Rookie free agent Aaron Evans says even the way he holds the pads for veterans will help his chances as he learns the Eagles playbook. Photo by Andy Lewis / contrastphotography.com

Imagine trying to land a spot playing piano in a renowned orchestra or music group, but you can’t play the piano at your preliminary audition. All you can do is show if you can read sheet music. It would be frustrating, right?

Those are the kinds of challenges rookies, plus second- and third-year players face trying to get the attention of coaches and improve their chances of making the team.
Because of league rules, there are no pads and no hitting during the offseason. The amount of time players can be with coaches is limited and monitored.

Quarterbacks can show off their arms, wide receivers can showcase their speed and catching ability. Defensive backs likewise can show their speed and ability to cover.
But how can rookie and second- or third-year linemen and linebackers make an impression?

Aaron Evans, a 6-foot-4, 325-pound rookie free agent offensive lineman out of Central Florida, talked about some of the things he is doing until the hitting starts.

“It comes down to detailing your assignments and everything you do,” Evans said. “It’s being intentional in every action that you take. Say for instance, we’re holding the bag for the older guys, it’s really important you give them the look they need to be productive players at this level. That’s what my value is free agent-wise as an offensive line is right now. As I continue to improve my knowledge and my assignments, technique and stuff, I continue to impress.”

The 23-year-old said knowledge and smarts are some of the most important attributes an offensive lineman most possess. And that’s what he focused on during OTAs and mini-camp.

“I think that’s where linemen are a little bit different,” Evans said. “We’re not freak athletes like everyone else. We’re big, strong dudes…but we have to be the smartest guys in the field.”
Another big, strong guy looking for a gig is 6-5, 310-pound center Jon Toth. The 24-year old did not miss a game in four years at Kentucky.

Sports Illustrated ranked Toth as the fourth overall center prospect in the 2017 NFL Draft. Toth did not get drafted. Several teams seemed interested in signing him to a rookie free agent contract, but an untimely back injury ended that opportunity.

The Eagles signed him to their practice squad at the end of the 2017 season and he is back to give it a try in 2018. The Eagles are believed to be the only team in the NFC bringing back the same starting offensive line as last year…four of those guys are Pro Bowlers, three of them are All-Pro linemen. Landing a spot on this unit is going to be a challenge to say the least.

Toth said there are many things he can do to make an impression including … “Everything up to that point of contact and sometimes contact itself,” Toth said at his locker after an OTA. “Being able to service a block correctly, making the proper play calls, executing the techniques that are required, [coaches] can definitely evaluate all that.”

Toth was asked if meetings are as intense as they are in college? Are players at this level put on the spot to know the playbook?

“There’s definitely a high attention to detail in everything you do here,” Toth said. “It’s your job so you’re expected to know what’s going on. That’s a huge part of what goes on in meetings and stuff. Knowing the plays and knowing the assignments.”

Toth was asked about not having classes anymore. Does it feel weird not having to worry about that?

“That aspect of it is certainly a lot different,” Toth said. “It’s your job. You come here and you don’t have to worry about going to math at 3 PM…honestly, it’s the best job in the world. It’s awesome.”

Nathan Gerry was a fifth round draft pick out of Nebraska in 2017. the 6-2, 230 pounder is making a the switch from college safety to NFL linebacker. He added 12 pounds during his first season and played in ten games, almost all on special teams.

With the departure of veteran linebacker Mychal Kendricks to the Cleveland Browns and the loss of recently acquired Paul Worrilow to a season-ending ACL tear, Gerry talked about some of the things he was doing during the OTAs and mini-camp to up his stock and grab some of those minutes.

“It’s good to answer a lot of questions in the film room,” the second-year player said. “I want to show my knowledge of the game and our knowledge of the defense, making plays on the field obviously helps. I want to show I can play well with a lot of people, being able to play all three (linebacker) positions obviously helps too.”

Linemen talk about foot placement and hand placement as an important part of playing at the NFL level. Displaying a full grasp of what coaches are looking for from players during the offseason is something Gerry says counts big time during offseason evaluations when there is no blocking.

“Linebackers, we have to make all the calls to get everybody lined up,” Gerry said. “That’s kind of the first thing for me, just being able to show I can make those calls. There’s a lot of in depth calls you can make within plays based on linemen suggestions. I want to show I’m the person who can make those calls, that helps. Playing linebacker, you have to be able to do run and pass, making plays like that are going to help at OTAs.”

Kamu Grugier-Hill (left, 54) is entering his third year in the NFL. He has played lots of special teams but wants more this year. Photo by Andy Lewis/ contrastphotography.com

Eagles linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill is entering his third year. Almost all of his first two seasons have been in Philadelphia. The 24-year-old was acquired by the Eagles off waivers from the New England Patriots on Sept. 4, 2016, following the 53-man roster cut down. Grugier-Hill was originally a sixth-round draft choice of the Patriots in 2016.

He has played mostly special teams since joining the Birds. He was a member of the Super Bowl 52 championship team.

Like Gerry, he wants more. Grugier-Hill talked about what he feels is important for him during offseason practices.

“OTAs are a time for lineman and linebackers and even defensive backs to show your coverage skills and show your knowledge of the playbook,” Grugier-Hill said at his locker after an OTA session. “When it comes to coverages, even when we do gaps and stuff against the run, it’s making sure you’re in the right gap. It’s not the physical part, it’s more the mental part for sure.”

At the Temple football Media Day where reporters were asked to become players for a day. Going to meetings, it was interesting to see how intense the emphasis was on everyone knowing the playbook and how the coaches pushed players to not just get the answers right, but to answer the questions with as much intensity as the player would be making the play on the field.

Grugier-Hill was asked if that intensity remained the same in the meeting rooms at the pro level.

“Definitely,” The 6-2, 220-pounder said. “It’s all about terminology, communicating with each other. It’s bringing that chemistry with each other and being on the same page with each other.”

There are all kinds of boardwalk-type games in the Eagles locker room and players lounge. The competition at these games gets intense. You become a professional athlete because you have been blessed with great talent. But you must also hate to lose…at anything.

The Pop-a-Shot basketball game is on the back wall of the locker room. It is the most popular – and by far the loudest – game Eagles players face off against each other with. Last year, Grugier-Hill could not be stopped.

“I am the king of pop-a-shot,” Grugier-Hill said with a laugh. “Yes sir. I am king of all the recreational games in the locker room: ping pong, shuffle board…whoever wants it can come get it.”

You better believe the battle for minutes and roster spots this summer will have much more on the line than bragging rights. July 26 is the day when their music really matters.*

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii