Weekend Reading: Eagles Working Harder, Says Jenkins


Photo by: Jeff Fusco.

Photo by: Jeff Fusco.

Malcolm Jenkins seems to already have become a Chip Kelly favorite.

The Eagles’ head coach praised the veteran safety recently for his work ethic and understanding of the game. Jenkins, meanwhile, seems to have bought in 100 percent to Kelly’s philosophies.

“I think we’ve worked harder than any team in the NFL,” Jenkins told Jim Rome. “I think we’ve gotten more reps and more exposure than any team in the NFL, so right now at this point we’re winning. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to win anything. All we can win is today and each day, we go out as a team and try to do that. I feel like if we continue on that path and get better and better as we go, I definitely see this team having a chance.”

“We’re creatures of habit. It’s hard for us to accept change, it’s hard for us to say ‘We’re going to get 50 plays in an OTA practice’ as opposed to normally people are getting 20. There has to be a reason for it, and [Kelly] does a great job of explaining why and then taking care of us, as far as our recovery and our bodies,” said Jenkins. “Everything he does from a scheduling standpoint and a practice standpoint has a reason and that reason is explained to us. So it’s a lot easier for us to grasp it, understand it, take hold of it and buy in because he has a vision, he has a plan and then he articulates that plan to us. And I think last year was the first year, guys were kind of tip-toeing in and I think this year, everybody has bought in.”

The Eagles are counting on Jenkins to be the DeMeco Ryans of the back end – the guy who gets everyone in the right place and helps the defense limit its mental mistakes.

For now, the coaches like what they’re seeing out of their biggest free agent acquisition.

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One thing most Eagles optimists are counting on is the Birds having one of the top offensive lines in the NFL.

It’s reasonable to expect improvement out of Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce. Jason Peters and Evan Mathis are getting older, but both played at a high level last year. And the team is hoping Todd Herremans can still get the job done at right guard.

A couple analysts think the Eagles have the top offensive line in the league:

*** Just wondering where this falls under the whole “sports science” thing?

*** Oh, and there’s this: