Eagles: Rookie linebacker Nolan Smith learning from an NFL great, mimicking his game
Eagles rookie Nolan Smith putting in extra time with Von Miller.
Philadelphia Eagles rookie Nolan Smith is committed to doing more.
He was recently in Las Vegas at the seventh annual Von Miller Pass Rush Summit on Saturday.
According to one report, Smith could be seen moving dummy bags on and off the field while hardly being able to stand still waiting his turn to take a rep. But this doesn't come as a surprise. The No. 30 overall pick in April's 2023 NFL Draft has tried to mimic Miller's game since he was younger.
“I'd say Von Miller is someone I model my game after,” Smith said after the draft. “I watch guys like my body type like Von Miller, Haason Reddick and the moves that they use and just the different things that they do, not only with their hands but how they bend the edge and use speed to power and how they set up their moves and play a game within the game.
“So, I focused on the bending at the top of the rush in my game just because I think it helped me get to the quarterback quicker, and also big guys don't want to get down there and touch you.”
The biggest names attending Miller’s pass rush summit included many of Miller's Buffalo Bills teammates as well as the Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons, the New Orleans Saints Cameron Jordan, the Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, the Tennessee Titans Jeffrey Simmons, Seattle Seahawks veteran Bobby Wagner, and New England Patriots' Josh Uche.
But it is apparent that Smith is learning from the guy he has modeled his game after for so long.
Feature image via Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK.
