Mekhi Becton's Journey in Eagles' Training Camp: A Tale of Resilience and Improvement
As training camp opened for the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the most intriguing storylines centered around Mekhi Becton and his transition to the right guard position. Initially, Becton faced challenges, particularly when matched up against the formidable Jalen Carter. However, perseverance and dedication to his craft have transformed his prospects, making him a frontrunner for the starting position at right guard as the Eagles gear up for Week 1 of the season.
Over the course of the camp, Becton has shown remarkable growth. Originally struggling, he began to balance his matchups with Carter more evenly as days progressed. "It's been fun. We had a little back and forth today. We went against each other and you know I'm starting to catch up to him. I'm starting to get his number. We're starting to get each other's numbers. We working. Iron sharpens iron," Becton remarked, reflecting confidence and camaraderie in his statement.
Becton's development did not go unnoticed by his peers and coaches. Landon Dickerson, an integral part of the Eagles' offensive line, praised Becton's quick adjustment. "A little bit of an adjustment for him, but the way he's built, the way he can move with his long arms, his reach, his lateral quickness, I think right now he's really excelling at that position. And it is an adjustment, but he's handling it extremely well," Dickerson noted.
Part of Becton's meteoric rise can be attributed to the guidance and advice from team members and coaches. Cam Jurgens offered insights on the nuances of the right guard position, discussing the importance of angles and footwork against various defensive techniques. "A lot of it's talking about angles and where I want him to be and just how different every D-lineman plays. You're going to have two gappers, penetrators, different guys playing different techniques, so figuring out how the footwork changes from each defensive guy and where that linebacker is and if we have certain motions where it may change our footwork," Jurgens explained.
This attention to detail became apparent during the Eagles' preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. In this game, Becton was the only first-team starter on the offense to take the field, playing eight snaps before Tyler Steen took over. It was Becton's first time playing right guard in a live game situation, an experience he found invaluable. "There's always room for improvement on anything. This was the first time I ever played right guard in a live game. Of course, I'm gonna look at the film with Stout [Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland] and figure out what we need to do. We'll come together and combine it," he said, underscoring his commitment to constant improvement.
Becton's attention to fundamental skills, particularly his footwork and hand usage, has been another cornerstone of his adaptation to the new role. "It's still O-line at the end of the day. I still gotta get my hands. I still gotta do my footwork. It's just all about attacking my footwork and I did attack it," Becton mentioned, highlighting his focus on these core aspects of his play.
Echoing the sentiment of his teammates, Dickerson also acknowledged the effort Becton has put into mastering his new position. "For him to make that transition and come inside, and the way he's been able to succeed in doing well in practice, and come out here every day and keep getting better, is impressive," Dickerson said.
As the Eagles continue their preparations for the new season, Becton's improvement and adaptability will be pivotal for the team's offensive line success. His story exemplifies the essence of hard work, team support, and a relentless drive to improve—qualities that any team would be proud to have amongst its ranks.