Eagles Notebook: Drew Kendall Working Overtime To Boost His Stock

Eagles notebook: Drew Kendall working overtime to boost his stock originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Drew Kendall is a center but he knows he needs to be more than that.

In the second preseason game, the Eagles’ fifth-round pick from Boston College was asked to play some guard too.

“All it is a couple inches over,” Kendall said. “You’re 12 inches over from the center. It doesn’t sound like a big deal. But in the moment, it kind of gets you a little uncomfortable.” 

Because Kendall’s practice reps were all at center in training camp, it was on him to improve as a guard. That meant extra reps before and after practice and seeking out coach Jeff Stoutland and coach Greg Austin for extra instruction.

Cam Jurgens has obviously been a huge resource for Kendall in general but Jurgens also played guard early in his career before Jason Kelce retired. So he’s been able to help Kendall with improving his versatility as well.

In the first preseason game, all of Kendall’s 58 offensive snaps came at center. In the second preseason game, his 47 offensive snaps were split between center (19) and left guard (28).

Kendall admitted he was a little rusty. At Boston College, Kendall was a full-time center. So the last time he played guard in an actual game was in high school.

Not only will versatility boost Kendall’s stock but it also goes a long way in determining the game-day roster. You can’t be a backup at just one spot if you expect to dress on game day.

“I knew it was coming,” Kendall said. “Obviously, if you’re not a starter in the league at center, you have to be able to do all three. I knew it was coming and I welcomed it with open arms. It’s a great challenge and was ready for it.

Coaching up his receivers

Jalen Hurts is 27 now and entering Year 6 of his NFL career and Year 5 as a full-time starter. So he knows exactly what he wants from his receivers and he’s not too shy to tell them.

During practice, Hurts can often be seen having conversations with his teammates, going over the details of their routes.

Hurts, who has been more open this summer, was asked about that process earlier in the week.

“I think it changes,” Hurts said. “It’s always been different and there’s always an adjustment period for me because how it’s taught from the OC, that plays a role into it. So following those things and just trying to implement the same things that I’m learning and I’m taking in myself.

“I think specifically when you find the footing in certain things, you want to communicate how you see it and how it unfolds. You see that but that’s just the communication of getting some of those guys on the same page and really just building that chemistry, especially with some of the younger guys now. With all the injuries that we’ve had, there have been a lot of opportunities for other guys to step up. So communicating that and trying to build that rapport and chemistry with them so when the opportunity comes in a real game, there’s no confusion or wrong expectations of what we’re trying to accomplish, of what we’re trying to do.”

A fan of Mac

Based on his public comments this summer, it seems like Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is a pretty big fan of Mac McWilliams.

The rookie fifth-round pick from UCF had a good training camp. And because of the instability at the cornerback position, he could eventually earn a role as a starter.

Here’s what Fangio said about McWilliams after the first week of practice in training camp: 

“Mac’s got some good football instincts. He’s got to learn the finer points of what we’re doing all the time. He’s a little hit and miss with that right now, but that’s to be expected. But I do like the player. I think he’s got good skill and he’s got a little football savvy to him, which if you don’t have that, it’s hard to coach that.”

And here’s what Fangio said about him earlier this week:

“Mac had that injury, which held him out of practice. I don’t know the exact amount of days, but we’ll call it a week maybe, and I think it’s affected him, but hopefully he’ll feel more healthy this week and we can see the true version of them. I think there’s more there than what we’re seeing and getting right now, and I think it’s probably more injury related and missing time related.”

McWilliams, 23, did miss some time in camp with a quad injury but overall had a very strong summer. He played both outside corner and nickel and even began to earn some first-team reps. Based on his success and Fangio’s comments about him, McWilliams is a player to watch in 2025.

A fun detail about Jeff Stoutland

Matt Pryor began his NFL career with the Eagles as a sixth-round pick back in 2018 but was traded to the Colts before the 2021 season and then played for the 49ers and Bears after that. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland was a big part of why Pryor wanted to return.

And it didn’t take long for Pryor to remember exactly how to learn from Stout.

“Oh yeah, he doesn’t give you a choice,” Pryor said. “He’s just different. Just his intensity, his focus on the details of everything offensively, but not only offensive line play, defensively. He wants you to understand the defense just because he did that for a while before switching over to O-line. So he kind of has a real deep understanding of both sides of the ball.”

Stoutland, 63, has been the Eagles’ offensive line coach since 2013. Before coming to Philadelphia, Stoutland had several different college coaching jobs with Alabama, Miami, Michigan State, Syracuse and Southern Connecticut State — and all on the offensive side of the ball.

The last time Stoutland coached on defense was with Southern Connecticut State back in 1984-85 as an inside linebackers coach.

But he still cares that his offensive linemen have an understanding of what the defense is trying to do to them.

“Just knowing formations, what to expect when a linebacker is not in his gap,” Pryor explained. “The defensive line’s technique. He’s just real detailed on everything and that’s what he wants the O-line to know. That way, when you go into a game, you have your best chance of winning that rep.”

Classic BG

Patrick Johnson began last season with the Eagles and even played in the season opener in São Paulo. He was claimed by the Giants off waivers after Week 1 and spent all season with the Giants, but he still got a championship ring.

And even thought Johnson wasn’t physically in New Orleans, Brandon Graham made sure to include him.

“BG called me I think 30 minutes before they walked out there on the field,” Johnson said. “He FaceTimed me. I’m sitting there on my chair when I got that FaceTime call. I’m like, ‘BG, you need to lock in, dawg. I don’t know why you’re calling me right now.’ But that just shows you the kind of love I have for the guys here and the kind of love they have for me. It was just good getting to watch them play and get that win.”