Eye on the Eagles

The hitting starts in less than an hour.

Practices are at 8:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Both are open to the public.

To get you prepared for the first "live" day of Eagles training camp, here are this morning's links:

The Eagles came out for practice in pads -- a welcoming signal for training camp.

The hitting didn't start right around. Instead the Eagles eased into it, starting with touch, then "thud" (lightly hitting), then tackling.

Here are some observations and tidbits from the morning practice:

By Bob Brookover

By Zach Berman

It is the end of the first day of hitting and there are no major injuries.

The one of note is Lito Sheppard, who left the morning practice with back spasms and didn't return in the afternoon.

As for the afternoon practice, here are some observations, notes and tidbits.

It’s a ninety degree day in August and the Eagles were in full pads for their first two-a-day practice in front of hundreds of loyal fans. Now, it feels like training camp.

The Eagles appeared in good form.

For the first time since November 19, 2006, Donovan McNabb saw a live defense in pads rushing him on every play. With a brace on his plant leg, McNabb looked sharp as he hit receivers Reggie Brown and Jason Avant in stride during deep passes. McNabb was blitzed by the second team defense causing him to scramble outside the pocket. While running to his right he fired a perfect pass to a leaping Hank Baskett. Later in the drive, Baskett was leveled by teammate Sheldon Brown in a tackle. It was similar in power to Brown’s hit on Reggie Bush in last year’s divisional playoff game.

The Eagles’ defense will be rejuvenated by the return of a healthy Jevon Kearse. Kearse, recovering from multiple ligaments strains in his left knee, will likely start with teammate Trent Cole at defensive end. However, with the depth the team has at that position, Jim Johnson said Kearse will likely play 35 – 40 plays each game rather than his typical 55 – 60 plays. Kearse is optimistic about the impact his return and the acquisition of Spikes will have on the defense. “I see the ingredients for a long, long season.”

Brian Westbrook looked to be in Pro Bowl shape in his first true test of the off-season. In his first snap against the first team defense, Westbrook broke through the defensive line and broke free by a long run only stopped by the whistle to start the next play. Teammate Brian Dawkins was asked about Westbrook’s place among the elite running backs in the NFL. “He’s right up there. He’s got to be right up there. To this day I don’t understand why people don’t give him the due that he deserves.”

Newcomer Takeo Spikes seems ready to step right into the weak side linebacker position and make a difference immediately. Spikes, who has been injury plagued in the past with Buffalo, said, “The physical and mental aspect of it, I haven’t felt this good in two years. This is a good fit.”

Kevin Curtis struggled throughout practice holding onto the ball. “It was a long practice,” Curtis admitted after the morning practice. “I haven’t been live this early in other camps. It’s different with the live defense out there.”

During the first team contact drills, Matt Schobel was slotted into the tight end position as L.J. Smith recovers from sports hernia surgery. Smith will remain out of contact drills for the next few days.

By Zach Berman

In today’s off-the-field interview with an Eagle, we caught up with starting cornerback Sheldon Brown as he met with reporters following practice on Tuesday.

Brown was on the cover of last week’s Sports Illustrated. The photo was of his first-quarter hit on New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush in the 2007 NFC Divisional Playoffs.

Here’s Brown on the magazine cover:

Did you know it was going to be cover?
Brown: “When I did the interview? Nope. I had no idea.

“I was driving back up here from South Carolina and Derek Boyko called me. I think it was Tuesday, last week. He told me the day before it came out.”

When did you see it yourself?
Brown: “A couple days ago. I was doing an autograph signing at the Conicelli Toyota. People went to Barnes and Noble and bought the book. That’s all I was signing, that book.”

Is that the photo you’ve seen before? Is there different angles you’ve seen?
Brown: “My marketing guy had another angle. More of the angle that’s inside the cover. It was the one with shoulder pads still there than him all the way away from the hit.”

What was your reaction to the cover? Were you surprised by it?
Brown: “No, not really. I mean, I think it was who it was. It was who I hit.”

Was that what it was? Was it Reggie?
Brown: “Yeah, let’s don’t full ourselves. I hit Reggie Swinton probably harder. He didn’t make no cover. He didn’t get up. They gave Strahan the hit of the year my rookie of the year. And there’s no way Strahan hit no quarterback harder than I hit Swinton. So it’s who it was. It was the person. If it was any other running back, it probably wouldn’t have been no big deal.

