Eagles training camp observations, Day 13: Carson Wentz shows that velocity

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The Eagles are really in the dog days of training camp now. They’ve already played their first preseason game, but it’s right back to normal camp for four days. 

They were back in pads this morning, but at least the temperatures weren’t too out of hand. 

Two more practices and a walkthrough before the second preseason game. 

To the obs:

1. We’ll start with attendance. After some rumors ran wild on Twitter last night about Dallas Goedert’s injured arm (see story), everyone can calm down and breath. Here is visual evidence his arm is not broken. In fact, Goedert said he’ll be back to practice soon. Relax.

Goedert didn’t practice today, but his arm is still attached. Joining him among the players who didn’t practice: Nelson Agholor, Mack Hollins, Markus Wheaton, Corey Clement, Donnel Pumphrey, Ian Park, Asantay Brown. 

Nick Foles practiced for the second straight day. 

2. Carson Wentz still isn’t doing 11-on-11s, but he was involved in 7-on-7s (no linemen) again this morning. I thought he looked really good. He took a total of just six reps but took three with the second team and three with the first team. He completed 5 of 6 passes, while Richard Rodgers dropped one (although it wasn’t perfect). 

The best pass Wentz threw was an absolute bullet. He fired a ball right over Nigel Bradham to Zach Ertz down the seam. It was impressive. 

Yesterday, Doug Pederson talked about how Wentz’s velocity is up and it certainly showed today. It also probably helps that he’s been fresh thanks to the limited reps. 

3. The other thing I’ve been watching with Wentz is his footwork in individual drills. When he first came back, I thought he looked a little mechanical. He’s much smoother now. 

4. Depth chart notes: 

  • Avonte Maddox got first-team reps as the nickel cornerback for the second straight day. Sidney Jones was back in team drills but worked with the twos. 
     
  • Didn’t see the Eagles a ton in their base package, when they were, Kamu Grugier-Hill was in. Also, Nate Gerry and Grugier-Hill got a chance to be next to each other as the two linebackers with the first team in the nickel package. Obviously, neither will take one of those roles, but it was a chance to see them next to each other. 
     
  • Haloti Ngata got some reps with the first team defense over Destiny Vaeao. We’ve seen Ngata with the ones before, but only after rotating in. Today, he was out there at the start of a session. Michael Bennett also gets worked in for passing situations. 
     
  • With no Jeffery, Agholor and Hollins, the Eagles’ starting receivers today were Mike Wallace, Kamar Aiken and Greg Ward Jr. 
     

5. The second day in a row we’ve seen a really impressive play from Wallace. This time, he made a nice catch down the middle of the field over Jalen Mills. Wallace got up and did his customary first down signal. 

6. Nigel Bradham intercepted a pass! Nigel Bradham intercepted a pass! Bradham doesn’t have the best hands in the world; it’s the one area of his game he needs to improve. But today, Ronald Darby tipped a ball and Bradham showed good reaction time, hauled it in and ran the other way. Good for him. 

7. I watched some 1-on-1s in the red zone, which is a fun and competitive drill. I honestly haven’t seen much from Kamar Aiken since he arrived … until today. In these drills, he looked good. He caught a great ball from Foles over Mills and also made a nice move inside on D.J. Killings. 

8. While Aiken got Mills on a 1-on-1, Mills made a great play on Bryce Treggs down near the goal line during the same practice period. Just great recognition by Mills to defend a pass near the near goal line. To end the practice period, Treggs made a great catch near the back of the end zone but was out of bounds. Mills let him know it. 

9. Sidney Jones made a great diving PBU on Rashard Davis down near the goal line. Good to see him back in 11-on-11s after spraining his ankle a couple days ago. 

10. A day after Wendell Smallwood stiff-armed Rasul Douglas to the ground, Douglas got some revenge on a different teammate. Today, he shouldered Treggs pretty hard. Douglas has had an up-and-down camp. 

Stupid Observation of the Day: Jordan Mailata is big. And I’m small. 

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