As the Eagles off-season program continues, the team has seemingly filled most of the junior highs starting jobs. Signing James Bradberry will see the team get their CB2 and with just one new UDFA addition for safety – and Rodney McLeod now with the Colts – it looks like Marcus Epps will be the man.
Several players spoke to reporters after their gym session on Wednesday, and Avonte Maddox and TJ Edwards both backed Epps as a starter.
AONTE MADDOX: “He is a great player. He is smart. I sit next to him in our DB room every day. We have our own little cahoot quizzes, and he and I fight each other, and he always beats me by three points – but next week I have him, don’t worry.
He is definitely ready to be a starter. He comes out, he puts in the work, he puts in the time, he studies in the movie room […] He is not afraid to come up to someone and tackle someone. He is absolutely capable of running 40 yards to the right and 40 yards to the left to stop that fade ball, or help that corner on the fade ball.
Epps also met with the media and acknowledged that the team’s lack of additions to the position this off-season is a good sign that he will play a bigger role. The coaches have expressed their confidence in the safety but Epps knows he still has to prove himself and work hard this off season – there is a lot of time between now and week 1. He feels he has laid a good foundation with his performance from last season and can build on that.
TJ EDWARDS: “Epps is a guy who is — a great guy in the locker room. He is always around to make jokes. He actually has a really good, really funny personality once you get to know him. But he is a man who has always been stable and consistent in what he does. He takes his preparation very seriously. There isn’t a day that he doesn’t pretend to be that guy. Even last year when he was spinning a bit, not really, but you knew if he had to be the starter he would be ready. So I’m very excited that he will also get this opportunity.”
Despite his excitement for an entry-level role, Epps said he’s not looking to fill anyone’s shoes, or be the next Rodney McLeod.
MARCUS-EPPS: “Rodney is in his own job. He was a great player, a great leader, a great teammate for this organization for a while so I don’t take the approach that I have to fill someone’s shoes or be someone else, I just try to be myself day in and day out .”
Maddox also talked about James Bradberry joining the corner room of the Eagles, and how they are adding a great player who is smart and knows the game very well.
MADDOX: “Pretty cool. Like I said, a lot of credit to the player and the man, so I’m excited to be working with him.”
Epps was just as excited to get started with Bradberry.
EPPS: “Oh, it’s huge. Every time we can add such a player, that gives every team a boost. He is a very good player and has proven for a while that he is a very good player in this league. So I’m very excited to meet him and I’m very excited to be working with him.”
Maddox pointed out that the team had a pretty good draft class and brought in talented free agents this off-season, and with the growth he’s seen from some of the young guys already in the CB room, he’s confident in the secondary and the defense as a whole.
MADDOX: “We’re going to be dominant. That’s the goal every year, going into every season from my point of view.”
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