Eye on the Eagles

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.”