Philadelphia Eagles second year defensive tackle Jordan Davis is expected to make a big leap this season.
Davis came into his rookie season with plenty lot of hype, but was unable match it with his production. Part of it was due to an ankle injury that sidelined him for three weeks.
Davis has two major sources of motivation heading into his second season, as per Josh Tolentino of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He wants to meet his lofty expectations and set a good example for the rookies.
“I definitely know what’s expected of me,” Davis said on Thursday, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. “And I’m ready to meet those expectations…I understand that you’re asking a lot more of me and that’s OK, that’s what I’m here for. I’m lucky that I had that experience behind those guys to see what it took. But just try to take those lessons that they gave me and not let it go to waste.”
Davis is slated to be a key member of the Eagles defense with Javon Hargrave’s departure in free agency and Fletcher Cox turning 33 years old during the season.
The 23 year-old Davis played in 16 of 20 possible games with five starts as a rookie. He ended up with 18 tackles and one TFL. Davis’s impact won’t always be measured by stats. He was really starting to play well midway through the season before a stint on Injured Reserve.
Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni believes in Davis. The motivating force him is the desire to set a good example for the newcomers and prevent them from taking his spot.
“I watched the film, watch film on myself, and I just realized a lot of my technique was raw so I wanted to come in and I wanted to come in hot,” Davis said. “I wanted to come in sharp and especially since the guys here, new rooks, I want to make sure I set a great example for them…I don’t wanna be the guy that falls behind or the guy that the coach has to correct my technique every time.”
Davis’ former Georgia teammate Jalen Carter joined the Eagles as a first-round pick this year and will also be part of the Eagles plans at defensive tackle this season. If all goes as hoped, the duo will be a core part of the defense for years to come.
Eagles DT Jordan Davis. Photo courtsey of Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
