Eagles plan to take DGB on test drive
Coach Pederson wants to see what new WR can do
The plan Saturday is for Sam Bradford to throw a few jump balls to Dorial Green-Beckham when the Eagles oppose the Indianapolis Colts in preseason action at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Nicknames stick to Dorial Green-Beckham like fabric to Velcro.
Among others there’s DGB, D, Baby Megatron and LeBron.
If the Eagles have evaluated him correctly, add “Fade” to the list.
The plan Saturday is for Sam Bradford to throw a few jump balls to Green-Beckham when the Eagles oppose the Indianapolis Colts in preseason action at Lucas Oil Stadium (7 p.m., Channel 10, WIP 94.1-FM).
The 6-5, 230-pound Green-Beckham has such a physical advantage over defenders the Eagles wasted no time compiling a package of plays to capitalize on his length and explosiveness.
“He’s lining up in one spot, one position, which is good for him right now,” Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said. “But he’s playing fast and that’s what we ask him to do. And he’s being decisive with his routes. And then, obviously, in the blocks he’s such a big body, that just covering guys up in the run game is be a big benefit for us as well.”
Pretty much checked all the ‘fade’ boxes. Every bit as encouraging is that Green-Beckham is feeling good about himself again after being ditched by the Tennessee Titans, who gave up on their second-round draft pick in 2015 after just one season.
Green-Beckham averaged 17.2 yards on 32 receptions in 16 games. After a full year out of football he tallied four touchdowns. And the Titans were so eager to get rid of him they shipped him to Philly for backup offensive lineman Dennis Kelly.
In a week and change with the Eagles, there’s been no resemblance to the alleged out-of-shape, inconsistent, problematic Green-Beckham who infuriated Titans head coach Mike Mularkey enough to move on.
“I just felt like he saw the potential in me and he wanted me to do more,” Green-Beckham said. “And I tried to do everything I could do. Things don’t work out as it should be. This is starting over, being around a whole new group of guys, a new family atmosphere. I felt it was good for me.”
It’s early but Green-Beckham has been good for the Eagles. The mere acquisition has been a wakeup call for incumbent receivers Nelson Agholor and Josh Huff. With Green-Beckham, Rueben Randle is anything but a lock to make the squad.
The Eagles are going to take a lengthy look at undrafted rookie Paul Turner, both as a receiver and on special teams. The product of Louisiana Tech by way of LSU, where he learned how to play wide receiver from Odell Beckham Jr. and Landry Jones, may have the best hands of any Birds receiver.
Back to Green-Beckham, whose sheer size is an advantage. Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, who lists at 6-5, 250, believes DGB’s dimensions are understated.
“He’s huge,” Ertz said. “He might be bigger than me.”
Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich indicated it’s hard to appreciate how imposing DGB is until he’s in your grill.
“He’s an impressive, physical specimen,” Reich said. “It’s funny, you stand out there as a coach and they’re running routes on air and sometimes as a coach you stand across from the receivers that are running at you. And when he runs at you, his size and speed, it just kind of grabs you. So I’m really excited about having him here. Just like anybody else though, it’s a process. It’s a process and we keep giving them little chunks at a time to allow him to play fast and use his ability.”
Green-Beckham said he clocked a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash coming out of Missouri. The speed might have abated slightly when his weight increased to 237 pounds at Oklahoma. Now he’s back at 230 pounds and raring to go.
The Eagles intend to take a lengthy look at him with the first team offense against the Colts.
“As of right now, I’m just here trying to find my role,” Green-Beckham said. “It doesn’t matter where I fall on the depth chart right now, I’m just trying to figure out the playbook and what I have to do to help my teammates.”
For now, showing up is all DGB need do, as there’s a lot to like about the Birds’ latest addition.
*** Rookie quarterback Carson Wentz (ribs) won’t play Saturday.
Pederson said he won’t player cornerback veteran wide receiver Jordan Matthews (knee), CFL import Aaron Grymes (shoulder), rookie pass rusher Alex McCalister (calf), linebacker Joe Walker (ACL) or veteran defensive tackle Mike Martin (knee).
*** NFL teams must reduce rosters from 90 to 75 by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The Eagles have 83 players on the roster including Walker, who’s headed to IR.
The cut from 75 to 53 must be made by 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3rd.