The Eagles signed Jerome Couplin off the Detroit Lions practice squad last December, stashing him on their 53-man roster through the end of the 2014 season. Obviously, the club really wanted to see what he could do.
The long antipated wait for Couplin's Eagles debut finally ended on Saturday, one week later than expected. After missing the first preseason game because of an appendectomy, the second-year defensive back lined up for 52 defensive snaps against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Pro Football Focus. Only fellow safety Ed Reynolds played more.
Now that the Eagles got Couplin in the game, what did the coaching staff see?
"We were just happy to get him back out on the field," head coach Chip Kelly said on Monday, referencing Couplin's surgery.
"He was behind a little bit just because he hadn’t gotten those game reps, but I thought in the run game he was really good. There were a couple things he could clean up in the pass game, but the run game was really good, and he did a good job on special teams."
One play in particular in the run game stood out. On 3rd-and-1 from the Eagles' 3-yard line, Couplin shot through the hole to stuff Terrence McGee in the backfield for a loss. The Ravens wound up kicking a field goal.
"I just read run, we had a turn play on and my job was to the hole," Couplin said of the stop.
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Oddly, Couplin wasn't credited with a tackle on the play officially. However, he was tied for second on the team with five total tackles, including three solo. It seemed as if he was hitting everything that moved out there.
"Cup had a couple nice tackles in there," defensive coordinator Bill Davis said of the effort. "He got some more reps, we need to get him more time in games, and the practices mean a lot because he missed that week-and-a-half. But we were excited about the tackles he made the other night.
Couplin has been a prospect of fascination ever since his arrival, largely because of his insane measureables. Signed last year as an undrafted free agent out of William & Mary, Couplin is listed at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. He also possesses 4.5 speed, a 41-inch vertical and incredible 81-inch wingspan.
Couplin not only racked up 257 tackles during his collegiate career but also showed a nose for the football in coverage, recording five interceptions and 21 pass breakups. Now it's just a matter of proving that athleticism and production translates on an NFL field.
In the midst of his first training camp with the Eagles, Couplin feels like he has enough of a grasp on the defense to do that.
"Real comfortable, real confident [with the scheme]," Couplin said. "I’m getting used to making calls and checks and everything, so it’s going good. I’m moving forward."
It's clear the Eagles want to continue to get a nice, long look at Couplin this summer. In addition to his work with Reynolds in Saturday's game, Couplin was rotating in with Malcolm Jenkins and Walter Thurmond on the first-team defense during joint practices with the Ravens last week.
"It’s not really getting used to who you’re working with, it’s being able to work with whoever is in and communicating," Couplin said of mixing in with different personnel. "That’s the key. As long as we communicate with each other, we’ll be fine."
Now it's just a question of whether Couplin can put enough film together to make the 53-man roster. What helps is he's also contributing on special teams.
"That’s going to be a big part of me making the team. That’s something I did playing in Detroit. Same thing here," Couplin said.
There certainly could be a spot for Couplin. Jenkins and Thurmond have starting jobs locked down, but the competition with Reynolds, Chris Prosinski and Chris Maragos is wide open in terms of backup jobs.
Obviously, the Eagles brought him here for a reason. Now that they finally got him on the field, Couplin is impressing. Still, he isn't focusing on whether or not he'll win a roster spot.
"We still have two more games," Couplin said. "Until then, whatever happens before Sept. 5 (cutdown day) is what happens. It’s out of my control. I play DB."