Observations from Day 2 at Eagles camp

Monday was the second day of Eagles camp under the summer sun in south Philadelphia. Here's what we noticed as Chip Kelly's gang took the field.

1. Billy Davis doesn't care for Brandon Boykin's comments.

Though Boykin said his comments about Chip Kelly not being comfortable with "grown men of our culture" didn't mean to paint the coach as a racist, the Eagles defensive coordinator still didn't care for the continuing criticism of the team's regime by its former players.

Boykin walked back his original comment, saying he meant only that Kelly was someone who is a hard man to get to.

"But I can just answer from my view, from being in 10 different organizations, with all kind of different head coaches, schemes, systems," Davis said ahead of camp on Monday. "And I'm telling you from the bottom of my heart, this is a very great place for players.

"Just ask the players how much time we spend on them," he added. "Their mindset, on their moods, on how their bodies are feeling, their hydration. All of it. I think it's a couple isolated guys and they have to answer their own questions about that."

Davis said the team traded Boykin for more practical reasons: his height and relative lack of production, and the lack of space between he and rookies like JaCorey Shepherd.

2. If Fletcher Cox cannot go around you, he'll go through you.

During morning individual drills with pads, Cox took linebacker Najee Goode airborne for a second before planting him back on his feet. A good omen for his potential in the hole this season and the Eagles' continued domination up front.

3. DeMarco Murray sighting.

Murray, and No. 2 Ryan Mathews, were both absent the entirety of the Eagles' 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills on the first day of camp. But Murray started and played consistently on Monday with the first-teamers behind quarterback Sam Bradford. Asked afterwards why he was left out the day before, Murray said it was a coach's decision and had nothing to do with health.

"No, I'm fine, I'm fine," Murray said again and again. "That's how it goes some days. I think some guys get more reps one day, then get less reps. I guess it's part of the deal."

Part of that deal, also, may be that the Eagles are looking for any chance to keep Murray from getting hurt after the heavy workload the Cowboys gave him last season. Any muscle that isn't pulled, any knick that isn't knacked, is one they won't have to worry about in games this fal lwhen it counts.

4. Quarterbacks sharing duties.

Sam Bradford was the only man under center with the first team in all drills on Sunday, with Mark Sanchez left to man the second-team. That changed on Monday as both quarterbacks shared time in the sevens and the 11-on-11 drills throughout the day. Whether or not that's part of the competition Chip Kelly says is still technically open only time will tell. 

Bradford is getting his timing down well with Jordan Matthews, who is becoming his go-to target so far. And Sanchez was making hay with rookie Nelson Agholor, who also looks excellent. He makes great cuts and can catch most anything that comes near him.

5. Nothing settled yet at right guard.

Matt Tobin started on Sunday at the right guard position, but it was Andrew Gardiner who held honors on Monday. The Eagles are clearly holding a competition for the job after they parted ways with Todd Herremans, who they dealt to the Colts this spring. Allen Barbre started again to the left, where he has been since the spring. He's penciled in as the Day 1 starter between Jason Peters and Jason Kelce.

6. Inside linebacker taking shape.

DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks took the most important reps today on the inside on Monday. That was surprising, with Ryans coming off his second career Achilles injury and his turning 31 this season, the plan has been to play him cautiously and insert Kiko Alonso some more. But the Eagles' linebacker situation is one of the best in the league -- a deeper rotation filled with youth and talent. They drafted Jordan Hicks and still have Najee Goode and Emmanuel Acho. Ryans was extended this offseason and Kendricks, according to Chip, "isn't going anywhere." The more may be the merrier with the amount of time the Eagles play that side of the ball thanks to their quick-striking offense.

"In the last two years, we've had more snaps defensively than anybody," Bill Davis said. "So there's plenty to go around. A rotational basis can also be used and that's probably where we'll start."

7. The Eagles take their practice to Lincoln Financial Field on Aug 4, and you're invited.