Jason Kelce, Jason Peters already blending their 25 years of NFL experience

Share

Jason Kelce and Jason Peters have been teammates on the Eagles’ offensive line for nearly a decade, but 2020 is a new experience. 

Now, they’re lining up next to each other. 

Sure, it’s a bit of an adjustment as two of the longest-tenured Eagles learn how to play next to each other while Peters also learns how to play an entirely new position. 

But if anyone can figure it out, it’s gotta be these two right? 

Between them, Peters and Kelce have 25 years in the NFL, making them the most experienced center-right guard combo in the entire league and it’s not close. The next closest duo belongs to the Steelers, who have Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro (17 years). 

“We’re talking more than we ever have, really, to iron out all these details,” Kelce said on a Zoom call with reporters Tuesday. 

I’d watch that TV show. Absolutely. 

Think about the high-level discussions going on right now between two of the smartest and most cerebral offensive linemen in the entire NFL. These are two guys who could probably coach an OL room tomorrow. And they’ve been busy exchanging ideas and techniques. And even though Peters has never played the guard position, he’s still making suggestions and bringing a unique perspective to the Eagles’ interior OL as the two learn to play next to each other. 

Obviously, with JP being new to the position, we’re obviously fast tracking a lot of that,” Kelce said. “We’re trying to iron out how he’s going to step, where he’s going to go, against what kind of defense we’re going to go with, maybe a different aiming point against maybe a different defense where we go a little wider. These are discussions that we’re going to continue to have. 

“It’s been awesome, honestly, to work with Jason Peters. He’s got so much knowledge from playing the game for so long and the ability to try to take all of that knowledge he has at left tackle and now apply it to a new position. He’s not really starting from ground zero. He’s not starting with a lack of reference. He understands the game, he understands angles, he understands footwork. Being able to bounce things off and really ask him questions. 

“Maybe there’s some things at right guard and center that he’s going to be learning throughout his whole thing but he’s already brought up a few things on ways to maybe do something better. Or ‘why aren’t we doing it this way?’ To be able to talk to a guy who has the amount of experience he does and really have those types of conversations, it’s really fun for an older guy.

It’s not a quick process, learning how to play next to another guy. In fact, Kelce said that he still has those same conversations with Isaac Seumalo and Brandon Brooks. So to expect he and Peters to figure all this out in one training camp just isn’t realistic. But they hope to at least get to a point by Sept. 13 where they have a base from which to build. 

Kelce on Tuesday said he had been hoping the Eagles were going to bring back Peters even before Brooks went down with an Achilles tear. Of course that didn’t happen. The Eagles are committed to playing Andre Dillard at left tackle and didn’t bring back Peters until they needed to replace Brooks. 

Brooks, by the way, said last week that he’ll be happy to offer Peters any help he can. … He just doesn’t think Peters will really need it. 

If Peters does need help, there are plenty of people around to lean on. Peters is playing between two Pro Bowlers in Kelce and Lane Johnson. And Kelce said Seumalo has also been a big resource for Peters. 

And Peters is still a big resource for this entire O-line. 

“Yeah, it’s definitely going to make me better in some ways,” Kelce said. “He’s got so much experience, so much knowledge from playing the game. … This is a great learning experience for both of us. I’m going to try to impart as much wisdom as I have playing center. I think all three of us talking about things, how things happen on the interior. 

“I’m excited to see how all three of us grow and get better and how we go about having success.” 

Subscribe and rate the Eagle Eye podcast: 
Apple Podcasts / Google Play / Stitcher / Spotify / Art19



Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.

More on the Eagles

Contact Us