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Printer-Friendly ModeHerremans starts first two preseason games for Eagles
August 25, 2005 —
Former SVSU All-American offensive tackle Todd Herremans, who has taken what has been given to him so far in his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, is making an impression on his teammates.
Herremans, the 25th pick in the fourth round - 126th overall - by the Eagles in this year's NFL Draft, is getting more opportunities than even he expected to get practice time in.
The 6'6", 330-pound lineman has started the Eagles' first two preseason games, against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. But that was not planned - the usual starting left tackle, Pro Bowler Tra Thomas, had been sidelined with a blood clot in his leg.
"You never like to see any injuries in football," Herremans said through a phone interview after practice Tuesday. "But I was brought into a good situation, and have tried to take advantage of it."
Thomas is back practicing with the Eagles now, but the team is still unsure as to whether he will start the team's opener, on Monday, Sept. 12 at Atlanta. But now that Thomas is back, Herremans was still able to find a positive in the situation.
"Now I have more time to work on my technique with (the second squad)," he explained.
Herremans was critical of himself in assessing his play in the preseason's first two games. While he maintained that he was not overpowered and did not feel out of place, he said he had made some "mental mistakes" that he still needed work on.
"I feel like I've had two solid performances," he said. "Other than the mental errors, I do not feel outmatched or anything."
In the preseason opener against the Steelers, Herremans was kept in the entire first half, much longer than the rest of the Eagles' first team.
"I like getting extra reps with the 2s," he said, referring to the second team he played with following the first team's exit from the game. "It just allows me to work on my technique more."
The technique Herremans is trying to perfect now is different than the one taught by former offensive line coach Ben Adams at SVSU, a power running scheme. While he's had troubles adjusting, the extra reps are helping, he said.
"He did okay," said Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress during a press conference Aug. 18. "Just like you would expect, first time guy getting pass rushed in a game setting, there are some things that he can do better. He would be the first to admit that to you. But, I don't think he was wide-eyed. He did a good job for his first game as a professional."
After being drafted by the Eagles, Herremans reported to a rookie mini-camp in May. The first thing he noticed was the large amount of guys there, and the fact that most of them would not be there by the time training camp started.
"My main focus was just working extra hard," he said. "I figured the harder I worked, the harder it would be for them to cut me."
Following a "productive" June mini-camp with the team, where he aimed to "let everyone know I belonged," Herremans made his way back to Saginaw and trained here for a month before reporting for training camp on July 29.
When asked about the "rookie experience," Herremans said it was not as bad as the horror stories he had heard.
"Coach (Andy) Reid is real down on the whole hazing thing," Herremans said. "So it wasn't bad. But when I started running with the (first team), the veterans started to treat me better."
Herremans has been able to witness the media circus the Eagles' training camp has become with the animated Terrell Owens saga. Contrary to popular belief, Herremans said Owens is a "nice guy."
"It's almost as if there's two completely different people out there," Herremans said of his teammate. "When the cameras are on, he loves being the focus. But really, he's a nice guy, and fun to hang out with in the locker room. He's not mean to anyone, and has caused no problems."
A modest Herremans' expectation for this season is to simply "be on the active roster." His goal is to be the team's third tackle, which, because offensive linemen hardly ever switch in and out during games, makes him the "emergency backup."
"But I can see myself getting some playing time hopefully at the end of some games," he conceded.