PHLY Philadelphia Eagles Podcast - PHLY Eagles Podcast | Closing Time: Philadelphia Eagles end camp, Jalen Hurts finally throws a pick

Episode Date: August 21, 2024

That’s a wrap for Eagles camp 2024 as Nick Sirianni called off the #DawgMentality ahead of Saturday afternoon’s preseason finale. Darius Slay intercepted Jalen Hurts for the first time all summer as the defense continued its domination of the past week in camp. Red flag for the offense or good news for the defense?Join Zach Berman and Bo Wulf as they unpack the last two days of practice, how things are looking roster-wise and how nervous they are about the looming Ospreys. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello everybody and welcome to the P. H.L.Y. Eagles podcast on a Wednesday high to Bo Wolf, Zach Berman. You will notice that we had teased Shil Kapadius presence on this episode. Either he's sick and is going to come back another time. We'll make that up. Or he's just ducking us. But either way, we wish Shiel well. How are you, Zach? Well, I can confirm she'll sick. Okay. Well, how can you actually confirm it? This is, I think this goes to, a real reporting principle. You can't confirm he's sick. Okay. She'll said that he's sick. Okay. You can confirm that she'll says that he's sick.

I'm sorry that I didn't actually check up on it. I take my friends at their word. Okay. Joya was sick last week. I believe Joya when she said she was sick. Yeah, we've heard the nasal stuff from Julia. We know Julie is. So honestly, I don't know why she would lie about being sick.

Neither do I. I think it's a 99% chance that he's like, but I can't confirm it. Okay. She'll is sick. She'll not here today. And we will catch up with Sheel hopefully next week for a topic of Bo's choice. And looking forward to that, I'm doing well.

It may not be next week, but we will talk to Sheel again another time. It may not be next week for a day and topic of Bo's choice. Yeah, training camp's finished and went quickly. How was your vacation yesterday? It was not a vacation yesterday. I was on assignment yesterday. Oh, on assignment. Yeah, I can confirm that.

I was on assignment for, you are. You know, I think that in this business, if you're not, I think your skills can atrophy, if you're not working on like, you know, if you're not refining them. And so I haven't written as many features in the past few months. And I want to get back on that horse, so to speak. And so I, yeah, I was working on a story that I'm excited to write. I got some good stuff. I felt invigorated by it.

it and yeah it should be fun okay well uh it has been a busy couple days zach the eagles have closed training camp you know uh they were originally scheduled to have three practices this week monday wednesday thursday turned into monday turned into a walk through tuesday became a practice and then yesterday they canceled thursday's uh practice turned it into a walk through so camp over a little bit sooner than expected and we finally got it zach i know you were waiting was jalen hertz going to be able to make it through the entire course of training camp without throwing an interception the answer resoundingly no thanks to darius sleigh yeah uh jellan said the sleigh afterwards it's it's about time and so for those who were not at practice hurts uh now he might have been

sacked on the play brice huff came in there yeah but her hurts still threw it he threw it across the middle where his intended target was paris campbell and darius sleigh baited him into the throw and jumped in front and made the pick and the defense as there want to be during the, you know, I'm during training camp, they were excited, pumped up by the interception. How do you feel about, yeah,

that generally speaking, I feel like the defense has had more energy than the offense, especially over the past week. I think the defense has dominated the offense over the past week. And by energy, but like vibe-wise.

I feel like I'm getting a better vibe. I want to know about vibes. I want to know about vibes. I want to know about vibes. Tell me about vibes, yes. What do you want to know? You say vibe-wise. So explain that to me.

What are these vibes that you're perceiving? Yeah, I think the defense seems like a more together unit. So say that. Yeah. Well, it means the same thing. No, vibes is ambiguous. Maybe your vocabulary should an atrophy and you should learn what new words mean. I'm aware of what vibes means, but it's ambiguous.

You say their vibes are better, so I say how so. Yeah, you have been around football teams for over a decade, Zach. Don't you get a sense sometimes of how the teams are together? Like, don't you get a sense of their vibes? Aren't you a reliable narrator about that? Sure, yeah. I feel like I agree this defense has a certain energy zeal to them. And that has...

Oh, yes. We shouldn't say vibes. We should say competitive zeal instead. That has been apparent during the past a week or two in particular. I would agree with that. How it compares to the offense, I think defense is naturally a more celebratory position during camp. Fair.

Right? I mean, you're not seeing as many touchdown celebrations from the offense, but when there's a big play from the defense, a big stop. You'll see Eli Rick's finger wag. You'll see. You had a big day today, Eli, right? Yeah. When Perry Nickerson had the pick six the other day, you saw the defense running down the

field with him. So you are correct there, that there is an Geneseecois, like an energy to this defense. That's French. Do you think that there is something to, the defense has had a hard training camp because Vic Fangio wants them to play, and the offense has had sort of a very cushy camp. They haven't had to play in the preseason. And there's maybe a little bit of attention between that.

Like you guys are up in the five-star resort. We're down here mucking and grinding, and we're the ones who are more ready for the regular season. I don't believe that to be the case in terms of the impetus forward. I think it's more personality driven. Maybe that's right. That's one thing I can't confirm. I don't know if that's the reason for it. But I think you take on the personality of your leaders.

You look at J.1. Hertz is not a demonstrative person, right? You look at some of the guys on defense who are setting the tone here. They're more demonstrative in terms of, you know, Darius Slay, C.J. Garner Johnson. I mean, you know, I'm Brandon Graham, right? These are a great day for Brandon Graham as well. Yeah, two sacks. He was all over the place. I was chatting with him afterwards.

