Allen, Graham And Eagles Young Defensive Players Coming Along Fine

It’s understood that a number of the Eagles rookie draft picks who play on the defensive side of the ball are going to have to step in and help them immediately.¬† All in all I think the Eagles should be pleased with what the progress these young men have made in these OTA’s.

I like what I’m seeing out of rookie safety Nate Allen.¬† He’s got a high football acumen which is allowing him to pick up the defensive coverages very quickly. He seems to know where his help is, and he seems to have a sound understanding of his responsibilities.

A safety is one of the quarterbacks in the defensive backfield.  He has to not only know what everybody else is supposed to do in the pass coverages, he also has to understand what the defense is trying to accomplish with the coverage.

Each pass coverage has strengths and weaknesses, so he has to understand the strategy of the game in order to be an effective safety.  If he can demonstrate the abiliy to come up and pound receivers and running backs in the training camp, he will have himself a starting job at the safety position.

The two young rookie pass rushers, Brandon Graham and Daniel Te’o Nesheim who will be asked to contribute to the pass rush from day one, have been learning the team’s defensive fronts and blitzes.¬† ¬† They’ve shown their speed but there’s not much more that they can do until they get in the equipment.

You could see they’re anxious to put on the pads and get this thing started.

I was impressed with what I saw of Ricky Sapp as a defensive end and coming off the corner.¬† He’s got a serious burst out of his stance. Before the snap of the ball, he was coiled up like a cobra and ready to strike.¬† He looks quick as a defensive end but as a linebacker he looks stiff and slow.

They should make him a defensive end immediately because the young man doesn’t have what it takes to be a linebacker, but I’m confident he can make it as a defensive end.¬† He looks much more confident at that position.

Cornerback Trevard Lindley has been playing better as the practices have gone by.¬† He has the best combination of size and speed in the secondary.¬† He’s made some nice interceptions by going up and getting the ball at its highest point.

Rookie linebacker Keenan Clayton has the speed to cover backs and linebackers in this league but the Eagles have him trying to gain weight because he’s so small.¬† He wouldn’t tell me what he weighs and how much the Eagles want him to gain.