Four Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Battles Worth The Wait
By Matt Giraldi
Training Camp Battle #4: Cornerback
What can or can’t be said about the Eagles’ cornerbacks? The position with most uncertainty will likely have the biggest effect on whether the team is successful this upcoming season. Jalen Mills will be a de facto starter entering training camp, but after him lies a bevy of unproven bodies vying for a role in the NFL.
The aforementioned Mills didn’t fare too well last season. PFF ranked Mills as giving up the third most yards allowed per snap last season. Ranking first was former teammate Leodis McKelvin. The question is whether Mills and the new blood at corner can do enough to stay in games late. Last season the Eagles allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete only 52.9% of their passes in the 4th quarter. In the red zone, opposing quarterbacks were completing only 43.1% of their passes.
Of course, the biggest elephant in the room (or is it Husky?) is whether Sidney Jones will play in 2017. If he does, how effective can he be? Everyone knows Jones had play-making abilities capable of landing him in the top-15 of the draft. An Achilles injury at the University of Washington’s Pro Day changed that in the blink of an eye.
Jones is only one part of the future however. The Eagles drafted another corner early in the draft. Rasul Douglas, selected in the third round, is looking to make a name for himself. He will be competing with journeyman Patrick Robinson to solidify a starting role. Douglas will likely be featured on the outside, however he did line up in the slot during OTA’s. This will be one of, if not the best, battles of the preseason.