How individual Eagles players are improving….

Fletcher Cox is extremely candid about his need to get better in “the little things” it takes to become a better defensive end in a 3-4 alignment:

“I’m still kind of new to this two-gap thing, the 3-4. I’ve been a one-gap player all of my life.”

Cox gave a nice interview to Chris McPherson of PE.com  in which he says two things he’s focused on improving are his footwork and hand placement – especially on early downs.

Cox says the main reason he’s getting better every season so far is “being coachable. Soaking in all of the little things to make myself a better player. Be coachable,  don’t be stubborn.”

Center Jason Kelce feels the biggest room for improvement for him as well as the rest of his offensive line mates is in the mental part of the position:

“For the offensive line position, it’s not always about measurables and a lot of it comes down to the mentality of the game. It’s the same reason why it’s hard to predict what quarterbacks are going to be successful in the league. Whenever you’re trying to assess mental ability to adapt to the game, to adapt to the offense, to adapt to the speed, all that stuff, it becomes harder to evaluate talent. The two most mental positions on the field, in my opinion, are the quarterback and the offensive line.”

I never thought about it quite like that, but Kelce said it and he believes it.

Right now in OTA’s just about all the meaningful practice for offensive linemen is strictly mental.

Kelce: “Obviously the rookies, it’s too hard to tell right now, they’re still young, they’re still learning and we don’t have pads on. Nothing we do out here right now is really going to tell that much on what it’s going to be like on game day, especially in the trenches…”

Then there’s Nolan Carroll,  a defensive back who knows he has to show improvement this summer just to make the team:

“For me, honestly, it’s just work.  I’ve come in with the mindset that I’ve got to work harder than everyone else.”

New defensive backs coach Cory Undlin is going to provide plenty of motivation for Carroll to keep working hard as he gives Carroll a shot to compete for a starting outside corner job.

“Cory is asking more from us. He is asking us to compete against ourselves every day, to be better every day. It’s not about competing against the other guys at our position. It’s about competing to be better as a player every day. He’s harping on that. He’s demanding that we give more than we gave the day before. He’s teaching us every single day. He isn’t taking a day off from teaching and from helping us improve so he expects effort from us, too. We have a growth mindset. We don’t have a fixed mindset. We never feel like, ‘Oh, I’ve got it. I don’t have to worry about it.’ We’re pushing every day.”

* * * * * * * * * * *
Injury note: Players still limited for practice are Sam Bradford (knee),  Earl Wolff (knee), and Marcus Smith (lower leg).

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All over the place on Eagles OTA coverage…

“Wind-Up” Tebow and “Sugarfoot” Bradford together working a passing drill with receivers? Are we witnessing the Apocalypse?

Speculation running rampant, Eagles players changing positions, Chip Kelly domming press conferences, Sam Bradford a long way off from being approved for contact…so far this is possibly the most cray-cray week of OTA’s I’ve ever seen in Philly.

I’m already seeing “Final 53″ projections after only 2 days of light workouts!

Unofficially the first “Final 53″ guesstimate to appear here comes from “BleedingGreen 93“, a sometimes poster here and still a regular at PE.com’s On The Inside:

“Now I am going to make a extremely early 53-man roster prediction:

QBs-Bradford, Sanchez, TEBOW

RBs-Murray, Matthews, Sproles, Barner

TEs-Celek, Ertz, Burton

WRs-Matthews, Cooper, Agholor, Huff, Austin, Seyi

OL-JP, Mathis, Kelce, Barbre, Johnson, Tobin, Gardner, Coccia

[24 players on O]

DE-Cox, Thornton, Curry, Hart, Mahalik

NT-Beau [Allen], Bennie [Logan]

OLBs-Barwin, Graham, Smith, Braman

ILB-Ryans, Kendricks, Kiko [Alonso], Hicks, Goode

CBs-Maxwell, Carroll, Boykin, Rowe, Shepherd

S-Jenkins, Thurmond, Wolff, Watkins, Evans

[26 players on D]

STs : P-Donnie Jones, K-Parkey, LS-Jon Dorenbos

So if I can count correctly that should equal 53 guys…”

As you can see, BG93 has moved Walter Thurmond and Jaylen Watkins from corner to the safety position, based on early OTA drills which gave the players a look there.

He’s also got Tim Tebow making the Final 53 as a third QB… and no backup center. Chris Maragos gets the axe as a special teams guy and backup safety. And he holds on to a 4th running back:

“Barner as my 4th RB might be surprising— but I’m thinking if we keep a 4th guy it will be a player more in the mold of Sproles, a kid who could fill the void somewhat if Sproles did get hurt. Barner has a skill set that could accomplish this.”

