WRs coach Moorehead happy to have Reagor
Aaron Moorehead was an assistant coach and a recruiter at Texas A&M when a high school receiver from Waxahachie, Texas, kept catching passes and kept catching his eye.
One way or another, he’d hoped, he’d someday coach Jalen Reagor.
Turns out, it was the other. Moorehead is the first-year Eagles’ receivers coach. Reagor is the first-year wide receiver, after a legendary career at that other Texas program, TCU. Together, at last?
“I’ve known Jalen since he was a little kid,” said Moorehead, a former NFL wide receiver. “Me and his dad (Montae Reagor) played together in Indianapolis.
I recruited him out of high school. So I have a different relationship with Jalen, which is a good thing.
“And I’ve always liked Jalen.” The Eagles liked Jalen Reagor enough to make him the 21st overall pick in the last draft, choosing him over some passcatchers more highly regarded by the Draft Illuminati. But what Moorehead saw in Waxahachie is not unlike what he has been seeing from Reagor as the Eagles spin toward the serious portion of their offseason training.
“He’s doing really well,” Moorehead said. “We are learning the playbook and have been for the last couple of months. We have been able to run through it in the last few weeks. It’s been good.”
Reagor scored 22 touchdowns in three years at TCU, and caught 1,067 yards worth of passes as a sophomore. A high school track star, he is known to be fast and elusive. The Eagles are hoping he will boost a wide-receiving crew that last season was damaged by injury and inefficiency.
“He’s a powerful guy, he’s fast, he’s got good hands,” Moorehead said. “We’re doing stuff on air. This is what it’s supposed to look like. To say what things he has to work on is hard because we haven’t gone against a defense yet.
“But he’s done a really good job of picking up the offense, and so far, so good.”
Not that he ever had a doubt.
“He’s a humble kid that understands it,” Moorehead said. “But he also has that swag of other big-time receivers. I have enjoyed being around him and look forward to continuing to mentor him as a young adult. He’s 21 years old. He’s just figuring this thing out. I am just excited to work with him and to see him grow.”
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New defensive line coach Matt Burke first went to work for Jim Schwartz as an assistant coach for the Titans in 2004.
He has been, well, tied to Schwartz for a while.
“When he first interviewed me, he told me not to wear a tie,” Burke said. “He said that wasn’t how they dressed. So I wore a pair of slacks and a buttonup shirt, and I put a tie in my bag just in case. When he saw me, he said, ‘That’s good. At least I know you can follow instructions.’ He offered me the job. Later on, when he was driving me to the airport, I pulled out the tie and told him I was hedging my bet. He told me that was smart. But that’s the only thing I remember selling myself about in the interview.”
Previously the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, Burke spent last season as a special assistant to Schwartz. This year, he will be the defensive line coach and run-game coordinator.
Given health-concern restrictions, it has been complicated.
“Everybody has a game plan until they get punched in the mouth, the old Mike Tyson thing,” Burke said. “This is going to be the most adaptable year. We will have to adapt to everything that is going on. Things are changing, minute by minute, day by day. I spent some time with the defensive linemen in my role last year and built some relationships. But it is what it is. Doug (Pederson) did a great job of building the offseason schedule out and right now we’re just delving into it a little further.”
*** Veteran pass rusher Vinny Curry has advice for second-year end Shareef Miller: Don’t be in a rush.
“Patience is the key, man,” he said. “Be willing to learn. We have a great group in our young guys and patience is the key. You’re always learning. Keep your ears open. Take whatever you can take out of the guys in front of you, or from the guys on the offensive line.
“When I was young, all I did was want to learn and just wait my turn. Patience is the key.”