Philadelphia Eagles training camp is underway, and for International Pathway Program phenom Uar Bernard, it's yet another brand new experience in the world of football.
The seventh-round selection, still learning the intricacies of life on the gridiron, is plying away at his new craft. And with the Nigerian-born Bernard never having played a single snap before Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made the call late in this past draft, there appears to be a customized, long-term plan in place.
Per Jeff Kerr of Sports Illustrated, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio recognizes this is going to take a collective effort, one that will take plenty of time and hard work as a whole, when it comes to the development of his newest defensive lineman:
"The "PP Plan," lots of patience and lots of persistence," Fangio said. "The day he put on a helmet here was the first time he ever put on a helmet. He hasn’t had shoulder pads on yet. That would be a new experience for him."
"Everybody, including himself and us, needs to temper any expectations down," Fangio said. "He's got a process to go through. Process, that's a bad word around here."
From both a coaching and positional perspective, the rookie is surrounded by greatness with Eagles
Always the wordsmith, Fangio alluding to "process" could in fact be a bit of a shot at 'trusting the process' with the 76ers, which hasn't always gone as planned.
For the Eagles, though, the plan is crystal clear: Give Bernard plenty of time to come along, let him work through his growing pains, and trust in the reality that despite how raw he is, there is a world of potential in the long game for Bernard and his new coaches to make this work.
From both a coaching and teammate perspective, Bernard couldn't have landed in a better environment to maximize his potential. Along with Fangio, he will learn under the guidance of esteemed defensive line coach Clint Hurtt, who lobbied on Bernard's behalf to get him to Philadelphia.
And while he's getting coached up by Fangio and Hurtt, Bernard will be surrounded on the practice field by some of the top trench talent around. Going up against the Eagles' star-studded offensive line in practice, Bernard will be tested daily.
And while sitting in film study and immersing himself in the practice field with the likes of Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Moro Ojomo, he has landed in a spot where he will learn first-hand from some of the best defensive linemen in the game.
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As Fangio noted, both patience and persistence are required for this to work. Bernard has already been lauded for a terrific work ethic and a burning desire to develop every day. The plan is in place, and this rookie is ready for the challenge.
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