Uar Bernard’s first NFL training camp is already unlike anything most rookies experience.
The Eagles’ seventh-round pick never played football before Philadelphia drafted him, and this summer will be his first time going through camp, period. He’s also still waiting for another first: shoulder pads. That changes next week when the Eagles open padded practices.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio laid out the approach with a phrase that fits the situation perfectly: "The "PP Plan," lots of patience and lots of persistence," Fangio said. "The day he put on a helmet here was the first time he ever put on a helmet.
He hasn’t had shoulder pads on yet. That would be a new experience for him."
Bernard’s learning curve is massive. He’s not just picking up technique; he’s learning the sport itself while lining up against players who have been around football their entire lives. That’s why the early days of camp are expected to be rough, with the kind of reps that can produce plenty of ugly moments before anything starts to click.
Fangio made it clear the Eagles know exactly what they’re signing up for. "Everybody, including himself and us, needs to temper any expectations down," Fangio said.
"He's got a process to go through. Process, that's a bad word around here."
The comparison that keeps coming up is Jordan Mailata’s rookie year, when Philadelphia took a similar long-view approach with a player still figuring things out on the fly. The Eagles essentially protected a roster spot for Mailata then, and they’re expected to do the same with Bernard now.
That luxury comes from the depth Philadelphia has at defensive tackle. Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo are the top three, with Byron Young leading the second group. Ty Robinson remains in the mix, though his roster spot is in jeopardy, and Gabe Hall and Tae’Quon Graham are also battling for jobs.
The Eagles are likely to keep six defensive tackles, and one of those spots appears to be reserved for Bernard as he works through the "PP Plan."
This isn’t a short-term project. Bernard isn’t going to solve football in five weeks, and he’s not going to figure it out this season. The Eagles are treating this as a two-year process at minimum, and they’re making no secret of it.
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