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Eagles Training Camp Practice Notebook: How A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith help the defense 

A.J. Brown vs. Isaiah Rodgers
A.J. Brown vs. Isaiah Rodgers

The first thing you noticed on the field Tuesday was that the offense sported white jerseys, while the defense was in midnight green. Tuesday's practice lasted about 1 hour, 48 minutes as the team's emphasis was on the four-minute drill.

Tuesday's Practice Highlights

  • A.J. Brown made a spectacular one-handed turnaround catch in the one-on-one period.
  • Quinyon Mitchell went stride-for-stride with the receiver before ultimately forcing the incompletion on a downfield pass during one-on-one drills.
  • Jalen Carter broke into the backfield to stop Saquon Barkley for a loss of yards in 11-on-11 play.
  • DeVonta Smith made an impressive turnaround catch in the end zone for a 30+ yard touchdown on a solid throw from Jalen Hurts.
  • Hurts threw a rope to Brown for a big gain in what was arguably his best throw of the day during a situational period.
  • Brandon Graham got through the line and picked up a "sack" on Hurts.
  • Jalyx Hunt flew into the backfield to grab a "sack" against the second team, getting right by the offensive line.
  • Will Shipley showed off his speed with a big burst of speed up the sideline on a carry.
  • Nolan Smith had good coverage near the red zone on the tight end on a ball that was overthrown out of bounds.
  • The offense may have had the highlight plays, but overall, the defense continued to ramp up the pressure and get into the backfield across the board. – Liam Wichser

Injury Report

Did Not Practice

OL Matt Hennessy – Back

TE Albert Okwuegnunam – Abdomen

WR John Ross – Concussion

G Tyler Steen – Ankle

S Caden Sterns – Knee

WR Johnny Wilson – Concussion

The defense has been turning up the pressure more and more, sending different blitz packages as Training Camp nears an end, making it a little more difficult for the offense to feel fully comfortable. Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore spoke about how the offense has handled the pressure during his press conference with the media on Tuesday.

"That's the beauty of Training Camp is you get different types of installs throughout the whole month, and we got some great work the last few days just from a pressure standpoint. (Defensive Coordinator) Vic (Fangio), obviously in his installation process, is going through that, and so it's great stuff. It's great stuff because it requires all 11 to be on the same page, all 11 communicating, taking care of business. It's excellent for Jalen, for our whole group." Moore said.

While the offensive and defensive coordinators don't confer on what they will be installing play-wise during practice, the pair of Moore and Vic Fangio still communicate throughout the process.

"Vic's been awesome," Moore said. "It's always fun to have conversations with the other side of the football and see it from their perspective, their lens, see how they perceive you because sometimes you have your own perception, and it can be looked at in different viewpoints.

"So, it's always good to talk to those guys, Vic, the rest of the defensive staff. Just a really good group of guys that you get to collaborate with."

Led by A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, the receiving room has been full of competition throughout camp. Moore had high praise for where the room is currently.

"I think it's been an awesome battle for this receiver room," Moore said. "Obviously, A.J. and DeVonta have done an excellent job. I think we have got a really fun group of different skill sets, and they have all been able to highlight those skill sets and it's a really fun process for the guys. Again, like we said, we like that group. It's a really fun group. They bring different pieces to this offense, and I think what we are excited about is being able to utilize these guys in all their different ways."

Britain Covey is one of those guys who brings a unique skill set to the receiver room with his speed, versatility, and field vision that he brings from the return game. But Covey is not just a returner, he's worked his way up the depth chart through the years and wants to show that he's capable of contributing as a receiver.

Covey on playing in the slot, option routes, and using DeVonta Smith as help to model his game: "Option routes are either the riskiest play in the playbook or the highest-completion-percentage play in the playbook. That's why Smitty (DeVonta Smith) is so good at them, right? It's not a risky play if you're on the same page with the quarterback, and that's why it's everyone's third-down, go-to play, because it's like you have a four-way go, basically on an option route, so, if you and the quarterback aren't on the same page, it could be a pick, it could be a bad play, but if you're on the same page, how do you defend it? You don't make the wrong decision.

"When you combine that with the ability to get separation, that's why I love the slot. You get those option routes, you get those opportunities, and obviously, Smitty commands a lot of attention with those, but if I ever get those opportunities, I know I feel so confident that I could do it, you know? And I've done it all throughout my entire career and practice, just haven't gotten many opportunities in the game."

Isaiah Rodgers, who's been in competition on the other side of the ball at cornerback, appreciates the opportunity to go up against guys like Brown and Smith each day at practice.

"Very valuable. I said it before, best two (receivers) in the league," Rodgers said. "So I think preparing for them, and day-in and day-out watching film on them, is going to definitely prepare all of us in the room for the entire season."

"That's how we make each other better," safety Reed Blankenship added. "We're fortunate enough to go against one of the best offenses in the league. I'm just saying you don't get to do that every day, so we're having fun with it and competing is what we talk about all the time." – Liam Wichser

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