Line coach says Barnett still needs work
PHILADELPHIA » The Eagles made Derek Barnett the 14th overall pick in the last draft for one reason: To be a starting defensive end in the NFL. So when will that happen? “When the meal is ready,” said Birds defensive line coach Chris Wilson.
In other words: Don’t start clanging the knives and forks just yet.
Though Barnett has been among the Eagles’ most impressive defensive players in their 1-1 preseason — he has had a sack in each game — the University of Tennessee product apparently remains in a developmental stage. As Wilson says, it’s too early to consider Barnett a starter.
“Yes, it is,” he said. “It’s Game 2. He’s played against some solid competition. But to see him go against the ‘ones’ day after day after day, those are going to be the critical factors to see how he’s doing.
“He’s a rookie. He’s got a lot of work ahead of him. He hasn’t had a break, I think, since his bowl game. So those are things we have to factor in.”
As far as most other things, Barnett has impressed Wilson.
“I just like his demeanor,” he said. “How he shows up for work every day, and he comes in with a no-nonsense attitude, and he wants to earn it. He doesn’t want to be given anything. That’s been a pleasant surprise in the room.”
And when will that mean Derek Barnett is introduced with the starting lineup?
“We’ll all know,” Wilson said. “It will show in the production and the consistency. That’s what you have to have in this league. It can’t be flashes. It has to be something every weekend when people come into the stadium and know exactly what they’re going to get. And so we’re at that point now where we’ll kind of know if he’s that guy.”
*** Linebackers coach Ken Flajole has been impressed early in the preseason by Mychal Kendricks.
“He is taking some of the details of our coaching and is applying them into game situations, so it helps you become more productive,” he said. “And he, like our other guys, is all taking a step in the right direction.”
Kendrick had a sack and two tackles for losses in the Birds’ 20-16 victory over Buffalo Thursday.
“Mike had a chance to make some plays,” Flajole said. “So I was happy for him.”
*** One ripple effect of the trade of Jordan Matthews to the Bills: Nelson Agholor may not be used as a kick returner, even though that was an early plan.
“We feel good about him,” special teams coach Dave Fipp said. “Ultimately a lot of these guys’ roles on special teams are determined by their offensive and defensive stuff. For Nelson, that’s offense. I think the trade of Matthews probably influences that a little bit because it moves Nelson up the board a little, from what it looks like to me. So that could play a factor. But we feel good about him being back there. I think he’s an explosive player with the ball in his hands. He had a good college career returning balls. So part of the plan.” Alternatives? “Wendell Smallwood, we are excited about him,” Fipp said. “He had the home run (an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Washington) last year. So I am excited about him. Just watching (Corey) Clement run the ball on offense, I think he could be a factor back there, depending on how this whole thing shakes out. And that’s way above me. So don’t ask me.”
*** Carson Wentz sputtered in I think he’s a traditional offense Thursday, then looked comfortable and productive when the Eagles tried a no-huddle series.
Could it be that the hurryup better suits his skills?
“He’s suited for everything,” quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo said. “That’s a piece of it we are trying to do, the no-huddle piece. Any time you can change the tempo in a game, I think it’s a good thing. It keeps the defense off-balance. We are trying to master all facets of our offense, the huddle, our tempo and our turbo package.”