He May Not Be A Starter, But Jeremiah Trotter Sure Looks Like One

He may not be a starter, but Jeremiah Trotter sure looks like one originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The depth chart says he’s a backup. Practice reps say he’s a backup. Jeremiah Trotter sure isn’t playing like a backup.

On an absolutely loaded defense, Trotter is enjoying a fantastic training camp as the top backup linebacker. In Year 3, Trott has a mastery of Vic Fangio’s scheme, and it’s showing up every day.

He’s got these next-level football instincts that help him make up for late-round size and speed. He just always seems to know where the play is going both against the run and in coverage, and he’s never out of position.

As good as he looked at training camp last summer, Trotter has taken a big leap this summer.

“I think from last year, I definitely continue to improve myself physically,” he said after a recent practice. “I always try to make sure I’m in the best shape of my life because I want to make sure my teammates know that I’m grinding and working for them.

“And as far as the defense, I feel like I’ve definitely grown there too. Just being here three years now under Vic’s scheme and everything, I’ve been able to just learn and soak in a lot more details and understand the defense and responsibilities and the little details as well.

And I just have been trying to learn and make sure I’m studying that to make sure that I know all the ins and outs of my job and my role when I’m out there on the field.”

Last year, Trotter only played 88 snaps on defense, but his 82.1 Pro Football Focus grade was 6th-highest of 131 linebackers who played at least 50 snaps.

He can play.

Good luck finding anybody in the organization who wouldn’t be confident in Trotter if he had to start at any point.

“Trott’s had a very good camp,” Fangio said. “Trott, to me, is looking better, moving better, playing better.

“I just think it’s not so much a conditioning and physical thing. It’s more of (knowing) what he’s doing, seeing things quicker, faster and playing faster. He’s had an excellent camp. It’s the best I’ve seen him look since we’ve had him.”

Trott may not be a projected starter, but Fangio has made sure he gets an ample number of reps with the first defense so he can work with both Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell. So if he does have to play at some point, he’s got experience with the linebacker across from him.

Trotter has made the most of those reps.

“Whenever I’m out there, no matter who I’m with or the reps I’m getting, I just try to make sure I’m doing my job and just doing my role in the defense because that’s one of the things that we talk about in team meetings, making sure that all 11 guys are on the same page. And when all 11 guys are working as one, it’s hard to beat a defense like that.

“So I just try to make sure I’m being a part of that 11 guys that are doing their job.”

Trott is still only 23 and will be a free agent after next year and it will be interesting to see what the league thinks of him if he hits free agency.

But for now, he’s just getting ready for his third NFL season in case he does have to play.

“Really just trying to make the most of any opportunities I get,” he said. “I try to make sure I’m always ready to fill whatever role the team needs and play 110 percent and try to fill that role the best I can to my ability.”