“And the magnitude of the game. I mean, you got everybody in the world watching, playoff game, the first round for the Saints. That’s what it was.”

Do you believe in the SI jinx?
Brown: “No. Somebody told me Michael Jordan has been on there like 100 times, and there are more people who’ve been on that cover who’ve been successful than who’ve gotten injuries.

“It’s crazy. I don’t really believe in jinxes. I don’t know. When you make SI, you’re obviously playing at such a high level that anything bad looks bad. They’re not going to put a rookie just drafted, you know what I mean.

“You’re not going to put someone who’s not doing well. I was only on because of the hit. It’s not anything else. But the guys they put on that, you really can’t go higher than they’re doing. They’re selling the story of the hit.”

***
The hitting continues tomorrow. Practice times are 8:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.

For fans hoping for autographs, the Eagles' quarterbacks, tight ends and specialists are in the autograph tent.

Today's attendance was 12,432.

Another big day at Training Camp today. There is hitting in the morning, Takeo Spikes has his first press conference of training camp and we'll see if Lito Sheppard is back on the field.

Practice starts at 8:15 a.m. The second practice is at 2:45 p.m.

Here are some links to warm you up for Thursday:

By Zach Berman

The Eagles just finished their most physical practice of training camp. They practiced for about two and a half hours. Here are some observations, notes and tidbits:

For today’s off-the-field interview with an Eagle, we caught up with defensive tackle Mauricio Lopez. Lopez is a Mexican native who played three seasons in NFL Europe. Lopez and punter Sav Rocca are two foreign rookies try to stick around in the NFL.

Lopez speaks rough English, and the interview is transcribed as spoken. Here’s Lopez:

What’s the adjustment been like from Mexico to America?
Lopez:“For the football? Totally different. The guys, the bodies, they’re more bigger. Mexico, you can only play college. Football is for love, not for business.”

I saw you play on the Mexican national team. Who did you play against, other countries?
Lopez: “No, the national team is for only one game. The All-Americans from Mexico play the All-Americans from the U.S. third division of college. It’s a great game. I played four Aztec Bowls. I won only one, in 2003. It’s great. When you play the American games, you know what happens. The defense, it’s different levels.”

How’s the adjustment to life in America?
Lopez: “It’s totally different. It’s nice. The American guys are great. It’s a great opportunity to play in this team. This team is very popular in Mexico for Donovan, for Jevon. This opportunity is great for me.”

How do you communicate with people back home in Mexico?
Lopez: “For my family, the phone. For my friends, e-mail. But for their time, they go to the Web site for the Eagles. They know what happens with me.”

If I went to Mexico, would everyone know your name?
Lopez: “No. Soccer is big because soccer is professional. You can take a lot of money and play soccer. It’s the same way as the NFL, but it’s different because the most important game is soccer. Football, the last level is college, that’s all.”

Did you go the NFL game in Mexico a few seasons ago?
Lopez: “No. I watched because this is my dream. I have [played football for] 21 years. When you play this game, all that was in my mind was, ‘I want to play in the NFL. I want to play in the NFL. When I was in NFL Europe, every time I think it. I need this opportunity in one camp, one training camp or whatever. I want to taste this.”

By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer

There’s always a surprise in the bunch. There’s always an anonymous player or two who steps up and survives the final cut to make the Eagles’ 53-man roster.

One year it was safety Clinton Hart, running back Reno Mahe and defensive tackle Sam Rayburn. Another year it was tight end Stephen Spach and safety Jeremy Thornburg. Last year, it was offensive tackle Pat McCoy and cornerback Joselio Hanson.

They were all undrafted guys, which meant the odds were against them.

It’s too early to tell who will emerge as the most unlikely player to make the final roster cut this summer, but safety Erick Harris didn’t hurt his case during this morning’s practice at Lehigh University.

“Number 33 is getting in on everything,” middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said as he observed the work of the third-team defense.

Thirty-three is Harris’ number and while he wasn’t in on everything, he did show up quite a bit during the morning practice in the sweltering heat. His first appearance of the morning came after quarterback Kevin Kolb dumped a pass to fullback Jeremy Cain, who ran for 13 yards before Harris stopped him with one of the biggest hits of the day.

