Early Birds: Running back meeting room, Zach Ertz on Women's World Cup, virtual reality technology

1) The Eagles' running back room will be different this year after the team traded LeSean McCoy and did not keep Chris Polk.  The only running back left on the roster from coach Chip Kelly's first season is Matthew Tucker. DeMarco Murray is the headliner, Darren Sproles is the veteran, and Ryan Mathews is also a key piece. Kelly has been most impressed with the dynamic of the meetings.

"I think it's been great," Kelly said. "I think you can talk to those guys about it and [Running Backs Coach] Duce [Staley] in particular, it's how that room functions.  When you have DeMarco in there, and at the end of every meeting, DeMarco gets all the running backs together, and they share notes and go over their notebooks together. It's really intense, to be honest with you, in terms of how they approach it.

"Ryan's brought a lot to the table.  When you add someone like Darren to that mix who has had so much experience in the league, and then when you look at the other guys like [RB Matthew] Tucker and [RB] Kenjon [Barner], I think their games have stepped up.  It's kind of like the secondary where the depth has changed, so it's a lot of competition.

"But I think those older guys, especially Ryan and DeMarco coming in, have really added to that and have really helped the young guys come along."

If the Eagles did not let Polk go, they would have kept four running backs this year. They can still do that if they don't keep four tight ends. Look for Tucker or Barner to be in strong contention to make the 53-man roster. Raheem Mostert, an undrafted rookie, has return skills.

2) One player who has significant interest in the Women's World Cup is tight end Zach Ertz, whose girlfriend Julie Johnston is a defender on the U.S. team.

"It's fun," Ertz said. "I try to sit back and be a fan, but it's hard to be a fan – now I know what my mom has been going through the past couple of years. It's fun to watch her do what she loves."

He said that it's "nerve-wracking" watching when the score is tied. It's much easier when the U.S. is winning.

Ertz played goalie against Johnston in college. He'll stick to football.

"I'd like to think I won, but then the roles were reversed and she crushed me," he said. "I couldn't hit the goal really. …I just focus on catching the ball. I can't kick it real well."

Ertz will travel to Canada for the first game after the group stage to watch live. If the U.S. makes the finals, he'll go again.

3) You might have heard about the Cowboys using virtual reality technology that allows players to watch a 360-degree view of practice, along with sound from the headset.

The Eagles sampled the technology at the combine are were "impressed with it," Kelly said. They've spoken to StriVR Labs, whose executive team includes former Eagles quarterback Trent Edwards. It could soon be implemented in the team's activities.

"We're interested in it," Kelly said.