Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen oversees everything about the Eagles’ offense. Not just Jalen Hurts.
In the NFL, where the quarterback is everything, it’s easy to become infatuated with the guy under center. In Philly, where Hurts’ success is directly tied to the team’s success, you can’t look away for a second.
But Steichen’s responsibilities are far-ranging and this season he also will be the play-caller, duties seceded by head coach Nick Sirianni.
Steichen provided a good overview Tuesday of where the Eagles roster is one week into training camp and a little more than a week away from the first preseason game.
Let’s start with enigmatic Jalen Reagor, the 2020 Eagles No. 1 pick whose job might be in jeopardy. Steichen was asked how Reagor is handling lining up with the second team and trying to battle for a roster spot.
“He’s done a great job,” Steichen said. “He comes out, he’s a hard worker, he battles every single day. “You can still see everything he’s got, the explosiveness. He’s made a whole bunch of plays in training camp so far, so he’s got to continue to keep doing that.”
Reagor also was given some love by his quarterback, Hurts.
- “I think he’s growing. I think he’s working,” Hurts said. “He’s put his head down. He’s doing the work.
- “You saw him making plays out there today. Just a constant conscious effort to listen, lock in and do what he needs to do. And I think he’s doing that.”
What it means: Nice words and all, but you wonder what Reagor has to do to make the team.
SEUMALO BATTLING AT RIGHT GUARD
Isaac Seumalo was the starting left guard last season, got injured and lost his job to rookie Landon Dickerson. Seumalo is trying to win the starting job at right guard.
“Isaac looks really good,” Steichen said. “Isaac’s a really, really smart football player.
“He understands protections, the run game, the different looks, the different fronts. He sees it before it happens, and he’s a physical player and he’s playing good football right now.”
SANDERS ‘EXPLOSIVE’
A few days after the Miles Sanders second-team controversy — which Sirianni dismissed — Steichen was asked about the oft-injured running back.
“Explosiveness. I mean you see it, right?” Steichen said. “We know he’s an explosive player, but even in individual, the way he’s running, he’s running hard, he’s taking care of the football, he’s hitting it, he’s seeing it well. “He made a few plays the other day where he jump-cut through the line of scrimmage and hit it. I mean, it’s been good to see.”
What it means: Gotta stay healthy, gotta hold onto the ball.
Speaking of running backs, Steichen was asked about the Eagles only having five in camp. Most teams have more. Might the lack of competition might help Jason Huntley and rookie Kennedy Brooks?
“I think it is an advantage,” Steichen said. “When you only have five, a lot of guys can get reps and you can switch those guys in and out whenever you want, and they can get more reps.”
WATKINS ‘LOOKING GOOD’
Third wide receiver Quez Watkins on Monday said he was the fastest guy in the NFL.
- “Well, he is really fast,” Steichen said. “He might be. He might be.
- “He’s looking really good, he’s looking explosive. His speed and the way he goes up and tracks the ball is really, really impressive, so he’s doing a good job.”
Watkins left practice early Tuesday, reportedly because of illness.
DILLARD, JURGENS EARN PRAISE
First-round offensive tackle Andre Dillard was drafted to take over the left-tackle job held by Jason Peters. Peters wasn’t re-signed, then Jordan Mailata took the job.
Dillard was a back-up at both tackles and at both guard slots. Dillard often is the subject of trade talks but he adds depth to the Eagles’ offensive line.
“You know what, he’s done a nice job,” Steichen said. “He basically lives in this building. Every time I’m in here, he’s always in here working out, grinding away getting his body ready. But he’s done a nice job.”
Second-round pick Cam Jurgens has been outstanding so far in camp, getting a majority of the first-team reps at center and winning his share of the one-on-one battles.
Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson talked him up earlier in the week. Steichen was asked what he sees in the rookie.
“Honestly, the way he moves,” Steichen said. “We saw in college the screen game, but when he works double teams with the guards inside, just the way he gets those double teams off and comes off to the next level is really impressive. So, really excited about Cam.”
Jurgens is expected to take over at center when Kelce retires.
BENEFIT OF WALK-THROUGHS
“I think the walk-throughs are invaluable,” Steichen said. “I really do, because you get so many reps in those walk-throughs, and you can give multiple looks.
“There is all these problems solvings that you got to have. You can give them a base look, but you want to give them multiple looks in those walk-throughs so when they come up in practice or in the game we are ready for them. It’s been really valuable.”
