On a recent episode of the Eagle Eye in the Sky podcast, Fran Duffy surveyed four reporters to find out who they thought was flying a little under the radar heading into Training Camp. Duffy also offered his opinion as well.
Jimmy Kempski, Philly Voice: TE Zach Ertz
"I thought he looked strong in OTAs and minicamp, but that's nothing new. He's looked good during this portion of the offseason in the past as well. You look at what he's done the past couple of years, he's really put together phenomenal numbers in the last quarter of the season the last two years, but he suffered injuries early in the season two years ago. ... Last year, he suffered a (rib) injury and that hampered him in the early part of the season.
"If he can put together the kind of numbers he's had in the second half of the season for an entire season, I think you're going to look at him as a guy who can be one of the top five or so tight end receiving options in the NFL and he's off to a good start this year."
Les Bowen, Philadelphia Daily News: WR Nelson Agholor
"Last season was so horrible. He was a first-round pick and a lot of people had completely written him off. You don't want to get too excited about spring work with no contact, but Nelson had a hell of a spring. He really did. If this is for real, then Mike Groh was a great addition as wide receivers coach because he seems to have rebuilt Nelson from the ground up. We'll just see if it lasts."
Dave Spadaro, PhiladelphiaEagles.com: T Lane Johnson
"I think Lane Johnson is ready to be a superstar right tackle if that's possible. Great athletic ability. I know he played a lot of left tackle in this camp. He's just so athletic. He's taken care of his body. He's really committed to the game. He's learned, we hope, from his past mistakes. I just think Lane Johnson gives the Eagles a dimension that is really important to this offensive line. We saw the impact he had last year. When he was gone, the Eagles were 2-8. When they were with Lane Johnson, they were 5-1 as he started at right tackle. I just think he's ready to be a superstar right tackle. Someday he'll be a left tackle, but right now he'll be the best right tackle in the game."
Chris McPherson, PhiladelphiaEagles.com: DT Tim Jernigan
"He's never played in this style of defense going back to his days at Florida State. He's so quick and relentless off the ball, the offensive linemen couldn't block him at all. I know they have to put on the pads and all of that, but to see the way he would beat the offensive linemen I just envision what the interior pass rush is going to be with Fletcher Cox this season. The thing that stood out to me with Tim Jernigan was that he suffered an ankle sprain during the OTAs. I thought to myself, he doesn't need any more spring workouts. He's shown he can play. He was back on the field a day or two later."
Fran Duffy, PhiladelphiaEagles.com: CB Aaron Grymes
"This kid has done nothing but be around the football. Each and every time I wrote a practice write-up, I'm writing about some interception or some pass breakup that Aaron Grymes made at some point during team periods. I know on the last day of team periods, I'm pretty sure he had three pass breakups. ... I was really, really impressed with Aaron Grymes throughout the course of the spring. Can he make an impact here and make a run at a corner job?"
