One of the most important necessities the Eagles will need this season is mental toughness and that’s something which Andy Reid tries to establish by putting the Birds through tough practices. This young Eagles team is currently going through that period of training camp where their bodies are tired, so they are forced to have talks with themselves.
They have to focus on their assignments despite the fatigue. The hard work also forces them to push their bodies and battle through the heat in order to improve their play in the practices.
Reid’s practices resemble the struggle you have in games. It’s his way of preparing the team for the season and establishing a mental toughness with his young football team. Yes the tough practices means risking injuries but it’s one of the reasons that Andy Reid’s football teams fight and battle when the season is on the line.
“Well, it’s what I said at the beginning of camp, is that I think it’s important that you build a strong foundation and you kind of find out about the guys that are going to be with you later in the year, the guys that are pushing through this”, Reid said after yesterday’s morning practice. “When you get to that last quarter of the season and you’re in striking distance, you’re going to be beat up and sore. Whether you have this camp or you don’t, there are certain guys that will sit out and you kind of find that out here, you find out who’s going to be there and who’s not going to be.”
Reid believes the leaders will step up when the team is pushed to the limit.
“You saw today, this was a tough practice today and this is an interesting group here”, Reid said. “They have been challenging and challenging and the days that you think they’re not going to rise up and have the energy somebody picks it up in there and gets them going. It’s kind of fun to watch”.
Of course Reid will start backing off of the work today and tomorrow as they prepare for the preseason game on Friday but they’re still going to get in some work because they don’t have many practices out here before they break camp.
“But, yea obviously the closer we get to the game the more you back off, so they can go out and perform and do it with some energy”, Reid reasoned.
Kind of gives some insight to why the Eagles often look sluggish in September but solid in November and December maybe?
I think the biggest reason they have come out sluggish the last couple of years is their health of the
Offensive Line. The last couple of years with Injuries to Herremans/Andrews and Runyan and Thomas the year before that, they have always started a season with a missing piece or 2 from the Starters… Hopefully, Herremans and Jackson will be ready to go sooner than later..
I think it plays into it. At the start of the season the other teams might be a little fresher because they didn’t go through the same grind. The Eagles however end up out lasting the other teams as they wear down through the season because they didn’t prepare the same way.
Reid’s teams have a knack for peaking in November/December. I attribute that to his tough training camps. As far his slow starts . . . could be the same cause, but if I had to chose between the two, I’d rather they finish strong.
this team will probably win 5 games
I agree Songs,
I think the late October, the Eagles will be 5-3 at the halfway point on their way to 10 wins…
With McNabb QB the Redskins now, that’s 2-0 right there…
Todays Injury list
The Cleveland Browns were dealt a blow today losing 2 starters from the Defense
CB E Wright injured his Knee and looks pretty serious, LB Q’well JAckson reinjured his torn pectoral
muscle that kept him out the final 8 weeks of last season and back-up LB M Bernard also was injured..( I see the Browns on the phone with Eagles about availability of O Gaither)
Bengals back-up RB B Leonard injured his foot versus the Cowboys and may be out 4-6 weeks and possibly longer
Raiders RB D McFadden is out this weeks game due to a pulled hamstring..
Packers placed Nickle/CB J Bell on IR and is likley out for the Season with an injured Foot,
Al Harris is still recovering for Knee surgery from last season leaving the Packers a little thin at the CB postion right now
any updates on marlin jackson?
I think he had surgery already and is done for the year and quite possibly his career…(MJ)
That’s his 3rd knee surgery in the last 2 1/2 years and very doubtful anyone would sign him at this point in his career which is a shame for when he was healthy a couple years back, he was a very good tackler, and pretty good cover guy who liked to play physical and probably would have been a good match with the Eagles schemes and overall defense..