Each rookie has their own "Welcome to the NFL" moment. Normally those moments come against a certain opponent they watched growing up, or in one of their first moments out on the practice field.
But in an offseason where nothing has been normal, that moment seems to have already come for Eagles rookie Shaun Bradley -- in a virtual meeting.
"It has been crazy. You don't get to see them in person, so the first time I am seeing them is on the phone, and now I am seeing all the players on the team. I am seeing Coach Pederson and all these other guys, and it is just crazy," Bradley said. "It starts to set it. It is like 'Wow, you are here.' Now it is like, what are you going to do while you are here?"
For Bradley, "here" has always been the tri-state area. Born in South Jersey, Bradley attended Temple University, which meant his home games in college were played at the same stadium he will play his home games in the NFL, Lincoln Financial Field.
In fact, of the 90 players currently on the Eagles' roster, only 12 have played more than the 22 home games Bradley played at The Linc in college.
"I always said one thing I loved about Temple was playing in the Linc. That grass and that field, there is something different about it," Bradley said. "I'm excited to stay home. I know that stadium in-and-out. I know where the potholes is at, I know where the divots is at, everything."
There is no doubt that being able to stay home will give Bradley a leg-up over most of the rookies coming into camp this year for the Eagles. He won't have to worry about learning a new area and he won't have to adjust to a new city. That is especially important in an offseason that has been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will allow Bradley to spend more time on the usual adjustments rookies have to make coming from the college game.
"Definitely the game speed and the playbook for sure. Those are the two things I hear all the time from older guys as well. Even learning the playbook now, it is very detailed. You have to know where everybody has to be, not just yourself," Bradley said. "That, and when I get on the field, adjusting to the speed. Everybody knows what they are doing. This is big time. Things are going to be fast I gotta get used to that."
Outside of just the advantages Bradley has being from the area, he also steps into a very favorable situation in the Eagles' linebacker room. The group, once run by veterans like Nigel Bradham, Zach Brown and Mychal Kendricks, has undergone a youth movement this offseason. Not a single linebacker on the roster has been a starter for a full season with the Eagles. The two linebackers likely at the top of the depth chart right now, Nate Gerry and TJ Edwards, have a ton of potential but very little on-the-field experience together.
The result should be a wide-open competition for playing time heading into the season.
Bradley was a tackling machine at Temple, averaging close to seven tackles a game for the Owls during his three-years as a starter in the middle. His style of play, and the fact the Eagles are currently teaching him the MIKE linebacker position, should allow him to find a role on the defense fairly quickly, especially in short-yardage and goal line situations.
"Physical and aggressive. I pride myself on trying to be tougher than everybody, not break down, not give up and continue that effort base," Bradley said. "That is what you are going to get. I am going to put my head down and work."
Where Bradley could have trouble getting onto the field, at least early on is passing situations. The Eagles will often only go with two, if not just one, linebacker in obvious passing situations. Gerry projects to be the linebacker in those situations, and fellow rookie Davion Taylor might be ahead of Bradley as well as a coverage linebacker, considering how much time he spent in man coverage in college.
Bradley, however, is confident he will be able to hold his own in coverage.
"I was in coverage a decent amount. Not a lot of man too much, but more zone than anything. I feel comfortable anywhere," Bradley said. "I put myself over anybody. I would never take myself short to anybody. I am always going to say I will be OK. I have been working a lot of passing things and stuff like that."
In addition to the virtual meetings, Bradley has been both in the weight room and working with some of his former teammates this offseason. His goal was to add more upper body strength, and he feels he has accomplished that, as he is now closer to 240 than the 235 he weighed in around the NFL Combine.
Now, the next step is to take his hard work this offseason and turn it into a roster spot on the Eagles — and more home games at The Linc.
"I have one goal on a piece of paper — make the team," Bradley said. "That is the only goal I got in my head right now, and everything else gonna come after that. That is where I am at. All work."
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
