The Eagles finished their spring practices today and it really felt like the last day of school.
Actually, it felt even better than the last day of school for most of the team. They get their Super Bowl rings in a private ceremony on Thursday night.
That's where we'll start today's observations:
1. Jalen Mills walked out to practice with even more swagger than normal - and he normally has plenty. But as he walked onto the field, he yelled, "Give me my Super Bowl ring!" That came after he posted videos of him on Instagram wearing Super Bowl gear and posing with the Lombardi Trophy.
The team backed up his excitement with the playlist. It started with Kap G's "Rings" and then went to "Big Rings" from Drake and Future.
#Eagles music is appropriate today. 🔊 🔊 🔊
"Give me my Super Bowl ring!" - Jalen Mills pic.twitter.com/qcJiHnb3HV— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) June 14, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles and their NFL rivals from NBC Sports Philadelphia.
2. Still no Sidney Jones or Haloti Ngata practicing. Both were watching at practice, but haven't been participating. We'll get to see them at training camp in a little over a month.
Tim Jernigan and Brandon Graham walked out of the facility together. They obviously haven't been at practice, Jernigan getting over surgery for a herniated disc and Graham getting over ankle surgery. Graham is still using crutches.
3. During the team portion of practice, we saw some more tricks for the second straight day. Today, it looked an awful lot like the Philly Special. Former college quarterback Greg Ward took a pitch and then threw the ball to Nick Foles, who rolled right, in the end zone for a touchdown. It looked awfully familiar.
4. Carson Wentz again participated in 7-on-7s, but today they were in the red zone for part of it. For that part, Wentz hit Ward in the back of the end zone for a touchdown on a play where Ward clearly wasn't his first read. The next play, he hit Dallas Goedert in the front left corner of the end zone.
5. Let's talk a little about Goedert on that play. Because it was a nice throw from Wentz, but the rookie made the play. He used his body masterfully to shield linebacker Corey Nelson from the ball. This is something we've seen Ertz become great at in the last couple of years and Goedert is starting off being pretty good at it.
6. We saw how much the Eagles began to use RPOs late in the 2017 season because Foles was really comfortable with them. It's interesting, because I think it's now going to be a big part of the Eagles' offense. Today, even Joe Callahan was running RPOs, so it's a part of the playbook for everyone, not just Foles. It's kind of crazy to think that Wentz's injury has led to another big wrinkle in the Eagles' offense.
7. Avonte Maddox got some reps with the first team as the slot corner during 7-on-7s. It's the first time we've seen Maddox with the ones. The rookie corner has struggled some over the last few weeks, but there's a steep learning curve, especially at nickel corner, a spot that's new for him.
8. We've talked so much about Goedert because he's the shiny new toy, but Ertz is still really good and is getting better. He's had a great spring. With that looming breakout year talk over, he is going to be one of the top TEs in the league for years to come.
9. Wentz threw a loooong deep ball that Rashard Davis had trouble tracking. It was just one of those plays where it felt like Wentz was going to unload and he did. It probably traveled 50-60 yards in the air. He's still got a rocket on his shoulder.
10. At the end of practice during a special teams drill, Foles, Nate Sudfeld and Callahan played a game where they tried to hit the crossbar on the goal posts in the fewest attempts. Once everyone hit it, they moved back 5 yards.
From the goal line
Sudfeld: 4th try
Foles: 3rd
Callahan 1st
From the 5
Sudfeld: 3rd
Foles: 1st
Callahan: 2nd
From the 10
Sudfeld: 3rd
Foles: 5th
Callahan: 2nd
From the 15
Sudfeld: 9th
Foles: 1st
Callahan: 3rd
That first throw from Foles from the 15-yard line was a bullet.
Stupid Observation of the Day: I shouldn't have stood so close to the speaker. Now my ears are ringing, which is pretty funny, considering all the songs today were about rings.
