Former first round pick Brandon Graham, who lost most of last season to a knee injury suffered in his rookie year (2010) has clearly not gotten his Eagles career off to the best start. Heading into his third season, however, the buzz has been building for the player many have written off as a first round bust. He showed up at OTAs slimmer, healthy and looking as fast he did when he was starring at Michigan.
But that was OTAs. The pads weren't on, there was no hitting... So its tough to know that much, especially about defensive players. Fast forward to today, the pads are on, practice is live and it appears as though Graham picked up right were be left off.
"He's a competitor, man. He's being challenged and he worked his butt off this offseason," said defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. "When you look into his eyes, you can see that there's a fire there. I guess maybe he wants to prove you guys wrong. He's here for business."
Graham, who took over as the starting LDE today when Jason Babin went down with a calf strain, was dominant. He beat starting RT Todd Herremans twice with spin moves and recorded multiple "sacks" of Michael Vick. In camp, since you can't tough the QB, you get credited with a sack if you can get into the backfield and into a position where probably could have hit the QB.
The reports are certainly encouraging for Graham as he enters a pivotal season in his career. Eagles writer G Cobb tweeted today that Graham's big day is just one in a string of good performances from the former first round pick.
#Eagles Brandon Graham is dominating today the same way he did yesterday
— Garry Cobb (@GarryCobb) July 28, 2012
For a blow by blow report from today's action at Eagles camp, check out Bleeding Green Nation.