A Starting Rolle for Brian; Matthews Benched
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
A Starting Rolle for Brian; Matthews Benched
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Brian Rolle will start at weak-side LB in place of Casey Matthews. (Photo by Les Bowen)
Defensive coordinator Juan Castillo foreshadowed it in a conversation with a few reporters Monday, and today it became official: Brian Rolle said he is the neew starting WIL linebacker for the Eagles, ahead of fellow rookie Casey Matthews.
Matthews was moved from the middle to WIL last week. He promptly bit way too hard on play action and gave up a 40-yard touchdown pass to the Giants' Brandon Jacobs.
"It's not really that much of a challenge," Rolle, a sixth-round pick from Ohio State, said as he headed out to practice. "I've been playing that position all of camp, and (practicing there through) the first couple of games, as well. It's just a matter of being in there with the 1s now and going out and taking care of business."
Rolle has played most often in nickel and dime packages through the first three weeks. He set up a Trent Cole sack of Eli Manning last Sunday.
"I feel like I'm a guy that is athletic. I'm physical, a good linebacker that knows the game very well and plays hard. I'm not saying that Casey didn't -- Casey's a great player as well. I guess the coaches just felt the need for a new body in ther, somebody that may bring a little more excitement, maybe," he said.
Also, Nate Allen, who replaced Kurt Coleman when Coleman missed a tackle on Victor Cruz's 74-yard touchdown, will remain in that safety role.
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Buy Eagles tickets Comments (27)
Hey don't blame Juan. I honestly didn't think it was Juan's idea to start Matthews but he isn't going to go against Reid, especially in public. I think Juan has the three guys where he wants them now that the Andy LB experiment didn't work. Here a short transcript behind closed doors at the novacare coaches meeting room:
Juan: Andy, I know you liked Matthews but he's a rookie I told you he wasn't ready
Andy: I know Juan, but his brother is so good, I thought Casey could be as good
Juan: Well Clay has 4 years in Casey is a rookie, can I now put the guys in that I want and the positions I want them in?
Andy: Go ahead Juan I know absolutely nothing about defense, heck, I barely know offense so save our butts!
I also heard after Jeff got hit, Les asked "how many fingers am I holding up?" and you replied "Ahhh Thursday!"— elfman- We've got your back, Les. Maclane's a chump.— Leegles
Now Castillio can understand why we all thought he sounded like a bumbling idiot when he yammered on about Mathew's pedigree and how everyone was given a chance to work by someone at one time in their lives, yada, yada, yada.— ej610- Philly fans are so smart, why are most of them flipping pizza and cheese steaks for a living. They should all be NFL coaches. They know much better than Andy Reid (who was picked as one of the best coaches in football by other coaches and sportswriters, but not by the philly cheese steak guys).— ras#2
- Hopefully they go 412 or 6-10 and reid gets fired.— Ace-Philadelphia
- Matthews wasn't ready and he shouldn't have been placed in the positions he was in so early. Players move too slowly when they have to think too much. I like Rolle. Can't hurt to see if he is ready and what he brings.— hawk18
- We had a very good WLB in Will Witherspoon, whom you promptly traded, remember Andy? Better yet, do you remember what your value was on that return?— jiggy
Comment removed.- GUYS,GUYS, RELAX...REMEMBER ANDY IS SMARTER THAN ALL OF US ALL THE TIME, JUST ASK HIM
— DONDEN31 - miket47, are you saying that a rookie kicker from nebraska can't kick in the cold in philly? i don't think he'll have a problem with it being cold at all.— j-ritch
- Full day for Les, he beats up McLane, then files this story. Good job, slugger.— drbob1
- Seth Joyner where are you?— Lockyer
- Pretty apparent at training camp that Rolle was the better player. Too bad it took our inept DC, Soupy Sales, 4 pre-season and 3 reg season games to figure it out! Hey, when Spadaro's saying it, you know he's bad! Coming soon; replacing Fouku, Allen, Paige and Coleman!— younged
- Replacing a #4 rookie with a very small #6 rookie ... Then replacing a safety with a safety who was replaced 2 weeks ago by Page who also can't play. The Dawkins nightmare lives on. When does Arrogant Andy get replaced? The real nightmare is still in the cocoon. There are two rookie kickers that haven't experienced December in Philly yet. Therefore even if they manage to somewhat fix the defense, I can visualize crucial shanking punts and field goal attempts during the crical stretch run. However, the kicking game may be a moot point by december, as Vick stands on the sideline with a cane, his shoulder in a sling, and babbling incoherently from his 150 plus brutal hits.
Way to go Andy ... You outsmarted yourself again!— miket47 - I want to know what bowen and mcclane were fighting about. Let's get some coverage on that. If a couple coaches started slapping each other, the reporters would be making a BIG deal about it. Maybe Reid will address the situation at his next press conference. Now that would be funny.— tommy_the_k
- Hope these changes work!!! Something needed to be done. Little surprised not to hear any rumblings of Howie bringing in LB's and S that might be out there with experience? Anyone know if there are any decent LB's or S on the street as that will be next I am guessing it this fix doesn't work! The whole D needs a motivation speaker or hypnotist to come in and get these guys to have an attitude and toughness as that seems to be missing from this D!— connorjr
- Fetchdixon is exactly right and what I've been saying. Out coaches are getting in the way. Play calling and decision making is a joke and has cost 2 games already.— dpell
- Les, did you write this b4 or after you got into the fist fight with Jeff???— elfman
- Moving around deck chairs on the Titanic. My 7-9 prediction is still looking good.— jimmymack
- I thought there were more people than Reid involved in the draft and evaluating the players for the Offense and Defense. You losers never stop. I hope you get Kotite and the other 100 losers before him.— Zeedog
- What ever happened to all the great linebackers that reid has drafted...oh wait he hasn't---never mind— tsump
- Rolle has proved to be a more physical LB.— urbnasty
- This team is 3-0 if it weren't for poor in-game management. If this were the case we wouldn't even be having this confersation. Going for it 4th & 1 on the 43 up 2 points... Enough said!— FetchDixon
- I'm not saying Rolle can't do the job...I hope he can. I'm saying Reid's ability to evaluate talent is...questionable. And I do believe Buffalo has an actual GM who has power & is not just a figure head for the coach who makes ALL decisions.— THE-KID (WI)
- Starting Mathews, or the way they handled him, was a mistake. He's definitely not ready, if he will be ready ever. I don't mind late round picks starting as long as they produce. Look at the 3-0 Bills. #1 QB-7th round, #1 RB-7th round, #1 receiver- 7th round, #1 TE- rookie FA.— SC Philly Fan
- People will be happy with this move cuz Matthews just didn't perform. But here's the rub...we replace a 4th round rookie in the starting lineup with a 6th round rookie. Point is, neither of those moves should have been made on a team expected to contend with a boat load of money to spend in the off season on improving the defense. Reid Apologists in..3..2..1— THE-KID (WI)
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Eagletarian is your home for comprehensive coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Les Bowen
Daily News Staff Writer
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