Eagles Wake-Up Call: Dorenbos’ Second Act

Looks like Jon Dorenbos has set himself up pretty well for life after football. Entering his 14th season in the NFL, his star as an entertainer is rising as his career as a long-snapper enters its twilight.

It’s the result of seeds planted along the way in preparation for the inevitable end, which Dorenbos has long been anticipating.

“Ever since I got into the league, I’ve pretty much thought I was getting fired every year I played. So after that season would end, I’d kind of go on tour and do my thing, whether it was in the corporate speaking world or just booking wherever I could one because I loved it and then two because I could actually make a living,” he said.

“Sure enough April would come around and I’d still be on the team and I’d be like, ‘Holy Cow, I’ve got a meeting.’ So I’d book my flight and I’d come and I’d do it. So it’s been a great balance. I’ve tried to network my career and whatever happens, happens. I’m beyond excited to be here. I’ve played for this team for a long time and I want to win more than anything.”

It’ll take a little bit of logistical maneuvering to fit everything in now that football season is underway. But even if he makes it all the way to the end on America’s Got Talent, he thinks he would only miss one or two practices.

“The team has been super supportive. The days are absolutely minimal as far as the conflict in schedule. NBC has been unbelievable too so we’re going to make it work. It’s not going to affect the games, it’s not going to affect much time at all.

“To play here for so long and to get the support of the city and the organization, I kind of got emotional. It was really cool. Even though I’m not from Philly I kind of feel like I am. It’s cool to represent Philly on the field and now off the field.”

Dorenbos has one more appearance scheduled on the show and it will be more if he makes the finals. Meanwhile, he’ll be dealing with a competition for the long-snapper job in Philly, as the Eagles also have rookie John DePalma in camp. However it shakes out, it seems like he’ll be OK.

“I’ve always said this: I didn’t want the NFL to define me, I didn’t want magic to define me. I love what I do and I’m just going to enjoy what I do and it’s all a great story for the grandkids,” he said.

WHAT YOU MISSED

The first training camp observations from yesterday’s indoor practice.

“It allows you to kind of be more grateful and have a good perspective on life.” Nelson Agholor and Nigel Bradham spoke to the media after being accused of separate assaults during the offseason.

“The last couple of years, there wasn’t a lot of vets. And any vet that stood up and had something to say, we got rid of him.” Jason Peters talked about what went wrong last season with Chip Kelly.

Birds 24/7 is looking for a fall intern.

“The Eagles are loaded with talent and ready to put their less-than-stellar 2015 season behind them. I’m eager to see what [Doug] Pederson will do with this team.” What They’re Saying.

“That’s why I really loved playing there, because I got the opportunity to find love for the game again.” Myke Tavarres is ready to get an opportunity to make the 53-man roster during training camp.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Doug Pederson‘s system is going to benefit Sam Bradford, writes David Murphy of the Daily News.

It isn’t necessarily the number of hits, but the magnitude of them. Throughout the turmoil of last season, Bradford remained the consummate professional, declining to offer even a hint of dissatisfaction with [Chip] Kelly‘s tempo or scheme. Perhaps he understood the system’s merits; he did, after all, finish the season with numbers that far exceeded his career averages in virtually every meaningful statistical category, from completion percentage to yards per attempt to yards per game. Yet when plays ended poorly, they tended to end really, really poorly, and it isn’t hard to see why. Kelly’s offense operated on the premise that the offense should always dictate to the defense. The tempo and the barrage of five receiver route combinations served this end. It often forced linemen onto their heels, and defensive backs into man coverage in open space. Yet when a defense was able to win those one-on-one battles, or when it was able to correctly diagnose a particular play, all that open space sometimes worked against the offense, and its quarterback.

The [Andy] Reid/Pederson offense is much more attuned to the realities of the NFL, where defenses do things that must be countered on the fly. On Thursday, offensive coordinator Frank Reich said that the scheme demands more from its running backs in terms of pass protection than any of the others he’s been involved with. Those running backs are also utilized extensively as pass catchers. Reich also pointed to the amount of flexibility the scheme gives a quarterback to check to a run, either via handoff or keeper, the latter of which Alex Smith used with much success in the Chiefs’ hard-fought playoff loss to the Patriots.

One of the reasons the Eagles fell in love with Carson Wentz was his ability to tuck the ball and run. Bradford, Reich acknowledged, brings a different set of skills to the table.

But, he said, “you don’t have to pull it a lot. Most guys will tell you all you’ve got to do is pull it once a game or once every couple games and get something positive. Because of the threat, defensive coordinators have to prepare for it.”

A small piece of home has made the trip to Philadelphia for Wentz, from Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com.

North Dakota’s hero
Earlier this week, there were several reporters and a TV crew from North Dakota to watch the progress of their hometown hero Carson Wentz. Wentz said it was cool to see some familiar media faces, especially because he knows how closely fans in his home state are still following his career.

The rookie hasn’t been home much recently, so he wasn’t sure if the buzz has died down at all since the draft, but he suspects there are many more Eagles fans at home now.

“I know now that football season is starting to kick up, it’s starting to heat up back home,” he said. “Everyone’s all interested in the Eagles, more than just the local teams around there. It’s pretty exciting. Exciting time for the state of North Dakota, for sure.”

COMING UP

Practice resumes at 8:15.

Chris Jastrzembski contributed to this post.