OK, lets be honest. Trent Edwards looked awful last week.
Think Pat Ryan in 1991. Think Bobby Hoying in 1998. Yeah, that bad.
The former Bills starter, who was out of football last year, struggled terribly throwing the football in his first set of OTAs back in the NFL. He has been significantly better this week but not consistent enough.
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And he knows it.
There are times when I understand where Im going with the ball and my footwork feels good, and then on the very next rep, thats not the case, he said after the Eagles Thursday OTA practice at the NovaCare Complex.
I dont know when that will be, and I wish I had an answer. I do feel like the mechanics here are enforced, which they should be at the quarterback position, and they are enforced here way more than what I have been through before. Im just trying to tweak some things and have made some progress, but I have a long way to go.
Edwards is a career 60 percent passer. In 2008, he completed 66 percent of his passes, sixth-highest in the NFL.
So its not like he cant throw a football.
He just cant throw a football very well right now.
I was just talking to one of the rookies out here and he was saying how with the routes he ran in college, he did those for four years and thats all he knew, Edwards said. Now, to be coached and taught differently as a receiver, its tough. I told him, Welcome to the NFL. You have to get used to it.
Theres going to be a new playbook every couple of years. Its a new language, and you just have to focus on what they have going forward.Theres going to be ups and downs, but I need to keep progressing and keep moving in the right direction.
Edwards knows hes a long shot to stick on the final roster. Michael Vick, Mike Kafka and Nick Foles are the likely QBs, and Edwards is just trying to resuscitate his career and get some positive film at this point.
Im happy to be here with the Eagles, he said. The quarterback position here always seems to succeed no matter who is out there, whether its Donovan McNabb, Mike Vick, Kevin Kolbthey flourish in this system.
There are weapons everywhere and its just a matter of me doing my job, improving, and hopefully getting to where I need to be.
Maclin's fine
Jeremy Maclin tweaked his right ankle and took a couple snaps off to get it stretched out and taped up by trainer Rick Burkholder but didnt miss a rep and said its no big deal, just a little bit sore.
Maclin seemed fine running patterns after he got taped. He was cutting and running with no apparent effects from the (non)-injury.
Im fine, he said later. I was able to finish practice. Ill get some ice on it and be back out here on Friday.
Play of the Day
Chad Hall laid out to make a sweet diving catch of a 20-yard out on the left sideline just in front of Nnamdi Asomugha on a pass from Edwards.
Play of the Day II
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie batted a Michael Vick pass up in the air and then ran about five yards to snag the ball before it hit the ground and ran the other way for a touchdown.
Play of the Day III
A Mike Kafka pass was batted up in the air by linebacker Mychal Kendricks, then batted in the air again by tight end Brett Brackett before Jason Avant reached behind him, juggled the ball and then caught it, then ran untouched down the field for a big gain.
Play of the Day IV
Dion Lewis was running with the football when Darryl Tapp ran behind him and punched the ball out. The ball sailed high into the waiting arms of Brandon Graham, who began running the opposite way.
The Bryce is right
Rookie seventh-round pick Bryce Brown continues to look polished and smooth in the receiving game. Its tough to see him wearing No. 34 with Brown on his jersey and not think of Ronnie Brown, but so far Brown has been impressive. And hasnt tried to lateral yet.
Hey, I remember you
Steve Kaufusi, a defensive lineman with the Eagles in 1989 and 1990, was at practice Thursday. Kaufusi, a 12th-round draft pick out of BYU in 1988, played all 32 games for the Eagles in 1989 and 1990.
Say what?
Somebody walking down Broad Street near the practice fields shouted this during practice Thursday: Lets go, McNabb. Really.
Whats next
Eagles practice again Friday and then Monday through Thursday next week. The off-season sessions conclude with a full-team minicamp June 12-14.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com.