Jason Peters moving faster than he ever has with Eagles

By foxsports
Published

The Philadelphia Eagles will enter 2015 with two new starters along the offensive line, but Jason Peters won't be one of them. Despite the fact that he is now 33 years old, he still the offensive lineman that the entire offense looks up to. In 2014, Peters finished as Pro Football Focus' top-rated offensive tackle overall.

"You know what’s amazing about it?" said offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, per Philadelphia Magazine. "I swear to you, the other day I was watching, we were doing a drill, and he moved faster than he had since I’ve been here. You don’t expect that. You think he’s getting older, and you think he’s going to start… and you don’t see any signs of that. You just don’t. He takes good care of himself.

"This guy puts a lot of time into his physical being. I don’t know that you can play as long as he’s played if you don’t do that. I hear him talking to some of the younger players, the rookies especially. Each year I hear him talking to a certain group of guys. Last year, it was (Kevin) Graf. I see him right now with (Brett) Boyko, talking to some of those young kids about how you’ve gotta take care of yourself on a regular basis. I don’t think he’d be doing it this long if he didn’t do that."
According to Pro Football Focus, Peters finished with the second-best pass blocking grade among tackles. They credited him with allowing four sacks, four quarterback hits and an additional 17 quarterback hurries. Despite his success, Peters was not satisfied, and he hopes to improve on those numbers in 2015.

"I gave up a couple sacks to (Jason) Pierre-Paul," he said. "I gave up one to a no-name guy, I want to say for the Giants. The Cowboys game, I don’t even know the guy’s name, No. 92. I think I gave him one. You try not to give up sacks. If you do that, give the quarterback time, you win games. That’s what I try to do.

"My feet were crossed up. It’s something I can fix. Just the end of the year, you’re trying to fight for the playoffs, you’re pouring it all in. Just a technique issue."

With the Eagles leaning on two new and inexperienced players at left guard and right guard, Peters will need to put together his best season with the team yet.

(h/t Philadelphia Magazine)

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports