What the coaching staff wants to see is a collective locker room that is tuned in every day, that is taking the process of building for the season ahead in micro-moments – staying where their feet are, focused on the task, doing that "one percent" better thing that has served the Philadelphia Eagles so well since Nick Sirianni became head coach in 2021.
"I feel like that's been the mindset since we got back," All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson said. "Last year's team won the Super Bowl and we celebrated and then, like it is every year, time to move on. This is a different team. We haven't done anything yet."
Well, technically not true.
The Eagles have attacked the offseason in every way – the roster makeover in free agency, the 10-player NFL Draft and the 10 players added post-draft, the spring practices, the Organized Team Activities, and now, the Mandatory Minicamp that concluded at the NovaCare Complex on Tuesday.
The players are now free until Training Camp begins in late July – July 22 is report day, with a July 23 practice to follow – and what happens between now and then is ultra-important. First things first, though: The Eagles break now feeling they are right where they want to be, where they need to be, as Sirianni and the coaching staff and the performance staff carefully structed an offseason workout plan that tested the players who were on the team in the 21-game World Championship season that ended on February 9 with a win in Super Bowl LIX and that introduced the many new faces to what it means to be an Eagle and what is demanded in terms of physical and mental preparation for the 2025 campaign.
"I think it went great," All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun said. "It's a mix between rest and recovery and preparing for the next season, so you always want to stay ahead of the next segment of the season. For us, that's Training Camp. So, you want to make sure that you are in the best shape of your life when we report.
"At the same time, you want to get your downtime, get fresh, and know that when you come back to Philadelphia, it's going to be all football, all the time."
Sirianni is always looking for ways to have his players connect on and off the field – he brings guests like World Champion sprinter Michael Johnson to visit practice and address the team, he encourages friendly competition like bowling outings and basketball games – and he said he's seen the players totally locked in and understanding that it is a new season and a new challenge.
Last season's success is in the rear-view mirror: The Eagles are 0-0 just like the rest of the 32-team NFL.
"The next six weeks, we were grinding here, you maybe take a day or two to let your body relax and recover and then you've got six weeks to get yourself ready for camp," All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley said. "In past years, I would come to camp focused on being ready for Game 1 – getting your body ready to do football drills and then having camp get you ready for games. You don't want to overdo it. Be ready, but don't get to the point where you're worn out for Training Camp."
Nobody is ready to offer predications or complete evaluations because, again, this is the offseason. The next step is to treat the time away professionally and prepare for Training Camp.
That's when the real reads are made, when the evaluations take shape, and the depth chart and roster form. That's when it gets real real.
"Every player needs to come in and know that he has a chance to be great," Baun said. "My story from last year – one-year contract and look at how things played out – is a great lesson for everybody and Nick (Sirianni) talked about that with the team. We're all aware that nothing is guaranteed here. There is going to be a lot of competition. Everybody is excited about that.
"First, it's good to get away, be with family and enjoy ourselves. When we get back, it's time to get back to grinding."
