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00:00What about the opposite coach? What about Joe being able to return if Jack is even able to keep a ball in? What about Joe's ability, you know, laterally as a defender, tennis wise?
00:13I just don't see it, Joe. Yes, it would be a concern. Yes, it would be a concern, especially because of the heat. And listen, I've been playing for a long time myself, and I've been coaching for a long time, and I don't like being out there in the heat. No one does.
00:32No one does. Of course. All right, Harris, my man, I've got to get to Cooper DeGene, who is sitting down with us, but I will see you out on the court in about 10 or 11 hours. Give me a great answer for a notable aunt or uncle. You can win the tickets to Philly's Friday night game.
00:48I believe I have a definitive answer, is Aunt B. I'm sorry, Aunt who? Aunt B, Andy Griffith. Oh, yeah, man, that's another old one. We're getting a lot of oldies today. All right, Aunt B from Andy Griffith. How about it?
01:01All right, let's welcome in our first guest of the day as we broadcast from the NovaCare Complex. It's all part of Champ Camp, and obviously Cooper DeGene was an enormous part of helping to create the Champ in Champ Camp, not just with his performance in Super Bowl 59, but what he put out there from, I guess it was around early October on when he entered the Eagles lineup and made an enormous difference, and we welcome the Eagles star defensive back, Cooper DeGene. Cooper, good morning to you, bud.
01:29Great morning. Appreciate you having me.
01:31We appreciate you sitting down. How are you feeling?
01:33Fantastic. Fantastic. Ready for another day.
01:35Good for you, man. How was the all-season, Cooper?
01:37It was good. It was good. Got to do a lot of cool things.
01:42You know, enjoy it a little bit.
01:44You know, it's my first time off really since, I mean, I don't even know when, before my last season of college.
01:52So it was good to get a little time off, get back home, do some things, spend some time with friends and family.
01:59So it was good.
02:00Have you, now you may not remember this, but I remember, when I say remember, you might not know I was there, but I was.
02:05I was there with you and Kelsey and that great event down at Seattle last morning.
02:09Because you dominated this thing.
02:11You and Sidney Brown dominated this thing for round after round.
02:13But, but, you know where I'm going here?
02:17But you did not dominate when it was time to put a hammer, to put it into a nail, into a tree stump.
02:23Have you figured out how to put the freaking nail into the tree stump yet?
02:26Yeah, I think I just needed to slow down and.
02:29You were really annoyed. You were really annoyed, weren't you?
02:32I was really. That was really upsetting for me.
02:35It's just a nail and a hammer and a stump.
02:39And some drinking involved, I think, too.
02:43It's not as easy as it sounds.
02:44It's not.
02:46It's really not.
02:48Well, beating Patrick Mahomes apparently was easier than the.
02:51So let's go back here for a moment because our first chance talking to Cooper since the Eagles, of course, won Super Bowl 59.
02:58And he had a play for the ages, Philadelphia sports history.
03:01Let's listen.
03:01As Marilyn might call it, Super Bowl 59, Cooper to James, pick six.
03:05It is third at 16 for the Jays.
03:09Facing the staunchest defense of the season.
03:12Back goes Mahomes.
03:13He's rushing.
03:14He's looking.
03:15It's intercepted.
03:16It's intercepted.
03:17Running with the football to the 25.
03:20Down the floor side is Dachene.
03:23And Dachene is at the touchdown.
03:25Happy birthday, Cooper Dachene.
03:27Cooper's assumed to the pick for the touchdown.
03:30Cooper, what was that moment like for you, man?
03:32It was crazy.
03:35It feels like it happened so fast.
03:38But it was a really cool moment.
03:41Not only for me, but for our team and where we were at in the game.
03:45It kind of opened the game up a little bit for us.
03:50You know, going up 17-0 before halftime.
03:54And then I think we got another turnover right after that.
03:57You know, but it was an awesome, awesome moment.
04:01Something that I'll definitely remember for the rest of my life.
04:04You had a huge part about choosing the winner of a Super Bowl as a rookie.
04:11Like, this is – everyone else who's ever played in the NFL is so jealous.
04:16You did it your first time out.
