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PHILADELPHIA — Throughout last season’s learning process, Cam Jurgens had the advantage of following Isaac Seumalo as he began to get used to a new position. The Philadelphia Eagles had Jason Kelce at center, so Jurgens took right guards in training camp to get more positional variety.
The transition to the judge’s guard did not last long. Kelce underwent elbow surgery during training camp, resulting in Jurgens pushing back to the center spot until Kelce returned. Jurgens would end up back in the right waiting spot, as the heir apparent in the middle heard that Kelce would be coming back for 2023.
There’s a vacancy in the judge’s guard. Jurgens is lined up to fill it and is using what he learned in his short time there last season in preparation for what’s to come.
“I mean, it’s not as challenging as going from the tight end to the middle — so that helps,” Jurgens joked Thursday at the Eagles minicamp (Jurgens was initially a tight end in Nebraska). “It’s been fun, it’s super helpful to have (Jason) Kelce next to me telling me how to do things and seeing how Landon (Dickerson) does it. Isaac (Seumalo) was a pro at it last year. “
Seumalo signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is why in 2023 Jurgens will have the opportunity to start as a right guard — serving as the Eagles’ right guard until Kelce decides to hang up his cleats. The Eagles put Seumalo’s constant presence on the offensive line for seven seasons, as he played left guard, center, right guard, and right tackle, turning his time in Philadelphia.
Seumalo thrived at right guard, allowing only one sack and 17 pressures at right guard last season. To thrive with the right guard himself, Jurgens imitates Seumalo and the techniques he used to become one of the better guards in the league.
“Isaac is great to watch,” said Jurgens. “When he first came here you see him going into that extra tight finishing position before he started here. He’s very athletic, doing a lot of great things with his feet. He’s really fast and how he moves. I’ve watched him a lot .”
Seumalo taught Jurgens that he doesn’t have to be the prototypical right guard to succeed in the NFL. There are several ways to play the position regardless of size (Seumalo is at 6-3, 304 while Jurgens is at 6-3, 302).
“Just watch the movie every day of what those guys do and how Isaac handled himself and how he just handled it differently, you know, all his footwork,” Jurgens said. “You don’t have to have the same footwork for every block and people do things differently.
“It’s cool to see that and still go in and still be an athlete at right guard like I can stand in the middle.”
Jurgens admitted he weighs 305 pounds now, but he wants to open camp at 310, 315. That’s the physical toll he’s fighting to play right guard. He has yet to master the mental challenge.
“Right now it’s working on getting in with the right guard and being able to communicate with the center and tackle from the guard’s perspective,” Jurgens said. “Last year it was kind of central communication. Getting everyone on the same page.
Now it’s giving information to (Jason) Kelce and it’s a little bit different in terms of communication – talking to address, finishing tight, centering and just giving information to people who call instead of making sure everyone is on the same page page.”
Jurgens, adopting the Seumalo mentality, forms his own mold at the judge guard. He’s not the prototypical right-wing guard, nor does he need to be.
“I’m not quite the 350lb Landon (Dickerson), so I do things differently,” Jurgens said with a laugh. “I want to be an athlete wherever I can. I don’t want to fit into the pizza cutter mold of what should be a right-wing guard.
“I just want to be there and be a good offensive lineman.”
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