A lot of behind-the-scenes stuff going on in Eagles land…
Reports say the orientation of the current players on the roster to the Chip Kelly regime is going well. DeSean Jackson says he wants and expects at least 6 touches per game from the new offense. That's a good thing when a player says he wants the ball in his hands more often, right? It worked out pretty well for HOF'er John Riggins and the Redskins back in the day…
Nick Foles says he can run Kelly's offense just fine, thank you… That's a positive coming from a 2nd year QB who knows he was being dangled as trade bait just a few short weeks ago…
Some potential negatives: Deon Lewis is now reportedly being advertised by the Eagles for a potential pre-Draft trade. A running back and kick returner with virtually no significant touches in the past two years? Good luck with that…
Then Mike Patterson signs with the Giants. Why do our Andy Reid-era transition guys from the defense seem to wind up on the Giants? First Cullen Jenkins, and now this… What's next, cats and dogs living together?
Big-name college guys keep rotating through NovaCare Complex on visits. Gavin Escobar (TE-SDSU), Dion Jordan (OLB-Oregon), Geno Smith (QB-WVU), Ziggy Ansah (DE-Utah), and Eric Fisher (OT, Central Michigan U.) have all been in Philly this week. By the weekend expect to see Sharrif Floyd (DT, Florida) and Luke Joeckel (OT, Texas A&M) under the local meet-and-greet microscope.
But if you're really looking to score big on your MACH 10 ballot, I suggest you pay attention to at least three of the following Philly area prospects invited to NovaCare this week:
Justin Pugh (above) is one of them.
Justin Pugh is benefitting from an old Eagles adage—It's a common practice for NFL teams to provide local talent an opportunity to showcase their skills. The Eagles open their doors every year for NFL draft prospects who played collegiately and/or high school in the area.
Pugh is considered a fringe first-round pick. The 6-foot-4, 307-pounder played tackle at Syracuse, but with short arms is projected as a guard in the NFL. Right guard is currently the Eagles' biggest question mark on the offensive line.
Other notables to attend the workout included Temple standout running back Montel Harris, Rutgers cornerback Brandon Jones, Temple kicker Brandon McManus, Villanova wide receiver Norman White and Iowa defensive back Greg Castillo, son of former Eagles assistant Juan Castillo.
Is it too much to ask game-crazy Eagles fans to correctly guess (or caress) the winning ticket in PowerBall or MegaMillions? Of course it is… But now you can fill in your later MACH 10 Draft rounds with prospects we know the Eagles are evaluating in person this week. That should give you some sense of control.
Here's the complete list of the 23 "Local Tryout" players to participate at NovaCare this week:
Matt Brown, RB (Temple)
Vaughn Carraway, S (Temple)
Greg Castillo, DB (Iowa)
Brandon Copeland, LB (Penn)
Marcus Green, LB (Temple)
Montel Harris, RB (Temple)
Brandon Jones, CB (Rutgers)
Maurice Jones, DB (Temple)
Robert Lohr, DE (Vanderbilt)
Scott Lopano, P/K (Penn)
Dylan Manni, TE (Bloomsburg)
Matt Marshall, LB (Arkansas)
Darryl McBride, LB (Hawaii)
Robert McCabe, LB (Georgetown)
Brandon McManus, K (Temple)
Adam Nelson, LS (Villanova)
Justin Pugh, OG (Syracuse)
Thomas Ryan, WR (Towson)
Martin Wallace, OT (Temple)
Nihja White, WR (Delaware)
Norman White, WR (Villanova)
Paul Worrilow, LB (Delaware)
John Youboty, LB (Temple)
My guess is at least one, and maybe two, of these guys end up on the late round Draft pick list of the Eagles.
[Note— Condolences and best wishes to Tommy Lawlor and his family members. Lawlor's dad passed away this week at age 71. He was a big Oklahoma Sooners fan. I know the Lawlors are hurting right now so I send them my prayers.]
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