Mekhi Becton's Remarkable Progression During Eagles Training Camp
When Mekhi Becton entered the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp, he faced early challenges, particularly in matchups with defensive standout Jalen Carter. However, as the camp progressed, Becton demonstrated significant growth, gradually balancing their encounters and solidifying his position on the team.
Initially, Becton struggled against Carter, but his perseverance paid off as he improved notably over time. "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 others' numbers. We working. Iron sharpens iron," Becton noted, reflecting on his ongoing improvement.
As the first-week preparations for the season ramp up, Becton has emerged as the leading candidate for the starting right guard position. His performance in the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens was particularly consequential. While he was the only first-team starter on the offense to take the field, he played eight snaps before Tyler Steen replaced him. This game marked Becton's first experience playing right guard in a live setting.
"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," Becton shared about his commitment to refining his gameplay.
Critical to Becton's quick adaptation has been the support and advice from teammates. Cam Jurgens, for instance, has provided insight into the nuances of playing right guard. "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 play 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, emphasizing the complexities of the position.
Similarly, veteran Landon Dickerson acknowledged Becton's rapid adjustment to the guard role. "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 praised. Dickerson further lauded Becton's improvements, saying, "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."
Becton has focused primarily on perfecting his footwork and hand techniques to grasp the right guard role fully. "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 emphasized. His dedication to these fundamentals is poised to be crucial for the Eagles' offensive line as they gear up for the season.
As the Eagles prepare for their regular-season opener, Becton's progression will be under close observation. His ability to adapt and excel at a new position speaks volumes about his potential impact on the team's fortress -- the offensive line. The collective efforts with coaching and peer support have laid a solid foundation for what could be a standout season for Becton in Philadelphia.