PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Hey rookie, welcome to the NFL.
That's not only the name of a popular NFL Network show, but the cold reality of what a first-year player faces at training camp. While there are rare occasions where a rookie can make an immediate impact, most of year one is spent learning on the fly.
It's especially difficult for quarterbacks who have to learn a different kind of terminology.
Eagles rookie quarterback Clayton Thorson is practically going back to school as he dives into the playbook in between practice sessions.
"This is a job," said Thorson. "This is what I've got to do. The biggest thing is learning that, that's what I came here to do. It's just like you're a freshman again in college. You learn a new offense and learn a new language."
Thorson has struggled in the early going, and that was to be expected from the Northwestern product. Learning that new language while on the field can be the equivalent of having several trains arriving at a station at the same time.
Offensive coordinator Mike Groh acknowledged what his rookie quarterback is going through in the early days of camp.
"You have to be able to spit the play call out in the huddle," Groh said. "Some of them are shorter than others, but that's just part of it. That's just getting the play started. Once you get up there, you have to be able to react to what the defense is giving to you. Not only are you managing your game, but the game of the players in the huddle with you and then also having to react to what the defense is giving you, so there are a lot coming at a young guy."
Quarterbacks aren't the only rookies who are dealing with the challenge of their first NFL training camp.
Top draft pick Andre Dillard is also looking to keep up with his veteran teammates. The offensive lineman got a chance to work with the top offensive unit during Wednesday's workout with Jason Peters getting a day off.
Dillard was happy to get a chance to show what he could do with Carson Wentz and the rest of the top offensive players.
"You take the same approach," said Dillard. "You don't ever want to change what you're doing. It's the kind of situation where you always want to fall back on your level of training, but it is fun to play next to the ones and just kind of fit into that group there."
The Eagles have seen their share of rookies fall under the weight of high expectations. Names such as Danny Watkins and Marcus Smith are reminders that a high draft choice still has to prove himself on the field.
Brandon Graham is entering his tenth season with the Eagles and the veteran has complete confidence that the 2019 Eagles' rookies will eventually get up to speed.
"We've got a good set of rookies," Graham said. "Sometimes, rookies come in and they're still living off their senior year. They are still thinking they are the man until you get back and you've got to go out there and prove yourselves. You see some people humbled, but I don't think we've got that person on the team."
