Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles OLB Marcus Smith '100 percent' more comfortable in Year 2

Published Aug. 6, 2015 3:56 p.m. ET

foxsports

For 2014 first-rounder Marcus Smith, his rookie season can be described lightly as a learning experience. Smith played just 74 total defensive snaps, and at one point the Eagles even tried to switch him over to inside linebacker.

In his second offseason, Smith feels a lot more comfortable and he's back at his outside linebacker position.

"I went to [former NFL defensive end] Chuck Smith this offseason and I went to him and we did pass-rush moves and different stuff to get me acclimated to how the NFL is," Smith said, per Bleeding Green Nation. "I think that’s what got me better.

"I put on 10 pounds. At first, I was 265. When I came back out here I went down to 260 because of all the practicing and stuff. So I’ll probably play during the season at 260, 255, or around that weight."

Smith learned a lot from his bumpy rookie season, and he has a much better feel now for what it means to be an NFL player. He also has a much better feel for what the Eagles want him to accomplish in defensive coordinator Bill Davis' scheme.

"I would say 100 times more comfortable than I was last year," Smith said. "Being athletic is all well and good but once you get the technique down and all that stuff, you become a better outside linebacker. You can’t just be an athletic person in this league. You have to have great technique."

With Trent Cole no longer in the picture, the Eagles will promote Brandon Graham to the starting lineup. Smith has an excellent opportunity to emerge as the team's No. 3 outside linebacker behind Graham and Connor Barwin. He will have to use training camp to prove that last year was a fluke.

(h/t Bleeding Green Nation)