Sunday’s start of Eagles training camp didn’t really feel like training camp. Fans weren’t invited yet. Players weren’t in pads. The Rita’s Water Ice wagon wasn’t set up between the concrete bleachers. Practice lasted less than two hours.
It felt more like minicamp.
Nonetheless, some major developments and interesting nuggets came out of Chip Kelly’s first camp practice as the franchise czar. So here we go with the first of many observational pieces throughout camp:
1. I’m not one to make mountains of molehills but DeMarco Murray appeared to take no reps during the 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s. Looked to me like Darren Sproles logged the majority of first-team reps, Ryan Mathews ran mainly with the second string and the others rotated on the third and fourth units. My attempt to confront Murray after he spoke with ESPN on a subject unrelated to practice was thwarted by Eagles public relations folks, who said Murray was off limits Sunday and will speak in the future. Apparently, the ESPN spot was arranged prior to Sunday.
2. Moving on, rookie JaCorey Shepherd took the nickel back reps in Brandon Boykin’s old spot. Kelly had effusive praise for the sixth-rounder during his press conference. Shepherd stood out during the minicamps and, talking to him after practice, seemed to embrace the chance to play right away in an important spot on the defense. We’re a long way from Sept. 14, but at least there’s some indication of who might fill Boykin’s void.
3. I wrote Sunday morning that it’s important for Sam Bradford to take most of the first-team reps given the short timespan to seize control of the offense. He did. He also wasn’t wearing a brace, which he said was a “collective” decision, presumably involving coaches and doctors. Bradford worked with the first team and Mark Sanchez led the second team. Interestingly, Tim Tebow and Matt Barkley traded spots leading the third team. During the spring camps, Barkley took almost all of the third-team reps.
4. No surprise among the first-team wideouts: Riley Cooper, Josh Huff and Jordan Matthews. Rookie first-rounder Nelson Agholor, who ran mainly with the third team during the camps, consistently took second-team reps. Also, no surprise in starting secondary: Byron Maxwell, Nolan Carroll at corners; Malcolm Jenkins, Walter Thurmond at safeties. At inside linebacker, Kiko Alonso and DeMeco Ryans were first-teamers.
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5. This isn’t etched in stone, but Matt Tobin took the first-team reps at right guard. Look for Kelly to go through his normal routine of shuffling other candidates — Andrew Gardner, Dennis Kelly and maybe some others — into the starting lineup throughout camp. The hunch here has always been that Tobin will win the job, if he’s healthy.
6. Second-string O-line from left to right: Andrew Gardner, Julian Vandervelde, David Molk, Kevin Graf, Dennis Kelly. As for John Moffitt, he ran at guard on the third team.
7. Looking for a first-day standout among the bottom-roster guys? Rookie free agent tight end Justin Tukes (6-4, 259) stood out. Showed some ability to separate. Took at least one second-team rep.
8. Byron Maxwell asserted himself early, jumping a Jordan Matthews route to bat away Mark Sanchez’s pass. You may recall that last year’s camp featured no less than 6,238 connections per day between Sanchez and Matthews. Maxwell apparently catches on quickly.
9. Barkley didn’t seem fazed by splitting reps with Tebow. Had a really nice pass in 7-on-7s, splitting Earl Wolff and Emmanuel Acho to hit Tukes along the right seam. On the next snap, he put a high spiral deep down the right sideline for a receiver whose number I couldn’t see, but rookie corner Randall Evans forced the receiver out out bounds. Good throw by Barkley, better defense by Evans.
10. Third-round pick Jordan Hicks turned in an excellent breakup about 40 yards downfield, leaping high to bat down Tebow’s pass to 6-foot-6 rookie tight end Eric Tomlinson along the left seam. Tebow put some air on his throw, but Hicks showcased an NBA-caliber vertical to climb the wall and knock the pass down.