Road to training camp: Camp battles to watch for
18 July 2017 Eagles News
Eagles training camp is right around the corner!
With training camp looming, which players are going to make a name for themselves?
Here are the camp battles to look for and the names to look for when training camp kicks off in less than a week.
Firstly, you cannot talk Eagles training camp without mentioning the cornerback position.
There is not one player in the whole group that is above and beyond the others.. at least at this point in the season. Look for someone to step up and claim the starting role, perhaps second-year player Jalen Mills or newly acquired cornerback Patrick Robinson.
However, besides just the battle for the number one job, there is a lot more going on with the cornerbacks. At this point, we do not even know who is going to be getting the majority of snaps come September.
When looking at the group, there are a lot of intriguing names. You have players like Ron Brooks, who is returning from injury, as well as rookie Rasul Douglas, C.J. Smith, Aaron Grymes and Dwayne Gratz. This is a big chance for all of them to prove their worth and win over Jim Schwartz.
Another camp battle to watch for will be the fight for playing time at the defensive end position.
When you use a first round pick on a defensive end, that guy has to play, right?
The Eagles like to rotate on the defensive line, but with that being said, two guys are always going to end up playing more snaps than the rest. Last season, Brandon Graham and Connor Barwin were in for 70% of the defensive end snaps. Who is the guy to take Barwin’s role?
The Eagles will have first round pick Derek Barnett fight for that spot with veteran Chris Long and Vinny Curry. Curry is a weird case because last season he was given a big contract with the hope he’d produce. We all know where that story went. However, it is a new season and hopefully a new Curry.
So, look forward to seeing three very established and three very good defensive ends duke it out for a big role in this years’ defense.
Staying with the defense theme, another very interesting battle lies at the weak side linebacker position.
There has been countless links with an Mychal Kendricks exit, but for now he remains on the roster. However, with the team unhappy with Kendricks performance, will he lose his starting role?
Candidates for that position are longtime Eagles Najee Goode and rookie Nate Gerry. Gerry poses an interesting threat, watch for him this training camp.
Lastly, the one camp battle that might be the most competitive is the one set to take place for the left guard position.
Right now, with Allen Barbre in the lineup, the Eagles have argueably the best line in football.
But, the Barbre might not be starting because right behind him, there are two hungry lineman wanting a chance to play.
Barbre, second-year man Issac Seumalo and Chance Warmack will duke it out for the left guard spot. This is going to get very competitive as all three of those players are starting caliber.
When came I say, it’s almost that time of the year again. The time of the year where you wake up to Eagles news everyday.
This training camp is set to be a cracker, so stay tuned and buckle up for the ride!
Ryan Neal Aaron Grymes, Allen Barbre, Chance Warmack, Chris Long, Derek Barnett, Issac Seumalo, Jalen Mills, Nate Gerry, Patrick Robinson, Philadelphia Eagles, Rasul Douglas, Vinny Curry