Eagles TC Day 5: Offensive Rookies Flash, J.J. and Miles with TDs in Live Period
PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) — The Eagles went live for the first time in training camp Tuesday, and the rookie playmakers showed up.
Receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside delivered the play of the day by playing Johnny on the spot during the final team drills of a very steamy session at the NovaCare Complex. On the first play of the period, the Stanford product snatched a tipped Carson Wentz pass intended for Nelson Agholor, broke one tackle and raced down the right sideline for a long touchdown.
The entire offense ran down the field to celebrate with Arcega-Whiteside and right tackle Lane Johnson joked the "tip was all by design."
The defense could take solace in the fact middle linebacker Nate Gerry sniffed out the throw and nearly made a big play until the bad luck struck. Gerry, still running with the first team while Nigel Bradham continues to be limited to individual skills, has been very consistent in camp.
The Eagles' other second-round pick, running back Miles Sanders, also had a productive day, running it in the end zone from about the five-yard line on an offset look in a live period and also showing off his pass-catching skills on a wheel route that beat Andrew Sendejo earlier in the practice.
The defensive highlights weren't as bright with L.J. Fort providing the loudest stick of the morning, shooting the gap during a 4th-and-2 situation to down Sanders for a tackle for loss.
Carson Wentz's biggest non-fluke throw was a long seam pass to Nelson Agholor which set up Sanders' TD run. Agholor as a whole had a very sharp practice.
Wents did suffer his second interception of camp, again during 7-on-7 drills when trying to force the football to Arcega-Whiteside in coverage from Sidney Jones.
On the injury front receiver, Mack Hollins was back doing some individual work but sat out of team drills for a second consecutive day with a lower-body injury.
PRACTICE NEWS AND NOTES:
-The rotation at CB continued with Avonte Maddox in the slot today and Jones outside at left cornerback. Maddox has slowed down a bit over the past two days and Jones is back in the conversation for being the outside corner.
-For the first time this summer the offense started team work in 11 personnel with Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson and Nelson Agholor all on the field and Darren Sproles in the backfield.
-Backup LDE Joe Ostman has been given Jordan Mailata fits over the past two days in team drills although Mailata did have a great one-on-one rep by stoning Brandon Graham.
-Receiver Marken Michel has great change-of-direction skills and had rookie linebacker T.J. Edwards grasping at air after one stutter-step.
-Got an opportunity to watch the DBs and receivers during individual work and Malcolm Jenkins really struggled with the smaller, shifty slot receivers in Michel and Greg Ward. Jeremiah McKinnon was very physical on one rep with Alshon Jeffery and that shows toughness but it would have likely been flagged. After speeding by Maddox in team drills on Monday, DeSean Jackson did the same to Jones in individual work. Braxton Miller showed life for the second consecutive day and Agholor easily beat safety Deiondre' Hall with a double move. A back-shoulder for Jeffery with Rasul Douglas in coverage was dropped.
-Also got a chance to watch the offensive and defensive lines in pass-rush, pass-pro work. Treyvon Hester got the best of rookie Nate Herbig on a nice inside rush that had the Stanford product reaching into the expletive bag. Herbig recovered on his next opportunity. Vinny Curry taught another rookie, Sua Opeta, a thing or two and Ostman is just a handful with his motor. To call Andre Dillard a natural at pass protection is understating it.
-In team drills, Shelton Gibson had a bad drop on a bubble screen.
-Cody Kessler took the third-team reps in the first live period ahead of rookie Clayton Thorson.
SOUNDTRACKS:
-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen