Thursday's first Training Camp practice was a 10-10-10 session, a 90-minute workout that consists of repetitive series of 10 offensive plays, 10 defensive plays, and 10 minutes of special teams work. It was an opportunity for the team to knock off some rust and ramp up to Saturday's first padded practice. Fran Duffy and Ben Fennell offer their observations from the action at the NovaCare Complex.
1. As the team stretched before practice, my eyes went to the defensive linemen in the middle of the field. Two players who really stood out to me were Malik Jackson and Josh Sweat. Jackson, a big free agent signee from Jacksonville, looks like a monster at 6-5, 290 pounds. You think of a quick, penetrating defensive tackle as more of a shorter, squattier frame, but he has long arms, a muscular lower half, and is rocked up from head to toe.
He more than looks the part, as does Sweat. The second-year defensive end from Florida State missed most of his rookie season, but with a full year in the weight room with the Eagles' strength staff, he looked really impressive on the hoof. Sweat faced off with Jason Peters for most of the day at right defensive end with the starting defense, with Derek Barnett sitting off to the side continuing his rehab. – Fran Duffy
2. The first full-team practice gives interesting size perspectives of the players standing side-by-side. 2017 undrafted free agent (and New Jersey native), wide receiver Carlton Agudosi, towers over the rest of the receiver group at nearly 6-foot-6. It's also easy to peg the fact that the Eagles have "types" at certain positions. Free agent signee L.J. Fort has many size and style similarities to fellow linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, both undersized yet athletic linebackers. It's also easy to see veteran running back Darren Sproles next to Boston Scott and see two players built in similar packages. – Ben Fennell
3. Stretch ended and my eyes went to the offensive line as they got together for individual warmup periods. Brandon Brooks lined up with the first-team offensive line, which was great to see.
"I'm fortunate enough, to be honest, to play in a league where I can get some of the best doctors, some of the best rehab, and treatment. All of that together really helped," Brooks said.
"I've got to work twice as hard because it's not just getting the strength and everything back with the Achilles. I need to be the same player, if not better, than I was. That's just extra motivation when it comes to playing."
Brooks participated in position drills but then saw Halapoulivaati Vaitai take over at right guard during team sessions. This means, for the time being, that Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson will have an adjustment in working together with a new right guard during live action. It was also notable that rookie first-round pick Andre Dillard and second-year tackle Jordan Mailata were the primary backups on the outside for Jason Peters and Lane Johnson. – Ben
4. Watching the entire O-line group go through pass set drills, it was hard to dismiss the way both Dillard and Mailata move compared to the rest of the second group. You'd be hard-pressed to find a team with a more impressive backup group of linemen. – Fran
5. The first team period gets underway, and the defensive line makes their presence known in the run game. First, Brandon Graham knifes into the backfield to hold up a Jordan Howard carry on the first play from scrimmage. Soon after, rookie Miles Sanders is stopped short by Jackson on an inside run. Jackson stuck out his long right arm and grabbed the rookie as he tried to fly through the hole. As backups hit the field, Joe Ostman gets upfield and stops Darren Sproles for a short gain. – Fran
6. Miles Sanders draws the first loud murmur from the media contingent with a long run on his second carry. The rookie started to his right, stuck his foot in the ground and cut downhill before executing a second cut out the back door for a big play. "Long runs" can be tough to judge sometimes in practice, but this one looked like it would have been for a good chunk of yardage in live action.
"He's healthy. He's ready to go," head coach Doug Pederson said. "We just want to mix him in and see the athleticism, see the talent, see what he recalls from the spring being around meetings and watching practices and stuff like that." – Fran
7. On the next play, Nate Sudfeld drops back off a play-action fake and hits Mack Hollins down the field on a crossing route. It's great seeing Hollins back on the field after missing all of 2018. The third-year wideout is one of the more active and energetic players on the practice field each day, both on offense and on special teams. – Ben
8. The team flipped directions on the field a short time later, and veteran safety Andrew Sendejo picks off Sudfeld in the middle of the field. The signing from Minnesota appeared from afar to make an outstanding play in coverage, falling off from a short zone into the intermediate area intended for a receiver on a crossing route to complete the turnover. – Fran
9. Special teams periods commence, and I'm interested to watch the punt team get together. Could a new special teams captain emerge? With Chris Maragos retiring and Kamu Grugier-Hill potentially vying for a more involved role on defense, there could be a leadership opening on special teams. Malcolm Jenkins served as the personnel protector in the punt coverage unit. – Ben
10. Team periods pick back up and we get, arguably, the offensive play of the day. Carson Wentz drops back off play-action and hits Nelson Agholor on a deep crossing route. Agholor, who came from the slot, spun mid-air with a defender on his back and made a tough grab in-stride for a long completion. Earlier, Wentz delivered an impressive touch throw over a defender in the flat to Josh Adams on the right side. – Fran
11. Overall we're seeing a lot of Coach Pederson offensive staples so far in practice. There's been a variety of screen pass designs, some three-level stretches like that one to Agholor off play-action, and plenty of 12 personnel (with two tight ends on the field). – Fran
12. After the completion to Agholor, Ostman came back and was immediately in the face of Nate Sudfeld on a pass play. I didn't catch the move he pulled on Mailata, but he beat the second-year man quickly and forced a quick throw. Two plays later, Shareef Miller flew upfield and had a nice rush to help force another incompletion. – Fran
13. Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, and Derek Barnett are slated to be the major contributors at defensive end as we sit here today. That leaves Sweat, Ostman, Miller, and Daeshon Hall in a fierce battle this summer for snaps as the fourth defensive end. It should be a fun one to watch in camp. – Ben
14. After the team flipped the field again, Nate Sudfeld delivered a beautiful ball on the run to receiver Marken Michel on what appeared to be a designated roll-out to the right. Sudfeld delivered the ball in-stride to the young veteran for a big play down the field. – Fran
15. Another special teams session, and I'm looking at the punt returners. Duties were split between Sproles, Scott, and fellow running back Donnel Pumphrey, and it doesn't take long to notice that Sproles still has plenty of speed and shiftiness. – Ben
16. One final team session begins, and it appears to be some sort of two-minute drill. Wentz hits DeSean Jackson three times on the "drive" for the starters, including one for a big play down the right seam. It appeared that Jackson was on the back side of the progression, meaning Wentz got through his reads quickly and still was able to hit D-Jax in rhythm for a big play against the defense. One final completion on the right side would wrap up the day for the starting offense. – Fran
17. The second-team unit hit the field, and Sudfeld threw a beautiful ball on the right side to rookie J.J. Arcega-Whiteside along the sideline. The second-round pick appeared by my eyes to be the fourth receiver in the rotation, behind veterans Jackson, Agholor, and Alshon Jeffery. – Ben
