Cole Payton Not Lacking For Confidence Despite Training Camp Ints

Cole Payton not lacking for confidence despite training camp INTs originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Cole Payton isn’t afraid to let it rip.

The Eagles’ fifth-round quarterback out of North Dakota State has a live arm and the confidence to try some throws on the practice field … even when he probably shouldn’t.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in throwing the football,” Payton said. “But in the NFL, these windows are a lot tighter and so I’ve got to take care of the football. I’ve thrown a few picks. But there’s that balance of knowing when to strike and knowing when to take the check-downs. Going through those growing pains but taking the ups and the downs.”

Through eight training camp practices, Payton has shown some encouraging signs, but he has also thrown five interceptions despite a limited workload.

Payton, 23, threw three interceptions on a single day back on Day 2 of training camp. After that practice, offensive coordinator Sean Mannion had a talk with Payton and told him that he has been in his position before — but just because Payton has limited reps, he doesn’t have to take shots. Sometimes it’s just better to simply take what the defense gives you.

There’s an obvious learning curve as Payton enters the league.

“I think guys are just bigger, stronger, faster in the NFL,” Payton said. “So that’s why those windows are a lot tighter. It’s about knowing when to fit them in and not.”

Even though Payton has thrown more interceptions than the Eagles would probably like, he’s made some really good throws too. There have been rookie quarterbacks in past camps who barely get any reps. So the fact that Payton is getting some work on a team with three legitimate NFL quarterbacks ahead of him tells you the Eagles are very interested in his development.

Mannion has liked what he’s seen.

“He’s done a really nice job,” Mannion said. “Obviously, there’ve been a couple days where [he’s got] to protect the football a little bit better, but I’m very, very happy with where Cole’s at in his development. There’s kind of some growing pains to any young quarterback. This is his first exposure to NFL football and NFL defenses. With that, you take some bumps and bruises along the way, but he’s made tremendous improvement in terms of timing, rhythm, accuracy. 

“He’s really, really sharp, which doesn’t always maybe show to you guys on the practice field, but he’s super engaged at practice, understands the play calls, understands the footwork. The challenge for him is you don’t get as many reps as you might like, but he’s doing everything he can post-practice in the meeting to maximize his opportunity. Day by day, as you guys have seen, he’s gotten better and better with that.”

Throughout the first eight practices of training camp, Payton has gotten limited reps aside from the developmental periods late in these sessions. Because of that, it’s up to Payton to make up for the lack of reps.

So after practice, he stays out on the field with QBs coach Parks Frazier, OC Sean Mannion and others and gets in extra reps. On days off, he’ll throw to some receivers. And he is even utilizing virtual reality to catch up.

Frazier introduced Payton to virtual reality and putting on the VR headset has helped the rookie get extra mental reps.

“You can pick whichever stadium you want and it feels like you’re in the Linc for example,” Payton explained. “And then you’ve got play calls, you’re breaking the huddle and you’re getting a mental rep. It’s not like live footage. It’s animated but it’s a really good tool to visualize and see things.”

Those virtual reps have helped but there’s no replacing the real thing. And when the Eagles kick off their preseason in less than a week, Payton should get his first taste of game action in the NFL. He’s pretty excited about that.

And fans should be pretty excited too. Based on what we’ve seen from Payton in training camp, if nothing else, it’ll be entertaining.

Because despite those picks in practice, Payton remains very confident in his arm talent.

“I think it just goes back to how hard I’ve worked and the work put in before camp, throughout the summer, in college, since I was a young kid,” Payton said. “I think also playing the quarterback position, you need a lot of confidence. But there’s a balance in the time and the place of knowing when to strike and knowing when to take the check-down.”