School Back in Session for Eagles Rookie Nolan Smith at Von Miller Summit
The first weekend of Nolan Smith’s summer vacation wasn’t spent on a beach or the back of a boat.
The second of the two first-round draft picks the Philadelphia Eagles made this past April was in Las Vegas at the seventh annual Von Miller Pass Rush Summit on Saturday.
Maybe Smith snuck in some pool time or visited a casino or two during his stay, but the trip was about getting better at a game he said he loves to play. His zest for the game manifested itself during the two brief periods reporters were allowed to watch during the team’s OTAs, which ended on Thursday.
Smith could be seen moving dummy bags on and off the field while hardly being able to stand still waiting his turn to take a rep.
A passion for the game is something the Eagles look for when bringing a player in, and they also covet players who are always looking to improve.
Miller’s summit should help Smith in that regard.
Unprompted, Smith brought up Miller’s name shortly after he was drafted.
He was being asked about his teammate Haason Reddick and the comparison that was made between the two outside linebackers/edge rushers, when Smith mentioned Miller.
“I'd say Von Miller is someone I model my game after,” he said.
Millers is one of the best to ever play the game on the edge, compiling 123 sacks in his career. He was the MVP of Super Bowl 50 in 2015 with six tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two quarterback hurries to lead the Denver Broncos past the favored Carolina Panthers.
“I watch guys like my body type like Von Miller, Haason Reddick and the moves that they use and just the different things that they do, not only with their hands but how they bend the edge and use speed to power and how they set up their moves and play a game within the game,” said Smith.
“So, I focused on the bending at the top of the rush in my game just because I think it helped me get to the quarterback quicker, and also big guys don't want to get down there and touch you.”
Some of the biggest names attending Miller’s pass rush summit included many of Miller's Buffalo Bills teammates as well as the Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons, the New Orleans Saints Cameron Jordan, the Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, the Tennessee Titans Jeffrey Simmons, Seattle Seahawks veteran Bobby Wagner, and New England Patriots' Josh Uche.
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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