PHILADELPHIA — Jordan Davis began his availability Wednesday with, “eyes open, hearts open, how y’all doing?”
That’s how the 6-foot-6, 340-pound Eagles defensive tackle connects with teammates, coaches, even the media.
“I’m truly greeting y’all because we’re human,” the big guy said. “Open hearts, open minds. I really believe that when I say that.”
Don’t be surprised if Davis opens hearts and minds on the field, not just off it. The first-round pick in 2022 has tweaked his game, most notably the use of his hands on the pass rush. In his bid to be the best, he’s studying the best, and that means a diet of Chris Jones and Aaron Donald, the premier tackles in the game. Both are blessed with talent, technique and will. Davis is drawing upon their hand placement in his football viewing lab like a pathologist examining cells under the microscope.
“That’s like the main two guys that stuck out,” Jordan said. “I’m not saying that they’re 100 percent all the time, but when they are you can really feel it. I think that’s something that you can look at in any great D-tackle or defensive lineman. But those are the two that really stuck out and those are the two that I really home in on. And that’s why they’re at the top of their position.”
Looking at the Super Bowl, Jones stood tall for the Chiefs while Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looked the defense over, then took a knee in a three-point stance with his right hand on the ground. Almost the instant the ball was snapped Jones powered into Isaac Seumalo and Jason Kelce, extending his arms and pounding them with his hands. In the double team, the Eagles held their ground. One-on-one, Jones gave the Eagles serious trouble, as he quickly launched into Seumalo with heavy hands.
The Rams’ Donald (6-1, 280) gets off the ball like a sprinter bursting out of the blocks. He uses the right hand in his three-point stance and balances his weight almost perfectly before lifting off and hitting blockers with a club move that is tough to defend.
Davis played in a three-point stance when rushing quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl and with two hands on the ground in run-stop situations. While Davis was pushed back in the latter stance, he got a hand on each of his blockers and occupied a ton of space. Against a lone blocker, Davis was at his best with a strong push and club that in the first half almost had Mahomes on the ground. Spinning to the ground, Mahomes somehow completed a sidearm throw for a first down to a diving Travis Kelce.
Davis hopes the newer version of his rush brings more power to a tackle rotation that includes rookie first-rounder Jalen Carter, veteran Fletcher Cox and Milton Williams.
“I’d say hand placement is something I’ve really been working on, something I’ve really homed in on,” Davis said. “Especially in the Browns (practice) week. I’ve been seeing on the field that my hand is slipping. At the end of the day it’s hand placement, just driving back, knocking back. It solves about 95 percent of the problems. So that’s something I’ve been working on, something I need to be cognizant of and definitely something I’ve shown improvement from last year.”
The Eagles led the league last year with 78 sacks, including the playoffs. In the regular season Haason Reddick had 16 sacks, Brandon Graham, Javon Hargrave and Josh Sweat 11 each. Hargrave exited in free agency. Cox (seven sacks) and Williams combined for 11 sacks.
Looking for his first NFL sack, Davis believes an Eagles team that added decorated Georgia products in Carter and Nolan Smith, another first-round selection, can exceed the 2022 sack total. Davis thought about it but declined to put it in writing.
“I want to say yes, but you know we strive to go out there and just do our jobs,” Davis said. “We’re not shooting for a number. We’re just shooting to get out there and effect the quarterback. So, when the dust settles and the dust clears and we look back on it, whether we’re above or below, shoot, as long as we win that’s the only stat that matters to us.”
Eyes open, hearts open, hands placed, Davis is hopeful of making a major impact.
• • •
The Eagles formed their practice squad Wednesday, starting with three players on the roster at the end of last season.
Punter Arryn Siposs and punt returner/wide receiver Britain Covey played in Super Bowl LVII. They cleared waivers along with receiver/kick returner Devon Allen.
Also on the practice squad are wide receivers Greg Ward and Joseph Ngata, tight end Brady Russell, offensive linemen Julian Good-Jones and Brett Toth, defensive end Tarron Jackson, linebackers Kyron Johnson and Ben VanSumeren, cornerback Mekhi Garner and safety Tristan McCollom.
Practice squad players can be activated for three games, after which they must be signed to the active roster or released.
The only Eagles cuts claimed by other teams were safety K’Von Wallace (Cardinals), coached by former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, and guard Josh Sills (Colts), coached by former Philly offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. Tight end Tyree Jackson signed with the Giants practice squad.
Source: Berkshire mont
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