PHILADELPHIA — No holdouts. No contract disputes. No drama.
Unlike some other places around the NFL, every player was in attendance at the Eagles’ mandatory minicamp — which was just one day this year — at NovaCare Complex on Tuesday.
These were the last team activities before everyone reconvenes for training camp in late July. In the meantime, head coach Nick Sirianni wants his players to focus on conditioning.
“You can’t play with great detail and you can’t play with great physicality, you can’t play with relentless effort, if you’re not in great shape,” Sirianni said, emphasizing a theme that has been central for him since arriving in Philadelphia.
“Being in great, great, great shape, we really pride ourselves on that,” he said. “They’ll have conditioning tests when they get back. Be in great shape, have your body, if your body’s supposed to weigh this, that’s what it needs to weigh and make sure you can run all day because, again, the thing you notice the most when you’re not in good shape, one, injuries happen. The other thing that happens is your detail slips, and in every phase the detail has to be on point, and you can’t do that unless you’re in great shape.
“So that’s always my key message to them is they’ve got to be working their butts off. There’s no substitute for working hard and there’s no shortcut around it. You got to be ready for the season and get your body ready for the training camp and then the season.”
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Quarterback Jalen Hurts has impressed throughout OTAs and minicamp. During 7-on7 drills Tuesday, he connected with DeVonta Smith, who was matched up one-on-one against rookie linebacker Smael Mondon Jr., for a big gain down the sideline.
Smith didn’t attend voluntary OTAs but had been working out on his own, and he didn’t miss a beat at minicamp. Terrace Marshall, the recently signed free agent receiver, got a lot of work at minicamp, including beating slot corner Cooper DeJean on a drag route.
Sirianni said he recognized how tough it can be on hurts to adjust to a new offensive coordinator every year, but he’s hopeful this year might be a little more seamless, considering Kevin Patullo has been on staff here for several years prior to becoming OC.
“I think there’s always a transition with a new guy calling the plays, but I don’t want to compare it from one to the other or anything like that,” Sirianni said. “I’m just focused on where we are right now.
“But Kevin’s doing a great job. Kevin’s obviously had the opportunity to be in front of the room. … He’s got the player’s attention, he’s got a great plan, he’s got a great process, and that’s where I’ve noticed that he’s done a really nice job of. Can’t say enough about how good of a job I think he’s doing to this point, and he’s got a relationship with these players. That’s probably the main thing … whereas (former OC) Kellen (Moore) came in and had to build relationships, Kevin’s been around these players for going on five years now. I see Kevin pushing those guys out there, being able to get those guys going, whether it’s a high five to him or, ‘Hey, get your butt going,’ because he has that relationship with the guys that he’s been building. He’s always been a guy that has had strong relationships in the building.”
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Rookie quarterback Kyle McCord, who grew up in the area and played at St. Joseph’s Prep before his college career at Ohio State and Syracuse, has been impressive throughout the spring. He has developed a rapport with backup tight end Nick Muse, including hitting him on two big plays at minicamp.
In 11-on-11 drills near in the red zone, Muse completed a dime to Muse in the back of the end zone. A couple plays later, he delivered to Muse on a deep corner, about 30 yards downfield, as the tight end laid out to make the catch.
The two connected again later on. In one of the last reps of the practice, McCord was running out of time and just looking to get the ball away. He tossed it toward the right sideline in the general area of Muse, who made a corner cut to the outside, and the tight end leaped out and came down with the ball to make the hard-earned completion.
McCord is part of a talented QB room that also includes Tanner McKee, who was impressive in limited action last season.
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Sirianni spoke about the “tush push” for the first time since it survived a vote to ban it last month.
“We’re ready to be able to continue to grow that play,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do to continue that success. It just doesn’t happen. The same work that we needed to put into it last year, we’ll even have to be better because we know teams are going to focus on it to try to stop it.”
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NOTES >> Tyler Steen appears to have an early lock on the starting right guard position, replacing Mekhi Becton. … Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown practiced as the two main safeties, but Drew Mukuba, Tristin McCollum and Andre’ Sam are strongly competing for time. … Kelee Ringo started at outside corner, opposite Quinyon Mitchell, with DeJean focusing on slot. … Rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell, the South Jersey native drafted out of Alabama, participated in non-contact drills. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio doesn’t expect him to see full action until at least August, as he is recovering from shoulder surgery.