Eagles Ready for Preseason vs. Ravens: 'I Want to Destroy People!'
PHILADELPHIA – Nick Sirianni gave nothing up regarding who will play and who won’t play when the Philadelphia Eagles make the short trip to the Inner Harbor on Saturday to play the Baltimore Ravens in their first preseason game of summer.
The head coach said it is still being discussed. Not likely, but Sirianni is big on competitive advantage, even in games that don’t count. The Ravens, apparently are, too judging by their 23-game winning streak in the preseason dating back to 2016.
Something else the coach is factoring in is the 48 hours after the Eagles play in Baltimore when they host the Cleveland Browns for evening practices on Monday and Tuesday night prior to playing each other in the second preseason game on Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Wins and losses don’t matter much right now, but competition does, and Sirianni, forever the competitor whether it's on the football field or in checkers, is looking for whoever lines up on Saturday night to do exactly that.
The game is also important in identifying players who are on the roster bubble. It’s also a great time to get a look at the rookies and undrafted free agents as well as perhaps get a glimpse of what the Eagles’ running back rotation could look like.
“I think first and foremost, it’s an opportunity for me to get back the feel again of playing football,” said Rashaad Penny following Thursday’s one-hour practice. “I haven’t played since October, so to get in there, get live game reps and also show the comfortability of the playbook, is huge for me. So I’m excited.”
In recent days, it appears that Kenny Gainwell has gained some separation as far as becoming the lead back, with D’Andre Swift having a role on third downs and perhaps as the top runner when Gainwell is given a breather.
Of course, it’s still early in August, so nothing is etched in stone when it comes to the deep group of runners in the Eagles’ barn.
Gainwell alluded to the fact that all six running backs will play and running back coach Jemal Singleton may have backed Gaiwell up on that.
“I always say you gotta have the pads on, right?” said Singleton. “You gotta have some contact because there is a lot of things about the job we have to do that's physical whether it's picking up pass pro or running through the tackle. So that's part of it.
“You can make some of the evaluation at running back before we put the pads on but you're not getting a true one until we get to bang heads.”
Penny isn’t the only one who hasn’t played in a while. Rookie edge/outside linebacker Nolan Smith missed most of Georgia’s season with an injury as well.
“I’m in different colors, but I go out there with the same goal - just to fly around and give it my all for the game I love,” he said. “I missed seven weeks (last season). I sat on the sideline for seven weeks, so I can’t wait to go out there and just run and hit somebody else.”
Meanwhile, cornerback Kelee Ringo, the recently-turned 21-year-old fourth-round pick, has played better in recent days as he grows more comfortable with his routine and the playbook. Expect him to see plenty of reps in Baltimore.
“It’s pretty huge, honestly,” said Ringo about Saturday night. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this exact opportunity. I definitely feel like I’m comfortable in the situation that I’m in right now, and I want to continue to grow even past that. And this is a showcase for me.”
An unheralded seventh-round pick, defensive tackle Moro Ojomo has the right attitude for the game and beyond.
"Just excited,” he said. “I want to compete, I want to destroy people. I mean at the end of the day, right we play football for a reason and the mindset going in there is to compete and dominate.”
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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