Adrian Fedkiw
Training camp is officially underway with quarterbacks, rookies and selected veterans already practicing at the NovaCare Complex. The rest of the team is set to join them for the first full practice on Thursday.
But who are the names to keep an eye on?
We all know about Carson Wentz, Alshon Jeffery, LeGarrette Blount and company. They will be on the team come September, but what about the guys that are going to be scratching and clawing each day for the rest of the summer in an attempt to make the team? Who are some players that are flying under the radar?
That’s what this post is about.
Marcus Johnson
Johnson never reached 1,000 yards receiving in his career at Texas, but also never had a quarterback that threw more than 13 touchdowns in a season. Jerrod Heard and Tyrone Swoopes combined for just 1,751 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions during his senior season with the Longhorns.
Not good.
What caught the Eagles’ eye was his Texas Pro Day, where Johnson ran a 4.37 40-yard dash, recorded a 37-inch vertical and posted a 11’3 broad jump. Since the quarterback play was so putrid in Austin, the hope is that his athleticism can shine through with the Birds. Johnson was released following the preseason last year and was inked to a reserve/future contract with the Birds in January. Johnson reportedly impressed during OTAs with an expanded role following a knee injury to Jordan Matthews, which sidelined him for most of the OTAs. The sixth and final wide receiver on the roster will most likely be decided between fifth-round rookie Shelton Gibson and Marcus Johnson. The Eagles need wide receivers that can stretch the field and that’s the strength of both of them.
Joe Walker
Walker was set to be the Eagles’ backup middle linebacker last summer before tearing his ACL in August. Stephen Tulloch was brought in following the injury, but was not re-signed and depth at the linebacker position is scarce. The 6-2, 236-pounder is fast and has a good nose for the football. The question for him will be whether he can consistently shed the blocks of guards and tackles. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz talked up Walker during press conferences last training camp. We’ll see how much he’s talked about this summer.
Destiny Vaeao
The mammoth defensive tackle Vaeao has a quick first step and is at his best splitting through gaps using his underrated quickness. He played 26 percent of the Eagles’ snaps last year as an undrafted rooked out of Washington State and tallied two sacks. With Beau Allen’s pectoral injury keeping him out until about September/October, this is a huge opportunity for Vaeao to prove he’s able to take on more snaps come the regular season. He definitely flashed some promise as a rookie.
C.J. Smith
Cornerback is the weakest position on the roster, but the Eagles do have a pair of corners that showed potential last summer. Smith is Carson Wentz’s former teammate at North Dakota State and went undrafted last year. What impressed me about Smith was not his pass breakups and interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Eagles’ preseason opener, it was how he handled himself going against Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief in the Eagles’ third exhibition contest against the Colts. While he did allow some completions, he fought, competed and held his own. For someone that was thrown into the fire like that playing with the starters, I was impressed.
Smith made the practice squad last year, I’m expecting a jump to the main roster this season.
C.J. Smith making plays in the second half, very nice pass breakup here pic.twitter.com/maDhxYqH2B
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 12, 2016
Aaron Grymes
Grymes was having a tremendous Training Camp and preseason prior to the AC sprain he suffered in the Eagles’ preseaon Week 2 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Grymes, who spent three years with the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL, made a ridiculous one-handed interception in the back corner of the end zone in that game.
If Grymes can showcase what he did last summer, don’t be surprised if Grymes gets significant playing time this season, especially if Patrick Robinson struggles, Jalen Mills has a sophomore slump or Rasul Douglas doesn’t progress as quickly as hoped.
Grymes backing up solid camp and 1st preseason game with ridiculous diving pick in back right corner of end zone pic.twitter.com/BJVzKDN0yk
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 19, 2016
Steven Means
Means stood out to me more than anybody last summer, putting up three sacks and numerous other quarterback pressures during the preseason. The defensive end plays primarily on the right side. He times his snap well and uses his speed to get past tackles. He also uses a quick spin move to get linemen off balance. He’s only 6’3, 263 pounds, so timing his snap is important because that’s how he translates his speed to power.
I expect Means to take Marcus Smith’s snaps from last year on the roster. Means saw the field only 36 times last year compared to Smith’s 220.
Means is a monster
Clip 1- Bull rush
Clip 2- More power
Clips 3 & 4- Love how quick and balanced his spin move is pic.twitter.com/ikHOoah9Wd— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) September 2, 2016
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