More reps in a full week of practice. More one-on-one meetings with Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion and Quarterbacks Coach Parks Frazier on the particulars of the offense the Eagles might employ on Monday night against Dallas. More comfort knowing he has one start under his belt and has some continuity going into this prime-time game against an NFC East rival.
More than anything, though, Tanner McKee sees what's happening as he grows into the role as the Eagles' starting quarterback. It is all about building a bond with his teammates, growing confidence as an offense, and breaking a four-game losing streak when the Dallas Cowboys come to town.
"There is only one quarterback who is on the field, so when you step into the huddle you are expected to be the leader, know where everyone is supposed to be, get everybody on the right page and whether that's in a workout or staying extra, being the last guy to leave the building, I feel like there is that expectation for whoever that guy is," McKee said on Thursday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex.
"Obviously, you still have that expectation if you're a backup or whatever to prepare like the starter, but I definitely feel like I've taken an extra step forward in that I want the guys to trust me and I want the guys to know that when I go in there they have full confidence that the offense is going to run smoothly and I'm going to know what I'm supposed to do and I'm going to know what they're supposed to do.
"If they don't know, they can ask me and we won't skip a beat. We'll still be able to move the ball and I'll be able to tell them what they need to do so we can execute at a high level."
McKee knows he has things to improve upon from his start on Sunday against Carolina – and he talked about settling in more quickly, having better footwork, things like that – but so much of being a starting quarterback is commanding the room and leading the huddle and having the entire offense and, in fact, team, believe in him.
It doesn't happen overnight for any quarterback. McKee relishes the challenge of his second start against the Dallas defense run by Coordinator Christian Parker, a former Eagles defensive coach born from the Vic Fangio scheme.
"Efficiency and being on the same page. Staying on schedule. There are times, if it's a bad play, don't make a bad play worse. Obviously, taking care of the ball, but sometimes as a quarterback the best play is to throw the ball away and not take a sack," McKee said. "It's boring, and sometimes it sucks, but at the same time second-and-10 is a lot better than second-and-18 ... as a quarterback sometimes you have to have some damage control. There are plays that sometimes the defense just gets you. Sometimes the offense makes a great call against a great coverage and we're going to have an explosive play or whatever and sometimes the defense will dial up a good blitz or a good coverage."
The focus is on zeroing in on the day-to-day process, on the details, and on how to attack the Dallas defense on Monday night. Should running back Saquon Barkley return, the running game could get a boost. That sets up the passing game which sets up the ...
"I'm excited to go against the defense," McKee said, "and spread the ball around a little bit."