04:19Where do you go from there?
04:21How do you stay focused on what's important when you won the whole thing,
04:27the shebang your first year as a rookie?
04:30Yeah, I mean, I want to play this game for a long time.
04:34And I don't want that play to define my career.
04:40You know, I want to make more memories and more plays that help the team that I play for win games.
04:48You know, so for me, it's just moving on from that moment while enjoying it,
04:53moving on, you know, and looking forward to what's next
04:57and how I can impact this team this year.
05:00You know, because we've got a completely new team.
05:03You know, a lot of guys coming back, but we've got a lot of new guys too.
05:06So, for me, it's about, you know, moving on and how can I help this team.
05:11You know, because it's going to be different, you know, in year two.
05:14And, you know, I'm going to have to be more of a vocal guy in our room,
05:19especially with the young DBs that we got.
05:22So, it's going to be different this year, and I'm looking forward to the challenge.
05:25Well, it sounds like, from our perspective, very different in terms of you could be in different positions
05:32than we're accustomed to seeing you play as a nickel on the outside.
05:37We've even heard, you know, safety possibilities.
05:40How do you manage those expectations?
05:43How much are you looking forward to showing that versatility?
05:48Yeah.
05:49I mean, I think ever since I got in here, you know, they've told me to try and learn every position, you know,
05:56in the back end, and that's what I've tried to do, you know, since I got here.
06:00You know, I got some reps at corner in the spring, getting some reps at safety out here during camp,
06:07and then, you know, also playing nickel, you know, but just trying to be ready, you know,
06:13for wherever my number's called, you know, no matter what position that is.
06:19But I know that the coaches will put me in the right position for me to make an impact on this defense.
06:24Which spot has it been the most so far of the three?
06:27Which spot have I played the most?
06:28Yeah, I mean, meaning at this camp, just a couple practices so far.
06:31Nickel, nickel and safety.
06:34You know, I've been the two that I've played the most so far this camp.
06:38Do you have a preference?
06:40I really don't.
06:42You know, I understand, you know, we got a lot of versatile guys.
06:45I'm a versatile player, you know, so I like to play football.
06:50You know, whenever I'm out on the football field, no matter what position,
06:53I'm going to go play football and try to play that position to the best of my ability.
06:58So, no preference for me.
07:01You know, I know the coaches will make the right decision.
07:04How much do you compete with Quinnia and Mitchell?
07:08Like, you guys came in, same draft, same, you know, position to those of us looking from the outside.
07:16How natural is that?
07:18How often do you guys just face off in whatever you're doing?
07:22You know, we compete.
07:26You know, but I feel like it's more us coaching each other back and forth and what we see on film with one another's tape.
07:36Wow.
07:36You know, so that's the biggest thing for us is just always, you know, giving each other advice back and forth.
07:41You know, things we see, things we can get better at.
07:45So, it's been great to just be able to come in with a guy like him, you know, who's always looking to get better because I'm the same way.
07:54But, you know, we want to be great players and great impact players for this defense and for this team.
08:01We're always looking forward to getting better any way we can do that.
08:05So, it's been great just to learn from him and be around him and be able to compete on the same field with him.
08:12They say that the biggest jump improvement-wise for an NFL player is between year one and year two just because things, nothing's a surprise, you know, the second time out.
08:25Do you get a sense of that?
08:26Yeah, I think you definitely have more confidence, you know, going into year two than you did coming into year one.
08:35Year one, you really don't know what to expect, how things are going to shake out.
08:39But, you know, coming into year two, you kind of got a feel for the schedule and how long the season is, you know, so you're ready for all that.
08:50And we're in year two of our defense as well, so you kind of understand the ins and outs of that.
08:56And you're able to play more confident on the field.
08:59You sort of didn't leave yourself a whole lot of room for improvement from our perspective.
09:06You know, your second year going in, do you set individual goals for yourself?
09:10Like, what do you plan to do with this season?
09:14I mean, there's a lot, you know, that I feel like I could have, a lot more I could have done last season.
09:21You know, and this season, you know, I'm just trying to be better than I was last season.
09:28You know, you always want to win and be an impact player.
