Eagles Training Camp: 7 Storylines Worth Monitoring
The Philadelphia Eagles 2023 Training Camp is officially underway. On Tuesday, July 25th, the team reported to the NovaCare Complex.
In last year’s training camp, the biggest storyline was Jalen Hurts. This year there are a lot of battles taking place for starter roles. Some players will prove they are ready for a larger role, and players who show they are not.
Here are 7 storylines worth monitoring throughout training camp and preseason.
1) Milton Williams’ Progression
The Philadelphia Eagles made an investment at the 2023 NFL Draft to ensure their defensive line doesn’t take a step back after losing Javon Hargrave to new NFC rival, the San Francisco 49ers. Jalen Carter was viewed as one of the best players in the 2023 NFL Draft and is poised to get an opportunity to show why. Milton Williams is heading into year three of his pro career and has seen progression strong enough to build a case that he should not see a decrease in snap count.
Defensive tackle is a position that takes time to develop in. Milton Williams hasn’t had production near Javon Hargrave, but he also hasn’t seen playing time like Hargrave. In 2022 Javon Hargrave recorded a snap count of 712, while Milton Williams only saw 395 snaps. Hargrave was able to have a career year, but it was in his 7th NFL season.
With Milton going into year 3, he has a lot of time to turn into the type of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave is. Williams was able to record 4 sacks last season, and with a little bit of a larger role, it’s not far-fetched to believe that number will continue to grow.
2) Olamide Zaccheaus and Quez Watkins Battle for Slot Receiver
Last year the Eagles gave Quez Watkins the opportunity to be a starting wide receiver next to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. His 2021 campaign gave people excitement that he’d thrive getting more targets of offense. He showed last year that he may not be cut out for it. In that process, he failed when the Eagles needed him to succeed most. The Eagles decided to bring in competition this off-season with the addition of Olamide Zaccheaus. There are a few other players the Eagles brought it that could compete for the job, but the most interesting of the group is Zaccheaus.
Zacchaeus surely isn’t the deep threat Quez Watkins was believed to be, but he was reliable on a below-average team last season. Zacchaeus is an excellent third-down receiver and excelled last year at moving the chains. When the hype around Quez Watkins was building in 2021, it had to do with the Eagles lacking a deep ball threat. With A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith proving more than capable of big yardage plays, there is more importance in having a guy that can step up with limited action.
This is one of the most underrated position battles occurring at training camp this year. Both players surely understand the situation they are in, and it’ll be monitored heavily by the Eagles. Chemistry with Hurts may help Quez Watkins’ case, but it would not be shocking if Zaccheaus takes a large portion of his snap count.
Week 1 Starter Prediction: Quez Watkins
3) Jalen Carter is Looking Like a Monster Already
Any first-round pick is bound to get a lot of attention at training camp. For Jalen Carter, he must show why he is considered one of the most talented players in the 2023 NFL Draft. In the early days of training camp, a lot of great things have been said about the former Georgia Bulldog. It’s already been said by an Eagles associate that “He regularly beat world-class vets, and it’s hard not to think we didn’t get the best player in the draft.”
With Hargraves’s departure, it is evident that he will be the starting defensive tackle next to veteran tackle Fletcher Cox. The veteran presence of Fletcher Cox could be extremely rewarding for the young star, and training camp is Carter’s time to make a positive impression. The 8 teams that chose to pass on Jalen Carter in the 2023 NFL Draft may be looking at a decision that will haunt them for years to come.
4) Will Nolan Smith’s Freakish Athleticism Translate?
Nolan Smith is one of the most exciting prospects the Eagles have drafted in recent years. Some may even say that they are more excited to watch him in training camp than Jalen Carter. A big concern was his height and weight, but from early looks, there was no sign that he was undersized. Any shortfallings in size are incomparable to his combined numbers. At nearly 240 pounds, he could run a 4.39 40-yard dash and vertically jump 41.5 inches. Those numbers are unheard of for someone of his size.
On the opening day of training camp, Nolan Smith showed off his freakish speed in 11-on-11, blowing by Jack Driscoll of the second offensive unit on back-to-back plays. He was credited a sack on the first play. Nolan Smith will compete with one of the best edge rushing groups in the NFL for snaps this season. Luckily he is already showing the ability to disrupt plays. Reddick, Graham, and Sweat are all Pro-bowl caliber players that can help mold Smith into the type of talent they are.
Suppose the Eagles can find a way to position Nolan Smith like the Dallas Cowboys position Micah Parsons; he could end up posting huge numbers. His outstanding leadership and football IQ are both something to look forward to for years to come.
5) Cam Jurgens and Tyler Steen Battle for Right Guard
The Eagles made it clear that they believed in Cam Jurgens’ ability to play right guard last season when they cross-trained him at the position. He has been the first team right guard in the early days of camp. Landon Dickerson made the switch coming out of Alabama when he switched from center to left guard. He not only was capable, but he immediately became one of the NFL’s premiere offensive guards. The hope was for Cam Jurgens to make a similar move when Kelce informed the Eagles he would be coming back for another season. There is no reason to believe he cannot meet expectations.
