Jeff Stoutland raves about Eagles' second-year right guard Tyler Steen
The Philadelphia Eagles appear to have their competition battle settled at right guard. In fact, it sounds like there was no battle at the position in the first place. Eagles' longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland made it clear on Monday that he's a big fan of second-year guard Tyler Steen starting at right guard […]
The Philadelphia Eagles appear to have their competition battle settled at right guard.
In fact, it sounds like there was no battle at the position in the first place.
Eagles' longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland made it clear on Monday that he's a big fan of second-year guard Tyler Steen starting at right guard in 2024.
"Right now, he’s on the track to be [the starting right guard]," Stoutland said. "… I really like what he’s doing. I really like his stuff. I know this [OTAs] is individual stuff, but we demand quickness, effort, straining, and I’ve seen definite improvement in his strength and his power and his quickness, his ability to play with low hips.
"I thought he played high last year. I think he’s put a lot of time in the weight room with our people here because I can see it.”
Steen's Only NFL Start Doesn't Concern Stoutland
Steen, a third-round pick out of Vanderbilt by the Eagles in 2023, played just 71 offensive snaps as a rookie last year with 62 of them coming in his first and only start.
He was forced to step up at right guard in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys last year in place of the injured Cam Jurgens and Sua Opeta. Tasked with shutting down Cowboys' star edge Micah Parsons, Steen allowed one quarterback hit, five hurries, and six QB pressures as the Eagles went on to win 28-23.
Sure, that wasn't a picture-perfect start, but it was good enough for Stoutland to know exactly what Steen was capable of down the road.
Since then, Steen has only gotten faster and stronger and Stoutland's confidence in him is through the roof.
“I always look at Brandon Brooks,” Stouland said. “That’s who you’re looking for. There ain’t many of them around. That’s who you’re looking for, size, length of arms, explosive power, all these things, and all these things are in one. Like, holy cow how do you find these guys? So in my mind I compare [other guards] to him. [Steen] has a little bit of that. A lot of that, actually, Tyler does.”
Did Stoutland compare a second-year player to a three-time Pro Bowl and Super Bowl Champion? Yes, he did.
"Until somebody surfaces…doesn’t this make sense?” Stoutland said. “To have the five – I call them the five will drive – to have the guys together as much and for as many reps as possible so they can synchronize everything?
“It’s hard when you’re rotating people in and out and trying to get that certain it factor. So for me, I try really hard, unless there’s something that tells me you better get a look at this or you might be making a mistake, otherwise, I’m like let’s go.”
