PHILADELPHIA -- How are the Eagles' quarterbacks faring during the mandatory minicamp? Here's an evaluation from Wednesday's session:
Sam Bradford: Down
The Philadelphia Eagles put their quarterbacks through some difficulties Wednesday, pressuring them and forcing them to make quick decisions against the blitz. All this happened indoors, after a fast-moving storm forced the Eagles to practice in their bubble. Bradford wasn’t bad, but he made a lot more errant throws because of the pressure.
Wow moment: On consecutive plays, Bradford countered the blitz with hot throws to tight end Zach Ertz. The first was completed through a tight window as Ertz tried to shed a linebacker’s coverage. On the second, Bradford zipped a short pass to Ertz as he cleared the blitzing defenders and found an open spot in the coverage.
Whoa moment: Bradford went four plays without a completion during one drill (one of the plays was a run), but his toughest moment came on the first play of a later session. Bradford took the snap and turned to hand off to a running back. It may have been a play fake. We’ll never know because the ball wound up on the ground among the feet of the offensive linemen.
Chase Daniel: Down
If Bradford looked a little out of sync because of the pressure, Daniel had even more trouble. His lack of height is more of a problem when there are nine or 10 behemoths grappling right in front of him.
Wow moment: Daniel made a perfect throw over the shoulder of Jordan Matthews down the right sideline. Safety Rodney McLeod was closing, but Matthews caught the ball as he skidded across the turf on his knees. Matthews jumped up and spun the football on the ground near McLeod.
Whoa moment: The defensive players got louder and louder as Daniel went three consecutive plays without a completion. He tried to throw over defensive lineman Destiny Vaeao and sailed it over Ertz. Daniel then overthrew tight end Trey Burton to the left. That got the defensive players chirping, and they got really loud after rookie cornerback Jalen Mills broke up a pass intended for wide receiver T.J. Graham.
Carson Wentz: Up
The rookie had some problems, too, but Wentz seemed the most comfortable dealing with pressure; he looked more dynamic and was able to improvise better than the other two QBs.
Wow moment: Wentz threw two pretty passes that traveled more than 20 yards downfield in perfect arcs. The first dropped right into the hands of Matthews. The second found Burton in the middle of the field. Wentz made a nice throw under pressure to Nelson Agholor, but the wide receiver couldn’t hold on.
Whoa moment: Wentz threw an out to Graham on the left side. Unfortunately, Graham broke in rather than out, and the ball sailed out of bounds. That might have been Graham’s “whoa moment,” but it didn’t look too slick for Wentz, either.
Who won the day? The defense probably did. DC Jim Schwartz seems to be enjoying himself out there. Of the three quarterbacks, though, you’d have to say Wentz looked the most comfortable and effective dealing with the pressure.
