really pleased with Zach Hurst and believes that he and possibly Jordan Matthews catching a lot of footballs compelling argument may be the number one guy or

this season. What is good about the fact that Art had to be kind of behind the scenes the last couple of seasons and learned to block better is the fact that now that he's going to be entrusted to be a bigger part of the offense, he's going to have that as part of his repertoire and be able to be counted upon time after time again. Davey made the comparison to Kansas City and Travis Kelsey, who was

a Pro Bowl player for the Chiefs last season. Well, you know, Kelsey was on the field over ninety percent of the snaps. We have not seen that from Artz. He's been just over fifty percent. He was he had more snaps than Selling for the first time just last season. And I agree with you than in terms of stretching the field, he might be the team's best option. I want to see him improved in the red zone. He has not been targeted very heavily. He's not produced a

lot down there. So Kenny improve in the red zone. Doug Peterson said. The key with that is scheme, not just so much the player himself. And the eything I want to see from from Artz is can he be consistent from the start to the end of the season. The last two years he's great Decembers. You know, going into January, we had the thirty catches in the final three games, four hundred and fifty yards in the final

four games, prolific numbers. Can you do it from week one and do it on a consistent basis, So that's our tight end. Look, we think the tight ends are going to be very involved in the Eagles offense. In two thousand and sixteen. We also think the wide receivers have a chance. It really must be involved, and somehow the Eagles need to stretch the field. Perhaps they get that contribution from a new Eagle, Chris Gibbons, signed as

a free agent in the off season. He's here as an Eagle, and when we return to inside training Camp presented by Exfinity, Chris Givens is our Eagle in focus. I got tickets, Metro tickets. You need a Metro ticket? Talk to me, please, I don't even know he's the real tickets. Did touch it? This leather legit? I mean, how do we really know? It looks good? Right? Metro? No? Hey myself, I gotta make Does the baby need a Metro ticket? I'll give her one on me. These tickets,

they're not stealing your soul. You can look at them. May nobody wants to buy tickets from a guy in the street. I don't understand. Hi. I'm Bo Allen from the Philadelphia Eagles and this is the Allen from Bob's Discount Furniture. We named it after Ball. Thanks Bob, you're the man. It packs some serious power, power recline, powerhead rest, and USB ports. Get the sofa, a console love set in dark chocolate or light brown, and untouchable value at only seven one nine each. I don't know how you

do it, Bob, but man, do I respect it? You know how players should respect that for big games. Nope, we swapped jerseys. Welcome back Dave Spidero along with Chris McPherson. We're at an overcare complex on this Saturday, the Eagles conducting their ten ten ten practice in the morning and getting ready for Sunday and another step closer today's preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It'll be our first

look at Chris gives number nineteen in an Eagle's uniform. Chris, what kind of thoughts have you had watching him in practice? Working in with his Eagles passing game. We all knew that he was a prolific down the field threat early on in his career in Saint Louis and Baltimore. In fact, is rookie season, he set the NFL rookie record with a reception of fifty yards or more in five straight games.

But here in Philadelphia, wide receivers coach Greg Lewis is trying to make him a more complete receiver so one who can go on crossing routes, slant and attack the middle of the field. And for a closer look at one of the new Eagles wide receivers, let's bring in our Abbey at Water to profile Chris Gibbins as our Eagle in focus. Thanks guys. Originally a fourth round draft pick with the Ramps in twenty twelve, Chris Gibbins signed

as a free agent with the Eagles in March. Known for his big playability and speed, Given set a rookie record in twenty twelve after he hauled in a fifty plus yard reception in five consecutive games. I'm way fashioned at my forty time on the football field, and I feel like that's what separations me because once the balls in the air, it's just another gear that I kick in that I've always had that gear since I was loading.

I just feel like I'm always having given Test found his greatest success in the NFL with quarterbacks Sam Bradford in Saint Louis. More than half of givings career catches have come from Bradford. Givens looks forward to picking up where they left off. Both as Philadelphia Eagles Honestly, I feel like we type we gotta be gonna pick up

whele left off. I know Sam pretty well. I feel like he knows me pretty well, so I don't think it's gonna take us that long to get our chemistry back in and just to get on the same table. During the twenty fifteen offseason, Bradford was traded. Givens experience the same transition when he was traded mid season of

the same year. Oh Man, last season was a whirlwind, really, just because I got the phone called I was traded at like nine am, and then I was on a flight at like one o'clock and meeting as soon as I landed. And from that day only, it was just busy, busy, busy, trying to make sure I knew everything and I really get a chance to catch my breathtuse for the season

was over. Life happens and adversity happens in there. There's just things I had to go through to get to the place I'm at today, and I'm thankful for everything I've been through and it's all just a learning process. Gibbons tells the media why the Eagles are the right fit for him. The organization of itself is going in a positive direction. The greatest a great coach and does Theaterson and then the receiver's coach in the OCS. The

vibe is just amazing. All the people were great and like you, when you feel something that's right, it's just right. Gibbons will see his first live action at Lincoln Financial Field on August eleventh against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I'm Abby atwater back to you guys in the studio, Thanks

so much. Abby. A look here at Chris Gibbons and his career statistics played with the Rams, he played with the Ravens a bit last year, and the number that jumps out at your Chris sixteen point six yards per catch, twenty and twelve of good chemistry with Sam Bradford. Good chemistry in this training camp so far, and maybe there's that level of comfort throwing down the field Bradford to Givens, just to open things up for the underneath game, which we know is going to be so important in an

Eagles pass game. I think the biggest thing with the Eagles wide receivers is you're not going to know who the go to guy is at a given moment. We all agree at Jordan Matthews. He is the most prolific guy on the receiver. Yes, correct, Yes, but when you see Chris gives out there, you're not going to assume that's going to be a go route. You know. Ruben Randall has had a very nice training camp at this point. He's are in praise thus far from head coach Doug Pearson,

an offensive corder of Frank Reich. So I think the biggest thing is they want to keep opposing defense is guessing in terms of where the ball is going to go at any given time. So if you're a fantasy football player, that might not be what you want to hear, But for the Eagles offense is gonna be a much more balanced look from the wide receiver position in twenty sixteen.