09:34And the biggest thing for me is doing my job to the best of my ability at a high level and not being a weak link, you know, to the defense.
09:43You know, so I think just continuing to grow as a player, continuing to work on my coverage skills is a big thing for me, you know,
09:54because I feel like zone is my thing, you know, but continuing to work on my coverage skills
10:02and playing man-to-man has been a huge emphasis for me, you know, after the last season.
10:09Cooper DeGene with us here on WIP Eagles with another practice today that will start in about two hours.
10:14Reminder, Nick Sirianni's press conference at 9.40 on the station.
10:18So a lot of Eagles coverage in addition to all the Phil's talk today.
10:21Cooper, Vic Fangio, what is he like behind closed doors?
10:26The grizzled veteran defensive coordinator who's seen kind of all of it.
10:29What is he like with you guys?
10:31He's a real old-school coach, you know, but he cracks some jokes every once in a while.
10:38You know, he's funny.
10:39He's a funny guy, you know, but he's pretty serious, and he loves ball, loves to coach ball too, you know, which I love.
10:49You know, no matter what, he's always coaching someone, whether we're on the field or we're in the film room.
10:56And, you know, we do, you know, group defensive meetings, which I think helps everybody on the defense, you know, a lot because you get to understand, you know, what everybody's job is on the defense.
11:11And he holds everybody accountable, which is great, you know, for everybody to see and to hear in those meetings.
11:19So, Cooper, right away when training camp started, it seemed like from Nick on down, there was this sort of let's, I don't want to say wash last year away, but not focus on it.
11:30But the players that went through 2017 that are left, which are very few, Lane Johnson has won, Jake Elliott has won, the players that went through 2022 that are left, which are probably about 10 or 15, you know, really prominent players, mostly on offense.
11:46Do you hear from those guys, are they as leaders setting the tempo of, are they the ones saying we've got to move on?
11:54Like we've had, the organization had success before and then struggled the next year.
11:58Are you hearing it primarily from the guys that went through it before?
12:01Are they telling that to you, the younger players and the new players?
12:04I think it's, I think it's understood, you know, from, from everybody, you know, in the building, you know, from our first meeting back, you know, coach Sirianni talking about moving on, you know, to, to next season, the past is the past.
12:19We've got a new journey to go on, new mountain to climb, you know, so I, I think it's been understood, you know, with, with everybody.
12:26I don't think anybody has to, has to talk about it or say anything about it.
12:30You know, it's, it's understood within our locker room that we are moving on to this next season and, and this is a new journey.
12:37We've seen, we've seen incredible highlight videos of you just dunking over people, doing all sorts of other sports.
12:43I'm really amazed at how big you are.
12:46I didn't expect you to be as seriously sizable as you are.
12:51I mean, you're a cornerback, man.
12:52And you get your, anyway, that's great to see from.
12:56I'll just say, I wish the Sixers didn't have so many good guards.
12:59If they were, if they were stocks at center forward, I'd say, you know, but they do actually have three guards.
13:04He, my co-host, Joe is playing tennis tomorrow.
13:09We know that you're very well-rounded in all sports.
13:12Are you a tennis guy?
13:14Can you hold your own on a tennis court?
13:16I'm a pickleball guy.
13:17I'm a pickleball guy.
13:18I'm a little old man.
13:19I haven't, I haven't gotten into tennis yet, but I've been playing.
13:24So do you feel confident that you could dominate at tennis like you do in all these other sports?
13:31I don't know.
13:32I'd need some practice.
13:34Yeah.
13:34I wouldn't, I wouldn't go out there and just, just try and play without, without any practice.
13:39Sounds to me like, sounds to me like I could beat Cooper Tennis.
13:42That's what I just heard.
13:44Hey, Cooper, uh, congrats on all you've accomplished.
13:46Obviously good luck with, with the, you know, the, the season up ahead.
13:49City of Philadelphia is, you know, everyone's a big fan, man.
13:52Are you guys in pads today?
13:55Pads?
13:55I believe so.
13:56Oh boy.
13:57Look at that.
13:58Getting to hit people.
13:59Look at that.
14:00Ria Hughes has put in right in her up there.
14:02Oh, it totally went right in.
