WEBVTT - Inside Training Camp: Green Bay Game In Focus 0:00:00.080 --> 0:00:30.639 Hello everyone, and welcomed inside training camp presented by Xfinity 0:00:30.720 --> 0:00:33.960 Dave's Pedero. Chris McPherson here at an Overcare complex on 0:00:34.040 --> 0:00:37.120 a gorgeous Wednesday, a couple of days away from the 0:00:37.400 --> 0:00:40.000 preseason game number three against the Green Bay Packers. Some 0:00:40.200 --> 0:00:42.600 say that this is a litmus test if you will 0:00:42.960 --> 0:00:45.680 for NFL teams. Do you believe that? I do believe so, 0:00:45.960 --> 0:00:48.000 first and foremost, the Eagle has been very good so 0:00:48.080 --> 0:00:51.080 far in the preseason, being Baltimore Indianapolis, two of the 0:00:51.120 --> 0:00:53.479 best teams in the AFC. But now, if you look 0:00:53.479 --> 0:00:55.560 at last season, you saw what Green Bay did to 0:00:55.640 --> 0:00:57.560 the Eagles. I think that's a game that Chip Kelly 0:00:57.600 --> 0:00:59.760 looked at and said, you know what, We're just not 0:01:00.040 --> 0:01:02.920 that elite team yet. So while it's not a full 0:01:03.000 --> 0:01:05.880 sixty minute comparison here, you get a little more rotating 0:01:05.920 --> 0:01:07.840 see how far you've come along. I think in certain 0:01:07.880 --> 0:01:11.520 areas it's a litmus test, particularly the defensive backfield against 0:01:11.520 --> 0:01:14.080 Aaron Rodgers and a good group of receivers. But I'm 0:01:14.080 --> 0:01:16.600 not sure how much the coaches will play their frontline players. 0:01:17.080 --> 0:01:20.600 The league seems scared with all of these major players 0:01:20.640 --> 0:01:23.399 going down with serious injuries, how much do you play 0:01:23.440 --> 0:01:25.679 the starters. Will look into that a little bit later 0:01:25.720 --> 0:01:28.080 in the week when Chip Kelly addresses the media and 0:01:28.120 --> 0:01:32.360 talks about perhaps his rotation for Saturday night. A busy 0:01:32.440 --> 0:01:34.680 day here Wednesday at the Novicare Complex and a great 0:01:34.720 --> 0:01:37.160 show for you as well. We'll take a look behind 0:01:37.200 --> 0:01:39.600 the scenes to the Detroit Lyons, a team that many 0:01:39.640 --> 0:01:42.440 believe will be in the playoffs this year. And we 0:01:42.520 --> 0:01:45.160 also have a studio guest who is vying to make 0:01:45.160 --> 0:01:47.760 the team and to impress some people around the league. 0:01:47.760 --> 0:01:50.120 But first let's get you caught up on everything going 0:01:50.160 --> 0:01:52.760 on with this football team. It's our three six the 0:01:52.840 --> 0:01:56.720 update out on the practice field with Alex Smith. Hi everyone, 0:01:56.760 --> 0:01:59.080 Alex Smith here with your three sixty update, present it 0:01:59.120 --> 0:02:01.960 by Sports Atar. The Eagles are just three days away 0:02:01.960 --> 0:02:04.520 from their all important third preseason game against the Green 0:02:04.560 --> 0:02:08.080 Bay Packers on Saturday night. Today, offensive coordinator Pat Shermer 0:02:08.120 --> 0:02:10.440 spoke about what he wanted to see from quarterback Sam 0:02:10.480 --> 0:02:13.800 Bradford as he gets ready to play the Packers. He's 0:02:13.800 --> 0:02:16.000 out there playing, so we just need him to, you know, 0:02:16.080 --> 0:02:18.840 do this play as well as he can. Hey, And 0:02:18.919 --> 0:02:20.440 when we go on the field, all we're trying to 0:02:20.440 --> 0:02:23.160 do is score touchdowns and get get in the end zone. 0:02:23.200 --> 0:02:26.919 So he led us to a touchdown scoring drive when 0:02:26.919 --> 0:02:28.480 he was in the game the other night, So we 0:02:28.560 --> 0:02:31.200 just want him to do that. Shermer also spoke about 0:02:31.200 --> 0:02:34.720 one of Bradford's primary targets, rookie wide receiver Nelson Aglore, 0:02:34.960 --> 0:02:37.040 and what he's seen from the rookie here in his 0:02:37.080 --> 0:02:40.839 first NFL training camp. I think he's he's really made 0:02:40.880 --> 0:02:43.799 great strides in this training camp. He's proven he can 0:02:43.840 --> 0:02:47.400 make a play, and that's really critical for a receiver. 