Last training camp practice ever, too sad. Yeah, that's true. He said, you saw that. I was like, yeah, I was watching. So, yeah, I think that's probably more what it is, is that you have personalities on defense who probably exhibit those vibes more so than Janen. I don't see Jaywin like doing the discount double check after a big pass or something like that.

He's much more stoic in his demeanor. meter on the field. And the same thing like, you know, now Lane Johnson's a colorful personality, but, you know, AJ Brown's never really been like a, he hasn't necessarily been demonstrative out of that. I don't know if I agree with that. I think he's the one who would be. Okay. I mean, he does the double point.

Like, oh, that's true. He's the one. That's a good point. He punted a ball yesterday after a big catchdown field. Fair. I think he actually is. Fair. Okay.

Okay. Fair. That's fair. I agree with you there. I guess I should reserve it more to Jayland. Jan one's not necessarily like that. But do you think that whether there is a tension between these two sides or not, that the defense is more ready for the regular season because they have done a little bit more?

Or would you think the offense is better? I don't think the game, no. As far as playing in games, I've tried to put it succinctly last week and the week before that is that the Eagles want their players tackling, but they don't want their players getting tackled. right so I think that's more why you're seeing defensive guys and certainly Vic Fangio's a part of that as well but I wouldn't say I wouldn't necessarily say the defense is more ready for the season than the offense what I will say is during the past week in particular I have seen the defense outplay the offense and that was not the case earlier the summer and what to a significant degree yes and whether that's

the result of progress from the defense whether that's the result of stagnation from the offense whether that's the result of injuries. It is clear and it is somewhat concerning because I think you've outlined it better than most that for the Eagles to be really good, their offense needs to be outstanding. Their defense just needs to be good, right? Like if their defense is great and their offense is good,

they're not a great team this year. I think the way they're built, their offense needs to be great. Yeah, I mean, now, if it happened that they had the best defense in football, which is not going to, as I don't expect, but like then they could be fine. But yes, I think that the more likely path to success for them is for the offense to carry them. And by the way, you are watching the PHLY Eagle Show presented by Bet365.

Download the Bet365 app and use code P HLY 365 when you sign up and find out why it is never ordinary at Bet365. Everybody's very excited. We have the Ospreys coming up tomorrow at 2 o'clock. Because Shield is not here, we will still give out the Shields Dovebird of the Year, Osprey Award at the end of today's show. because we were planning on that, and you've got to get it done before the Ospreys come. The other categories that are still open for voting available, if you are a diehard on all-P-H-L-Y.com. Let's go to that super chat, Julia, speaking of the Ospreys,

fresh prince wants to know with practice being canceled tomorrow, will Zach appropriately wear a tux for the Ospreys tomorrow before his flight? I will not wear a tux tomorrow. I will dress better than I would typically coming off the practice field. Okay. But I'm not wearing a tuxedo for the Ospreys. No.

Are you wearing a tuxedo? No, and I was with you until you sort of said for the Ospreys in a very demeaning way. I don't expect you to wear a tux, but every year we go through this, you demean, you talk down on the Ospreys. I don't talk down on the Ospreys. You absolutely do. It's the highlight of the year for the sickos. I thought you cared about the customers.

You can't confirm that. Well, let's out. ask them. Also, I didn't say, I didn't say, I didn't say, I didn't say I was confirming it. I just said it. Do they, no, you can say they, that you believe that to be the case. No, I can say it. The Aspreys are great. The Aspreys are an enjoyable, a few hours every year. And yeah, I'm looking, I'm looking forward to seeing your creativity, um, exhibited in a very, uh, productive way. Okay, let's, let's, um, double down here on, on Jalen Hertz. And you will, you will, Your opinion of... The YouTube commenters were not happy with you yesterday.

What else is new? Yeah, I'm sorry. This is not the Pollyanna show. If you want to just hear that Jalen Hertz is the best quarterback in the league and the Eagles are going to go 17 and O, watch a different show. Okay. Please watch our show, no matter what. You want cheerleaders go somewhere else. We're telling you what we see.

Okay. Like, I'm sorry. I was a buzz kill. Okay. Jailen Hurts didn't throw an interception. He was sacked. Stad. Give me a break.

Grow up. They should grow up, right? Yeah. Okay. All right. Proceed. Your take on the arc of Jalen Hertz's summer. Yeah.

I think we both agree that he looked very good at the beginning of camp, as you said earlier today. The offense, especially, did not look so great over the past week. I think he has had. getting the ball out on time. Some of that may because there have been backups along the offensive line. Some of it may be because the defensive line is just killing him. What is your, what is your takeaway on the arc of Jalen Hurts this summer? You framed it well there. I thought the first week and a half, he was particularly strong. I thought he even the New England week or he had a good practice against New England, not his best, but a good practice. And I think

overall he's had a strong summer. I would agree these past few days, haven't been as good as earlier in camp. I tend to put that more in terms of the pressure in his face, which I pin more on the offensive line. Now, the offensive line was in there today. Lane missed, I think, the last team drill. He was out, you know, Fred Johnson was in there. But otherwise, yeah, pressure is something that this is going to be a big question.

