We've got some football to talk about here on Inside Training Camp presented by Exfinity. Hello, everyone, I'm Dave Spennaro, Eagles Insider, along with Chris McPherson, and we've been talking about the Eagles on Eagles in training camp for the last few weeks. Now we're going to talk about the Eagles matching up against Tampa Bay on Thursday night, the preseason begins at Lincoln Financial Field and Chris, the focus has really turned in this building from training camp to
the preseason. We've reached a milestone here, Dave. Today on Monday was the last live contact practice session for the Eagles, and the big reason for that is, as you mentioned, Dave, the Eagle can out turned their focus towards an opponent and start preparing for the weekend and week out grind what eventually will become the regular season. And we're not going to break down the X and noos of how
the Eagles match up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You know, we'll see Jameis Winston and Mike Evans for a few snaps, maybe a couple of series, but you really want to evaluate the Eagles from the new veterans to the rookies in a game situation. And we also get to see the debut of head coach Doug pearson is first game as an NFL head coach. So a love excitement, a love of anticipation in the building to see what the
Eagles could potentially be here in twenty sixteen days. Yeah, it's time to get some roster evaluation, really take it to the next level. Of course, the primary purpose of these preseason games, and there are four of them for the Eagles, is to get the roster from ninety players where it stands to fifty three in time for the Eagles and the Cleveland Browns on September eleventh, when the regular season begins. Now, there are going to be some players who aren't going to suit up for this ball game.
There are some injuries to talk about. We'll get to that in a moment, but we want to focus first, I think on the quarterback position. Doug Peterson talking about how he wants to use all four quarterbacks potentially in the Thursday preseason opener. Sam Bradford, Chase, Daniel Carson, Wentz, McLeod Bethel Thompson all could see some action. And we are obviously focusing on the first three because they're the
ones who are gonna make this team. Peterson talked about the quarterbacks and how he plans to use them after practice on Monday. I'm gonna try to get him all in the game. Obviously, Sam will Sam will start with the ones I got Chase going in there. Carson will take the bulk of the second half, and then when I get opportunity, I want to I want to see McLeod get some time late in the game. I want to I want to see the timing, the accuracy, and
the decision making with him. I want to see, you know, him being able to move our offense, you know, especially coming out of the locker room potentially you know, the second half of a game, you know, and then starting fast depending on whether whatever happened at the coin toss, and and uh, I just want to see that execution. And I want to see him lead the football team. Kind of goes back to the Carson question. I mean,
just leading our offense. It's a new system that he's that he's embraced, and and uh, you know, you'd love to see points out of that first unit. You want to see um, you know, a high percentage of completed, completed throws, moving, moving the chains. Um. Obviously it's a very watered down vanilla game plan, so we allow the guys to play fast. It's not everything that we've done
in camp up to this day. So just just the just the overall execution and and and and minimizing, minimizing mistakes, errors, um, poor decisions, that kind of thing, and just be be nice and smooth, relax and have fun out there. It's hard to say, you know, I would go as far as saying, if it's like a three and out, three and out deal, I would I would probably keep the ones in there for a little bit longer. It all just depends on how many plays they get. I don't
have a set number of plays. Um, if they go down and score, you know, maybe pull them out. It's your typical first preseason ball game from that standpoint. So it's all about execution for the Eagles quarterbacks on Thursday night. As we heard from John D. Philippo on Sunday at the Quarterbacks coach, he wants to see this group move the offense, put points on the board, manage the game, manage the clock, run the huddle, and Chris, we finally
get to see how this rotation is going to work out. Yes, of course, everyone I think is very excited about Carson Wentz the number two overall pick, especially with the fact that this will be the most I will expect to see him that the course of the entire two sixteen season, But even if it might be for only a short amount of time on Thursday Night, I want to say Sam Bradford has had the entire offseason to get healthy. Dave, you mentioned your interview with John d. Philippo. Sam is
bigger and stronger than he's ever been. His footwork, he's much more confident in it than at this time of the year ago. So with all that being said, I want to see just you know, Kenny moved the football. How does he hold up in the pocket? The quarterbacks they've not been able to be hit yet to this point. So in the new offense is running this year, do we see good decision making? Does it get rid of the football on time? Can they move the offense? Does
he look comfortable in the pocket. Those are the things that are gonna be looking for on Thursday night, and the scheme will be watered down, it will be vanilla, it will be basic, but the idea here is to go out, run the offense, play good football, and get out of their healthy Now, the health issue is one that we've monitored very closely here for the last couple of weeks. The Eagles have some injuries that are mounting and some players certainly won't see action in Thursday. Team.