0:02:48.240 --> 0:02:50.720 You know, we teach him to run these very specific 0:02:50.840 --> 0:02:53.040 routes and then we teach him that this is the 0:02:53.080 --> 0:02:56.400 way it should look like ideally, But at the end 0:02:56.440 --> 0:02:58.560 of the day, you get downfield somehow and when the 0:02:58.600 --> 0:03:01.280 ball comes your way, you gotta catch. And he's displayed 0:03:01.280 --> 0:03:03.919 in ability to do that, and that's I think what 0:03:04.040 --> 0:03:07.280 you'll help him kind of helps start him on his way. 0:03:07.880 --> 0:03:11.200 Aglore responded to his coach's comments after practice today, and 0:03:11.240 --> 0:03:13.400 while he is very grateful for what Pat Schremer had 0:03:13.400 --> 0:03:16.480 to say, he's just gonna focus on getting better every day. 0:03:17.520 --> 0:03:19.400 For him to think that highly on me is obviously 0:03:19.400 --> 0:03:21.680 a blessing. He's a great coach and you know he's 0:03:21.680 --> 0:03:24.960 been doing this for a while, and you know, I'm grateful. 0:03:25.120 --> 0:03:26.440 But at the end of the day, I'm going to 0:03:26.440 --> 0:03:29.079 make the easy plays. So he sees a consistent player 0:03:30.040 --> 0:03:31.960 moving over to the defensive side of the ball. We 0:03:31.960 --> 0:03:34.920 caught up with cornerback Byron Maxwell as he prepares to 0:03:34.920 --> 0:03:38.280 face off against Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's 0:03:38.280 --> 0:03:41.880 talented receiver Corps. I mean, definitely. I mean, but that's 0:03:41.920 --> 0:03:44.280 any every game. Every game is a challenge. When you're 0:03:44.280 --> 0:03:46.320 going there's always a child. It's not that you're going 0:03:46.320 --> 0:03:47.840 out there and it's a slow It just happened to 0:03:47.840 --> 0:03:50.240 be Aaron Rodgers. He's wanted the best in the league. 0:03:50.520 --> 0:03:53.840 Um so it's a great test. We're ready for it 0:03:53.840 --> 0:03:57.200 and we're gonna ready when it comes. Sticking in the secondary, 0:03:57.240 --> 0:04:00.160 safety Malcolm Jenkins spoke about what the defense gets out 0:04:00.160 --> 0:04:04.520 of both these training sessions and the preseason games. I mean, 0:04:04.880 --> 0:04:08.440 you know, it's I think both you get different things. 0:04:08.480 --> 0:04:14.280 I think from a skill standpoint, you during practices where 0:04:14.280 --> 0:04:17.720 you really hone in on your skills, but when you 0:04:17.720 --> 0:04:20.560 get to the game, you know, you get the timing 0:04:20.600 --> 0:04:23.040 of tackling, and because we don't talk a live out here, 0:04:23.080 --> 0:04:27.440 but you get the timing of actually striking somebody would 0:04:27.680 --> 0:04:30.480 really like to fit in the run and um, it's 0:04:30.480 --> 0:04:32.880 a little bit faster, a little more intense. So the 0:04:33.000 --> 0:04:36.040 timing aspect you get, you get back into preseason games. 0:04:36.080 --> 0:04:39.560 But from a skill development, that's all during during the 0:04:39.600 --> 0:04:42.800 work week and really by time the game come, you 0:04:42.920 --> 0:04:45.719 just just out there playing. The battle for the starting 0:04:45.800 --> 0:04:48.360 nickelback job has been one of the most contested spots 0:04:48.360 --> 0:04:51.640 here at Eagles training camp, but according to cornerback Jalen Watkins, 0:04:51.880 --> 0:04:55.000 working against the premier slot receiver like Jordan Matthews has 0:04:55.000 --> 0:04:57.880 gone a long way. I've been going against shortan since 0:04:57.880 --> 0:05:01.320 my freshman year of college. But it's definitely he's physical 0:05:01.720 --> 0:05:04.520 at the point of attack with the ball, so from 0:05:04.560 --> 0:05:06.880 that aspect, he's gonna go up and get it. So 0:05:06.960 --> 0:05:09.159 then you get game reps every time he's in the game, 0:05:09.200 --> 0:05:12.080 and everybody knows he's a workhorse, so just chasing him 0:05:12.080 --> 0:05:14.440 all around the field is definitely a tough task and 0:05:14.480 --> 0:05:16.760 it's good