He wears the, you know, Jalen wears the red jersey during camp. We've seen, we saw in New England pressure in his face. We've seen this week pressure in his face. How does he respond when? when there's unscouted looks, when he's under duress, things of that nature. We don't have a firm answer to that. And I do think if the spring was bad, as we said, like I came away from the spring saying it's only the spring. I used the example of the rough draft.

But I did acknowledge that this, he did not play the way they needed to play in the spring. I thought the first week, two weeks of camp, he was lights out. I don't think he's been bad the past week. I don't think he's been lights out. I think overall I would give him, I'm a generous grader, as my students at Colorado State could tell you right now,

although they are good students and earn the grades that they received. I would probably give him like, you know, be plus a minus, probably a minus for the summer. I think he said a good summer. I said on Anthony's show, the interceptionless streak, I don't think it's inflated.

I don't think it tells the whole story of things. But, and Nick Wright, you know, because that question was supposed to me on on on on on on on on on on on show uh nick right's a friend of mine I went to college with him boy I won't say a bad word about Nick right I think that in this case oh and turn of phrase and I would tell Nick that because the up until yesterday I was not at yesterday's practice I've seen every throw J Allen's made this summer I have I saw every throw today I don't think he's been like the

on I don't think he's been too cautious with it I I think there have been times when he when he's taking shots downfield. I think he is taking what the defense gives him there. I don't think it's suggestive of the way the defensive backfield is because when they played against the Patriots, the Eagles had two interceptions in practice and then an interception in the first quarter of the game. So I do think this defense can force turn numbers.

I think J-Len has played well this summer. And is it like the best training guy? I heard you on the show yesterday because I watched the show back And you said you don't think he played as well as did two summers ago. I would agree with that. I would agree with that. I think he looks better than he did last summer. And I think he looks better than he did three summers ago when I did not think he had a good summer.

Let's unpack the things that I think he has done well and the things that maybe have been a little bit disappointing. You know, the downfield throws along the sidelines, those go balls, he's still awesome at those. As you would expect, that's one of his best attributes as a passer. We saw it today. He threw a beautiful pass to Devante Smith in relatively tight coverage from Keeley Ringo for a touchdown. He's done it to A.J. Brown a bunch that is still very much a part of the offense and I think needs to be.

And he's very good at that. I think I have been encouraged by his willingness to throw the ball to running backs and other guys in the offense. Yesterday there was a play over the middle of the field that was a bookmark play for me. It was like third read, but out on time. the middle of the field in tight coverage to Grant Calcutera. Like the willingness to throw that ball over the middle of the field especially is something that we haven't always seen from him.

I think that is encouraging. The same thing about the running backs that we have talked about. I said it to Rich yesterday. I feel like I've been a little bit surprised that we haven't seen a lot of running back screens, but we have seen a lot of Sequin out of the backfield. Sure. And he's getting the ball to him on time. All of that stuff is encouraging.

The things that have not worried me, but have not necessarily checked everybody. are sometimes the ball is not out on time. Sometimes he is scrambling around back there and not getting the ball out. And it's hard to say whether that is Jalen's not seeing it or the offense is not giving him enough answers. I don't know that I expect given Jalen and Cam Juergens having to diagnose stuff pre-snap together for the first time ever, working with Killen Moore in a game for the first time.

I don't really expect them to like hit the ground fully running necessarily. I think it's going to take a little bit of time for this offense to gel. Now they'll have some surprises, right? And the Packers' defense is not the best in the world, so they can still put up points. But I think maybe my bigger concerns are less about Jalen over the course of the summer than the offense itself dominating. You bring up a good point. And when I look at that performance, I should also very quickly add. On the positive note, he looks spry.

He looks better athletically than he did last year. And that's what I paused. The reason I paused is because you said there's times when he's scrambling back there. And I'm pausing because I don't know if that's a bad thing, right? Like I do, I want to see him scramble. Part of what will make this offense work is playing off schedule because Jowen can extend plays, because they have wide receivers who can make plays downfield. I want to see Jalen not just play within the. you know, 2.8 seconds or 2.3 seconds. I'm trying to get the exact number down that

Doug Nussmeyer and Kellan Moore prescribed for him. But I do think that there are times when you want that ball out quickly, and that has not been the case as often this past week and a half then it was three weeks ago. Now, your point about him throwing to the backs is accurate. He had a drive today when he referenced this after practice, when every pass was the Kenny. Gainwell. And Gainwell was money on that play, including the touchdown. You know, I think of. Yeah, sprawling catch. Very nice. I think that he was probably landed out of bounce, but it was still a really impressive catch from Gainwell. Yeah, they have this play in the in the tight red zone where this was the one on not on the river side, but on the opposite side, what was the city side,

when they have the running back in motion and then he kind of comes across the formation and he's open there and they've run that a few times this summer and Joan identifies it right away and it works and so I think that he is diversifying where he's he's throwing the ball now I don't want to go overboard with that because the best play the Eagles have is that slant AJ Brown it is money every time yeah and that's what makes it that's what makes it work is that sometimes they yeah you know he gets the choice there sometimes so I mean AJ Brown is like it's is it's his binky like he is the pacifier for the offense because if things are going wrong all they need to do is just single up AJ Brown get him and and it's it's money it is like that's the thing that they can always go to

is that way is that what you guys called in the wolf household the binkie no I never I've never called it the binkie okay we called it a pacifier yeah I called it a pacifier too okay okay but you said binky I I mean people use that I don't know no I don't I don't call it that okay I was trying to put together I thought you said pinky at first and I oh binky binky Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So that's, look, it's, it's the staple play. And it's the type of thing where, you know, this is a bad reference, but, you know, O.J. Simpson. When he was at USC, you know, student body left, student body right. And I think John McKay was the coach at the time. And he said the ball's not that heavy. Like, just keep giving him, you know, there's, there's no rule against it. And yeah, that's the play. You run, you run, you run until they stop it. From OJ to A.J.

