Mekhi Becton’s Transition to Right Guard Shows Promise at Eagles Training Camp
In the first week of Eagles training camp, defensive tackle Jalen Carter appeared to have the upper hand in his matchups with Mekhi Becton. Despite being a former first-round pick and a converted tackle, Becton initially struggled to keep pace with Carter. However, recent developments indicate a rapid improvement in Becton's performance, suggesting he is acclimating well to his new role.
As training camp progressed, Becton started to show more comfort and resilience in his position. In the many faceoffs between him and Carter, the balance began to shift, with the battles becoming more even. This improvement has not gone unnoticed, both by coaches and teammates. "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," said Becton, highlighting the competitive spirit that's driving both players.
Becton's adaptation to the right guard position has been notably impressive over the past three weeks. His transformation has been so significant that the Eagles now consider him the clear frontrunner for the starting position at right guard as they gear up for Week 1 of the season. This confidence was underscored during Friday's preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens, where Becton was the only first-team starter on the offense to take the field. Although he played only eight snaps before making way for Tyler Steen, it was enough to demonstrate his burgeoning prowess.
This was Becton's inaugural experience playing right guard in a live game, an aspect he acknowledged as a learning curve. "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 remarked, emphasizing a commitment to continuous improvement.
Integral to Becton's progress has been the advice and mentorship from his fellow linemates, Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson. Jurgens, who transitioned from a college center to a right guard, has shared invaluable insights into the nuances of the position. "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, highlighting the complexity and adaptability required in Becton's position.
Dickerson echoed Jurgens' sentiments, acknowledging the intricate challenges Becton faces but also appreciating his swift 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," he said. Dickerson also praised Becton's ongoing success in practice and his determination to better his game each day. "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 added.
As Becton continues to embrace his new role, it’s clear that mastering the subtleties of playing guard is not a simple task. "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, summarizing his approach to his position.
With encouragement from his coaches and support from his teammates, Mekhi Becton is steadily making the right guard position his own. As the Eagles prepare for the season ahead, Becton's progress will undoubtedly be vital in fortifying their offensive line, ensuring every yard counts in their pursuit of excellence.