I think the big challenge for this Eagles offense is making it work outside of the numbers with roles, with Matthews, with Arts, You're gonna have some success between the hashes where you go outside the numbers down the field. And that's the importance of Chris Givens. Does he have the burst to go over the top something the Eagles of lack. Let's be honest, since Jeremy Macklin left, and obviously before that to Sean Jackson. Chris Givens comes in here. It's

a one year contract. It's a show me deal. Chris Givens intent on showing the Eagles and the rest of the NFL that he still has that burst to get down the field. All right, We've got a break coming up here when we return Inside training Camp presented by Exfinity, we'll set you up here for the next couple of days as the Eagles get prepared for Tampa Bay and the preseason opener. Love Me Tender, love me sweet. The stronger the love let me good, the greater the responsibility.

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my life had changed forever. I was hell of act to Jefferson Hospital and the Rothman doctors did an emergency procedure and fused the vertebrae in my spine. Now I'm back on the bike. I'm enjoying myself and it's all thanks to the Rothman doctors at Jefferson. Mix and match any two were just two dollars and fifty cents on McDonald's mcpick shoe menu. Choose from a mcdoubell, MC chicken sandwich, six piece chicken, McNuggets or small fries. I'm loving it.

We welcome you back. It's Inside Training Camp presented by Xcinity, Dave SPIDERO Chris McPherson. It's a Saturday, you're relaxing, but I can tell you what After a ten ten tend practice on Saturday, the Eagles put the pads back on Sunday and I expect more of this very physical training camp, no question. Only two more days of practice before the Eagles have their preseason opener this upcoming Thursday. But let's give you a look at what's to come tomorrow here

on Philadelphi Eagles dot com. If you missed our Eagle and Focus with Chris Gibbons, don't worry. We'll have it for you on demand, first thing on the site and the app tomorrow morning following the physical practice defense. According to Jim Schwartz, we'll meet the media. We'll carry that live at around eleven am or so. Wondering exactly what he'll touch on. Maybe he's gonna be snarling. Oh maybe he's a snarl. He's in a snarling mood right now.

Maybe maybe touch a little bit on the defensive end, rotation, Marcus Smith out with a concussion, who's emerging in the battle, the position, the depth at linebacker. A lot to look forward to, as this will be the last time Schwartz talks before the preseason opener. John d. Philippo quarterbacks coach, yep, I'm studio looking forward to is insights on this quarterback trio and how they've made progress throughout training camp and perhaps what kind of rotation we'll see on Thursday night.

So I'm gonna ask you this question as we wrap things up there, give me one player that you are looking forward to seeing on Thursday night as we talk on this day more than any other player. I mean, I know it's gonna be Carson Wentz So in the

non Carson Wentz department, the non Carson Wentz department. As we're looking to see who's going to emerge from the wide receiver position and I don't know the playing time at this point, I'm gonna go with Ruben Randall, someone who has had a strong training camp to this point. You know, someone who's been a proven playmaker in the league, had a career high eight touchdowns for the Giants just

a couple of years ago. Former second round pick. Is he a potential weapon in this Eagles offense on the defensive side of the football. Let's see. Put me on the spot here. I think you're going to be looking in the defensive backfield to see if one of the corners is going to emerge. Maybe I'll go as second year of player Eric Rowe, someone who was a little embattled, I would say at the start of training camp. Everyone

was wondering where did he fit into the mix. You saw players like Leos McKelvin and Ron Brooks getting the bulk of the reps with the ones. Rowe has made some great place throughout the course of camp. So I'll see if row can do something to work his way back into starting cornerback conversation. And on the offensive side, I'll go with Brandon Brooks, who should see some time working with Lane Johnson on the right side of the

offensive line. Big things expected from Brandon Brooks. And on the defensive side of the ball, I too will look into the Eagles secondary. I, however, will go with rookie Jalen Mills. He have the green hair and the very impressive spring in summer. Is Jalen Mills for real? Well, he's been very good here in the Eagles training camp. How about matched up against maybe Tampa Bay's big, strong

wide receivers. They're deep at wide receiver. I want to see Mills against some unfamiliar wide receivers and see if he can really take that next step, because I expect him at this point to contribute to the Eagles defense this season. All right, So good to it. So where you see the game Thursday Thursday, you can watch it on Comcast Sportsnet and Cozy TV in the Philadelphia area. We'll have you updated on Philadelphia Eagles dot com starting

at six thirty with our kickoff show. We'll set the scene both from the Novicare Complex and Lincoln Financial Field. Chris McPherson I'm Dave Spidero. Thanks for joining us on Inside Training Camp presented by Xfinity. Have yourselves a great Eagles Day.