From OJ to A.J. Yep. Well, we can only hope that A.J. has decorated a career as O.J. Simpson. Of a football career, yes. I concur. You know what? One thing you can say about O.J. Simpson, Julia? Never ordinary.

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Just go to Indeed.com slash all city right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast, indeed.com slash all city. Terms and conditions apply need to hire. You need indeed. from OJ to A.J. to E.J. Let's take a look at which Eagle is heating up or cooling off with our Ace Hardware

Temperature Check. Visit Ace Hardware Home Services Online at www. www.aisehardwarehomeservices.com to get started on your next project. And cooling off, Frozen is CJ Usama, released by the Eagles today to make room for Jason Poe. They needed some help on the third team offensive line. CJ Uzama, I think heading into camp, was ticketed as the frontrunner to a frontrunner to make the roster as the second or third tight end, the blocking guy of the backups. And I think what is encouraging here, my takeaway, yes, this is good news for E.J. Jenkins,

who has returned to practice and has been working with the ones and 12 personnel with the two as a solo tight end. I think he has a solid shot to make the roster. But my big picture takeaway here, Zach, we can trust what we have seen over the course of camp. The Eagles see what we see, right? Like, CJ Uzama had a bad camp. They're not keeping him just because they thought heading into camp he was going to have a roster spot. And as we try to predict what the 53-man roster is going to look like, that is my big takeaway. Trust your eyes.

You're absolutely right. Our eyes spoke volumes here. They can't speak. Our eyes don't speak, but our eyes saw the story here. They sure blinked a lot. CJ Uzama did not have a good summer. Clear. That's the case.

And it's what we talked about with James Bradbury last week. If there's a veteran you're not going to keep, release him now. What's interesting to me about this timing is that the Eagles are banged up at tight end. Now, Dallas Goddard has an oblique injury. He did not practice today. Goddard was not going to play Saturday anyways. Sure. Albert Okuwebunam has an abdominal injury, an ab injury.

He has not played for a bit. Now, Grant Calcutterra is back at practice. He's kind of entrenched as the number two tight end right now, barring any type of transaction. So really, you're looking at this game here as a showcase game for E.J. Jenkins on Saturday, assuming Alberto O doesn't play, maybe Alberto's back. But if Alberto does not play, they don't have a lot of depth tight end numbers. They didn't replace. they did not replace CJ, like you said, with another tight end.

So they have your FOLS and you have your- Armani Rogers. Armani Rogers. Fulsh. Sorry. Fulsh. Fulch. Not Marquette.

Fulch. Yeah. So they have three tight ends here. I think we're going to see a heavy dose of E.J. Jenkins. I think E.J. Jenkins is the third best tight end on this roster based on what we've seen this summer. I'm not convinced AJ, I'm sorry. I'm not convinced E.J. Jenkins will

be the third tight end on the team. I think the Eagles can carry two potentially on 53 when they cut to 53. I think they could seek to make a trade to add someone. Grant Calcutera has had a good summer, a solid summer. I don't think he's like the best number two tight end you could have. So I would continue to watch the Eagles monitoring this position. Do you think Alberto has a shot to make the team? No. I was talking about depth for this. No, no, I'm asking a separate question. Well, here, I'll say this. Alberto, the rostering.

I think there are some people in their beat core who are going to have him on the roster. Well, the rostering of Albert O during the past year is kind of interesting. The Eagles traded to get him because they didn't think he would get the waiver wires. They let Christian Ellis go as we documented and you documented so colorfully on this show because they wanted to keep him on the roster. Then they put him on IR. And then his contracts up. He has no contribution to the team.

We do our, what's that game, Flew World Order? Yep. We do Flour World Order. It was like 19 or something like that. Yeah, both of us assume like this guy's not coming back. And he's the first guy they signed. The first thing they did. First piece of business.

So clearly, I mean, I don't know if it's Jason and Michael. I don't know if it's Howie Roseman. I don't know if it's Nick Siriani. There's some Albert Okulamakbanam. Maybe it's Matt Russell who was in Denver when they drafted him. Maybe. I mean, he would carry a big, big heavy influence if that's what it is. So I don't think he's easy.

He's going to be on the 53. I think if Albert. of O is on the initial of 53, the Eagles are not making the playoffs. Okay, well, I won't go that far. No, that's true. Because that would be ridiculous. It would be, it would be as if they do not care about what they have seen this summer.

It would be insane for him to make that. Not only is he injured, he hasn't done anything. I agree with you there. And I don't want to be, like everyone's 53. Everyone has, has a different process for putting it together. Sometimes you kind of confine your idea to, like, the players within the on the roster, but if there's a position

the Eagles can seek to upgrade, like I said, they can go light on the cut down day and then add to it thereafter. Yeah, I agree with you. I think there might be some mechanics where they keep two to start. I mean, I like E.J. Jenkins.

I don't think that they are losing sleep over whether E.J. Jenkins is claimed or not? So just to give everybody a sense of the timeline here, because we are talking, is this guy going to make it? It's this guy not going to make it? And we are getting close to it at this point.

