Summary of We're going camping! Eagles, Steelers, Bills and Browns

Overview of We're going camping! Eagles, Steelers, Bills and Browns

This episode is part of The Athletic Football Show’s training camp road trip, with Robert Mays checking in with beat writers from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Cleveland. The central theme across all four teams is change: new schemes, new play-callers, new quarterback questions, and a lot of young talent trying to force its way into key roles. The conversations repeatedly circle back to a few big ideas: how much a system change can raise or lower a team’s ceiling, how much faith each team has in its quarterback situation, and which young players could matter right away.

Eagles: A major offensive reset

What’s changing

• Philadelphia’s offense is undergoing its biggest transformation in years.
• The new scheme is described as a McVay/LaFleur-style system with more:
  • under-center snaps
  • play-action
  • wide-zone running
  • simplified offensive-line responsibilities
• The offensive line is also adjusting without longtime line coach Jeff Stoutland, which makes this an especially significant shift.

Key takeaways

• The offensive line appears excited about the simpler structure, and players like Jordan Mailata and Cam Jurgens sound bought in.
• Jalen Hurts is viewed as fully committed and motivated by the change.
• The offense, though, may still be limited as a standalone passing unit. It likely needs:
  • a strong run game
  • play-action to work
  • better middle-of-field efficiency
• The conversation suggests the offense’s success depends heavily on how well the run game and passing game marry together.

Players to watch

• DeVonta Smith is now effectively the No. 1 receiver.
• Dontavian Wicks is expected to have a major role.
• Tank Bigsby is seen as a meaningful weapon in the offense.
• On defense, the Eagles look loaded:
  • Jalen Carter
  • Quinyon Mitchell
  • Cooper DeJean
  • Zack Baun
  • Jalen Hunt
  • Jihad Campbell
  • Rick Wollin
• The main defensive question is safety, though even that feels like a relatively minor issue compared with how strong the unit is overall.

Bigger picture

• The Eagles’ defense gives them a high floor.
• The offense determines the ceiling.
• If the offense clicks, they are a true Super Bowl contender.

Steelers: New coaching voice, old quarterback question

What’s changing

• Pittsburgh’s biggest storyline is the arrival of a new head coach and a different camp philosophy.
• Training camp is less old-school and physical than before, with more emphasis on:
  • analytics
  • GPS monitoring
  • sports science
  • controlled practices instead of live tackling

Quarterback outlook

• The entire season hinges on what the team gets from Aaron Rodgers.
• The assessment is basically:
  • the arm talent is still there
  • the mental processing is still there
  • but the consistency against elite defenses is the concern
• The team looks like a possible 9- or 10-win group, but probably not a true contender unless Rodgers exceeds expectations.

The future at QB

• There is real urgency around the long-term quarterback plan.
• Drew Allar is discussed as a developmental option, and there’s a chance that next year’s camp battle could be:
  • Will Howard vs. Drew Allar
• The team wants out of quarterback purgatory, but it may end up stuck there again if Rodgers is just good enough to keep them competitive.

Offensive weapons

• The receiving room is deeper and more serious than it was a year ago.
• Michael Pittman Jr. is the most notable addition.
• Roman Wilson has taken a big step in camp and is currently the clear WR3.
• Jeremy Bernard is also in the mix, but Rodgers is demanding and not especially rookie-friendly.
• At tight end:
  • Pat Freiermuth looks like a more featured piece
  • Darnell Washington is being used as a red-zone threat and matchup piece
• At running back:
  • Rico Dowdle appears slightly ahead of Jalen Warren in the rotation, though it should be a shared backfield.

Defense

• The defense may ultimately determine whether this season becomes a success.
• The unit has a lot of talent and flexibility, especially up front.
• Key points:
  • TJ Watt may move around more within the scheme
  • Nick Herbig is expected to be heavily involved
  • Jalen Ramsey could play a star/nickel role and possibly safety in base looks
  • Derek Harmon and Payton Wilson are players to watch
• The big question is whether the defense can play up to its salary and close the gap between “good” and “elite.”

Bills: New defense, new vibe, same Josh Allen burden

What’s changing

• Buffalo may have one of the league’s most important new assistants in Jim Leonard.
• The defense is switching from a long-running Sean McDermott system to something much different:
  • more man coverage
  • more pressure
  • different body types at different spots
• The offense also feels different in tone under Joe Brady, even if the structure around Josh Allen remains heavily dependent on him.