to go to game, so you prepare for that, 0:05:17.680 --> 0:05:19.719 make sure you're caught up on all the latest Eagles 0:05:19.720 --> 0:05:22.440 news before Saturday night's game in Green Bay. You can 0:05:22.480 --> 0:05:25.839 catch up on everything right here on Philadelphia Eagles dot Com. 0:05:26.440 --> 0:05:28.839 Thanks Alex. In a little bit, we're gonna look at 0:05:28.880 --> 0:05:30.840 the Detroit lines, a team that should have beat those 0:05:30.880 --> 0:05:33.599 Dallas Cowboys in the postseason last year, when I pose 0:05:33.680 --> 0:05:36.599 a threat once again in two in fifteen. But the 0:05:36.640 --> 0:05:39.359 third quarterback battle, it's one that's been in the spotlight, 0:05:39.400 --> 0:05:41.600 and it's amazing how deep this team is. Because of 0:05:41.600 --> 0:05:43.560 the fact that you're focused on the third quarterback. But 0:05:43.880 --> 0:05:47.760 Matt Barkley, the longest tenure quarterback on this roster, hoping 0:05:47.760 --> 0:05:50.240 to win that third job, Dave, you have a chance 0:05:50.240 --> 0:05:51.880 to catch up with Yeah, and it's a different Matt 0:05:51.880 --> 0:05:54.960 Barkley in year three. He's healthy, he's confident, he knows 0:05:55.000 --> 0:05:58.719 the scheme, and he feels he's playing outstanding football. As 0:05:58.760 --> 0:06:01.440 for the roster battle with Tim Tebow, what does Barkley 0:06:01.440 --> 0:06:03.440 I have to say, Well, you've got to stick around 0:06:03.440 --> 0:06:06.480 and find out. Next up Matt Barkley in studio on 0:06:06.640 --> 0:06:13.840 Inside Training Camp presented by Xfinity with extra twenty checking 0:06:13.880 --> 0:06:16.320 from sant Ander. You can get paid twenty dollars a month. 0:06:16.600 --> 0:06:19.600 Just direct deposit fifteen hundred dollars or more and pay 0:06:19.680 --> 0:06:21.800 two bills a month with the online bill pay feature. 0:06:22.040 --> 0:06:24.839 Then you can get paid twenty dollars a month. That's 0:06:24.839 --> 0:06:26.919 just the way it works. So what are you waiting for? 0:06:31.720 --> 0:06:42.320 However you do sports, however you do fun, However you 0:06:42.480 --> 0:06:53.919 do summer, do it at Sports Authority Shop. Thousands of 0:06:53.960 --> 0:06:59.760 great deals this summer Sports Authority Section five twelve, Row six, 0:07:00.200 --> 0:07:02.840 seventh through ten. Those are our seats at this one 0:07:02.880 --> 0:07:05.560 time we can't be there. Please treat them right. Get 0:07:05.560 --> 0:07:10.360 there earliest daylight and yellow whole lot dress, warm gloves, hats, 0:07:10.360 --> 0:07:13.960 warm boots. Eric sits in the middle. Uncle Paul sits 0:07:13.960 --> 0:07:15.320 on the aisle, And if you want to sit in 0:07:15.360 --> 0:07:17.280 my seat. Make sure you get your ticket from the 0:07:17.280 --> 0:07:19.840 only place a fan can trust. Buy and sell one, 0:07:20.680 --> 0:07:24.600 Verify authentic tickets with other true fans only on NFL 0:07:24.720 --> 0:07:28.640 ticket Exchange tickets from one fan to another with Xfinity. 0:07:28.800 --> 0:07:31.720 Stream your recordings anywhere board, download them to your smartphone 0:07:31.760 --> 0:07:33.920 or tablet to watch when you're off online. Now it'd 0:07:33.960 --> 0:07:36.600 be nice. Let's take it on the train. Awesome, or 0:07:36.840 --> 0:07:38.840 on a plane. This will work on a plane. You 0:07:38.840 --> 0:07:42.120 can even watch on the Moon call or click today 0:07:46.560 --> 0:07:49.480 tomcaf fourth that is giving away a pair of Eagles 0:07:49.480 --> 0:07:53.280 season tickets entered away in at Philadelphia Eagles dot com 0:07:53.480 --> 0:07:58.360 flash see Yes then Philly. The quarterback position always in 0:07:58.440 --> 0:08:00.920 focus with the Philadelphia Eagles. We're gonna talk about it 0:08:01.160 --> 0:08:04.080 in studio here. I'm Eagles insider Dave Spidero with Eagles 0:08:04.160 --> 0:08:06.960 quarterback Matt Barkley, and hey, we're talking. Let's talk about 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:10.320 the position. Lots of success, ball moving up and down 0:08:10.400 --> 0:08:11.680 the field, lots of points on the board. How you 0:08:11.720 --> 0:08:14.240 feeling about your preseason? I feel solid. I felt like 0:08:14.280 --> 0:08:17.720 I've done a good job of moving moving the offense, 0:08:17.800 --> 0:08:21.280 putting us into good scoring positions. I wish I could 0:08:21.280 --> 0:08:24.040 have kept off a couple of drives with more touchdowns, 0:08:25.000 --> 0:08:27.360 but you can always nitpick at things. I think I've 0:08:27.400 --> 0:08:29.360 done a good job of managing the offense and pushing 0:08:29.400 --> 0:08:32.760 the tempo, which is what coach Kelly wants. It's amazing 0:08:32.800 --> 0:08:35.520 the tempo and everybody talks about the tempo, and I 0:08:35.520 --> 0:08:38.640 guess I understand it. But the design of the offense 0:08:38.960 --> 0:08:41.680 seems to be great. When you now that you've really 0:08:41.679 --> 0:08:44.120 become ingrained in it, Matt, What is it about tempo 0:08:44.160 --> 0:08:45.480 to work so much even though the rest of the 0:08:45.559 --> 0:08:48.079 league knows is coming. Well, first of all, you've been 0:08:48.080 --> 0:08:51.319 practicing a certain way the whole year, or as one team, 0:08:51.360 --> 0:08:54.200 maybe that week they'll do some extra sprints after practice 0:08:54.880 --> 0:08:57.520 or try to get in shape that week. But it 0:08:57.559 --> 0:09:01.120 doesn't compare to playing a full game at the level 0:09:01.160 --> 0:09:03.080 of high speed that we play it. And once we're 0:09:03.080 --> 0:09:06.600 going and it really shows up. You know, play six 0:09:06.800 --> 0:09:09.920 seven into a drive when you're pushing it and you're 0:09:09.920 --> 0:09:13.840 just going, you're lining up super quick every play, and 0:09:13.880 --> 0:09:15.760 you got running backs coming out of the backfield. You 0:09:15.840 --> 0:09:18.600 got vertical routes and guys have to carry and they 0:09:18.640 --> 0:09:21.000 just have they just drop zones where guys will be 0:09:21.040 --> 0:09:23.439 wide open and you find open and happened in the 0:09:23.480 --> 0:09:25.719 game on Saturday. We just find open guys this ditch it. 0:09:26.240 --> 0:09:28.760 They'll get fifteen twenty yards like that. How is it 0:09:28.840 --> 0:09:31.320 challenged you mentally? I know the physical part is one thing, 0:09:31.320 --> 0:09:33.040 but how about it the mental part? Is it made 0:09:33.040 --> 0:09:36.480 you more acute mentally absolutely focus. It makes you focus 0:09:36.520 --> 0:09:39.199 on what you need to know right now, and you 0:09:39.240 --> 0:09:42.000 have to make quick decisions. You have to make smart, 0:09:42.080 --> 0:09:44.720 quick decisions with the ball, not only pre snap. You 0:09:44.720 --> 0:09:47.760 don't have a whole really long process coming up to 0:09:47.760 --> 0:09:49.960 the ball, surveying the defense and making all these calls 0:09:49.960 --> 0:09:52.200 and checks. You get the play call, you line up, 0:09:52.240 --> 0:09:54.840 and you go, and all that has still has to 0:09:54.880 --> 0:09:57.400 happen before you get the ball to your hairs and 0:09:57.440 --> 0:10:00.280 know where you going, what your reeds are. So it's 0:10:00.520 --> 0:10:04.319 it's definitely made me focus in on what matters and 0:10:04.320 --> 0:10:06.160 what I need to focus on this play. From a 0:10:06.160 --> 0:10:09.560 physical standpoint. We've talked about this before, from a couple 0:10:09.559 --> 0:10:12.080 of years ago to now, totally different. Right, the shoulders great, 0:10:12.120 --> 0:10:13.959 you're driving the ball, You're thrown with more as if 0:10:13.960 --> 0:10:16.440 you still feel that way. The things are every week better, 0:10:16.520 --> 0:10:18.680 better and better. Yeah, I'm not thinking about my arm anymore. 