Let's take a look at some of the updated injury news here as the Eagles finish up practice on Monday, They've got Tuesday off and then a mock game on Wednesday, and I guess the big edition here. Michael Kendricks on page two leaves practice on Monday with a tight hamstring. Jordan Matthews expected to be out for up to a couple of weeks here, perhaps as they look to the regular season to get him ready. Everyone else a short term nothing. Any of these injuries will bleed over into
the regular seasons. Staly one guy who we've been excited to see at some point year in training camp, especially once the Paduan was running back Wendelle Smallwood. We figured
he was day to day with that quad injury. I meanfortunately, he's just not been able to get back on the field, So there's no timetable at this point for his return, and he's someone who is a fifth round pick could make an impact in this Eagles offense with a running back by comedy type situation with Ryan Matthews leading away and Darren Sprowles doing his damage as a receiver out of the backfield. There is room for raps there for Wendelle Smallwood, but he has to be able to get
on the field now. To take a deeper look into smallwood situation, he is a featured part of the Journey presented by Triple A. Last week's episode featured rookies Carson Wentz and Blay Countess. This week, we're gonna catch up with Wendelle Smallwood, how is rehabits going, and also check in on a player coming back from injury, linebacker Jordan Hicks,
last year's third round selection. Right after this break on Inside Training Camp presented by Kes Faniting love mates, we can like many, but we can love only a precious view because it is for those precious view that you have to be willing to do so very much. But you don't have to do it alone. Lincoln Financial helps you provide for and protect your financial future because this is what you do for people. You love talk to an advisor Lincoln Financial. You're in charge. One discovery sparks
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welcome you back, Dave Spindaro along with Chris McPherson. Time now for the journey featuring Wendell Smallwood, fifth round draft pick from West Virginia, and Jordan Hicks, the second year linebacker coming back from an injury. Their journey through this twenty sixteen training camp. That should feel a little bit better right there, right all right, now, go ahead and slide back again. One more big rop, same thing. You
go through warm ups and all that stuff. I'm gonna try and go through individual yep yep, and try just try and do what you can do, and then I'll just be out there and then if you can go, go, But if you can't. Then we'll pick it up where we left off yesterday. We'll do some stuff there. Cool yep. So currently, you know, I'm I feel great, body is healthy.
My rehab process seemed long, but other than that, man, it's been a pretty good process, just you know, coming back from the pack and the little chinks and everything. But now I'm healthy, feel good, ready to get out there in band Okay, really power done. They dreaded Meet up Rise AGAD Morning Show. Being together. I think it is most important because these are guys you're working with every day. These are guys you got to get to
know and bond with. When I think us being together at the hotels and busting in the morning, just start to understand a person more. The more you get put on him, I think you're building lifelong friendship with those guys just aren't working together. It's gonna build it even more.
You know, I was excited when we drafted him. I was excited during rookie camp when we had him in here, uh, the entire offseason program, and you know he's gonna put himself in a position I'm hoping to help us this season. I think he's that good, excellent route runner, good hands, and I love the fact that he's kind of a one cut, no nonsense type guy. He's a downhill guy, but fast enough to separate and you know, create some
long runs. I think it's important. I mean, you're having an opportunity to drawn play this year is definitely my motivation and not even looking at the depth chart. I'm just a competitive guy and I want to get better. There's a saying that if you keep count numbers, it's not going to do you any good. You got to continue to work, focus on the process, continue to work, worry about getting better each and every day. My situation, I had quite a bit of depth in the linebacker corps.
You know, I was coming in third round pick. Really didn't know where I stood and there were a lot of numbers in front of me, and I just tried to stay humble, stay focused, continue to ask questions, figure out different things that I could pick up. I was, you know, trying to be as much of a sponge as possible when she's trying to soak in every type of knowledge that I could get. I'll take no type to them, guys. They might do something and I'm not going to be the guy to say Hey, I'm never
going to do that. Never know how the gatting works. You know, guys could go down, something to happen, So I think I need to be mentally dialed in because it can happen to me just like it happened to them. So I think I need to prepare myself for any giving situation. I could be put in very highly of whend else Walt would How important is this time that he's missing and that you want to see what he was like looking Matazon. Yeah, you know it's tough for a young player and for us as coaches to get
that that true evaluation. But we know who he is, what he is. We saw a lot this spring the first couple of days of camp. Have a good, good idea. Right now it's a matter of him just getting healthy and getting back on the field. So when he does come back, it's just a matter of you know, trusting himself and getting him, getting him coached out. Waking up this early every day, being there all those twelve hours a day and coming in the next day doing the
same thing and just shows that his dedication. Heading there early just to get some get some treatment before for a practice, and then I'm learn trying to get a jump start while everyone's on break, can get as must treatment as I can, and while I got this free times, I'm just want to bet. Sometimes a good days, sometimes it's bad days, but I know I gotta keep getting better every day and keep doing whatever I have to do to get this opportunity and take advantage of it.
