Story by
Vic Fangio's desperate search for cornerback help leads to an untested rookie
- Story by
- Vic Fangio's desperate search for cornerback help leads to an untested rookie
Vic Fangio's desperate search for cornerback help leads to an untested rookie originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Vic Fangio brought up a new candidate for that troublesome CB2 spot this week.
Advertisement
Rookie Mac McWilliams . Career NFL experience on defense? Zero snaps.
McWilliams, a 23-year-old 5th-round pick from Central Florida, recently started taking outside corner reps after spending training camp working exclusively in the slot.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out why.
"I feel like it's going well," McWilliams said at his locker Wednesday. "Wherever the team needs me, I'm ready.
"Coach Fangio, he believes I'm better outside right now at this moment, so I'm doing whatever the team needs and I'm just taking everything day by day, making sure I work hard, working on my craft."
Advertisement
After cutting ties with Darius Slay (understandable) and Isaiah Rodgers (disappointing), the Eagles went into training camp with Kelee Ringo and Adoree' Jackson competing for the second outside corner spot opposite all-rookie pick Quinyon Mitchell .
But Fangio has benched both Ringo and Jackson at different times and to say he's desperate to solidify that spot would be an understatement.
He's at the point where he'll try anything. Even an untested rookie 5th-round pick.
"I feel like I'm a very versatile guy and I can play inside or out," McWilliams said. "I was telling everybody at the Combine when they were scouting me, I can play anywhere."
Advertisement
What are the differences for McWilliams when it comes to playing in the slot or outside?
He just smiles and shrugs.
"They're not really different at all," he said. "Because I'm so used to playing both of them. I just have the same mindset wherever I'm playing."
The sum total of McWilliams' rookie year so far is 13 special teams snaps, 11 in the Tampa game. He's been a healthy scratch the last two weeks.
So it's hard to imagine anything is imminent with McWilliams. But just the fact that Fangio is accelerating his work at outside corner tells you how urgent the Eagles are in finding a second outside corner who can cover wide receivers and tackle them. McWilliams said he's still getting some inside reps, so it's not like he's a full-time outside corner. Not yet.
Advertisement
"Everybody wants to be out there playing, but I'm just taking everything for what it is," he said. "I make sure I come in every day preparing as if one day I'm going to be a starter."
What will Eagles fans see when McWilliams does play?
"When it comes to me, I feel like my best attribute is just knowing the game of football," he said. "I feel like my football IQ is one of the best things I have. I don't get beat a lot. I make sure I'm sticky in coverage."
A big part of his confidence comes from his teammates. This is a particularly close group of defensive backs and even as guys have gotten benched, reinstated and benched again, they've all remained close and supportive of each other.
Advertisement
So a guy like McWilliams gets support from everyone. Even though he may be after their job.
"They've all helped me a lot," he said. "You know, guys like Cooper, Quinyon, Reed, even though he's a safety. All the guys that's in my room, those guys are a big help. If you need anything, they're one call away. So just having that bond with your brothers is huge."
The Eagles already have two rookie starters on defense in Jihaad Campbell and Drew Mukuba. They're already the youngest defense in the NFL with an NFL-high nine players 24 and under who've already played at least 100 defensive snaps.
Will McWilliams be the next youngster to get on the field for Fangio?
Advertisement
Looks like it's trending that way. But McWilliams said as much as he wants to play, he's fine waiting his turn, continuing to learn and staying patient.
"When my time comes," he said, "I'm going to step up and make sure it's very known that I want to be here and I belong here."