0:10:18.720 --> 0:10:22.679 Whereas my first year I was here every ball through 0:10:22.720 --> 0:10:24.360 I wasn't even sure where it was going to end up, 0:10:24.360 --> 0:10:26.400 just because I was coming out to the side to 0:10:26.720 --> 0:10:31.079 compensate from my shoulder injury. So I'm totally confident with 0:10:31.240 --> 0:10:32.880 my arm now that I can put the ball wherever 0:10:32.920 --> 0:10:35.160 I want to. And now it's all just focusing about 0:10:35.200 --> 0:10:38.040 helping these younger guys getting the offense no know what 0:10:38.120 --> 0:10:41.480 their responsibilities need to be and just being a you know, 0:10:41.520 --> 0:10:44.360 a commanding leader on the field. Now, this is not 0:10:44.400 --> 0:10:46.880 a knock at all of the wide receivers, but when 0:10:46.880 --> 0:10:49.480 you play in these preseason games, you're playing generally in 0:10:49.480 --> 0:10:51.720 the second half. You're playing with guys who may or 0:10:51.760 --> 0:10:55.199 may not be on the roster, not starting caliber at 0:10:55.200 --> 0:10:57.920 this point in their careers NFL plays. How is that 0:10:57.960 --> 0:11:00.920 an adjustment for you to not kind of know exactly 0:11:01.080 --> 0:11:03.679 have that chemistry built with these guys. It can be 0:11:03.720 --> 0:11:06.760 a challenge at times just not being on the same 0:11:06.800 --> 0:11:08.920 timing or on the same page on certain routes, but 0:11:09.120 --> 0:11:12.520 it almost forces you to be a more accurate pastor, 0:11:12.600 --> 0:11:15.400 to be sharper with the rows and off the field, 0:11:15.640 --> 0:11:17.600 to make sure that those guys know what they're doing, 0:11:17.880 --> 0:11:20.360 to be a teacher to them, and to be a 0:11:20.760 --> 0:11:23.439 quarterback leader that they can the couple great competition here 0:11:23.480 --> 0:11:26.280 with Sam and with Mark and with Tim and you 0:11:27.000 --> 0:11:29.480 has that made you a better quarterback? Yeah? I think 0:11:29.480 --> 0:11:31.760 we have a great room of quarterbacks who are all 0:11:31.760 --> 0:11:34.319 pushing each other. GJ is still kind of hanging out 0:11:34.360 --> 0:11:37.240 in our in our meeting groups too, and he's doing 0:11:37.240 --> 0:11:40.320 a little bit of both, so as many positions as 0:11:40.360 --> 0:11:43.520 he's playing. But yeah, all those guys, we're pushing ourselves 0:11:43.559 --> 0:11:45.960 to be better. We all have different backgrounds, all different 0:11:45.960 --> 0:11:48.880 skills that we bring to the table and definitely think 0:11:48.920 --> 0:11:51.280 it's made all of us better. Man, we've got two 0:11:51.320 --> 0:11:54.000 preseason games to go here, mindset for you change it 0:11:54.040 --> 0:11:56.360 all in these last couple of weeks of preseason, I 0:11:56.400 --> 0:11:59.560 don't think so. Just just excited again to make the 0:11:59.559 --> 0:12:03.240 most of the opportunity, whether it's one series or you know, 0:12:03.440 --> 0:12:05.360 a majority of the game week for or whatever it's 0:12:05.360 --> 0:12:08.680 going to be. Uh, just score points, move the ball 0:12:08.720 --> 0:12:11.760 and make the coach is happy. Do you have an idea? 0:12:11.960 --> 0:12:13.880 At what point do you know how much you're gonna 0:12:13.920 --> 0:12:17.280 play in a preseason game? Las Weego was the day 0:12:17.559 --> 0:12:19.960 before the game or the day of the game. So 0:12:20.360 --> 0:12:24.959 you're just preparing, preparing for you don't you don't really 0:12:25.000 --> 0:12:26.640 know what's going to happen, so you have to prepare 0:12:26.640 --> 0:12:30.120 for anything. And this week just knowing the game plan 0:12:30.200 --> 0:12:33.360 and know what you no our approaches to the score 0:12:33.400 --> 0:12:35.760 points and it's it's kind of similar week to week. 0:12:35.800 --> 0:12:38.520 But if you're on your on your gaming, it shouldn't 0:12:38.520 --> 0:12:40.640 be a problem. Matt, thanks for joining us than keep 0:12:40.679 --> 0:12:42.559 up a good work. Matt Barkley in studio here on 0:12:42.679 --> 0:12:50.040 Philadelphia Eagles dot com. I scept to Philly, I sept 0:12:50.120 --> 0:12:54.199 to Philly plus the Trolley Regional Rail. I sept to 0:12:54.280 --> 0:12:58.440 Philly seventeen to Training Roadstreet line to my part point Marcus. 