PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — If practices set the tone for game days in the NFL, the Eagles have some work to do.
The 3-5-1 Eagles are getting set to face the 6-3 Cleveland Browns on Sunday after falling to the Giants last weekend.
Wednesday involved the typical practice day which featured a busy session on the field, and the team appeared to be paying extra attention to detail, something which they apparently have not always been doing this season.
Defensive lineman Brandon Graham is one of the team leaders and was asked about how the players are trying to set an example on the practice field.
"It's on us when we hit that field to make sure that we're policing stuff on what we see," said Graham. "We can't see everything. We just know that this is for all of us. We want to win. This is what it's going to take, so let's correct it."
Related
However, there is a sense that not everyone is making the proper adjustments at practice.
As Graham indicated, the team leaders can’t see everything that is going on during practice time. Coach Doug Pederson delivers a message and the team leaders reiterate it during the week, but Graham said it is up to everyone to take responsibility for their mistakes.
"Let's stop settling for just, 'Oh, I got it next time,’" said Graham. "No, We're going to get it right now. Just start getting people to want to police themselves even more, so that we won't have to seem like we're the ones hounding you.”
Pederson is hoping inexperienced players will follow the lead of veterans like Graham, but he also has to be cautious when it comes to pushing his players too hard at practice.
Pederson is no stranger to running tough practices, but with the second half of the season now in full swing,he knows there is a danger in putting the practice pedal down too hard with players dealing with the wear and tear of the season.
"I think this is a time of year where you can come out of pads a little bit and keep the guys as fresh as you can," said Pederson. "You try to get them off their feet, keep them healthy, all of that, this time of the year. But again, as I mentioned I believe Monday, that I look at everything. I don't want to make just knee-jerk reactions moving forward.”
It’s a bit surprising to hear questions about practice habits considering the Eagles recent history, but only the players and coaches know what goes on once the doors are closed to the media.
Reporters are only allowed to view a limited amount of practice work, so it is up to Pederson and his players to assess their work in its entirety.
A report on the NFL Network claimed there are questions about sloppy practice habits involving Carson Wentz.
While acknowledging there are mistakes being made, Wentz is confident he and his teammates are doing all they can to have their work at practice carry over successfully to game days.
"That's why it's practice and I've got to be better all of the time," Wentz said. "I'm always out there working and I know everyone else is, so I haven't seen any of that from myself or really from anybody. We're out there busting our tails every day. Do mistakes happen? Absolutely. Is that something that I've seen or that I'm worried about for myself or anybody else? No, I'm not."