The next time the “threes” took the field, Harris stepped up and stopped Tony Hunt for a 1-yard gain on a second-and-two play. A few plays later, the second-year safety tackled running back Ryan Moats for a loss on a screen play.

“I made some plays, but I’m still trying to get adjusted to the defense,” Harris said

That’s understandable. He didn’t have much of a chance to learn Jim Johnson’s defense last year after being signed to the practice squad during the playoffs and while class was in session during the Eagles’ minicamps this spring, Harris was over in Amsterdam playing in the now defunct NFL Europa.

“I’ve been studying every night until 1:30 in the morning,” Harris said. “All the guys in the rookie camp knew the basics, but I’ve had to come in and really learn on the fly.”

After playing at Liberty University, Harris, 5-foot-11 and 208 pounds, said he felt fortunate to land a job in the Arena Football League 2 for two seasons.

"A lot of guys coming out of college don’t even get a look, but I had a chance to continue my career and now I’m here today,” Harris said.

The Eagles’ camp isn’t a bad place to be. The team is looking for a fourth safety to play behind the trio of Brian Dawkins, Sean Considine and Quintin Mikell. C.J. Gaddis, a fifth-round pick from Clemson, and undrafted rookie free agents Marcus Paschal and Chris Smith are also in the mix for that job.

“Like the secondary coach (John Harbaugh) said, you can’t count numbers,” Harris said. “You just have to go in there and make plays and get noticed by the coaches. I love the game … so I don’t care where I play. I would like to get to the NFL. That’s the ultimate goal, but Arena, CFL … I love the game of football. My heart is very much in it.”

Johnson noticed Harris, but he’ll have to see a lot more before formulating any concrete opinion.
“I like his size,” the defensive coordinator said. “I like his attitude. He plays hard, but it’s going to take a little while.”

HIT OF THE DAY. The result was a first down for the offense because cornerback Joselio Hanson was flagged for pass interference, but that call came only after safety Sean Considine stepped up and drilled wide receiver Michael Gasperson on a deep pass down the right sideline.

CATCH OF THE DAY. It wasn’t during the live scrimmage, but Kevin Curtis got behind cornerback Joselio Hanson during a 1-on-1 drill and pulled in a perfectly thrown pass from Donovan McNabb on a deep pass down the right sideline.

RUN OF THE DAY. Brian Westbrook continued to look good, but the run that drew the most attention and applause was a scramble out of the pocket by quarterback Donovan McNabb, proving once again that Philadelphia loves its running quarterbacks.

INJURIES. Safety Brian Dawkins and cornerback Lito Sheppard were the most notable absences during the morning practice. Dawkins has Achilles’ tendonitis and Sheppard has an strained oblique muscle. Also missing: wide receiver Bill Sampy (quad contusion); linebacker Dedrick Roper (sprained foot); defensive tackles Montae Reagor (knee swelling) and Ian Scott (knee inflammation); and offensive guard Stefan Rodgers (sore knee). Defensive tackle Jeremy Clark left because of dehydration and safety Chris Smith left with a sore ankle.

Some highlights from defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's press conference today, where he touched on Takeo Spikes' impact at linebacker, the way the defense has gotten bigger since last season, Brodrick Bunkley's progress, and more:

On what caused LB Takeo Spikes to be universally accepted and the effect he has on the team:

“Oh, respect. I think he earns a lot of respect with the other players. You’ve seen him play on tape. When you watch other teams on defense you see how Takeo plays, so they have respect for him. Coming here they knew what kind of person he was and I think he has respect for our guys too, so that’s a mutual respect right there. The thing about Takeo is, he loves to play and he’s got good leadership skills.”

On whether he expects Takeo Spikes to get back to Pro Bowl level again:

“We hope he can. That’s why we signed him. He came off that injury, and I haven’t seen any effects of the injury, so that’s why we signed him. And, like I said, I think he’s right on schedule. We’ll see how it goes.”