0:12:58.559 --> 0:13:05.559 Thanks for line all night experience the power of physical 0:13:05.600 --> 0:13:08.640 therapy At Novocare Rehabilitation. We know the importance of an 0:13:08.640 --> 0:13:11.440 active lifestyle. If you're currently injured, let us bring that 0:13:11.520 --> 0:13:15.320 active lifestyle back to you. Novacare is the exclusive provider 0:13:15.400 --> 0:13:18.079 of physical therapy to the Philadelphia Eagles and with more 0:13:18.080 --> 0:13:21.280 than one hundred convenient locations throughout Philadelphia and South Jersey. 0:13:21.320 --> 0:13:23.960 Go to novocare dot com today and request an appointment 0:13:24.040 --> 0:13:27.320 online or call eight hundred seven seven zero six six 0:13:27.440 --> 0:13:30.640 eight two. The Eagles choose Novacare, So can you. Novacare 0:13:30.760 --> 0:13:34.080 the power of physical therapy. You can't find a great 0:13:34.120 --> 0:13:40.280 doctor just anywhere, Sure you can specialists, primary care, Jefferson doctors, 0:13:40.720 --> 0:13:44.200 take a look a bit, excellent doctors, lots of locations. 0:13:44.280 --> 0:13:48.000 Call one eight hundred jeff Now, wow, that's a good number. 0:13:48.080 --> 0:13:50.720 One eight hundred, Jeff, Now, sure is I meant a 0:13:50.760 --> 0:13:53.920 good number of doctors. I meant a good number four doctors. 0:13:54.200 --> 0:13:55.960 I've got a feeling this could go on for a while. 0:13:56.400 --> 0:14:01.679 Noah can't, you'll interrupt. The announcer flinded Jefferson one eight hundred, Jeff, 0:14:01.679 --> 0:14:05.360 Now for an appointment with Xfinity. Stream your recordings anywhere 0:14:05.480 --> 0:14:07.600 board download them to your smartphone or tablet to watch 0:14:07.640 --> 0:14:09.760 when you're offline. Wrong now, it would be nice. Let's 0:14:09.760 --> 0:14:12.640 take it on the train. Awesome, or on a plane. 0:14:12.800 --> 0:14:15.120 This will work on you can even watch on the moon. 0:14:16.200 --> 0:14:23.320 Call or click. Today or the second straight year, the 0:14:23.320 --> 0:14:26.000 Eagles are going to play on Thanksgiving, but this time 0:14:26.200 --> 0:14:29.040 it's gonna be against the Detroit Lions and the previous 0:14:29.040 --> 0:14:32.520 the matchup. We bring in Tim Twentyman from Detroit Lions 0:14:32.640 --> 0:14:36.360 dot Com. Tim, the Eagles have the defending rushing champion 0:14:36.360 --> 0:14:39.520 in DeMarco Murray. On the flip side, the Lions have 0:14:39.600 --> 0:14:42.880 the defending number one ranked run defense in the entire NFL. 0:14:43.080 --> 0:14:46.480 But they lost two key pieces in Dominican Sue and 0:14:46.560 --> 0:14:49.680 Nick Fairley this past offseason. How would they compensate for 0:14:49.720 --> 0:14:52.920 those losses? Yeah, that's one of the real big question marks, 0:14:53.080 --> 0:14:55.720 you know, heading into training camp is is what does 0:14:55.720 --> 0:14:58.400 an a Dominican sue list Lions defense look like? And 0:14:58.840 --> 0:15:01.200 you know, I think that the front office did a 0:15:01.240 --> 0:15:05.200 good job kind of being proactive knowing that that sue 0:15:05.320 --> 0:15:07.640 was gone and trading for Helodi Nada, the five time 0:15:07.680 --> 0:15:10.320 pro bowler. You know, So I think the loss in 0:15:10.400 --> 0:15:12.080 terms of the run game isn't going to be as 0:15:12.120 --> 0:15:15.480 significant as maybe people think. I think though Helodi Nada 0:15:15.520 --> 0:15:16.840 is going not gonna get you eight and a half 0:15:16.840 --> 0:15:20.000 sacks that in Dominican suit did last year. You know, 0:15:20.000 --> 0:15:21.840 he's made a lot of money in this league playing 0:15:21.920 --> 0:15:24.680 nose and being that run stopper and that you know, 0:15:24.960 --> 0:15:29.120 blocking occupy occupier. And so I think the Lions are 0:15:29.120 --> 0:15:31.960 going to be still just as strong defensively against the 0:15:32.040 --> 0:15:34.280 run as they were last year. They're gonna have to 0:15:34.320 --> 0:15:36.360 find some other ways to get pressure on the quarterback 0:15:36.360 --> 0:15:38.640 because the Dominican was so good at that. But just 0:15:38.720 --> 0:15:42.480 in terms of a run stopping defense, look, the