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Eagles' Cole Payton embracing uncertainty of new role
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- Eagles' Cole Payton embracing uncertainty of new role
Eagles' Cole Payton embracing uncertainty of new role originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell walked into the locker room after Friday's practice to find multiple rows of reporters gathered around rookie quarterback Cole Payton's locker.
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"Yeah, CP! Let them know!" Campbell yelled out.
Clearly, Payton's teammates are excited about the opportunity in front of him on Sunday. So is the fifth-round draft pick out of North Dakota State.
With the news that Jalen Hurts will miss some time with a blood clot in his calf, Tanner McKee is set to make his third-career start this week against the Carolina Panthers.
That makes Payton next in line. One injury and he will make his NFL debut.
"Very prepared," Payton said when asked at his locker on Friday if he would be ready to go if something happens to McKee. "Whether the two or the four, I've been preparing every single week like I'm the starter. That's our expectation. That's been our expectation. I feel very confident for when my number's called."
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Payton's number has already been called — kind of, sort of. In last week's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Payton played 10 special team snaps, marking his first regular season action.
"Last week was a blast," Payton said about the special team's opportunity. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes. I'll do whatever. I love the game."
Despite the lack of in-game reps, Payton is grateful for the time the coaching staff has dedicated to his development. Now, all that time and effort could pay off if his number is called this week.
"I think he's worked his butt off," said head coach Nick Sirianni about Payton before Friday's practice. "He gets plays in those developmental periods. He gets reps on the scout team as well. He works extremely hard with the coaches after practice. He gets even more reps there after practice with [Quarterbacks Coach] Parks [Frazier] and with Gummy [Offensive Assistant/Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Montgomery VanGorder], just continuing to go through different things that we have as tools."
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Since the start of training camp, Payton has regularly been staying late after practice to throw to whoever is available on the field. Often, Hurts has stayed behind to observe what Payton is working on.
The Eagles organization has long been known to be a "quarterback factory," placing a strong emphasis on developing the position. Payton is the latest project.
"For Coach Sirianni to carve out time every single day after practice – were getting DVO 7 on 7, DVO mesh work with the running backs, were doing team stuff at the end of practices – I think those reps add up every single day, and its huge," Payton said.
Payton is referring to Sirianni's decision to incorporate multiple developmental [DVO] periods into the weekly practice schedule to make sure a player like Payton, buried in the depth chart, gets the work he needs to develop.
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General manager Howie Roseman said at the start of training camp that the organization sees "long term value" in having Payton on the Eagles roster.
One of the most noticeable parts of Payton's game during the preseason was his willingness to let it rip. He took more chances on the field than Eagles fans are accustomed to seeing. This led to multiple interceptions in training camp and the preseason. But there is no fear in Payton's game, he has the will to keep you on the edge of your seat with some of the throws he makes in game.
"I've got a lot of confidence in throwing the football," Payton said during training camp. "But in the NFL, these windows are a lot tighter and so I've got to take care of the football. I've thrown a few picks. But there's that balance of knowing when to strike and knowing when to take the check-downs. Going through those growing pains but taking the ups and the downs."
Now that Payton is preparing for the possibility of seeing some regular season action at quarterback, his progression is at the top of his mind and the coaching staffs.
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"The biggest thing is just the rhythm and timing and football," Payton said about what he has been working on during developmental periods in practice. "Throwing NFL routes, concepts and schemes. That has been the biggest learning curve and the detail that Sean [Mannion] puts into the offense.
"You can get away with sloppy footwork in college. Now you can't. With these DBs and LBs, with these huge D-linemen, you can't get away with that. Its sharpening those fundamentals every single day."
Throughout the conversation at his locker, Payton's excitement about the opportunity to serve as the Eagles backup quarterback this week was clear. Just as noticeable was his confidence in the preparation he has put in for this moment.
Payton is ready to embrace the unknown and ready for whatever happens on Sunday.
"It's exciting, you come to play this game and do whatever it takes," Payton smiled at the thought of his number being called. "Super confident in Tanner … but I am ready."