On how the new players are responding to his pace:

“I think they’re still learning. One thing you have to learn in the NFL, guys have to practice fast and play fast. So, we’re pushing them all the time, and it’s the speed of the game. The hardest thing a young guy coming into the league has to learn is the speed of the game. It’s such a fast game in the NFL and we’ve got so many great athletes, and players practice fast because they’re going to be playing fast.”

On how DT Brodrick Bunkley has improved:

“I’ve seen how he plays the run, yesterday in scrimmage and a little bit today of what I saw. Like I said, he’s solid and he’s going to continue to get better. The thing about it now, he’s working on the things he missed at training camp last year. His techniques are so much better.”

On how S Sean Considine has improved other than physically:

“Confidence wise, the leader of the team part. He can handle certain situations- seeing things so much better. I really expect a good year out of him.”

On the whether Considine’s shoulder injury impacted his season last year:

“I think so, to a certain extent. Just like [LB] Chris Gocong, he’s trying to feel his way a little bit, too, with his neck and shoulder. So, it’s always a situation of confidence. I think Sean’s playing with so much more confidence right now”

On where LB Tank Daniels fits in with Chris Gocong and Stewart Bradley competing for the SAM linebacker spot:

“He’s still in the mix. He’s competing. All three of those guys. I’ve said before, Chris Gocong, right now, is our starting SAM backer and he’s going to get a lot of reps. But, he still has to earn that position, and those other guys are still pushing him. I’m happy with all three of those SAM backers.”

On his thoughts of S Erick Harris and whether it is too early to tell if he will be put in the safety mix:

“Too early. There’s a guy who missed camp- all the mini camp stuff. It’s a little too early for him. I like his size, I like his attitude, physical kid. It’s just going to take him a little while. But, he’s not bad.”

On whether the emphasis on getting bigger physically is paying off:

“Well, we still like the quickness and speed. It just happened all of the sudden when we picked up a good size linebacker in Takeo [Spikes]. And, all of the sudden, we knew Chris Gocong was going to be our SAM linebacker. That’s why we drafted him. So, we got good size right there. Then we picked up a couple tackles in free agency, and some rookie free agents, also, are bigger. So, we’re fortunate. Not by plan, necessarily, but I like it, as long as they can move.”

On his impressions of DE Jevon Kearse:

“He looks good. He wants to get in there, and we’re kind of monitoring his reps, not getting too much play. But, he looks good.”

On what new guys, besides Bunkley, have stood out:

“I think [DE] Victor [Abiamiri], which I call Victor, has had a good camp so far. But, he has to continue on. But, he shows he’s a very physical end and good against the run, and shows some pass rush. So, he’s a guy that’s going to show up a little bit.”

On what other young guys have caught his attention:

“In the corner situation, I think [CB] Nick Graham, the free agent from Tulsa, he showed us he could run with the receivers. He’s got some things he’s got to pick up, but I do like the way he’s [shown] cover ability. [DT] Jeremy Clark, the big tackle we got from Alabama, at times he’s flashed some quickness and skills in there. It’s only the second day of pads, so it’s still early. I hope we get another week done and are able to see some other guys.”

By Zach Berman

Here are observations, notes and tidbits from Thursday's afternoon practice:

The Eagles again escape without any major injuries. It will be interesting to see whether the Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard injuries linger, although neither sounds serious.

Tomorrow is the final day of the normal two-a-days. After tomorrow, they switch between special teams practices in the afternoon and 10/10/10. The 10/10/10 practices are quick run-throughs of plays and don't last nearly as long as normal practices.

Tomorrow's practice times: 8:15 a.m.; 2:45 p.m.

Tomorrow in the autograph tent: Defensive backs and running backs

Thursday's attendance: 13,393

The rookies and selected veterans who reported last Friday have been at training camp for a full week now. The weather is getting hot, players are getting tired and now is the time where you start the roster distinguish itself.

The Eagles are a little more than an hour away from the first practice of the final day of normal two-a-days. After today, the afternoon practices are abbreviated.

Practice starts today at 8:15 a.m. The afternoon practice is 2:45 p.m. Here are links to get you ready for Friday:

Note: This blog post has been updated. See the final note of the Practice 13 observations for details.

This was without question the most crowded practice of training camp. Cars were lined up along the road outside the facility an hour after practice started. The attendance number I received was 17,941.