Lions 0:15:42.520 --> 0:15:45.240 were the ninth best defense against the run in the 0:15:45.400 --> 0:15:48.480 history of the NFL. Last year. You know, teams average 0:15:48.560 --> 0:15:51.640 less than seventy yards per game. So I think They're 0:15:51.640 --> 0:15:53.640 still gonna be really strong in that end. They've got 0:15:53.680 --> 0:15:57.240 DeAndre Levy behind Helodi Nada. They've got some guys in 0:15:57.320 --> 0:15:59.600 Ty run Walker and Kron Reach what they're excited about 0:15:59.600 --> 0:16:02.360 defensive tackle, and they get their middle linebacker, Stephen Tullock back. 0:16:02.440 --> 0:16:04.920 So strictly against the run, I think this unit is 0:16:04.960 --> 0:16:06.280 still going to be just as strong as they were 0:16:06.360 --> 0:16:09.040 last year. Levy is an underrated superstar in this league. 0:16:09.040 --> 0:16:11.520 He's definitely a name to watch this season. Now. When 0:16:11.520 --> 0:16:13.760 I think of the Lions, I think of Matthew Stafford 0:16:13.760 --> 0:16:16.880 a quarterback and Calvin Johnson a wide receiver. But it 0:16:17.000 --> 0:16:18.880 seemed like the Lions realized that they had to pull 0:16:18.880 --> 0:16:21.360 a little more focus into the ground game this offseason. 0:16:21.760 --> 0:16:24.760 Tim Holmport wasn't for the Lions to invest with the 0:16:24.800 --> 0:16:26.920 top two picks in the draft Lake and Thompson in 0:16:26.960 --> 0:16:29.520 the first round, and then running back Amira Dula to 0:16:29.560 --> 0:16:32.880 help solidify that run game huge. I mean Jim Caldwell 0:16:32.920 --> 0:16:34.520 when he got here, he said, look, I want my 0:16:34.600 --> 0:16:36.720 team to be able to stop the run, which they 0:16:36.720 --> 0:16:39.120 did last year, and run the football. They didn't get 0:16:39.120 --> 0:16:40.480 it done last year in that part of I mean, 0:16:40.480 --> 0:16:43.800 they ranked twenty eighth in the NFL and really put 0:16:43.840 --> 0:16:46.160 too much on Matthew Stafford's shoulders in the first year 0:16:46.160 --> 0:16:48.120 of an offense. And so they want to be more balanced. 0:16:48.160 --> 0:16:52.320 Like they were about fifty eight forty two pass run 0:16:52.480 --> 0:16:54.320 last year, and they want that number to be more 0:16:54.400 --> 0:16:56.560 fifty fifty. And so, like you said, they went and 0:16:56.640 --> 0:17:00.400 got a good young starting left guard in Lake and Tomlinson. 0:17:00.640 --> 0:17:02.960 They got a guy in a mir Abdula who's kind 0:17:03.000 --> 0:17:05.240 of that change of pace, that shifty guy, that guy 0:17:05.240 --> 0:17:07.160 that can get him the big play, which they didn't 0:17:07.200 --> 0:17:11.080 have last year. So it's really been in emphasis this season. 0:17:11.080 --> 0:17:13.040 And I would add even the fifth round Michael Burton, 0:17:13.080 --> 0:17:16.600 the fullback who they've added as well. So they made 0:17:16.640 --> 0:17:20.760 a conscious effort to be better running the football and 0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:23.720 I think they did so. So we'll see, Tim. Is 0:17:23.720 --> 0:17:26.920 there any concern about whether Calvin Johnson might be starting 0:17:26.960 --> 0:17:29.320 to hit a decline? He will be thirty years old 0:17:29.359 --> 0:17:32.440 this season. He nearly had two thousand yards just back 0:17:32.440 --> 0:17:35.840 in twenty twelve, but the last two seasons, understandably the 0:17:35.920 --> 0:17:38.240 numbers have gone down a little bit. Miss some time 0:17:38.320 --> 0:17:42.040 to injury last season. Is there any concern that Johnson's 0:17:42.040 --> 0:17:44.959 production might be on the decline. Well, I think the 0:17:45.000 --> 0:17:47.800 injuries probably more so. I mean, you know, he played 0:17:47.800 --> 0:17:50.680 in thirteen games last year, still had over a thousand 0:17:50.760 --> 0:17:54.240 yards in seventy seven catches and eight touchdowns, but the 0:17:54.320 --> 0:17:56.479 injuries have cropped up. He missed three games last year, 0:17:56.480 --> 0:17:58.920 he missed two games the year before. That's more games 