Eagles Rookies Jalen Carter & Nolan Smith's Skills Came Into Focus During OTAs
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PHILADELPHIA – It’s never easy to observe the defensive linemen or the edge rushers when the Philadelphia Eagles practice outside their team facility because they are always stationed at the far back of one of the fields.
It takes a high-powered set of binoculars to see what’s happening, but even then, it’s impossible to hear the coaching points and communication that takes place. It’s the complete opposite with the offensive linemen who drill close to reporters when they are allowed to watch and it’s impossible not to hear o-line coach Jeff Stoutland barking instructions.
Inside, it’s a little different.
The defensive linemen are closer to where reporters stand and, while it’s not always easy to hear what is being said, at least observing is easier.
On Thursday, the team moved inside their bubble due to poor air quality from ongoing wildfires in Canada that infiltrated the United States, and while the smoke made it difficult to see outside, the d-linemen and edge guys came more into focus on the final OTA of spring.
With a better view, it was easier to see first-round rookie picks Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith.
Carter moved all over the line while and got a number of reps.
Smith was more active. He was running around picking up dummy bags and carrying them off the field when one drill shifted into another.
It’s easy to Smith’s love of the game. He always appeared to be bouncing around enthusiastically waiting his turn to take a rep. Carter looks explosive and was working on his first step.
Other than that, it’s not easy to tell much about the guys who need the pads to come on before they can really show their stuff.
Head coach Nick Sirianni said he has liked what he has seen from both so far, but knows there is more to come when training camp begins at the end of July.
“I think you just see their athletic ability and the drill work,” he said. “We're doing a lot of 7-on-7, not team drills, but they're getting a lot of individual work. So, you're seeing the things that we saw, obviously, on tape of what they do well and the power, their athletic ability, their personalities.
“You're seeing that every day in drills, so it's not the same type of measuring stick that you get from maybe a skill guy who is getting some team periods with the 7-on-7, but you're seeing the development in the skill and you're seeing their skill in the individual periods with Coach Rocker (defensive line coach Tracy Rocker) and Coach Wash (defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Jeremiah Washburn)."
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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