It's Wednesday, August 21st today. Next Tuesday, the roster needs to be cut to 53. Okay? Then waivers is players clear waivers the following day. You make your claims. That's Wednesday. So when the Eagles return the practice on Wednesday, they should have either waiver claims or a practice squad put together.

And that's really when you get a sense of how that team starts to look. I would imagine, though, that if there's a position of Eagles who are trying to trade for, this weekend is when you see that happen. Now, it doesn't help the Eagles in that sense that they have a late preseason game. I think typically your final preseason game, you prefer that on like on Thursday. This preseason game is on a Saturday. I can't remember the last time I had a Saturday game. No, I actually usually always stacked on Thursday.

I got to say, and I'm very excited for this wedding this weekend. When I RSVP for the wedding, you assumed it was going to be a Thursday. I assume there was no game. So, yeah, I assume there was no game. And that's why if you remember this. week for you missing a practice and a game practice i missed for an assignment but yeah it is no it wasn't i pictures on my phone i can show you okay i have text in my inbox here i can show you yes okay uh but yeah this weekend's game that's that's that's tough for me to miss i have um yeah that's tough

for me i've never missed a home game in 13 years so Something tells me, Zach, Sunday morning, the sun will come up and you will be breathing. Well, everything will be okay. I could say, my lovely wife, Emily, the point she always makes is they play the game without you there, right? That's what she means. She's like, you're not that important. Like, you can miss a game. They're still going to play without you.

It's also the third preseason game. You're going to be fine. Yeah, but who you are some of the time is who you are all of the time. that said, I'm very excited for this wedding this weekend. Okay. Yeah. We've bounced around a little bit. We've talked about the most important player on the team and then, you know, the third tight end, which is fine.

That's part of the whole deal. Tell me your general takeaways from the arc of the camp on defense. What are your expectations? So I believe more in this past rush than I did at the start of camp. I agree with that. Bryce Huff has had a better week and a half. I said one of my takeaways from No England in the New England game was Bryce Huff. And then he followed it up.

He's getting to the quarterback a little bit more. You're seeing that. Now part of it playing against a banged up offensive line, I imagine helps. But I feel a little, I feel better about this pass rush. I think Jalen Carter has had a spectacular summer. I've been really impressed with Jalen Carter. Puked today. What's that?

Puked today. Yeah, you and you. Jimmy are all over the puke uh i mean you're watching practice and a guy's throwing up on the field how do you miss that it's pretty interesting that's true that's true um so he i've been really impressed with him this summer i'm still trying to figure out the linebackers i know there's a lot of buzz right now that the eagle solved their linebacker situation uh who's who's what buzz is that oh there was um a radio show yesterday i was listening to where the emphasis was like how it's he nailed it this year.

What? What are we talking about? I mean, that's literally how it was presented. Okay, well, maybe let's, maybe stop listening to everything. Well, that's for another day. We can discuss that. But yeah, I'm still trying to figure out the linebacker situation.

There's a part, like, Zach Bond, I know they love the physicality. I don't necessarily see it from like an on-the-field perspective. I think Nicobo Dean's played better than him during the past week. I think Devin White, and Kobe Dean is their best linebacker combination. But there's still, there's a lot of unknown about the linebackers. I do think that their linebackers are much better now than they were a year ago.

I think they're much... Blasphemy! Why is that blasphemy? Well, I get it. I get what you're saying, but they had one good linebacker last year and Christian Ellis. This year, they're much deeper. I mean, even Warren Berks, who returned to practice today, and it's going to be hard, I imagine, for him to make the roster given how much time he's missed.

I thought he looked pretty good today. He's working, you know, with the twos and the threes. and between Devin White and Zach Bond and Nacobie Dean and Jeremiah Trader Jr. And Oren and even Ben Van Sumeran, that is a much deeper group of guys who could theoretically give you competent play than what they had last year. Which Zach do you like better? Bonn or Cunningham? I mean, probably Cunningham because he was a linebacker.

But I have been pleasantly surprised with Zach Bond, given my expectations. Who do he thinks played better this summer? Nicopa Dean or Zach Bond? I actually would say Bonn on the whole, but I think that you're right that over the past week Nicoby Dean has been more impactful. And do you think Devin White's been the best linebacker on the team this summer?

What do you think it's just that he's out there? Probably. He is, I mean, he's certainly the most athletic. It's just, I mean, it's the hardest position to judge of any position during training camp because the level of physicality is different. You don't know what their responsibilities are. It's very difficult.

But I think they are much, deeper here than they had been years past. And I mean, they continue to rotate. They continue to search for the right combinations. I guess White and Dean would be my guess. I think I would agree with you. But I think there will probably be some kind of role for Zach on early too. So I was having this conversation with somebody today. Do you think there's going to be a situation where the two starters in Brazil at linebacker, if they have two starters out there, are not the two linebackers play the most. Well, and here, here, let me frame it this way. Do you think the first snap could be white and Bond, but then when we look at the snap counts the next morning or

afternoon on true media or that night on true media, we'll see that it's, uh, it's Nicobo Dean outpacing Zach Bond? Um, I think my guess is Fangio wants to have a tandem and wants to do less rotating at linebacker. And so I think who he has in the field early is probably who's going to play the most. But I don't feel wedded to that. But that's my guess. What about you?

Yeah, I do think that's what he wants. It still surprises me that we see bond with the first team every day this summer. It's been bond, correct? To start. To start. That's my point.

The start. so we could take that what we will now behind them behind them i like the secondary a lot or i like the corners a lot i think they have five corners right or they have four corners right now that i'd be real comfortable with i said five because i like cooper the gene i haven't seen enough from cooper the gene in practice to tell you that but they have five guys that like i feel good about i feel good about i mean i think slays had a good camp i think so too You know, and I thought Slay's day today, we talked about the interception, but also he had a pass breakup down the right side line, played AJ Brown. He's still Slay.

He hasn't lost that step from what I've seen. Yeah. Yet? Yes. Yet. Yeah. Okay. I like Ringo more than Rogers.

I've talked to people I respect who think it's the other way around. I think Ringo's played better for the reason that you mentioned, which is Ringo doesn't get beat over top. Ringo gets beat in front of him. And I'd rather someone who gets beat in front of him. that thing gets beat over the top. Although, to be fair, he did get beat over the top today by Devante Smith. Yes. That was the, yeah.

But generally, I agree with that. Yeah. I look at Quignon Mitchell, really impressed with him. We discussed that on our show on Monday. And I think Quigionan Mitchell is going to start on the outside. And then I'm bullish on the gene whenever that comes. By the way, Cooper de Gene is going to play this weekend. He said he'll play Saturday. So we'll pay attention to that.

that's going to be the most interesting thing in this game is the way the gene looks. And then I really like Eli Rick still. Like I'm not ready to give up on Eli. I think he is too good to cut. Yes. I think if you find a reasonable value in return, I'm willing to trade him just because you're so deep. But yeah, I don't think that they would cut a player as talented.

I don't know. He's a good player. He's a good young player. He's got upside. He's got legit size. and I think he's wired the right way. One snap today, one snap that that caught my eye was with the first team nickel defense. It was, you know, your starting safety is read Blankenship and C.J. Garner Johnson.

It was Quine and Mitchell on the outside. And it was Avanti Maddox in the slot. And Avanti Maddox has not spent a lot of time in the slot over the past week and a half because C.J. Garner Johnson has been dealing with his injury and he's been like almost exclusively playing safety when they're in don't. He's out there sometimes, but I think that that could be the opening lineup week one. To get Avanti on the field. To keep and to keep Quinion Mitchell outside. Outside.

I disagree, but. Who does Vic Fangio trust more? Avanti in the slot or Isaiah Rogers outside. I don't know. When you frame it like that, it's interesting. I still think, I mean, I think Ringo's better, but we've seen Isaiah Rogers on the outside first up repeatedly throughout the past two weeks. Yeah, I agree.

Well, that's what's fun about a new guy. We don't know, right? Like, we don't know what his MO is. Is he going to completely flip this over the course of the next week and a half after, like, having the same guys start most of practice? I don't know. It's fun. It's fun to have a new, he's a very fun supporting character in the drama that is like everybody's

favorite TV show of the Eagles. like everybody knows the main characters, but for this new season to have this new guy introduced, it was just this like crusty guy and he's always telling the truth. You don't know necessarily what to expect. Great addition to just the drama of the Eagles. I agree. Personality. He's much more compelling than Kellan Moore, even though Kellan Moore is so interesting from like, you know, how that offense is going to look.

Before we get to the ads, I just want to know safety. How do you feel about safety? In what sense? I mean, if CJ's healthy, you feel. good about CJ and Reed Blankenship. Do you think Reed Blankenship is better as a three? And eventually that's Sydney Brown playing safety. Do you think?

I think long term eventually at Sydney Brown. No, but this season I'm saying. Yeah, I think I would be surprised if down the stretch, it's not C.J. Garner Johnson and Sydney Brown. But C.J. Garner Johnson and Sydney Brown both have to prove that they can stay healthy. But I think Reed Blankenship is a good second safety. I think he's, I think he's reliable. I think he's, if he's the fifth best player of your five defensive backs of nickel, I think you're in good shape.

And Turkey's that Sidney Brown is on the 53. This is, I mean, this is what's going to swing. So don't give it away. Yeah. I lean towards Pupp right now, but it's like 4555. I don't know what to go off. Because we haven't seen him working off to the side, you know? We haven't seen him start to do anything.

You're right. And then the other thing that's going to trip people up is the new IR rules. Like Trevor Keegan is all of a sudden injured? Yep. Is he a guy you put on injured reserve, right? Does somebody else get hurt during the game on Saturday that we're not even considering and they get put on IR? And now you can put a guy on IR on the cut down day and still they can be designated as a return.

And I stand by what I said, that I think Caden Stearns is going to be on IR. And you disagree with me. You think he's just a flat out cut? I don't know. And then put on practice squad. I just, if there are other guys who get injured, you can only put it on, you can only use two IR guys,

then I don't think they're going to worry about Cadin Stearns. You can only use two ahead of the 53. Right. You can do more afterwards. Yeah, I understand. You can carry a guy. Yeah. Yeah, I don't think they're going to carry him.

No, I think they're going to designate him for IR for one of those two spots. But what I'm saying is if they have other guys who are even remotely injured, that they can use that spot on instead of Cadence Stearns, they will do that. Okay. I think there's a lot of, I think they like concerns in that building.

That's a very educated viewpoint. I believe you. Yeah. But also. It's not very cocky, a very educated viewpoint. That's informed speculation. That's a better way of framing it. But the guy just got released, got waived twice.