14:04Thank you, John.
14:04I appreciate it.
14:05That is awesome.
14:06So are you excited to hit people?
14:08Oh my gosh.
14:09Yeah.
14:09I mean, we can't take anybody to the ground, but yeah, we can pop the pads a little bit.
14:14It'll be fun.
14:14No thought in Saquon though.
14:15You can't Derrick Henry him, man.
14:17I mean, come on.
14:18Don't put that fool on his ass.
14:19Don't do that to Saquon.
14:21All right, Cooper.
14:21Stay well, man.
14:22Stay healthy.
14:23We look forward to seeing you play this year.
14:24Thanks, Cooper.
14:24Thank you guys.
14:25All right.
14:25There he is.
14:25Eagle star defensive back, Cooper Dejean.
14:27Really one of two because Quinion also an unbelievable rookie last year.
14:32We look forward to seeing his second year this year as well.
14:34All right.
14:34Let's go back to the phones, 215-592-9494.
14:38You know, other topics we've been discussing today you can react to, whether you want the
14:42Eagles to have a dome or not.
14:43I absolutely do not want a dome.
14:46Don't want a dome.
14:47I don't care about the freaking Super Bowl being here.
14:49I mean, the last thing in the world I want is some year when the Eagles get eliminated,
14:53either during the regular season, don't make the playoffs, or get eliminated in the playoffs,
14:57and then I've got to watch the freaking Rams and the freaking, I don't know, Bills play
15:02Super Bowl in Philadelphia in the year 2031.
15:05Like, what do I care?
15:06So, no, I don't want a dome at all.
15:08Did you see how big his legs were, his legs and hands?
15:13Yeah, he's a big guy.
15:13He's much larger than the DBs, the cornerbacks, most of them.
15:20Well, it's part of why he's a good tackler.
15:21I mean, he has...
15:23He looks more like a linebacker than a cornerback.
15:25Well, they play like that.
15:26Like, if you had to choose one or the other, hey, this guy plays linebacker or this guy
15:30plays cornerback, I would absolutely choose linebacker every time for him.
15:33Well, it's why I think he, if it comes down to one or the other in time, I think we'll
15:40be playing more safety than outside corner.
15:43But the thing is...
15:44Because safety's got a lot of tackling components to it.
15:47I agree.
15:47The concept of a nickel, though, the concept of a nickel, the nickel replaced your weak
15:53side linebacker.
15:54So, you really are playing linebacker.
15:57Like, you're taking on the guys who block the will linebacker in most cases.
16:02Yeah.
16:03So, you got to be big.
16:05You got to be able to handle that.
16:07And he absolutely can't.
16:09The minute you said that you're going to get the hit today, he smiled.
16:12Yeah.
16:13He had a very nice smile.
16:14And it's like, you love seeing that with football players.
16:16He did have his game face, though, on red.
16:18Oh, totally game face until you said, you get the hit, and he goes, oh, yeah.
16:21Yeah.
16:21Yeah.
16:21Yeah.
16:22He was...
16:22You could tell.
16:23He was mindful of...
16:25Well, the summer is over.
16:26That's a big deal.
16:26Summer is over.
16:27Summer is over.
16:28By the way, there aren't a whole ton of cornerbacks out there who get a smile on their face when
16:35they learn...
16:36When they're talking about it being a padded practice.
16:38Well, Sheldon Brown would hit and tackle.
16:40Sheldon was awesome.
16:41Asante Samuel, not so much.
16:42Not so much.
16:44All right.
16:44The other thing, of course, is to fill.
16:45So, trade deadline in three days, entertaining series versus the Yankees.
16:48Let me give you a negative from this weekend.
16:52I don't know if anyone else thought of it.
16:53It went through my mind.
16:54James, you would know the makeup of the Yankees better than the rest of us because you're
16:57one of those baseball dorks that knows the 25th guy on a 26-man roster.
17:02But I'm just going to tell you something.
17:03A little shudder went through me Friday night when Schwarber's banging the ball everywhere.
17:09The Yankees could go after Schwarber.
17:13They have been a right-handed...
17:14Other than Soto last year, the Yankees have been a predominantly...
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