Eagles Put On Their Pads For The First Time

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Doug Pederson made no secret of his passion for pads in practice. On Saturday, the Eagles got physical on the field.

The team held its first practice in pads of training camp on the sixth day of workouts and the third for the full squad.

While there wasn't tackling to the ground, the men in the trenches as well as the receivers and defensive backs in the secondary had the chance to let loose after going through lighter workouts during the week.

General Manager Howie Roseman liked the tempo that was set during practice.

"That's the intensity and the kind of temperament that we're trying to build when we're out there," he said. "It's exciting to start, but we've still got a long way to go."

Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz said earlier in the week that the real test for many of the players on defense comes when the pads are on. Now, Schwartz is hoping to find the right combinations in every position on the field:

"We've got a find a way that the whole is greater than the sum of our parts. That's good team play. That's our job as coaches and that's the job of the players."

One player who performed well on the first day of practice with pads was linebacker Marcus Smith. The former first round pick excelled in a pass rush drill, and is hoping to make his mark with the new coaching staff. Smith says there is a noticeable difference in the defense since the arrival of Schwartz.

"It's not much thinking," he said. "I just get to go rush the passer, or I can go get the running back. That's the biggest deal with this defense. Schwartz doesn't make it hard for us, but he wants it to be right."

Even with six days and one practice in pads, speculation continues about where many players stand in the depth chart. Pederson and his assistants insist the depth chart won't be determined until later in the preseason. Second-year Defensive Back Eric Rowe is trying to keep his focus on the field and not about job speculation outside the locker room.

"The depth chart is still the same," Rowe said. "Everybody is getting an equal opportunity with the amount of reps that we're getting. That's the only thing that matters right now. It's just proving yourself."