It didn’t take long for new Eagles receiver Bryce Treggs to explain what he brings to the team.
He did it in one word.
“Speed. In one word: speed,” said Treggs, who the Eagles claimed off waivers following final cuts. “Somebody who’s going to take the top off of the coverage and make plays down the field. But that’s also going to open up some of the other guys, by me getting the safeties out of there and putting pressure on them.”
Speed is something the Eagles haven’t had a ton of in the wide receiver room. It’s something they’ve worked hard to try to find this offseason, first signing Chris Givens and T.J. Graham, then trading for Dorial Green-Beckham. The first two didn’t work out, while the third is early in his time with the Birds.
Eagles fans were upset when Paul Turner, who initially made the roster, was waived in favor of Treggs, the newcomer from Cal, who was cut by San Francisco. But it’s not hard to see what Treggs has over Turner. Yeah, it’s speed.
Turner’s time in the 40-yard dash at the Louisiana Tech pro day was 4.55 seconds. At the Cal pro day, Treggs ran it in a blazing 4.39, and some clocked him as low as 4.31. A 4.39 would’ve ranked as the second-fastest 40 time at the Combine, where Treggs was not invited, and a 4.31 would have tied him for first among all players.
Back in 2008, the Eagles took another speedy Cal receiver in the second round of the draft named DeSean Jackson. Jackson was slightly fast (4.35) and was the same type of player — one who stretches the field.
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“I’ve looked up to [Jackson] and studied him for a long time,” Treggs said. “Since I was about 13, 14 years old I’ve been studying how he played the game, how much speed he played with. I’m looking forward to bringing that same type of dynamic to Philly.”
Treggs was one of three players the Eagles claimed earlier in the week, along with linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill and safety Terrence Brooks.
Brooks has the potential to be just as exciting as Treggs, but on the defensive side of the ball.
What does Brooks bring to the Eagles?
“Definitely a hard-hitting safety,” Brooks said. “Somebody with a lot of range on the back end, but I’m very fast, strong at blitzing. I think there’s a lot of things I can contribute to the defense. I can play a lot of positions. I mean, anywhere where I’m wanted and needed, that’s where I’m going to play. I’m happy to be here.”
Brooks, who was taken in the third round out of Florida State by the Ravens in 2014, is a big-hitter, but he wasn’t given much of a chance to play defense in Baltimore.
In Philadelphia, he enters a safety group that features Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod, along with Jaylen Watkins and Chris Maragos as backups.
Still, he’s hoping he’ll have more opportunities with the Eagles.
“The last situation was a little crowded down there in Baltimore,” Brooks said. “The opportunity was a little limited over there. Did the preseason and I guess did enough to get me here, so I’m glad to be here. I have great teammates here to support me and it’s gonna be good. It’s going to be a great opportunity.”
It seems with his hard-hitting mentality and aggressive style, Brooks will fit in just fine in Jim Schwartz’s defense. As of Monday, he didn’t know much about it yet, but planned to do whatever he needed to pick it up quickly.
Brooks isn’t sure if any other team put in a waiver claim on him and he really doesn’t care.
“No clue,” he said. “All I’m worried about is the Eagles right now. I’m just glad they wanted me. I’m just ready to contribute and show them what I can do.”