The Eagles’ draft night selection of Tyler Steen gave them an opportunity to make it a two-man race for the starting right guard spot. Jurgens is heading into the third year of his rookie contract leaving him with this year and next to make an impact. As a second-round pick, it’d be very surprising if he wasn’t utilized for more than one season. Jason Kelce’s return is something that is extremely easy to get behind. The hope is that it doesn’t end up affecting Cam Jurgens’ progression.
Tyler Steen played Left Tackle at Alabama last season after spending the 2018-2021 seasons at Vanderbilt. He started as a defensive tackle in 2018 and switched to right tackle shortly after. His switch to left tackle wasn’t until his transfer to Alabama in an attempt to sure up their offensive line for Bryce Young. Steen may be seen as a depth piece for the Eagles and learn from veterans. That move makes sense with Lane Johnson aging and giving Steen time to grow under him.
Tyler Steen has a build capable of playing tackle or guard. He has a very strong base, and at 6’6, 320 pounds, he has the ability to simply outman opposing defensive linemen. Last season at Alabama, Tyler Steen allowed 4.5 sacks, 12 pressures, and 8 quarterback hits. Those numbers are impressive for the schedule Alabama faced but don’t forget the Eagles’ current left tackle hasn’t allowed a sack in two years.
Steen excelled in run blocking, and that is a trait that could easily carry over to the guard spot. Without having to be as vertically quick, he’d have the ability to master his biggest strength, his assertive nature. Jeff Stoutland is the biggest factor as to why Eagles offensive linemen can perform at such a high level, and it won’t be any different with Steen and Jurgens. Regardless of the outcome, either player will be surrounded by some of the top offensive linemen in the NFL. Like many of the other position battles happening at camp, this is a great problem to have.
Week 1 Starter Prediction: Cam Jurgens
6) DeVonta Smith’s Progression
Every year since DeVonta Smith’s freshman year at Alabama, he has progressed. He went from 8 receptions in his freshman year to 117 receptions and 1856 yards in his senior year, leading to the Heisman trophy. The jump from freshman to senior year was incredible, but through his first three years leading up to his Heisman honors, he continued to get better and better.
This trend continued in his first two years of the NFL, going from 64 receptions for 916 yards in his rookie year to 95 receptions for 1196 yards last season. Last season there was something even more notable than his stat progression. There were points he literally looked like he could not be covered. Smith continued his progression even after taking the wide receiver 2 role for A.J. Brown’s arrival.
A year of chemistry has been built, and they will continue to grow as a pair. The season starts at training camp, and it will be here that DeVonta Smith shows how dominant he is becoming. Next season it’ll no longer be A.J. Brown as wide receiver 1 and DeVonta Smith as wide receiver 2. It will be wide receivers 1A and 1B.
7) D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny Battling For Workhorse Snaps
Rashaad Penny has taken snaps with the first team early on in training camp. Unlike other training camp battles, that is not as telling for who will be the workhorse back in 2023. D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny splitting snaps is a scary thought for defenses in 2023 and the most likely scenario.
They will not be a reliable fantasy option but a reliable backfield on game days. The biggest concern for both is their health. Injuries aside, both players are RB1 talents when healthy. There are a few NFL teams that have two extremely talented running backs. Often times one player begins to take over as the bell cow back. At this point, it can be established that the workload for each running back will depend on the game flow.
D’Andre Swift has been noted as an above-average pass-catching running back, which will benefit him on third downs. Kenneth Gainwell saw most of those passing third-down plays last year, but Swift may prove more reliable. Rashaad Penny showed flashes of how effective he is as a runner during his time in Seattle.
Early on, both running backs will see a fair share of snaps. Regardless of how talented the Eagles receiving room is, their run game is too dominant to shy away from. It’s a great problem to have. If one breaks off a huge run, the other can come in fresh to inflict more damage on the ground. It has been rumored the Eagles are high on D’Andre Swift and could even look to extend him at the end of this season. At only 24 years old, he is still young enough to lock himself into a long-term deal. The current state of the running back market could allow the Eagles to keep one of the two backs on a team-friendly deal. Training camp will be the first sign of who lines up in the backfield on the opening drive of week 1, but it will not determine workloads throughout the season.
Week 1 Starter Prediction: D’Andre Swift & Rashaad Penny Split carries.
Training Camp is always an exciting time of the year. Summer is slowly coming to a close, and the start of the NFL season is fastly approaching. This month there is so much established heading into week 1.
Everything currently going on at training camp is both exciting and telling. Who will make a name for themselves? Who will be the odd man out? With training camp finally underway, all of the questions built up during the offseason are quickly being answered.
Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Discover more from Philadelphia Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