Well, ya gotta give BG93 credit for sticking his neck out this early.

If they ever let all 53 guys dress on Sundays, such roster predictions would be a lot easier to make, too.

As for Sam Bradford? He’s noticeably favoring his recovering leg…and definitely not ready for anything other than some basic passing drills with his receivers. But he says he’s studying a lot of tape on Kelly’s offensive system:

“I haven’t gotten a chance to get out there and actually run it, but just watching it on tape and talking about it, I love the tempo, I love how fast we play,” he said. “It fits my style of game, making quick decisions. The run game is a little different — we’ve been running two-back’power’ (in St. Louis), it’s a lot of the zone-read stuff (here) which is new to me, but I see the advantages of it.”

Walter Thurmond getting a look at safety? Not really that big of a leap for Thurmond:

“I’m not completely new to the position, I’ve dabbled a little bit in practice during scout teams in Seattle and New York and stuff like that, so I’m pretty familiar, but it’s a lot different from playing corner my whole career playing football. So there are going to be a lot of opportunities, especially in this defense, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

“It’s a different footwork motion than (I’m used to),” Thurmond said. “It’s kind of similar to nickel. It’s a little bit different in that aspect as well, but more reading the entire field with your eyes. You’re another quarterback on the field so, especially in our defense, you have to make a lot of coverage calls, so you have to be a lot more vocal and verbal to the cornerbacks and to the linebackers as well. So that’s probably one of the biggest differences from playing corner and safety.”

Funny, but the defensive backfield rotations at OTA’s this week gave mixed clues as to the hierarchy of the candidates.

Nolan Carroll received the first shot at the cornerback spot opposite Byron Maxwell while veteran special teams standout Chris Maragos worked with the first-team defense at safety opposite Malcolm Jenkins.

The second-team defense featured E.J. Biggers and Brandon Boykin as the outside cornerbacks with Chris Prosinski and Walter Thurmond at safety.

The “third-team” secondary saw second-round pick Eric Rowe and sixth-rounder JaCorey Shepherd manning the outside corner spots with Jaylen Watkins and Jerome Couplin at safety. Earl Wolff is still out of action as he recovers from knee surgery.

More cray-cray stuff but of the good variety: ten months after tearing his ACL, linebacker Kiko Alonso was a full participant Thursday, taking reps without a brace of any kind on his surgically repaired left knee.

“I feel really good,” Alonso said after practice. “Knee’s feeling good. It’s been great during practices … I feel comfortable without (a brace). I’ve never really liked wearing a brace.”

Wow…that’s usually a 12-month recovery in the best of circumstances…Kiko’s way ahead of schedule.

Maybe the appearance of Tim Tebow at QB in an Eagles 7-on-7 drill seems weird enough, but there he was, and wouldn’t you know it, 7th-round pick DE (6-9, 302) Brian Mihalik intercepted a Tebow pass that was batted at the line of scrimmage. As much as things change, they stay the same…or so the saying goes.

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All-League baseball

Marconi resident Dino Cattai, a senior at St. Joe’s Prep, received First-Team All-Catholic baseball honors. Prep Charter’s Keegan McKoskey, Joe Suppa and Dean D’Angelo earned First-Team Division A Public League kudos, with Girard Academic Music Program’s Dylan Anderson and...

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Opening Alert: The PHS Pop-Up Gardens Will Open In Graduate Hospital And East Passyunk This Monday, June 1

Yes! The PHS Pop-Up Gardens will open for the season in East Passyunk and Graduate Hospital this Monday, June 1.
(Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia)

Summer is officially starting in two of what are sure to be some of the coolest hangouts in the city. T

his Monday, June 1, the PHS Pop-Up Gardens will pour their first brews and serve their first bites for a season of summer fun. That’s right, the PHS Pop-Up Gardens in East Passyunk and Graduate Hospital are opening for the season this Monday, June 1.

The two gardens will turn underused lots into go-to spots for eating, drinking and hanging out alfresco.

The Graduate Hospital pop-up will revisit last year’s location — at 1438 South Street — with a new design, new beer and new food items. This year's pop up will have a Bohemian flair and the food-and-drink offerings will include sandwiches, hot dogs, cheese plates and more from Dietz & Watson and brews from Barren Hill Brewery. The beer garden will also be pouring Garden Variety Wit by Barren Hill, a PHS pop-up garden exclusive beer. The Graduate Hospital location is even planning a special run of events for Philly Beer Week next week.

The East Passyunk pop-up garden will be located directly across from Pat’s and just down the street from Geno’s at 829 Wharton Street. The brand-new beer garden will be styled with a “hipster vibe” and food and drink will be curated by the team behind the nearby Cantina los Caballitos, Royal Tavern and Triangle Tavern.

