The Eagles’ wide receiving corps had an awful first game. Philly.com:

On TV, analyst Mike Mayock noted over and over again how the wideouts weren’t getting separation. The second- and third-team offensive lines fell all over themselves, meaning neither Chase Daniel nor Carson Wentz had a lot of time to track slow-developing routes, but as Mayock noted, some of the pressure developed after an NFL QB would reasonably have been expected to get rid of the ball. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich was preaching “consistency” when he spoke with reporters on Monday, after an offensive output of 187 net yards and a dozen first downs in a 17-9 victory over Tampa set up by a couple of early short-field touchdowns. The Bucs turned the ball over five times; the Eagles didn’t score a point that wasn’t set up by a turnover.

But the tight ends are a strength. Philly.com:

Ertz, Celek and Burton lined up on the right side of the line and paved the way for Mathews’ dash into the end zone. Burton, probably the least accomplished blocker of the three, did an excellent job blocking down on a linebacker at the line of scrimmage, then moving to the second level and sealing off safety Bradley McDougald. “It was the first stage of implementing the three tight ends,” said Ertz, who had a career-high 75 catches last season, and, along with slot receiver Jordan Matthews, became quarterback Sam Bradford’s go-to guys. Ertz and Matthews combined for 51 receptions in the Eagles’ last three games last season. “We’ll see how teams game-plan for it each week,” Ertz said. “We think it could be a big staple of the offense. We have three really talented tight ends, in my opinion. I think that package is going to grow each and every week.”

Frank Reich has confidence that Carson Wentz will learn how to better avoid contact. PhillyMag:

“Obviously as coaches, you cringe when that happens,” Reich said. “But it was a fourth-and-7, he took it up inside the corner, kind of flashed at the last second and he didn’t see him. I think Carson gets it. I think he gets it. I think he’ll slide when he needs to slide. The injury came on a play where that could have happened to anybody. That had really nothing to do with him other than they ran a blitz we couldn’t pick up. We just needed to make a slight adjustment in what we did there and get that ball out a little bit quicker. I think he understands it’s his responsibility to get down and slide when he can. But he’s an aggressive athlete, so there’s going to be a time or two where he’s going to take a shot, but we have to keep that to a minimum.”

Jaylen Watkins and Chris Maragos are shoe-ins for backup safety. PhillyMag:

It’s entirely possible the Eagles keep five safeties instead of four, which means Ed Reynolds or Blake Countess would probably get that last spot, but Maragos isn’t going anywhere, and Watkins has come on strong during training camp and the preseason. Watkins still isn’t a great tackler, which both Schwartz and Jenkins pointed out, but the Eagles are happy about his coverage skills against a few different offensive positions. “Everybody knows what Chris Maragos can do, and he came in the game and had a phenomenal game. But I think they’ve been giving Jaylen Watkins a lot of reps, and he’s been getting better and better,” Jenkins said. “He does a great job covering tight ends man-to-man. He’s working on his presence in the middle of the field and being able to overlap. But I think his value really is in that man-to-man role where he can cover tight ends, cover receivers, being a former cornerback. So I think it’s between Chris Maragos and Jaylen Watkins right now [to be the third safety].”

Lane Johnson sought supplement approval from an app but not everyone trusts it. Philly.com:


Eagles offensive lineman Allen Barbre, who was suspended four years ago for taking a banned substance, said that he has used to Aegis app, but that he sticks “with products that I know are safe for me.” Tight end Zach Ertz said he stopped using the app two years ago and that he only uses supplements provided by the Eagles. “Most of these [supplement] companies have no money,” Ertz said. “They’re just trying to develop a great product that gives results whether the ingredients they list on it are fact or fiction. Now it’s just gotten to the point where I’m like, ‘Whatever the Eagles are supplying, those are the supplements I’m going to take. And if I don’t reach the quote-unquote peak of supplementation, I’m all right with that.” The Eagles use the standards established by National Science Foundation International, an independent, accredited organization that has tested food, water and consumer products since 1944. The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the supplement industry.

Rookie Isaac Seumalo is going to get real starting reps. Philly Voice:

Now that Lane Johnson is staring at a 10-game suspension, the rookie third-round pick out of Oregon State has to fix things quickly. With veteran Allen Barbre moving out to right tackle in Johnson’s place, Seumalo has settled in at left guard. And despite some of the obvious rookie mistakes, the coaching staff sees talent in Seumalo, just not consistency. “When you see a young guy who has the physical ability and smarts that he has, it really shows up on film,” offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. “He’s an explosive athlete for an offensive lineman. And when he’s right on the film, it’s eye-catching.” The next step in the rookie’s development is to be “right” more often. For his part, Seumalo seems to at least understand what he needs to improve on.

Doug Pederson is smartly not messing with special teams. CSN:

But special teams is more than just kickers and return men. The guys behind the scenes — guys like Burton, Chris Maragos, Bryan Braman and Najee Goode — are what help make this unit so great. Last year the Eagles recorded three special teams TDs and finished fifth in Gosselin’s rankings. “We were one of the top special teams in the league last year, so our main goal is to try to stay in the top five,” cornerback Denzel Rice said. “Our focus level is the same for the most part.” Rice is on the cusp of cracking the Eagles’ roster, so with seemingly more depth at the cornerback position, standing out on special teams may be his ticket to a roster spot. “Special teams is special for a reason,” Rice said. “We have to hone in on our technique and our focus so that we can excel during the season.”…It didn’t take long to see special teams to make an impact this preseason. On the opening kickoff last Thursday against the Buccaneers, Goode punched the ball out, and Maragos recovered it inside the 20-yard line. “I think it’s been really cool to see how [Pederson] values special teams,” Maragos said. “The importance of field position, he understands what our special teams unit can do from an explosive standpoint and helping our team win ballgames. He’s all on board, he gives us the time we need to go out there and practice.”