I think they can probably trust that if they wave, wave injure him, he will make it through. And then they can, then they can sign him to the practice squad or whatever. Yeah. Like, I don't, I think they want to keep him in the building. but I don't know that they need to use an IR spot on them. Monday show is going to be fun. Hmm.

I assume Monday we're talking about the 53-man roster. I imagine so, yeah. Okay. But what are we going to talk about on Tuesday? Well, Tuesday it's happening. It's dynamic, yeah. I understand. It's like cuts around the league.

Things are, you know. Tuesday's like your free agency show. Yeah. Right? Yeah, it'll be fun. I got my text rocking. Yeah. On your text rocking?

On Tuesday. Yeah. We'll be doing this show. show. Maybe I... Oh, you're going to be breaking stuff. I'm working on it. We're going to Zach, Zach, Zach. For sure. Love that.

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And I would probably, you know. Is the wedding in so fine? It's not in so fine. It's in Pasadena. Okay. Yeah. Maybe I'll get a Rose Bowl trip in there. Hey.

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Got a couple in the bank here. Y2 wants to know who is the, or who was the most shocking player cut to get to 53? I'm guessing he's asking for who could be the most shocking one this year, more real, most realistic. Someone asked me that today, practice. What's your answer for that?

Well, you don't want to give away the series. Biggest surprise, potential cut? Let's see. Potential. I mean, Paris Canber. doesn't count does he no okay um this Bradbury count no okay um anaya Smith yeah I mean I don't know if fifth round pick does but that's sort of expected at this point right my Marlon toie pillow too like is that a shock I would have said

CJ Usama if we if I was on the show yesterday and you asked this you would have said but you would have thought that was a shock well people were penciling him as as the second or third tight end I think like if you're talking about a real shock um no because even then you would trade the guy uh i mean there's not really anybody there's no veteran who's like you'd be saving a lot of money cutting right zach bond like that could be the shock shock yeah that would be a little surprising keep the guy in first team all summer they cut them yeah but yeah i don't i don't think there is a real it would be more about the the people on the team

Is there one who comes to mind for the big shock who did get cut? For my time covering the team? Well, Jeremiah Trotter, this wasn't my time covering the team, but Jeremiah Trotter was cut in 2007, and that was a big surprise back then. During my time covering the team, I would say it was very close. As I've written, as I've documented in 2014, Brandon Graham, that was one I was monitoring closely. and I remember being at the beer garden on South Street. Flex. When I got a text that Travis Long is going to miss the season.

And I was like, oh my gosh, what does this mean? Because I knew how high they were on Travis Long. And the meant they kept Brandon Graham. You wonder what it was about Travis Long that made Chip Kelly think he was better than Brandon Graham. Probably the frame. He's long. Yeah. The pigment.

I don't think it was that. Okay. Yeah. Another super chat from Jalen all sicko D-O-Madday. Ah, Spreeze, Spreeze, can we buy and donate members for non-members to join and vote on the Ospreys on day five of recovering from retina reattachment? Wow. I'm wishing you all the best. Yeah, good luck.

You don't see a lot of that. Retina reattachment. God. I hope you're okay. just because you can vote for the other people. That's fine with me. I mean, I don't even know where to go. That's tough. Good for you.

And then Chase Daniel Plainview wants to know, does Kevin Petulow have the same role in the offense, Zach? Yes. Now, I think one thing during the off season, from what I understood, he was kind of like the goal between the old scheme and the new scheme, right?

And he's still Nick Seriani's right-hand man. But this is Kellan Moore's offense. So I imagine he's still involved in helping with the play design. But yeah, it's Calamore's offense. So the same role, it was somewhat an ambiguous role. Officially passing game coordinator. And assistant head coach. Or associate head coach, I think he is.

I think associate is right. And Jamal Singleton is assistant. Yeah. But it's actually an interesting day for Kevin Patole to come up. Why is that? It's August 21st. Do you remember last August 21st? Was that when I had...

You wrote the story, August 21st last year. Well, I think I wrote the story like a month earlier. The story ran August 21st last year. Yeah. Why do you know that? I'm good with dates. That is a date that's on your mind? That's a date that I remember August 21st last year.

I just remember. There must be a reason. There's no, there's... No, I... Was there some... Was it because you were starting to think about this job? Oh, I was very much. Watching the like, I know, but so why is that specific date on your mind?

That's wild. I just remember August 21st last year. That's all. There must be something you're not saying. No, I, and I looked up to confirm, and the story came out August 21st. August 21st last year, Bo wrote a really good piece about Kevin Betoo and his daughter. Yeah, it was a good piece. Highly recommend it was for the athletic.

Bo did an outstanding job. I feel like this is one of the more surprising things I've learned from you. They keep peeling back to layers. This is good stuff. there must be some other reason that you're not saying no i i actually i i saw um like uh in your photos from last year you know okay that makes more sense yeah you do yeah you actually you often do have the uh this is what happened to your yeah photos exactly each each each morning i i kind of see like yeah yeah so there well that makes sense there was like a screenshot that i like posted from the story

that was in my photos from last year why didn't you just say that in the beginning I was trying to make it more about you then about me I was trying to make it how you wrote this story great story last year yeah but I mean when you say this is the anniversary of a story you wrote nobody's thinking about me but I hope the thing about Kevin Patuo and his daughter because it was a good piece

Lauren Portillo is still on the on the rise as a junior golfer Zach we do have Is that something you do by the way Do you look in your I don't A year ago five years ago 10 years ago I don't sometimes like I

I accidentally click on like the the montages. Those are fun, but no, I don't, I don't look at that. It's fun. It's a fun thing to do each morning. I believe you. I'm not, I'm not opposed to it. Yeah. That's okay.

