PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles moved up their morning practice session by an hour to try to mitigate the suffocating heat on Tuesday, day five of training camp at NovaCare Complex. But as the index climbed toward 109 degrees, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he doesn’t believe in heat.
“It’s not hot today; that’s a mindset,” he quipped.
Either it was an Oscar-worthy exercise in gaslighting or he truly believed it, considering he spent the day in a heavy black sweatshirt.
“We’re going to play some hot games in September, and if you cave to a hot day in training camp, we’re in trouble,” Fangio said.
Not only could the Linc be boiling during the first month of the season, but the Birds must travel to Kansas City in Week 2 and Tampa in Week 4 — where they got mugged in a sweltering Week 4 matchup last year before heading into a pivotal bye.
As for quarterback Jalen Hurts’ thoughts on the steamy temperatures?
“Fatigue makes cowards of us all,” he said.
While Tuesday was the hottest day of camp so far, it was also the Eagles’ first in full pads. And it was their longest practice of camp at 1 hour, 54 minutes.
“I think the action speeds up (in pads),” Fangio said. “The play action, the run game all speeds up and it’s better. … The most fundamental thing you have to do on defense is figure out if it’s a run or a pass, and that’s more realistically accomplished in a padded practice.”
One of the biggest position battles on defense is at the second cornerback spot, opposite Quinyon Mitchell, where veteran Adoree’ Jackson, 29, and 23-year-old Kelee Ringo are jockeying for the job. They have basically been splitting the reps. Ringo opened with the first team on Tuesday, but Jackson saw plenty of first-team action as well.
“I didn’t watch a whole lot of tape on him,” Fangio said of Jackson, whom the Birds picked up on a one-year deal in March. (General manager) Howie (Roseman) wanted to sign him, and when Howie wants to sign somebody, it doesn’t matter what I say. So, we just took him in. … I’ve seen him play over the years, saw him when he was coming out of college.
“He’s played a good bit of ball, but I think this is the place where he’s got to show who he is and be the player hopefully that people have always thought he could be. … I think it’s time for him to show that. In Tennessee, when it came time to re-sign him after his contract was up, they didn’t. The Giants, his contract was up (at the end of last season), they didn’t. It’s time to show who he is or who he isn’t.”
An honor for Stoutland
Jeff Stoutland, the Eagles’ legendary offensive line coach and run game coordinator, was presented with the Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Lifetime Achievement Award for an assistant coach by the Pro Football Writers Association. Stoutland’s coaching career began in 1984, and he has been with the Eagles since 2013.
“This award is a great honor for me, but you can’t achieve anything — like (head coach) Nick (Sirianni) always says — without the strength of others,” Stoutland said as he stood on the field after practice. “I appreciate it. I accept this award. But I do understand how something like this could come to fruition. I’ve been around great people and great players.”
Zimmerman was the lead football writer for Sports Illustrated for 29 years.
A Dick Allen fan
Fangio, a Scranton native, opened his presser by holding up a Phillies No. 15 Dick Allen jersey. The former corner infielder was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame last weekend.
“Richie Allen, my all-time favorite Phillie right there,” Fangio said. “He was their best player when I was young, and he was obviously a great player.
“A couple years ago I golfed with Goose Gossage. We played 18 holes and rode the same cart, and obviously I talked baseball with him. And he played with Allen in Chicago (with the White Sox, 1972-74) and said he was the best teammate he ever had.”
Notes
Receiver Terrace Marshall left Tuesday’s practice with a leg injury. … Linebacker Zack Baun (back contusion), Nolan Smith (concussion), DeVonta Smith (back tightness), Danny Gray (finger) and Andrew Mukuba (shoulder) all sat out. … Jihaad Campbell (shoulder), Jalen Carter (shoulder), Cam Jurgens (back), Smael Mondon (illness) were all limited. … Former Eagles Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks and Rodney McLeod were in attendance.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.
Source: Berkshire mont
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