Physical practices making Schwartz a little jumpy
PHILADELPHIA » Jim Schwartz doesn’t sound like a big fan of the live tackling at Eagles training camp.
Asked what he was looking for from the Tuesday tackling experience, Schwartz responded cryptically, “I was hoping that we’d have 90 guys walk off the field. Truth.
“I mean, man, you want to see contact,” Schwartz said. “You want to see physical play and all of those things. Every time you see, like Darren Sproles get the ball, you’re like, ‘Please, don’t hit him too hard.’ You see guys go down. There’s a balancing act. I think the players have done a good job of trying to work hard and be physical and things like that. But also not playing outside the bounds of it and getting some injuries here or there that can be prevented.” The next round of Thursday. The Eagles suffered no extreme injuries from the first day of tackling. A handful of their key players were sidelined by relatively minor injuries or other circumstances. The list included wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (shoulder) and running backs LeGarrette Blount (personal day) and Donnel Pumphrey (hamstring). All sat out practice Wednesday.
Wide receiver Torrey Smith was almost hurt when he returned to work Wednesday.
Carson Wentz was high and long to Smith in the back corner of the end zone, Smith’s momentum sending him careening into a security guard on a wheel chair. The guard took a pretty good tumble but said he was OK.
The Eagles moved spectators further away from the end zone area after the collision.
Earlier in the day Wentz threw the ball away on a scramble and is live tackling it skidded into an area in wheelchairs.
*** Among other defensive gems Wednesday, Eagles safety Terrence Brooks had a pick-six of Matt McGloin in a red zone drill.
Brooks has been one of the unsung defenders at camp, as he’s made plays and helped such newcomers as rookie Rasul Douglas get lined up properly.
A product of John Harbaugh’s training camp with the Ravens, Brooks says the Eagles camps aren’t quite so rough.
“Time flies and it runs together,” Brooks said. “But I know for a fact I remember that camp there being very tough. I wouldn’t say this one isn’t tough at all. The coaches are definitely putting it on us. This is tough. If you can get through this right here, it’s going to be a good time during the season.”
*** NOTES » Villanova of spectators product Don Cherry was all over a throw to the back of the end zone to tight end Anthony Denham (6-4, 235). Cherry, playing strong and middle linebacker, had a solid practice Wednesday and has been making plays daily . ... Tight end Trey Burton made a big-time TD grab, shielding Patrick Robinson in the end zone during a red zone period. Burton made a couple of other solid catches. One of the smoothest grabs of the day came when Jordan Matthews onehanded a Carson Wentz throw in the corner of the end zone. The 6-3 Matthews looked like a miniMegatron on the catch . ...
The Eagles waived injured rookie cornerback Randall Goforth, who suffered a torn ACL ... Backup quarterback Nick Foles (elbow), rookie defensive tackle Elijah Qualls (groin), guard Josh Andrews (wrist) and defensive end Alex McCalister (hamstring) sat out Wednesday ... The Eagles have a long practice scheduled for Thursday, a short one for Friday and are off Saturday. The Birds hit Lincoln Financial Field Sunday (gates open at 8:30 a.m.) for their second and final open practice.