Running Diary: Eagles Practice Observations

A light practice at the NovaCare today. With the joint practices with the Ravens beginning Wednesday, Chip Kelly had his players in helmets and shorts and kept the session to about an hour. Here’s what we saw.

12:01 — Kiko Alonso is back out here. He’s getting in some cardio work in the end zone as Donnie Jones begins booming directional punts a few yards away. Alonso told us he’s unsure if he’ll play against Baltimore on Saturday. No rush. Kelly is easing him back in.

Mychal Kendricks is practicing as well and DeMeco Ryans is expected back tomorrow. Looks like the middle linebacking corps is on the mend.

12:18 — Cory Undlin has drawn rave reviews from the defensive backs since joining the staff this offseason. If you’re curious about his coaching style, here is a small sample. (Apologies, Jaylen Watkins, for finishing the clip with your drop.)

12:35 — Team red zone drills begin, and  DeMarco Murray‘s in there with the first team. So is Andrew Gardner. Are we starting to see some separation in the right guard competition?

“Yeah, I would say so,” said Lane Johnson. “We still have a few games left to go, but he’s done a fine job so far.”

John Moffitt is the second-team right guard today.

Sam Bradford begins prep for his first preseason action, and is looking sharp. He slings one to Riley Cooper in the back of end zone to get things going. Tim Tebow and Matt Barkley are taking turns with the third team. Tebow tries a fade in the end zone for Rasheed Bailey but the pass is a little long.

12:43 — It’s a hot one here today at the NovaCare Complex, and the fine people at the Rita’s Water Ice stand are working overtime. Merrill Reese boldly goes with blue raspberry. Asked for a review, Reese responds, “It’s good!”, though with less enthusiasm than he might use for a clutch Cody Parkey kick.

12:45 — Seven-on-sevens start back up. Bradford finds Josh Huff on a post route with Byron Maxwell in coverage. Kelly seems pleased with the summer that Huff is having thus far.

“I think he’s been very consistent in camp, caught everything. He’s done a really nice job from that standpoint,” said Kelly. “Didn’t have any targets on Sunday (ESPN’s box score had him down for one) but that’s just kind of how it expresses itself. You can’t predict all the time where the ball is going depending on how the coverage is when you’re calling plays, but I think Josh has really matured and has been really consistent really since April.”

A nice string of throws for Bradford. He hits Jordan Matthews on a crosser and floats one for Seyi Ajirotutu in the back of the end zone before zipping a pass to Cooper. Mark Sanchez looks good overall today. Here he throws a dart to Trey Burton on the right side for the score.

12:56 — Eric Rowe is playing first-team nickel as team drills resume. Sanchez with a quick fire over the middle to Ajirotutu for the completion. Tebow completes consecutive passes, the second to G.J. Kinne on the left side, and follows that with a bullet to Eric Tomlinson. Those two connected on multiple occasions during the Colts game, but this time Tomlinson can’t hold on. Moments later, Sanchez looks for Murray on the wheel route but it falls incomplete.

The session ends on a high note, as Quron Pratt rises up to snatch a Barkley pass along the right sideline. That’ll do it for today. The Ravens are in town for an 11:55 practice tomorrow. Should be a lot of fun.