Goedert eager to go back to tight end school
PHILADELPHIA » Dallas Goedert must complete a busy to-do list before the Eagles begin training camp on July 26.
First, he has to move himself into a new house, since former housemate Avonte Maddox has gone his separate way. With the money Goedert makes, it shouldn’t be difficult finding someone to hook up the cable.
Then it’s on to continuing education as Goedert is lining up another trip to Tight End University, the starstudded event hosted by AllPros George Kittle and Travis Kelce, among others. This summer the talent is gathering in Nashville, Tenn. from June 22-24. Bring your game, and your cleats.
“I’m really excited for that,” Goedert said. “It was a great turnout last year. I learned a lot. I’m excited to go back and learn from the best at the position. It was more of Kittle, Kelce, Greg Olsen giving the presentations. But when we get on the field, everybody’s giving their two cents, telling their coaching points, what they’re thinking on different things. It’s just a great place to go. There are a lot of knowledgeable people there. Just everybody can view the game differently and be very good in their own way, so it’s just cool to hear how other people look at stuff, how other people game plan and do different things.”
Last season Goedert was second among Eagles regulars as he averaged 14.8 yards-per-catch. With 56 receptions, including four touchdown grabs, he trailed only DeVonta Smith, who had 64 and five, respectively.
Of course, there’s a new dog to feed in A.J. Brown, acquired by the Eagles for first and third-round picks, then handed a $100 million contract. Though it’s much too early to speculate who will be Jalen Hurts’ favorite receiver, the QB and Brown are buds.
At any rate, Goedert has seen some subtle improvements in Hurts.
“Just him going through his reads, his progressions,” Goedert said. “I feel like the ball has got a little more zip on it. He’s getting it out a little bit quicker. You see kind
of a 1-2-3-throw. He doesn’t have as many hitches. He’s seeing the game faster, which is really promising.”
*** Former Eagles and St. Louis Rams head coach Dick Vermeil attended practice Wednesday with former Eagles Ron Jaworski, Frank LeMaster and Irving Fryar.
Earlier in the week the Eagles released a photo of head coach Nick Sirianni, Vermeil, Jaworski, former Villanova coach Jay Wright and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, and their spouses, dining together.
Sirianni said Wright and Vermeil reached out to him long before the dinner.
“I got encouragement and support from those guys through the entire year,” Sirianni said. “They have my cell phone number, and I’d get a text from them. Win or lose, when it felt like I needed a good text of some support or some advice, I was getting that. That’s what good coaches do. They know when to give some support, they know when to give some advice, they know when to praise.” ***
NOTES » Hurts completed deep balls to John Hightower and Quez Watkins that revved up the players late in practice. Hightower impressed them with a diving catch. … Linebacker Kyzir White tipped a Gardner Minshew pass that linebacker Davion Taylor gathered and burst up field with like he was Deebo Samuel. “We all know we’re going to compete and everything,” Taylor said. “But he’s a vet. He’s been in the league a long time. I’m going to ask questions because I know he’s been in the league longer, he’s been playing longer and he’s seen way more things than I’ve seen.” … Wide receiver Jalen Reagor wasn’t at either of the OTAs open to the media. That isn’t an issue for Sirianni. “It is voluntary, so I don’t ever want to put anybody’s attendance out there,” the coach said. “We had very good attendance. Very, very good attendance. Now, things pop up for guys here and there as we know. Things can get hectic, things happen, family things happen, personal things happen. He had great attendance through this, and just so happened the times that you guys were here he wasn’t.”