The gardens will open at noon on Monday and food and drink service will start at 5 p.m. For more on the two pop-up garden locations, click here.

The gardens benefit PHS-run programming in addition to City Harvest, a local organization that aims to bring healthy food to those in need.

Cheers!

---

PHS Pop-Up Gardens

When: Opening June 1

Where: 1438 South Street and 829 Wharton Street

Cost: Pay as you go

More info: www.phsonline.org

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Radio contact with Eagles Nation…

A lot of information about the state of the Eagles still comes to me the old-fashioned way— picking up random reports and observations on the radio. Maybe it’s because I spend at least two hours each workday isolated in my vehicle, and at night I like to sit out on the deck and spin the dial on an old portable AM/FM unit listening for NFL news from other cities.

There is a lot of national radio buzz about the Eagles. Most of it has to do with the changes made by Chip Kelly. The common thread is how much time should Eagles owner Jeff Lurie give Kelly to produce a championship-caliber team…and what happens if the Eagles regress in 2015 beneath Kelly’s vision of what it takes to win big in the NFL?

Big Jon Runyan, former Pro Bowl tackle for the Eagles and two-time congressman from New Jersey, appeared on 97.5 The Fanatic, an ESPN-affiliated station in Philadelphia, and he basically said don’t be surprised if after two consecutive 10-6 regular seasons, the Birds take one step backwards.

“I say give him the opportunity to get his own people in there and see what happens,” Runyan said. “It may turn out to not be that great of a season, but you go through those growing pains.”

“When you have massive turnover like that, that creates some inconsistencies. The lack of communication and that non-verbal communication that you have with your teammates — because you don’t have as many reps with them, that shows itself on Sundays.”

“It could be bad,” Runyan said, “but you never know. You get a defense getting turnovers and a prolific offense putting points up, it changes the whole dynamic. It can happen, but history says it’s not going to be pretty.”

Sobering words from Runyan, but he also expressed the need for patience and the will to carry on.

As the signal faded out, I tried to imagine what a “regressive” season for the Eagles would look or feel like.

3rd year on Kelly’s contract— after 10-6 and no playoff appearance in 2014, would a 9-7 season and a wild-card appearance in the playoffs (one and done) be considered a regression?

Or is Runyan talking about something really bad, like a 6-10 or a 7-9 ?

Admittedly it is possible for things to go the wrong way. And we’ve seen points of time in Eagles history where things had to get worse for new head coaches (Vermeil and Reid) before they were built up to championship levels.

I spun the radio dial again and caught an interview on a Yahoo Sports station originating out of Boston. On the airwaves was none other than Gil Brandt, the legendary Cowboys personnel exec from old glory days in Dallas. Brandt was being interviewed about his own optimism for the Chip Kelly Experiment which he had also expressed in a recent Sports Illustrated article.

Brandt said he loves the Eagles’ talent at running back and wide receiver, and thinks it will put Kelly over the top in 2015.

“Kelly’s a lot more tuned in to personnel than people know,” said Brandt. “He knows what he’s doing, he’s talked about his master plan with a lot of NFL people, and he definitely has his eye on the salary cap as he builds for the future.”

Of course Brandt can be excused for being partial to former Cowboys, but he was absolutely gushing over DeMarco Murray:

“This kid is going to be a difference-maker…DeMarco is an all-around player who can catch the ball and pass-protect if needed—he’s just a great 3-down back.”

Brandt also likes the way he thinks Kelly is going to use his receivers in the slot.

“Your receivers should be versatile, able to line up outside, or in the slot, or in the backfield. Jordan Matthews and former Oregon player Josh Huff fit this profile, as does first-round draft pick Nelson Agholor, who is going to be tough to stop in this system.”

They asked Brandt if he had concerns about the QB situation in Philly, with Sam Bradford not quite ready to go, and Mark Sanchez as the heir apparent if Bradford can’t go. He basically said we fans should have no worries, as Kelly’s offensive system with its fast tempo tends to neutralize the individual effect of a quarterback. If the play is run right, Brandt believes any NFL QB will become more efficient in the Eagles offense.

I’m not sure I agree with Brandt on that last point. I’m not sure I agree with a constant fast-tempo offense, either. But as the radio signal from Boston faded out on me, I had a sense of relief that a guy as NFL-savvy as Gil Brandt has a lot of confidence in the Chippah.

Summertime nights with the radio…my search of the dial continues…

Concert Photos: DelFest @ Allegany County Fairgrounds, MD, 5/21-24

Pennsylvania bluegrass legend Del McCoury once again hosted his annual music festival in Cumberland, Maryland.

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