Defensive concerns

• The Bills’ defense is the biggest unknown on the roster.
• They don’t have a ton of obvious field-tilting defenders, so Leonard may have to coach above the talent level to get the unit where it needs to be.
• Key transition questions:
  • How well can corners handle more man coverage?
  • What does safety look like in this system?
  • Can the front create pressure without a dominant edge rusher?

Players to watch

• Greg Rousseau is still the big “pop” candidate, but this is a crucial season for him to show more.
• Landon Jackson has made an impression and may be more ready than expected.
• Caleb Alarcon (the rookie linebacker) has been one of camp’s standouts and looks like a real early contributor.
• D. Alford has emerged as a strong fit at nickel.
• Dalton Kincaid is one of the offense’s biggest swing variables.
• The Bills want more out of him, especially in:
  • play-action
  • more frequent usage
  • more versatile alignments
• The top offensive playmakers are still Josh Allen and the top receiver group, but the team is trying to give Allen more help and more variety.

Bigger picture

• The Bills are still probably a playoff team, but this year feels less predictable than usual.
• If Leonard stabilizes the defense and Kincaid becomes a bigger factor, the offense and team ceiling could rise.
• If the transition goes poorly, the floor is lower than in past Bills seasons.

Browns: A youth movement with a cloudy quarterback answer

What’s changing

• Cleveland feels like the most developmental of the four teams.
• The Browns are in the middle of a reset with:
  • a new coaching voice
  • a young roster
  • a quarterback competition that still feels unresolved
• The season is framed less as a playoff push and more as a team-building and evaluation year.

Quarterback situation

• The battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders is still unsettled.
• The staff seems open to both options, but the sense is that the team is really trying to figure out:
  • what Watson has left
  • what Sanders can become
• The evaluation won’t be complete until preseason games, since Watson has not played in two years and Sanders still needs reps.

Offensive optimism

• The biggest positive development is the young skill group.
• The Browns have several exciting players, including:
  • Denzel Boston
  • Concepcion
  • Isaiah Bond
  • Harold Fannin
  • Quinshon Judkins
• The wide receiver group in particular is described as a major improvement over recent years.
• Harold Fannin may already be the best player on offense and is expected to be heavily involved in the passing game.
• The overall tone around the offense is far more optimistic than it has been in a while.

Offensive line and team-building

• The offensive line is still being sorted out.
• The team has mixed in several new pieces and is clearly thinking in multi-year terms.
• Even if this season is rough, the Browns believe they have accumulated enough young talent to matter later.

Defense and coaching style

• The new defensive approach is expected to include more disguise and less obvious structure than Jim Schwartz’s group.
• The lack of Myles Garrett changes everything.
• Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren are among the defenders to monitor.
• Todd Monken’s personality stands out: blunt, direct, demanding, and very different from what Cleveland has had before.
• The sense is that he could fit this roster’s age and energy, even if the results are uneven.

Bigger picture

• Cleveland does not appear to be built to win many games this season.
• But it does look like a much healthier environment for:
  • player development
  • roster evaluation
  • future decision-making
• The AFC North is seen as open enough that the Browns could at least be competitive in divisional games if the quarterback play is merely competent.

Main themes across the episode

1. Scheme changes matter a lot

• Philadelphia and Buffalo are both reworking how they want to play.
• Pittsburgh is adjusting to a new coach and a more modern camp approach.
• Cleveland is trying to build a new identity around youth and evaluation.

2. Quarterback uncertainty still drives everything

• Hurts, Rodgers, Allen, and Watson all shape their teams’ ceilings in different ways.
• The strongest takeaway is that each team’s success or failure still ultimately comes back to quarterback play.

3. Young players are central to each team’s story

• Every conversation highlighted younger players who could become real contributors quickly.
• Whether it’s receivers, linemen, linebackers, or defensive backs, camp is about finding who can elevate the roster now and later.

4. The gap between floor and ceiling is wide

• The Eagles and Bills have the clearest examples of this:
  • strong talent can create a high floor
  • but the offensive or defensive transition will decide whether they become true contenders

Final takeaway

This episode is a strong snapshot of late-summer NFL uncertainty: four teams, four different stages of transition, and a lot of meaningful questions still unanswered. The Eagles and Bills are trying to retool elite rosters without losing their contender status. The Steelers are trying to avoid being trapped in quarterback purgatory again. The Browns are building for the future while hoping the present doesn’t completely collapse.