NFL teams are practicing lightly so far this year, training camp is multiple weeks away, and the first preseason game isn’t going to be played for months. The new defense has not been completely installed yet and neither has the new offense. We do not know whether the special teams unit will be as effective as it has been the past several seasons because Chip Kelly’s practice schedule is no longer in place to provide extra reps and the overall depth chart isn’t even being considered at this point because players are currently sporting shorts and t-shirts on the field.
What a perfect time to predict who the surprise Eagles contributors will be, huh?
Predictions like these can be really obvious even though we are so far away from the preseason. How easy would it be for anyone to pick Fletcher Cox, Jordan Matthews, Ryan Mathews, Malcolm Jenkins, and Sam Bradford for a list of impact guys to look out for? For this reason, I chose five guys who we should be paying close attention to but are still being overlooked at this point in the workouts; guys who are going to need to step their game up if they want to make the team or stay with the team long-term. A few of them will also need to improve if the team will be successful in any way this season. So, without giving away any more details, here are the guys I believe will need to step up their game (or prove that they HAVE game… For various reasons):
1. JaCorey Shepherd, CB
Shepherd was projected by many to be the starting slot cornerback during training camp last season before he was injured in a collision with Darren Sproles that cost him his first season in the NFL. Now, the second-year man out of Kansas has to prove his worth to a new coaching staff in a new defensive scheme and earn a spot on the roster with a crowded secondary. Shepherd has less NFL experience than most of the other cornerbacks and he hasn’t played a single down of football yet, so his climb back into a starting role in the nickel isn’t as likely as it was last year.
However, if Shepherd can find a way to step up his game and prove he is worth the long-term investment, making the final roster for the season or, at least, being assigned to the practice squad is a win for him. All of this will be contingent on the idea that he is healthy, but there is a sneaky strong reason to believe that he could surprise the coaching staff in training camp.
2. Brandon Brooks, G
Brooks cashed in with the Eagles after a few seasons with the Houston Texans, where he quite admirably had to practice against J.J. Watt on a regular basis. On the other hand, the Eagles, possibly experienced the worst performance from both its starting offensive guards in over a decade with Allen Barbre and Matt Tobin. Brooks will be slotted in to play the right guard spot in between Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson to solidify a line that failed to produce a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time since 2012. The irony is that Brooks is actually a better pass blocker than he is a run blocker and is still better at run blocking than Matt Tobin is. With a new coaching staff, Brooks will be relied upon to be a consistent force up front. Let’s hope he proves that his contract wasn’t as crazy as everyone thought it was when he first got into Philadelphia.
3. Isaac Seumalo, G
Doug Pederson has recently confused many fans and NFL analysts by labeling Allen Barbre and Sam Bradford the starting left guard and starting quarterback, respectively, during an interview a while ago. No one could figure out why a new head coach would name his starters being that training camp hasn’t even taken place, but the move is actually not that controversial because Pederson simply stated what we all know to be true. Isaac Seumalo, taken in the third round of this year’s draft, has the potential to start for this Eagles team at left guard even though he has no experience playing left guard in college (although he did start at almost every other spot on the line at some point).
However, Pederson’s philosophy seems to be that the starters from last year need to earn their starting spots all over again through competition. For this reason, Barbre will have every opportunity to retain his starting role on the offensive line and Seumalo will have every opportunity to take it through some good ol’ competition. Pederson seems to believe that rookies should all begin at the bottom of the depth chart and rise through the realization of their skills and that really isn’t a bad idea. If Seumalo can beat Barbre for starting spot at left guard, he will have earned his job and increased depth along the offensive line. I expect that Seumalo will not only start this season, but the line should have an opportunity to change its trajectory in a positive way. Competition on the offensive line isn’t always the most exciting camp battle to look out for but do not take this lightly. It could turn out to be the most important battle on the offensive side of the ball.
4. Nigel Bradham, LB
No one in Philadelphia really knew Nigel Bradham before he signed with the Eagles during free agency. His connection to Jim Schwartz has many fans believing that he could be a great teacher and leader when Schwartz begins to truly implement his defense. He could also be the only projected starter on defense that will be familiar with this scheme come training camp. However, Bradham needs to be more than that if this team is going to be remotely successful. His ability to cover tight ends and pursue ball carriers from the weak side will be very important to this defense as he figures to play next to Jordan Hicks and Mychal Kendricks. Hicks is expected to play well, but is still a very young linebacker and Kendricks, reportedly gained weight in order to play a more physical brand of football in this 4-3 defense (something he hasn’t had to do since Andy Reid). Bradham is going to have to play consistently well in pass and run defense if either of his starting counterparts will be good. He has already proven he can be successful with Schwartz before. Let’s hope he can do that again.
5. Nelson Agholor, WR
Agholor suffered through last season with multiple nagging injuries that include a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for several weeks. Both the coaching staff and his teammates also admit that he never fully recovered from the sprain and was running routes on one good ankle for the better part of the second half of the season. Still, the former first round pick didn’t need explosive numbers to prove to fans that his ability to run and catch the football has the potential to make him a viable candidate to start opposite Jordan Matthews.
Agholor won’t have the starting role handed to him in training camp and it isn’t likely that the Eagles will run as many three receiver sets as they did last year so it is crucial that he carves out a starting role. The team has already invested a first, second, and third round pick in the receiver position over the past three seasons and if they can get starters out of two of those picks, then they will not have been in vain. Agholor’s talent is not in question by any stretch. However, he will need to prove he was worth the first round grade placed on him last year. His success should definitely boost this team greatly on offense.
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