Eagles News: NFL analyst predicts Vinny Curry will be breakout defensive player of the year

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Hall of Fame Game Debacle and the Camp Tour Rolls On - The MMQB
Early candidate for breakout defensive player this year: Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry. He’s moving from the 3-4 to a 4-3 rush end under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. In the old defense, he had 13 sacks in the past two years. "I have a long way to go, but I’ll die trying," Curry told me. "What I’m better at this year is with my technique—my feet, my first step. I consider myself a core part of this defense, and this year, when our defense is mentioned, I want my name to come up, and not at the end of the conversation."

Eagles training camp notes, Day 14: Carson Wentz overthrowing receivers - PhillyVoice
"I agree," said Pederson, "and it's all mechanical. It's all about mechanics. It's mechanics, yes, and it's about decision making, processing the information, seeing what he's seeing relatively fast. And in this game, lanes are tight and just being able to get the ball out on time is going to affect how a quarterback throws." Wentz's ability is there, but there's a big difference between being in your first training camp as a rookie and heading into your seventh season in the league, like Sam Bradford.

American Samoan Vaeao hopes he's destined to make Eagles - Daily News
PURE BLUE blanketed the Philadelphia sky on a Wednesday morning in late July. Eagles defensive tackle Destiny Vaeao walked toward the practice field at the NovaCare Complex. As he neared a line of faint white paint, the back of an end zone, he slowed and dropped to his left knee, his fist balled and resting on his forehead. He stayed in the crouch for 15 seconds. His teammates kept walking to his left and his right. Then Vaeao pushed off the ground and strapped on his helmet. This has been his routine since he started playing football in high school. In those fleeting seconds, Vaeao says, he gives thanks to God for letting him play the game he loves. He reminds himself not to take anything for granted.

The First Depth Chart - Iggles Blitz
CB is kinda wild. Ron Brooks is listed as a starter. Eric Rowe is listed as a third teamer. And JaCorey Shepherd is on the fourth team. Last summer Shepherd had a real chance to be the team’s nickelback. Right now he might be on the roster bubble. You wonder what is up with his knee. Is he all the way back? Some of you are worried about Rowe. Should he move to S? Can he play NB if needed there? The Eagles still love his upside at CB. He’s stay there for now. He could play S, as he did for most of his career at Utah. I don’t think he could play NB in the NFL.

Eagles Wake-Up Call: Mayock On Wentz - Birds 24/7
"One of the first things I noticed watching the tape was, he has a real wide base meaning his feet are real wide apart in the pocket, which means a big guy like that takes up a lot of room. A pocket by definition is typically pretty small. So a lot of quarterbacks stand real tall in the pocket with their feet closer together, and that’s where he’s got to get to." All of this could help explain why Wentz’s throws have fluttered at times, though Pederson has attributed that mostly to the young QB digesting the system and being more consumed with the particulars of a play call and less with execution of the throw itself. Mayock believes it’s a combination of the two. "They’re asking him to do some things from a technique perspective that forces him to think," said Mayock. "It puts an awful lot on a young quarterback."

Experience with so many coordinators has Jordan Hicks comfortable in Schwartz's scheme - CSN Philly
"It gets easier," said Hicks following Sunday's practice. "Every defense you're in, you pick up new things, you take what you can from certain defenses and certain coaches and apply, and that's what I've done. I've played in just about everything now, and I still take things from back in college where I can apply it to stuff today. "The first few times were a little difficult terminology-wise and everything, but sure enough they kind of overlap." Not only is Hicks unconcerned about the challenges involved with making a scheme change, he also seems to embrace it. Turns out, all that experience with different defenses is probably an asset.

Rookie Jalen Mills aims to win Eagles starting CB job - NJ.com
"There is a job to be won out there," Mills said following Monday's practice at the NovaCare Complex. "I am competing for it. It is a job that I do want. Guys are not willingly handing it over, so I have to come out and compete every single day. We compete at a high level each and every day. I'm not trying to force any plays, just letting them come to me and when they do, I have to make them."

Darren Sproles will not return punts during preseason games - EaglesWire
"We want to protect him and keep him ready for the regular season," Pederson said. "So, we’ve got some young guys we want to look at back there. Especially early on in camp, we definitely want to make sure that these young guys are ready when needed to be if something were to happen to, say, Darren during the regular season." The young guys that Pederson is referring to surely includes Kenjon Barner. Barner had a standout preseason last year and looks to have a bigger role on offense in 2016.  Keep an eye out for UDFA Byron Marshall in the punt return game as well.

Eagles Rookies Excited For First NFL Action - PE.com
Wentz is scheduled to make his Eagles debut on Thursday, a moment long-awaited by the fans since he was selected with the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. The first-round pick referred to the preseason game as something that’s been "a long time coming." "We’ve been out here going against each other for quite some time now, so I’m ready to play someone else and I’m excited to play in (Lincoln Financial Field), play in front of these fans and finally get my opportunity," Wentz said. Being a high draft pick typically comes with high expectations, and Wentz is no exception. However, the North Dakota native isn’t letting the nerves get to him, despite being the Eagles’ highest overall draft selection since 1999. "I don’t get real nervous with this game. It’s just a game," Wentz said. "I don’t sweat too much about it. I just go out and have fun with it. If anything, I’ll just calm down the excitement because I’ll be really excited."

2016 Fantasy Football Draft Guide - SB Nation
The Eagles were a mess at receiver in 2015 after watching Jeremy Maclin leave for Kansas City. While Jordan Matthews had his moments, he's still not someone you want to touch in your draft at his current ADP. Matthews had a golden opportunity to put up big numbers in 2015 with no other reliable receivers, but all he could muster was four games of 100-plus yards, and he failed to top 1,000 yards. That's production worthy of a middle or late-round draft pick, but not as high as a sixth-round pick in standard 12-team leagues. It's too big of an investment for a receiver that's rarely come up big, as evidenced by his seven 100-yard performances in 32 career games. The acquisition of Rueben Randle and Year 2 of Nelson Agholor should only ensure Matthews doesn't live up to his current ADP.

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