Credit Eagles fans for coming out on a weekday with the temperature in the 90s to watch a practice.

Here are some observations, notes and tidbits of what happened on the football field:

By Zach Berman

Another practice in the books.

Here are some observations, notes and tidbits from practice 13:

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb almost seems to be playing a cat-and-mouse game with the brace on his right knee .... will he or won't he?

Well, both.

McNabb wore the brace during the morning session Friday, then switched to brace-less mode for the afternoon drills, which were conducted in shorts but with shoulder pads and helmets on. He also wore the black tights some may recall Andy Reid taking exception with when one Terrell Owens donned them back in 2004. Hmmmmmm.

On the non-gossip front, McNabb again looked sharp. On the last two plays of a morning drill, he hit Reggie Brown for a 15+ yard gain on a slant route, then lofted a 42-yard bomb to Kevin Curtis that Curtis outjumped Dustin Fox for at the 12-yard line.

The official attendance for the morning session, according to Eagles media relations head Derek Boyko, was 19,841. On a Friday. When it was 95 degrees out. What can you say?

The Moats run referenced in an earlier post truly was symbolic of his entire Eagles career. He darted, dodged, twisted and dived for a 25-yard run. Then fumbled. It's worth noting that Moats is working with the third team, while the rookie from Penn State, Tony Hunt, takes most of the reps with the 2s. Hmmmm.

Moats and former first-round pick Jerome McDougal may be on the chopping block very soon. You never see them out there when it matters.

L.J. Smith looks sharp. He made to nice catches in the afternoon, red jersey and all, and ran out the second grab nearly to the end zone. Expect to see him in contact drills very soon.

As for veteran Jevon Kearse, yes, he looks a bit light. He also looks fast. Kearse got dinged on the knee making a tackle in the morning session, but was back with the first team in the afternoon.

Hard to get a read on new linebacker Chris Gocong. He looks great in blitz packages, but a little lost on pass plays. But the other linebackers and the coaches are saying all the right things. If the season starts tomorrow, he's the starter.

By Zach Berman

The dog days of training camp are finished. Now, the players see the light at the end of the tunnel and those two-a-days become much easier. The afternoon practices now rotate between special teams practices and 10/10/10 workouts.

Here is tonight's pertinent information:

Tomorrow's practice times: 8:15 a.m.; 2 p.m. (special teams)

Tomorrow in the autograph tent following the morning practice: Wide receivers

What to look for tomorrow:

Practice starts at 8:15 a.m. this morning. Special teams coordinator Rory Segrest will have the entire afternoon practice devoted to his unit at 2 p.m.

Special teams is often a deciding factor for some of the final roster spots, although the special teams unit won't be determined until the final roster is set. That's why it's important to have special teams practice to evaluate different combinations of players.

We’ve got a lot of substitutions both on offense and defense, and this guy’s up, and that guy’s up at this time," Segrest said. "We’re going to stay on top of things, and just make sure we try to get each guy evaluated; get them out there as many times as we need to.”

Onto the links...

By Zach Berman

Andy Reid said at this point in training camp, the players start to become tired again and the fatigue catches up. But the Eagles had a solid practice. It was not as long as the past three days, but it was physical and there weren't as many glaring problems as normal during this time of training camp. Plus, the Eagles have avoided any major injuries, which is crucial for a team that always seems to have a major injury.

Here are some observations, notes and tidbits from the Saturday morning practice:

If you scroll down, you'll see a brief Q and A with Max Jean-Gilles, the Eagles' second-year guard. Jean-Gilles was a big-time college player at Georgia and the Eagles have high hopes for him. The problem is he's stuck behind an offensive line that's one of the best in the league.

Excerpts of the Jean-Gilles interview are below.

As for today, the Eagles had a successful day at practice. I was surprised -- I didn't think they would have the intensity they had throughout practice.

The good news for the Eagles is it only becomes easier from here. They have a game coming soon (Monday, Aug. 13) and head coach Andy Reid won't beat them up the week before a game. Here are some quick housekeeping items before Jean-Gilles:

Sunday's practices: 8:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. (10/10/10 practice)

In the autograph tent following the morning practice: Offensive Line
Saturday's attendance: 12,223
***
How did you spend the summer?
Jean-Gilles: I worked hard, tried losing weight. I lost 22 pounds.

