Jordan Davis got a big smile from Jordan Davis this week when he talked about his new mentors on the Eagles’ defensive line.
Even before Davis landed on IR with a sprained ankle, he had guys like Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave and Brandon Graham to guide him. Now that he gears up for his likely return from IR, there are even more veterans in the room.
And the two most recent additions, Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh, are eager to pass on all their knowledge to the talented first-round pick.
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“It means a lot to me, to be honest with you,” Joseph said of that role. “I know what it feels like to come into the league and not really have a role model and someone who can really help me and guide me. I told myself once I got established in this league, I want to make sure I give back and help the younger guys. Y [Davis] he loves the game, he listens and he just wants to be cool. So that’s good.”
Joseph, 34, entered the NFL in 2010 as a second-round pick, but he didn’t get this kind of mentoring in the Giants’ early locker room.
That’s why he’s always made a concerted effort to be that kind of role model and sounding board for young players once he established himself.
“I entered the ancient era,” Joseph said. “The guys were intimidated and scared of losing their job to a younger player. When I first came to the league, they helped me for about three weeks. And then I got a chance to go out on the court, I made a couple of plays and that help kind of went away.”
Suh, 35, was much luckier. He was able to lean on veterans like defensive linemen Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams and offensive lineman Dominic Raiola, who helped him through his early years in Detroit.
While Joseph and Suh’s experiences differed, they came to the same conclusion: They want to do everything they can to help the next generation of gamers.
In Philly, that means teaching their talented young teammate Davis everything they can, even if it’s just for the rest of this season. It could be a lasting legacy for these two in the city.
“It’s a big advantage for a young guy,” Suh said.
And Davis, 22, is clearly the youngster on the defensive line. The Eagles have five defensive linemen over the age of 30: Suh, Joseph, Graham, Robert Quinn and Cox with a combined 62 seasons between them.
“That’s a lot of knowledge and a lot of experience,” said Davis, who noted that he was in the third grade when Suh entered the NFL.
It’s not just on-field advice, either. Veterans also teach their younger teammates how to be professional, how to watch their money, and more. On Thursday, Suh gave Davis a crash course in Bitcoin and NFTs. On the field, Davis hopes the coaching tips will help him take his game to the next level.
However, there is a price to pay for Davis.
As a rookie, it’s Davis’ responsibility to decorate the D Line meeting room for Christmas.
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“Everyone loves a little festive fun,” Davis said. “It’s the season, do you feel me?”
Both Joseph and Suh, and the other vets before them, seem to appreciate Davis’ willingness to ask questions and learn. He is committed to improving. The more veterans see that level of commitment, the more willing they are to help.
And it’s clear that Davis has all the talent to be great.
“He is very, very talented, to say the least,” Suh said. “I remember seeing a couple of clips of him when he was in Georgia and I thought he looked like a two for two, but now you see him in person and the way he can move and he can be a special talent as long as he takes care. of bussiness.”
Davis returned to practice this week after missing those four games with a high ankle sprain and had a good week, according to head coach Nick Sirianni.
Even after a couple practices with Davis, Suh and Joseph are already very impressed.
“He’s going to be a great player, man,” Joseph said. “I can not wait to see it”.
Source: news.google.com