0:17:58.920 --> 0:18:01.040 than the last two seasons that he missed his for 0:18:01.200 --> 0:18:03.920 six and so you know he is going to be 0:18:04.000 --> 0:18:07.120 thirty years old this year. So I think the wear 0:18:07.160 --> 0:18:09.679 and tear that that's been put on his body, I 0:18:09.680 --> 0:18:12.520 think is the biggest concern, Not so much his abilities, 0:18:12.880 --> 0:18:14.879 because when he's in there, I think he's still showing 0:18:14.920 --> 0:18:17.119 that he's that big play guy. He's a huge threat 0:18:17.119 --> 0:18:20.600 for them, But the injuries have nagged a little bit, 0:18:20.640 --> 0:18:24.080 and so that's something to watch with Calvin Johnson. You know, 0:18:24.119 --> 0:18:26.560 they probably have one of the best receiving duos in 0:18:26.560 --> 0:18:28.760 the league and him in Golden Taed and if those 0:18:28.760 --> 0:18:31.320 two guys can stay healthy and there you know, second 0:18:31.359 --> 0:18:33.680 year tight end Eric Ebron can emerge like they hope 0:18:33.720 --> 0:18:36.240 he will. I mean, that's a really nice trio, but 0:18:36.320 --> 0:18:37.879 I think the only thing that can derail that in 0:18:37.960 --> 0:18:39.800 terms of Calvin is going to be the injuries. He's 0:18:39.800 --> 0:18:42.840 still Megatron, He's still that player, but can he stay healthy? 0:18:42.880 --> 0:18:44.359 I think he has to prove that this year. I 0:18:44.480 --> 0:18:47.119 think the question He's still respected one of the best receivers, 0:18:47.119 --> 0:18:50.160 not just receivers, but players in the entire NFL. Tim, 0:18:50.240 --> 0:18:53.480 last question for you. The Lions won ten games back 0:18:53.480 --> 0:18:56.240 in twenty eleven. They bounced back and won four the 0:18:56.280 --> 0:18:59.399 following season. Last year, the Lions won eleven games. Should 0:18:59.400 --> 0:19:01.240 have beaten down also the playoffs. We all know what 0:19:01.240 --> 0:19:03.199 happened at the end of that game. But Tim, do 0:19:03.240 --> 0:19:06.200 you think the lines are better prepared to handle success 0:19:06.280 --> 0:19:08.520 this time around? Well? I think so, And I think 0:19:08.560 --> 0:19:10.800 it stumps from the top. Jim Callbo, the head coach. 0:19:11.119 --> 0:19:13.520 I think there's just a different mentality with this team. 0:19:13.560 --> 0:19:16.600 It's kind of a blue collar, lunch pale kind of 0:19:16.600 --> 0:19:19.840 football team, and he instills that in them, and so 0:19:19.880 --> 0:19:21.720 I think you know that that trickles down through the 0:19:21.720 --> 0:19:24.040 coaching staff into the players. And I think this is 0:19:24.040 --> 0:19:26.840 a veteran laden team too. I mean, they've got some guys. 0:19:26.840 --> 0:19:29.600 You mentioned Matthew Stafford before. I mean, you can't believe it, 0:19:29.600 --> 0:19:31.159 but you know, this is going to be his seventh 0:19:31.160 --> 0:19:34.600 season in the NFL. And so you've got guys, you know, 0:19:34.760 --> 0:19:38.760 like Helodi Nada, like Stephen Tullock, like Glover Quinn, like 0:19:38.840 --> 0:19:41.560 Golden Table, a lot of veteran guys who kind of, 0:19:41.840 --> 0:19:43.600 you know, know what it takes to win in this league. 0:19:43.600 --> 0:19:45.080 And then they got a taste of it last year. 0:19:45.200 --> 0:19:46.760 And I don't think they're gonna be too quick to 0:19:46.840 --> 0:19:49.920 let that taste escape their mouth. And and so they're gonna, 0:19:49.960 --> 0:19:51.680 you know, do what they need to do, and and 0:19:52.000 --> 0:19:55.080 stems from the top. And I would be real shocked 0:19:55.119 --> 0:19:57.480 if if we saw a steep decline like we've seen 0:19:57.600 --> 0:20:00.520 in last year's This is a veteran team. They've got walitytown, 0:20:00.600 --> 0:20:03.199 they've got a good coaching staff, um, they've got all 0:20:03.240 --> 0:20:05.240 the pieces they think they have to win. It's just 0:20:05.560 --> 0:20:07.160 can you know, can they get off to a good 0:20:07.160 --> 0:20:09.479 start with your schedule and can they get a few breaks? 0:20:09.680 --> 0:20:12.240