Great stuff there. We all hope that Smallwood gets back on the field quickly because Chris there is a role for him in this offense. And we all know what a player Jordan Hicks can be in the middle of the Seaguls defense. Yes, what you love about Smallwood is the versatility he brings his team. You can run in between the tackles, he can catch the ball out of the backfield. And to be back in this West Coast offense,
you have to be well versed across the board. The question is how can he hold up in pass protection? And Dave, you mentioned Hicks. It's interesting that last year he came in as the third round pick and he was expected to learn from Damiko Ryans and the plethora of linebackers that the Eagles had at the time. You know, and then all of a sudden you have the Mufassa and Simba Connection and Hicks because of injury, got thrust into the starting lineup. Proved to be a revelation for
his Eagles defense. Was its best playmaker in that middle part of the defense there and showed instant command. You know. The talent was there at the University of Texas. The question was always could he remain healthy. Well, unfortunately his season was derailed due to injury. We see the comeback there. Smallwood could be in a similar situation that maybe on paper you don't think that he's going to be an instant contributor, but he could have a role at some
point this year. The key for him, though, he's got to get healthy and get back on the field. Dave, Yeah, So that is the journey Part two. We hope you enjoyed that. We've got more to go here on Insight Training Camp presented by Xfinity. Dave Spidarow, Chris McPherson, and we'll be back in just one moment. Hi, I'm Bo Allen from the Philadelphia Eagles and this is the Allen from Bob's Ascount Furniture. We named it after Thanks Bob. Really mana some serious power power, replied powerhead rest and
USB ports. Get the Sulfur a console love set in dark chocolate or light brown and untouchable value at only seven nine each. I don't know how you do it, Bob, but man, do I respect it? You know players should respect that for big games. Nope, we swapped jerseys. Growing up. We had a basketball hoop in our driveway and that's all I used to play with. This past August, I happen to notice the bump on my foot, so my parents and I decided that we would go to Rothman
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and we welcome you back. David Chris here loving the fact that we've got some football to talk about after all of these weeks are just kind of making it up as we go along. Let's be honest, there will be tackling on Thursday night full football as the preseason opener is here and Chris. Last year, Kenyon Barner was the player who emerged in the preseason. It kind of became the star and certainly earned his place on the fifty three man roster. Who's that player this year? Oh?
Look at that? Let's see you go through the list. You're looking for a young guy who's trying to make a name for himself here. I'm gonna go with Blake Countess. Now, Blake Countess, late round draft pick, undersized player was it two colleges, trying to make it here in the Eagles secondary. Looking for him on special teams also as a reserve safety. The Eagles certainly not pleased with the depth that they have seen in training camp at the safety positions. Blake Countess,
who I think is an extinctual guy. He's got a lot of football savvy, not a big physical commanding presence, but I think he does enough in coverage end in finding the football to make this roster. So may not be the sexy pick, he may not be the one scoring the touchdowns, but I'm saying that Blake Countess is the one who emerges in this training camp end preseason period.
You know, there's two guys on offense that I could think about goal with, but they're veteran guys, guys like Chris Givens and Ruben Randall fitting into his offense seeing how they do. So I'm gonna stay away from those guys. I'm gonna go back to defense, and because of injury, Stephen Means is a player who has a chance to work his way onto the roster. The Eagles want death at defensive end. You feel pretty good about the top three guys, Connor Barwin, Benny Curry and Brandon Graham. Who
is the fourth guy in the rotation, Marcus Smith. He came into training camp in the league, but he's been sidelined due to the concussion. Stephen Means earned some praise from Jim Schwartz during the press conference on Sunday. If Means can open some eyes during training camp. He's a guy with some NFL experience. Maybe he works his way onto the fifty three man roster. We'll keep our eyes on that. We've got four games, game number one coming
up on Thursday night. The schedule changes a lot, Chris with the players now who are in meetings throughout the day on Monday and then Tuesday the day off. So what do we got ahead for the fans? Well, Doug Peterson will address the media one final time ahead of Thursday's pre season opener. We will carry that live for you at ten am. We already got an idea of who will play how much at the quarterback position, but those other injuries that we've gone through, which guys will
definitely be out. He will touch on that on Tuesdays to make sure to check that out. And then the newest episode of the Eagles Live Podcast, Yes, that will come your way on Tuesday, featuring Eagles preseason alse Mike Mayo, Mike Mayock, a bunch of coaches, John d Filippo as well as Doug Peterson, the very latest from him. We'll
visit with Kenyon Barner. We've got the Merrill Minute. Merrill Reese tells us what he's looking for in this preseason opener, and then we have our preview show on Inside Training Camp presented by Expanding Coming your Way. On Wednesday, we'll highlight some guys to watch and kind of, you know, give an overview broad overview of which guy. My guy to watch is a veteran and I'm not gonna tell you why. Now say something. He has big goals for
Thursday night. All right, save some juice, so you're all set to go. Everybody settle in the preseason is upon us and it can't get here fast enough. For christ Ma Pherson, I'm Dave Spidero. We thank you for joining us here on Inside Training Camp presented by Exfinity. Have yourselves a great Eagles Day,