Vic Fangio says now’s the time for Adoree’ Jackson to show what kind of player he can be

The Eagles’ DC talked about the CB competition between Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo, and gave a lot of insight into individual player development.

The Eagles had their first fully padded practice on Tuesday, and it even had to be moved earlier in the morning due to the heat — that didn’t keep Vic Fangio from wearing a hoodie, though. The defensive coordinator spoke to reporters before taking the field, and he talked about the CB competition between Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo, and also gave a lot of insights on individual players.

Here’s what the DC had to say:

On Adoree’ Jackson vs Kelee Ringo

“The first few days out here, [Adoree Jackson] was kind of like he didn’t know he was out there. The ball wasn’t going his way at all, and then yesterday, he had a couple balls thrown his way and he did very well. He had a very good day yesterday. It’s too early to say what his experience is or isn’t right now. He’s played a good bit of ball, but I think this is the place where he’s got to show who he is and be the player hopefully that people have always thought he could be.”

Fangio said that he didn’t really watch a lot of Jackson’s film before the team signed him, and joked than when Howie Roseman wants to sign someone, it doesn’t matter what he says. But, even though he didn’t watch a lot of his tape from last year, the DC has watched Jackson over the years.

“I think it’s time for [Jackson] to show [what he could be]. In Tennessee, when it came time to re-sign him after his contract was up, they didn’t. The Giants, his contract was up, they didn’t. It’s time to show who he is or who he isn’t.”

As far as who will win the starting role between Jackson and Kelee Ringo, Fangio said that whoever is playing better is the one who will win the job. He explained that it’s not as obvious as it may appear, because there are plays done right, and wrong, that aren’t highlighted if the ball doesn’t go to that spot.

Jackson will have a lot of competition with Ringo, who Fangio said is stepping up this offseason.

“[Kelee Ringo is] doing fine. He’s competing. He’s in great shape, and probably this is his first real opportunity, and I think he’s trying to do his best to take advantage of it and he’s right there.”

Individual player notes

DT MORO OJOMO

“I think [Moro Ojomo will] hold up well. He did last year when he played in there. He’s a year older, a year of playing significant snaps under his belt, getting reps here in training camp. I think he’ll do good.”

S ANDREW MUKUBA

“[Andrew Mukuba] just has to pay attention to meetings to get mental reps, but there’s no replacing physical reps. Meetings and mental reps are good, but the value of them compared to physical reps is night and day.”

S SYDNEY BROWN

“[Sydney Brown is] finally getting to start in the OTAs, training camp to learn his way through the system and learn how we expect him to play, and he had no chance of that last year, so I see him getting better.”

LB JIHAAD CAMPBELL

“I do see [Jihaad Campbell] making small strides every day. Again, it may not be noticeable to the average eye, but he’s making good strides and if he can keep making those strides, I think he’ll be what we had hoped he would be.”

CB MAC MCWILLIAMS

“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.”

LB JEREMIAH TROTTER JR.

“[Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is] much more advanced. Obviously, he got to be a part of the team last year. Went through everything last year. Don’t believe he was ever hurt last year, never missed any time. Now, second year through in the same system, he’s much better than he was last year at this time.”

On training camp practices

Fangio explained that the action speeds up when the pads come on, and the play action and run game all speed up, which he notes is better. The most fundamental thing a defensive player has to do is to figure out if it’s a run or a pass play, and Fangio said that’s more realistically accomplished in a padded practice.

As for the heat, Fangio said it’s all a mindset, and they’ve got some hot games in September. He quipped that if you cave on a hot day in training camp, they’re in trouble.

He also talked a bit about the box drill, and how it’s something he implemented about 10-15 years ago to get players ready for change of direction and reacting to the offense.

“I quickly found out it was a really good conditioner and it’s a great drill. We do it a lot in the Spring. Clint [Hurtt]’s done it a little bit with the D-Line out here. It’s a tremendous drill and it’s kind of one of those few drills that I think is football-specific and gets guys ready and in shape for football, not just running wind sprints or gassers. Nobody runs a gasser on the football field.”

Other notables

• When asked about Cooper DeJean’s cross-training, Fangio was honest about the second-year DB not getting enough reps at the safety position. He explained that the offense has been primarily playing 11 personnel, so they haven’t had a lot of opportunities to run their base package. He admitted that it’s something they’d like to coordinate with head coach Nick Sirianni, but haven’t been able to thus far.
• Fangio said that Quinyon Mitchell’s ball skills will improve with work, and he’s already improved with the work he’s put in. The DC pointed out Mitchell’s interception on Monday, a play he might not have made last season.
• He talked about Jordan Davis losing 26 pounds, and explained that it’ll help keep the DT from getting tired as quickly. It’ll also help Davis with his pass rush moves. His length is an advantage, but sometimes he’s got to make himself 6-foot-2 by bending his knees, and being lighter will help with that.
• Fangio feels good about the edge rushers, particularly Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. After those two, they’ve got some heavy competition between Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari, but nobody has really surfaced yet.