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If Willie Lampkin walked into a room, most people would probably assume he's an athlete. What they might not assume is that he's competing for a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles' roster as part of one of the NFL's most physically imposing offensive lines.
That's understandable. The Eagles employ giants up front. Lane Johnson stands 6-foot-6. Jordan Mailata is 6-foot-8. Even Cam Jurgens, at 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds, is considered relatively modest by offensive line standards.
Then there's Lampkin. The former undrafted free agent measures 5-foot-11 and weighs roughly 279 pounds. On paper, those measurements seem better suited for an AAU basketball roster than life in the trenches against some of the biggest and strongest athletes in professional sports.
And yet, the Eagles continue giving him opportunities. Wouldn't you know it? He is making the most of them. That's because football evaluations don't begin and end with height and weight. Scouts can measure arm length, hand size and athletic testing numbers. What they can't fully measure is how a player responds to adversity, handles pressure or competes when facing longer, stronger opponents every day.
Lampkin has spent training camp answering every question asked about him in the best way possible. He has done so by performing. Lampkin has quietly put together an impressive summer.
Whether working at center or guard, he's shown the technical refinement, footwork and competitiveness that initially convinced Philadelphia he was worth developing. People inside and outside the organization have begun to notice. Head coach Nick Sirianni recently discussed what makes Lampkin stand out, and his answer centered less on physical traits and more on the qualities that often separate players who survive in the NFL from those who don't.
That's important because concerns about Lampkin's size aren't imaginary. It would be easy to dismiss the conversation by asking, "If he's playing well, why does size matter?" The reality is that it does matter. Offensive linemen don't spend Sundays battling average athletes. They line up across from players like Leonard Williams, Jeffery Simmons and Quinnen Williams. All mentioned are on the Eagles' schedule this season.
That's life in the NFL. That's what Lampkin would have to endure if he makes the team and injuries forced him into action. If Aaron Donald ever decided to unretire, he'd be on that list, too. Lampkin will have to continue answering the questions. Seeing him play well vs. Jalen Carter and company certainly builds his confidence and the confidence coaches have in him.
The encouraging part for Philadelphia is that he hasn't looked overwhelmed by those concerns so far. Instead, he's continued stacking positive practices and forcing evaluators to focus on what he can do rather than what he lacks. That's often how long-shot offensive line projects carve out NFL careers.
Willie Lampkin may never look like a typical Eagles offensive lineman, and questions about his size probably aren't going away anytime soon. The good news for Philadelphia is that neither are the qualities Sirianni seems to value most. Lampkin competes, learns, and continues finding ways to win against longer and heavier opponents. That's why he's still in the conversation. In an organization that has built a reputation for developing overlooked talent, Lampkin is steadily making a case that he could be the next success story.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Nick Sirianni explains why Willie Lampkin continues to stand out
Continue reading...
That's understandable. The Eagles employ giants up front. Lane Johnson stands 6-foot-6. Jordan Mailata is 6-foot-8. Even Cam Jurgens, at 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds, is considered relatively modest by offensive line standards.
Then there's Lampkin. The former undrafted free agent measures 5-foot-11 and weighs roughly 279 pounds. On paper, those measurements seem better suited for an AAU basketball roster than life in the trenches against some of the biggest and strongest athletes in professional sports.
And yet, the Eagles continue giving him opportunities. Wouldn't you know it? He is making the most of them. That's because football evaluations don't begin and end with height and weight. Scouts can measure arm length, hand size and athletic testing numbers. What they can't fully measure is how a player responds to adversity, handles pressure or competes when facing longer, stronger opponents every day.
Nick Sirianni sees more than Willie Lampkin's measurements
Lampkin has spent training camp answering every question asked about him in the best way possible. He has done so by performing. Lampkin has quietly put together an impressive summer.
Whether working at center or guard, he's shown the technical refinement, footwork and competitiveness that initially convinced Philadelphia he was worth developing. People inside and outside the organization have begun to notice. Head coach Nick Sirianni recently discussed what makes Lampkin stand out, and his answer centered less on physical traits and more on the qualities that often separate players who survive in the NFL from those who don't.
That's important because concerns about Lampkin's size aren't imaginary. It would be easy to dismiss the conversation by asking, "If he's playing well, why does size matter?" The reality is that it does matter. Offensive linemen don't spend Sundays battling average athletes. They line up across from players like Leonard Williams, Jeffery Simmons and Quinnen Williams. All mentioned are on the Eagles' schedule this season.
That's life in the NFL. That's what Lampkin would have to endure if he makes the team and injuries forced him into action. If Aaron Donald ever decided to unretire, he'd be on that list, too. Lampkin will have to continue answering the questions. Seeing him play well vs. Jalen Carter and company certainly builds his confidence and the confidence coaches have in him.
The encouraging part for Philadelphia is that he hasn't looked overwhelmed by those concerns so far. Instead, he's continued stacking positive practices and forcing evaluators to focus on what he can do rather than what he lacks. That's often how long-shot offensive line projects carve out NFL careers.
Willie Lampkin may never look like a typical Eagles offensive lineman, and questions about his size probably aren't going away anytime soon. The good news for Philadelphia is that neither are the qualities Sirianni seems to value most. Lampkin competes, learns, and continues finding ways to win against longer and heavier opponents. That's why he's still in the conversation. In an organization that has built a reputation for developing overlooked talent, Lampkin is steadily making a case that he could be the next success story.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Nick Sirianni explains why Willie Lampkin continues to stand out
Continue reading...
