Fiery rookie Dillard still in there swinging
PHILADELPHIA >> There’s nothing in Andre Dillard’s background to suggest he’s a brawler except maybe the reference to “cinder blocks” for hands by NFL scouts.
Certainly nothing to explain how in just two days the firstround draft pick out of Washington State has become an MMA legend at Eagles camp.
The 6-5, 315-pound Dillard, who plays offensive tackle, ran over safety Johnathan Cyprien
in a light Monday practice with players clad in shorts and shells. Cyprien was upset and it triggered a free-for-all, excluding the quarterbacks and kickers, of course. Dillard took on defensive end Derek Barnett in the main event.
Afterward Dillard got a good talking-to from Eagles head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Howie Roseman.
“You get these warm days and guys are wanting to get better,” Pederson said. “I mean, it’s good to see that eagerness on both sides but at the end of the day, they shake hands, they make up and we don’t carry it off the field. So, we just leave it on the field and leave it at that.”
On Tuesday, Dillard had something physical for rookie fourth-round pick Shareef Miller of Penn State, who earlier in camp slugged rookie offensive tackle Ryan Bates. Just days later Bates was waived-injured with a concussion. He’s now with the Bills.
After the Miller dustup Dillard had a heart-toheart with offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.
Eagles Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks, among others, also spoke with Dillard, who declined comment citing an appointment with the weight room.
“It was more or less just talk to him to make sure he’s all right,” Brooks said. “There’s no problem with fighting. Just know that that stuff stays out on the field. When you come back in here you don’t have to like each other but at the same time you have to respect each other. He’s a rookie, a first-round pick, he’s in Philly, a lot is expected out of him and he’s out there trying to bust his ass every day. I’m sure he at some point, if not already, he probably hit the rookie wall. It’s probably just out of frustration. The thing is as an offensive line we make sure we let him know that if there’s something you need to talk about or something else is bothering you, we’re here for you.”
Dillard is coming off a decent start in the preseason opener. His technique is solid for a rookie, his strength a work in progress.
Brooks likes the youngster’s heart — a lot.
“It’s a contact game,” Brooks said. “Some things, maybe like yesterday, we didn’t have pads on, it’s just learning how to practice. But I’d rather have somebody who’s going 110 mph. and makes a mistake instead of someone who’s going 50 mph.”
••• While Pederson again delayed a decision on who would play in the second preseason game, Thursday in Jacksonville, veterans said a few more starters could see action this week.
In the opener, defensive tackle Malik Jackson and running back Jordan Howard were the only starters who got in the game.
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NOTES >> The Eagles waiveinjured safety-special teams component Blake Countess (hamstring) and signed defensive tackle Aziz Shittu (Stanford), who has spent numerous stints in their camps. … Among other guests at training camp Tuesday were longtime NFL head coach John Fox, 64, and Mike McCoy, who was 2737 as head coach of the Chargers from 2013016. Pederson’s agent, Bob Lamonte, also attended the practice.