Eagles EDGE Nolan Smith is Ready to Learn from Haason Reddick
PHILADELPHIA – Undersized is the word that has dogged Nolan Smith ever since leveling off at 6 feet, 2 inches.
It was the same word lobbed at Haason Reddick when he was at Temple.
The Philadelphia Eagles' standout edge rusher is an inch shorter than Smith and a few pounds lighter, yet that hasn’t stopped Reddick from putting up double-digit sacks in his last three seasons, including 19.5 last year, 3.5 of which came in three postseason games.
The pre-draft comparison for Smith was Reddick. Smith is listed at 238, but he said he lost a few pounds while preparing for the draft. He plays at 242.
“I’m more explosive that way, I get more out of myself," Smith said during last weekend’s rookie camp.
Still, not exactly a towering figure. Neither, though, is Reddick.
The two players had not met as of this past weekend’s rookie camp, but Smith said he has Monday, May 22, circled on his calendar. That is the day players are scheduled to report for the first wave of OTAs.
Though they are optional workouts, Reddick will likely attend.
“I don’t want to bother him with too many questions because I’m a rookie,” Smith said. “I know my place, I know my role. I might just write down a question a day and ask him.”
Smith declined to reveal the first question he has queued up, saying only that he is looking forward to meeting and learning from Reddick.
“Media always knock us on the same thing,” Smith said. “Certain guys like me, Von Miller, guys like us who are undersized guys, I just want to know certain things about how he (goes) about his game. How he approaches the game, how he studies.”
Until that day arrives, Smith has been working with and receiving advice from Eagles assistant Jeremiah Washburn, the team’s defensive ends and outside linebackers coach.
“Ton of advice, a ton of things I’ve learned from fixing my lines to just simple pass rush things to simple stances," the rookie said. “So, yeah, you can say I love Coach Wash. He gave me right as far as like my lines, my aiming points, and just him coaching me like I want to be coached.”
The two spent some time together during Smith’s top-30 visit prior to the draft.
“It was just me and him sitting down and eating, and there weren’t no dull moments in the conversation,” he said. “He treated me as a person, and I couldn’t have no more respect for him.”
One of Smith’s weaknesses leaving Georgia, per various scouting reports, was his inability to convert speed to power on his pass rush and not having a signature rush.
“That’s what me and Coach Wash are deciding to do right now,” Smith said. “He’s helping me come out with my signature pass rush.
“Speed to power. That’s my go-to. I set up everything off my speed. He’s just helping me put more tools in my toolbox”
Reddick will certainly add more tools as he and Smith begin spending more time together over the next few weeks.
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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