Eric Rowe's first real NFL action wasn't pretty.
Last Thanksgiving against the Lions, Rowe was thrust into action when Nolan Carroll went down for the season with a broken fibula. Calvin Johnson wasted no time taking advantage of and destroying the then-rookie.
But things got better, and by season’s end, Rowe was probably the team's best cornerback. In fact, many were mentally writing his name into one of the starting corner spots this spring, until the team got on the field.
During OTAs, Leodis McKelvin and Ron Brooks worked as starters, while rookie Jalen Mills impressed and Carroll returned from that injury. Rowe was sort of a forgotten man. And on Monday, head coach Doug Pederson said Rowe struggled some adjusting to a new scheme.
"He's learning a new defense and new techniques this year from [Jim Schwartz’s defense]," Pederson said Monday after the first practice of training camp. "And there were some hiccups in the road a little bit this offseason and he was pulled back a little bit, but you just want to see that growth and that development with any player on your roster.
"But the chance to come out here and compete and put yourself in that position, you know, I've said this from Day 1, the competition is the best thing you've got going for you. I give credit to [vice president of football operations Howie Roseman] and his staff for bringing in the guys now that we can have that type of competition, and Eric's one of those guys that you want to see compete on a daily basis."
Rowe, 23, was taken by the Eagles in the second round last year, when Chip Kelly was the de facto GM. Now, Kelly is obviously gone, and Rowe seems to be facing an uphill battle to win back his starting job.
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Still, he'll be able to fight to be a starter once he reports to camp on Wednesday and gets on the field for practice on Thursday.
"He had a good spring. He's another one that's in the mix," Pederson said. "He's part of that depth that we have there. I’m looking forward to seeing him when we put the pads on. Part of playing corner is how well and how physical they can be when you put the pads on and start tackling and all that. And he's a big kid and I look forward to seeing his progress now this camp."
