After just three days of rookie mini camp, linebacker Mychal Kendricks has made an impression on the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff. Already, there's talk that the second-round pick out of California could capture a starting spot.
"We’re going to have a staff meeting here and we’re going to go over all that stuff," coach Andy Reid said of Kendricks' chance to start. "I’ll tell you that he looked good out here. He made a lot of plays and got his hands on the ball. We have to see where he gets the most reps, and I have to go through all of that with the coaches and we’ll figure it out."
Reid praised Kendricks' athleticism, noting several occasions when the 21-year old broke up passes intended for wide receivers. Kendricks also pressures the quarterback well, which could bring an extra dimension to Philadelphia's defense.
"[General Manager] Howie [Roseman] and I told you when we took Mychal that it’s one of his strengths," Reid said, referring to Kendricks' pass rushing. "He was really good at that in college. You can get a guy coming off the tight end side or the strong side and you feel comfortable with speed, agility, and the ability to adjust to make the tackle when he’s moving fast and furious to go forward. You want to exploit that the best you can. It was good to get him introduced to it, and we’ll see how he does once we get the pads on."
For more on the Eagles rookie camp, check out Bleeding Green Nation.