Wave Of Optimism Apparent At Eagles' First Workouts Under Doug Pederson
By Ed Benkin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Change is in the air at the NovaCare Complex.
There is a new coaching staff in place as the Eagles participate in their first mini-camp of the off-season. There are new schemes for both the offense and defense. Even the lockers have been rearranged so position players can be in the same area of the locker room. For many players, the excitement of a new era has led to a wave of optimism. It is clear that Pederson has made a strong first impression, and safety Malcolm Jenkins is confident the Eagles are headed in the right direction.
"He has a clear plan," said Jenkins. "He has a clear vision of how he sees the team and how he sees how our progress is flowing with the pace, tempo, and what he is demanding out of each player. That's the first thing as a coach is to clearly communicate what it is you're looking for."
Pederson is trying to establish a clear identity with the Eagles in the early days of mini-camp. Many players have talked about a more aggressive team on both sides of the ball, and tight end Zach Ertz thinks there will be a noticeable difference when the team takes the field in 2016.
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"We're going to be a physical football team," Ertz said. "We have a lot of good offensive players and a lot of good defensive players that are going to put us in very good positions to be successful. I think these next couple of months are for our coaches to find out what our strengths and weaknesses are."
This week's mini-camp is voluntary, and defensive lineman Fletcher Cox is not in attendance. Cox and his agent continue to work on a new contract for the Pro Bowler, but fellow-lineman Bennie Logan isn't worried about a contract dispute for Cox lingering into the summer.
"We talk," said Logan. "At the end of the day, it's business. He's going to be okay and take care of his business and whenever he does, he'll show up. I know when it's time to go, I can count on him to go."
While Cox deals with the business side of football, he teammates will be busy on the field during the week. It is a long way between now and the regular season, and there is plenty to be accomplished with the new coaching staff. linebacker Connor Barwin says this week's camp is merely the first step.
"It's about competing during this mini-camp," Barwin said. "It's proving every single day and having fun out there but ultimately, we all need to compete every single day when we're out there."
