Philadelphia Eagles training camp: Expect physicality over finesse
The Philadelphia Eagles officially welcome veterans and rookies on July 24th to begin their 2016 training camp.
As fans of the Philadelphia Eagles and the organization continue to try to rid themselves of any memory of the past three seasons, it’s clear that a lot has changed since January when Chip Kelly was removed from the position of head coach with a game left on the schedule. Now Doug Pederson takes over, and it’s obvious that things are different. Training camp will be further evidence of that.
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Kelly employed a style where tackling drills were used as opposed to having players participate in drills that involved a lot of contact. Expect that to change as Pederson wants to see physicality. “It’s a physical game. It’s football. It’s tackle football. I think the only way you can properly fit offensively and defensively, you have to put the pads on and you have to hit,”. You could stop the entire article there as that’s probably enough to get most Eagles fans excited.
Pederson continued, “I’m not saying you have to go live every period because you don’t, but to run around in pants and shoulder pads in the heat – it’s going to be hot in September and it’s going to be hot in October. From your offensive and defensive lines, this is where games are won and lost. You’ve heard about how games are won in the trenches. Those guys have to know how to hit.”
I think the only way you can properly fit offensively and defensively, you have to put the pads on and you have to hit – Doug Pederson
In continuing on the talk about winning in the trenches, Pederson added “We can zone block all we want in shells, but we’re also going to trap, we’re going to power, we’re going to gap, we’re going to counter, the trappers have to trap, and it’s a physical game. That timing has to be done in pads. Quarterbacks have to throw in pads. They need to feel that pocket when the bullets are kind of flying around during Training Camp and it’s all part of the process of getting your guys prepared for the regular season.”
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Excited yet? He continued “For instance, if you’re looking for a fullback, are you going to go out here in shells and tell me you’re going to find a fullback?….I want to see him run downhill and hit a linebacker. I want to see him strike a defensive end. I want to see if he can hold up. Do his legs collapse? Does he stay up? Can he power through the block? I want to see if the guards can pull. I want to see if linebackers can tackle. I want to see receivers and (defensive backs) contest each other, and the only way you can do that is in pads. We can put the shells on all day, and you still have to learn how to practice out of pads and protect each other that way, but the best evaluator in this game, I feel, is in pads.”
Now if that doesn’t get you fired up for some football, nothing will. The finesse era in the “City of Brotherly Love” is officially over come Monday.