Sam Bradford Growing Into A Team Leader
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — The Eagles' Lane Johnson is in a peculiar situation. As the starting right tackle, Johnson doesn't know who his partner is going to be at right guard just yet, in a battle that seems to be expanding by the day, between Andrew Gardner, Matt Tobin, and John Moffitt and now possibly rookie Malcolm Bunche.
One thing is certain for the third-year veteran out of Oklahoma, Sam Bradford has transformed right before his eyes.
The quarterback, and probably the most important key to the Eagles' season, has grown from a tepid observer on the periphery to showing signs of a strong leader.
"He continues to battle along and you get the confidence running, but if you don't have the protection and no time, I don't care who you are, I don't care if you're Aaron Rogers, if you don't have the time, you're not going to produce," Johnson said. "What [Bradford] has shown me is that he is just very accurate. I haven't seen accuracy like that in a quarterback in a very long time. He's doing very well.
"During OTAs, Sam had to stand back a lot, now he's getting his confidence in. He's accurate with the football. He's strong. He makes quick decisions. I think he's getting a lot of his confidence back. The talent has always been there. It's a matter of getting his confidence back and being the player he's meant to be. His [demeanor] has definitely changed since spring [OTAs]. He was still trying to learn the ropes back then. He wasn't as vocal as he is now. Now I see him, he's a lot more vocal. Even in the huddle he's a lot more vocal. You can see it in his eyes that he's a different guy. I'm going to give him everything that I got. The good thing about my side is he's always going to see what's coming. We just have to get the guard situation under control. We almost have a new one next to me every day."
Johnson said he hopes someone emerges, not only for his sake, but for whomever the Eagles' coaching staff chooses—and for the offensive line's cohesion as a whole.
Moffitt has taken reps with the first team. He's probably behind Gardner and Tobin from an experience standpoint, since they know Chip Kelly and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland's system.
"[Moffitt] looks good; he has a strong lower body. He's been out of it for so long he's trying to shake off all of the rust," said Johnson, who worked out with Moffitt at Jay Glazer's Unbreakable Performance Center over the summer. "He's been out of the game for so long he has to come back and learn football again—that's basically it. But there is a hunger there. He's in there studying every night. He's learning every day. He's no dummy. It's been hard when you're off for two years though."
With the progress Moffitt has made "it wasn't a surprise he was next to me," Johnson said. "We're trying to figure out the right guard spot. Moffitt has been decent. He was off-balance a few times and sloppy with his hands. That's something he'll correct with repetition and get better. It's hard to be right on the money the first time out there. I could see [Moffitt] winning a starting job. But there are guys that have been here longer than he has and know the system, so there's a lot of ground he has to make up. I need the reps next to someone. It takes two to tango. It takes two to be on the same level. Even the pass protection. The right guard helps me, and I help him. It's vital we're on the same page."