You get so much done in the morning, Zach. I'm impressed. That's the best time to get things done. You know what I don't do in the morning? Sleep. Well, sit around. Like, I don't like the idea of just like, like laying in bed for 15 extra minutes doing nothing.

Like, I know people do that. I'm like, why would you just waste this time? This is your, because you're tired. No, your, your brains at its, like, best right then in the morning. Well, your brain is. I think most people like your. Mine is not. I promise you that.

Okay. Okay. Yeah. You're, you should, you know, if you should be rejuvenated and now ready to roll in the mornings. That is you. Okay. That's me. That is not everybody.

Okay. It's actually funny. We have this in there. Zach, I love you. you need help. Wow. We love this in our house, it's funny because Rachel is like you. Okay.

She's up and ready to go. Yes. And when she gets tired at night, that's it. She goes like, she will fall asleep on the couch. Yeah. Jane is the exact same way. Jane runs out of her room, you know, at 545 or 615 in the morning, and she is ready for the day.

She's dancing and all that. Me and Casey are both the opposite. Ah, okay. We both, like, we're like, you know, it takes a big effort to get us out of bed. And it's funny just how the kids have followed suit exactly. How the personality, yeah. Yeah, Casey's. So how long do you sit in bed after you wake up?

Well, it depends. Like, I mean, if I have to get up in the morning, I just get up. Okay. But, you know, this morning I had the house to myself. I think I woke up at like seven and then it was probably, you know, looking at my phone for 10, 15 minutes. I don't know, yeah. We're getting the brain started.

Okay. I'm not judging. It's up until 2 o'clock working on the Ospreys. I can't wait. I can't wait. That's your creativity is unmatched with this. Speaking of the Ospreys, we do have a bit of business at hand, Julia. We have the Shields Dove Bird of the Year Award to Met Out.

That's okay. I can just tell you the categories. The nominees, the nominees for the Shields Dove Bird of the Year. of course, you know, it's weird to continue to give this out when he's not a part of the show anymore, but the Ospreys, it's such a story. He's always a part of the show. It's a story tradition. You can't just get rid of categories.

Like, that's not, that doesn't seem appropriate. So we have the nominees. First, creatine, given the, you know, swole shield. Oh, yes, that's true. You know, he must be using something to get those muscles. We have cousin Jeff, Jeff Hoffman. You know, he's got those Phillies pods. So we got Jeff Hoffman.

We've got Jessica Capadia. Now, this one is important because I cannot confirm or deny that I was slipped a 20 to make sure that she was nominated as a make-good for him forgetting the year that they were married. But that's nice to see that Jessica Capaddea is nominated. Also, Tyrese and Sean Syed. Who are you going with, Mr. Berman? So can you explain that? me with the doffered of the years.

For the sixth time, yes, I believe I can. That's the person who like that. That's their person. You, Jonathan Gannon was your dover in the year last year. This is, it's like the person who they are most associated with. Yeah, Jessica Capadia, for sure. But if we're going beyond that, if I think about this past year, I got to go Sean Siyadh, because I think Sean and she'll do a terrific job together.

and I was introduced to Sean's work through Sheel. But you got to go with your wife. Yeah, I mean, plus they didn't invite us to play pickleball. What was that about, Zach? Are you a pickleball player? Well, Sean and She'll play, but that we didn't get an invitation. They were allowed to have a friendship outside of us. Debatable?

All right. Well, the Osprey for Shields Daugvert of the year goes to Jessica Capadia long overdue that Jessica Capadia wins in Osprey. Long overdue, congratulations to Jessica. I hope that gets shield out of the doghouse. All right. Go ahead. Yeah. From practice today? Sure. Let's run through us.

I just want to say Sequant Barkley did not participate in team drills today. My understanding, not injury related, more of a load management day. Although, as I heard from you yesterday and you had great practice observations yesterday. He went off of practice. He got hurt a bit late in practice, but my understanding is this is not injury related. I think that actually was not in my practice notes.

So you've been reading other practice notes. Yeah, but okay. It was a little bit of a backhanded compliment. It was on the show yesterday, wasn't it? Maybe. Yeah, okay. Yeah, Trevor Keegan left yesterday as well, and also was down.

Anything else? What's the one thing you'll remember about this summer, Zach? Training camp wise. Oh, that's a really good question. Training camp wise. Become a diehard. And you can vote on the Ospreys and read all that good stuff. That doesn't include Sequin Barkley missing out into practice yesterday.

Probably Jamon's progress from the spring to the summer jumps out. AJ Brown, the way he looked, that's a big takeaway. But I think when I look back of the summer, I'll think of the continued progress of the show. and the trajectory we're on. Okay. I'll probably remember the two Bo Wolf camp crushes, E.J. Jenkins and Thomas Booker. So that'll be fun.

All right. Everybody get ready. Gird your loins because tomorrow at 2 o'clock, we return with the seventh annual Osprey Awards. Bo Wolf, Zach Berman. Will there be special guests? Who's to say? an exciting, very exciting.

Osprey is coming up tomorrow. We look forward to that. And until then, enjoy your time, get some sleep. Make sure you spring out of bed. Don't waste that time because tomorrow is Osprey's Day. We'll talk to you then.

And as always, we love you.