It's a rainy Monday in Philadelphia, but there's a lot to look forward to with the first preseason games just three days away. Bellow Eagles fans, I'm Christma Experienson and welcome to Inside training Camp, presented by Expanity. We'll have a difference. Been on highlights as it was Kids' Day at Lincoln Financial Field and over thirty six thousand fans attended the final open practice of this year's training camp.
But first on today's show. Tight End zach Ertz led the Eagles in both receptions in yards in twenty sixteen. In fact, from November first of last season until the end, he was second in the league among all all past catchers in receptions. He still thinks there's a lot of room to improve. As an interesting selection for the team's Best Offseason edition, he shares it in this one on one interview with Alex Smith. Hi, everyone, and welcome to
Eagles training Camp. I'm Alex Smith, and the man sitting to my left his Eagles tight end zach Ertz. Zach training Camp number five for you already, I mean, where's the time? Gun? Can you believe it's already fifth year in the NFL? Yeah? It's crazy. I mean, the time it's just gone by so fast. Luckily I've played here in my entire career. It's truly been a blessing being here in Philadelphia. I've loved it ever since we've moved
out here five years ago. Now it's incredible. I don't know really where the time's gone, but it's been an amazing time so far. What do you remember most about your rookie training camp in twenty thirteen? How lost that was? Probably Stanford's graduation rules didn't prohibit me, or I wasn't allowed to come out here for that whole spring. So being here in August was the first time I'd ever really stepped foot in the city, and everything was a whirlwin.
I was blocking guys I were way bigger, way stronger, way faster than me. So I mean, I just got my butt kick because a humbling experience going against tred Cole every day. But I think I got better because of it, mentally and physically. Zach. When you look at the offense last year, the tight ends were a huge part in that you had over eight hundred receiving yards. H What do you take away from last year when
you look back at it. Yeah, I think obviously it was a big year for us having Carson as our quarterback, knowing who the guy is going to be for the next fifteen years hopefully, and hopefully I'll be with them for all the years coming forward. But it was a good year for the tight ends. We're definitely not satisfied by any means. I think we got a big chip on our shoulder as a group. Um, we got a lot of really talented players in the room, we got
a unbelievable coach and just appeal. So I think it's gonna be a better year this year. What's the next step for you personally? I would just think when going to the playoffs and winning the playoffs game. I mean I went to the playoffs in thirteen, my rookie year. We played the Saints in that game, but we lost and we haven't been back since. We haven't really competed for the division since. So that's the goal of this year is to win the NFC East and then hopefully
win a playoff game. Is there a sense of urgency within the locker room to get back into the playoffs for sure? I Mean, we don't come out here just to come out here and play. We come out here to win football games. We're not busting our butts in August and even in the spring just to be an average football team. We want to be a great football team.
That's the goal this year, and we've been working really hard that this this summer, Zach, you mentioned it's year two with Carson, but the offense looks a little different this year with the guys on the outside, new receivers, brought in new faces. What will that do for you and the tight end group in the middle of the field. Um, we'll see. I mean, obviously, we gotta go out there and make plays. That's all. That's all that really matters in the end of the at the end of the day.
That's gonna be a little bit of a learning curve at the beginning, just to kind of figure out everything. But I think that's started a long time ago in the spring, guys kind of finding their roles each and every day. I mean, we added two extremely talented, et extremely proven guys and Tori and Alshon and the whole level of the receiving corps has risen because of it. M Nelson's had a unbelievable spring and summer Jordan Matthews
getting back out. They having a great start to cam Marcus Johnson has looked phenomenal each and every day he's out here and making plays. He's been unbelievable so far the summer. So we got a really talented group. I think coach my girls doing an unbelievable job with that crew. Bringing him in was a huge addition for our football team, probably one of the more underrated things that we did this offseason with signing Mike m So we're excited about
the team, excited about that unit. It seems like there's a new sense of energy, a new sense of focus with this group. Do you feel that, Yeah, for sure. I mean you're two with Carson, You're two with Duck. I mean there there should be a reason for optimism. We got an unbelievable offensive line, we got to prove in front seven on defense, extremely talented safeties, and we got a lot of talent on this football team. Honestly, so I think there's a huge reason for optimism with
this team. All right, Jack, My last question for you, what's more stressful game planning or wedding planning? Well, luckily I didn't have to do much wedding planning. Julie did all of that. The game planning, I would say it's a little more stressful, but I don't really have to do any of that, So I just kind of go out there and show up and make sure I'm at
my best for both occasions. Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, thank you very much for joining us, and thank you all for joining us right here on Philadelphi Eagles dot com. I told you that Zack's answer for biggest offseason move would surprise you now speaking up big moves. The Eagles at a running back little Garrett Blunt this offseason, who at six feet two hundred and fifty pounds, brings a different dimension to the Eagles offense to compliment Darren Sproles
among others. Last season in New England, he rushed for an NFL high eighteen rushing touchdowns and gained over eleven hundred yards on the ground for the Super Bowl champions. The subject of our latest in Focus explains why he chose to sign with the Eagles. That Choles Billy because I thought it was you know, I thought it was the best hit for me. Like I just I liked the guys here. You know, UM like the way they
do things around here. You know, I like the way they play ball, So you know, I feel like this is the perfect kit for me. Well, Garrett Blunt running back. The major factor in me choosing to sign here in Philly was, you know, I like the direction the team is headed. You know, they got a great quarterback, they got a good defense, We got some special things going on here, so you know, I just definitely wanted to be a part of it. So he's gonna lean the back and so you're trying to make a jump cut
or a cut going full speed. Everybody listening. It's awesome working with Deuce man. I've been a fan of this for a long time, and it's an honor to be able to have a chance to work with him, and you can get his input from a player and a coach's perspective. I appreciate him. I'm going back to get me here. Something that I could share with the young guys that can help them in their journey is just my experience. It takes a lot to be good in
this league. Knowing the things that you have to do to prepare yourself for a game and just looking up the players like Darren. You know someone who's played for as long as he's played. Take parts of his routine and build your own, and you'll be pretty successful. When you get tired, man, you gotta pick your legs up. You're just tired. Something I would like to focus one, just continue to learn to playbook. Make sure I get down all my assignments and everything that I need to
go to the training camp and be competitive. I want to make sure that I can go in there and compete at a high level, not having to worry about making mistakes personally. I would just like to bring you know, hard nose downhill running. I get worked up off of you know, running people over making big plays, and they can energize the defense. If you energize the offense, it's a momentum builder, you know. So we got a lot of guys over there that can make plays, and I
just wanted to contribute to that. You missed out quite a fun time if you weren't at Sunday's open practice. You probably also disappointed the kids who want to go. Shame on you for that. At the very least, you can check out these highlights. After the break, He's found the end zone over seventeen times. Today he's a professional football watcher because he has NFL Red Zone from NFL Network on xpinity to come up for a fan only
with xpnity, don't wait click today. It's growing up. I used to watch those old whoop of reels of players falling over themselves and getting into all kinds of funny situations on the field. Since it was kids Day at the Link on Sunday, we decided to take a different approach to the highlights package. Let us know what you think they'll do it for this edition of Inside Training
Camp presented by Expanity. On Wednesday, the eve of the first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, Wolf exclusive access with defensive backs coach Corey Ulin, who's getting a young group of cornerbacks ready for the upcoming seasons, so you will not want to miss that. I'm Chris McPherson. Thank you very much for joining us, and have a great Eagles Deck.