How did you lose 22 pounds?
MJG: Running and eat right.

Did you have to lift less?
MJG: I try to stay away from heavy lifting. I do beach lifting, you know? Arms and abs.

So what's a typical day during the off-season like?
MJG: Off-season, I come in, work out, lift weights, run a little bit. And then I get an hour of cardio. I always get my hour of cardio in.

What did you weigh in at the beginning of camp?
MJG: 347. I'm going to try to get down to 340. I want to surprise myself.

I bet [offensive line coach] Juan [Castillo] helps. What's it like working with him?
MJG: He reminds me of my coach in college, coach [Neil] Callaway. He's the head coach at UAB now. ...If you let up, you know something's wrong, so you know you have to work hard every day.

It's hard to believe there is just one week left of training camp.

To answer a comment on the previous post, a 10/10/10 practice is a shortened practice of 10-play periods. They'll work on certain plays or packages, but it is not as taxing as a normal practice and the players are in shorts and shells.

The 10/10/10 practice is at 2:45 p.m. The morning practice is at 8:15 a.m.

Here are some links to get you ready:

By Zach Berman

The Eagles practiced Sunday morning in full pads. The practice lasted about 2 1/2 hours. Here are some observations, notes and tidbits from the morning practice:

By Zach Berman

When these features started last week, I said they'll focus on off-the-field happenings of training camp. However, this one is a bit different.

Lee Vickers, a tight end who spent last season on the Eagles' practice squad, has a compelling story. He had never played tight end before when the Eagles called him in for a tryout. Vickers was a defensive end who was just cut by the Steelers and the Eagles were convinced he could play tight end.

At 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, Vickers has the size. He's been playing well in camp although he's caught in a numbers game with L.J. Smith, Matt Schobel and Brent Celek.

Here's Vickers on how he became a tight end and how he plans on staying:

When the Eagles called you about it, did you have any idea you could play tight end?
LV: At first, I was just released by the Steelers and I was willing to do whatever. It’s helped me a whole lot. It was a total different change of pace. It was a totally different thing. Having spent last year with the practice squad, I didn’t know anything I was doing. But I was meeting with the coaches all the time learning the technique of offense, the technique of tight end, how to read defenses, running plays and all that kind of stuff, and right now I’m at a good point. I have to improve still, but I’ve turned a 180 from last year.

Did they call your agent or call you directly?
LV: “They called me directly. …They asked me to come for a workout. They said we’ll be working for you as a defensive end and a tight end. I said, ‘Well, uh, you know I’ve never played tight end before, right?’ They said, ‘Yeah, but we’ve seemed tape on you and we think you can play and you can run.’ I was like, ‘Alright man, you know, just whatever. I’ll do whatever.’ That’s kind of how that went.”

When you think of L.J. and Matt and Brent, do you look at the numbers?
LV: “You can’t help but look at it. I mean, you don’t need to, but you can’t help it. It’s obvious. But at the same time, I can just do what I can do. If I just do what I need to do, hopefully I can be in a position to contribute. And if I’m not, I know I’ll have to be better. I mean, like you said about counting numbers, it’s just human nature to count numbers. You should not look at it that way, but everyone looks at it that way. You just do what you can do, play as hard as you can and do things the right way.”

What about long snapping? In the past, the Eagles’ third tight end has been a long snapper.
LV: “I’ve been working at it and I’m getting better at it, too. If I can get to a point where I can get back there and fire it all the time, I think it will definitely help me contribute. That would be big for me.”

Is there anything to long snapping?
LV: “Shoot, long snapping’s tough! I never thought anything of long snapping, but I mean, first of all you got a lot of pressure on you. A bad snap, that’s a big play. So you’re worried about your snapping, and then you got someone on top of you looking to run you over. And your head is between your legs! So right there, you’re starting out with a big disadvantage. And then you have to go block, sort it out. Long snapping is definitely tough, man.”

The Eagles had their first 10/10/10 practice this afternoon. It was about an hour and the Eagles worked on offense, defense and special teams as an entire team in shorts and shells.

Here are some quick observations, notes and tidbits from Sunday's 10/10/10 practice:

Six days of practice and a mock game to go before you see the Eagles on the fie