Chaney: LB Shuffle Will Work
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Chaney: LB Shuffle Will Work
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Jamar Chaney was really surprised, when the NFL lockout ended and he was allowed to talk to coaches for the first time since March, to find he was the Eagles' strongside linebacker.
Chaney had practiced on the weakside and in the middle as a rookie in 2010, starting two games at MIKE. But new defensive coordinator Juan Castillo had this idea about putting Chaney at SAM, rookie Casey Matthews in the middle and Moise Fokou on the weakside.
Less than two months later, with the Eagles last in the NFL in rushing defense, so much for that notion. Chaney confirmed after today's practice that he is back in the middle and will be calling plays this weekend against the Giants. Fokou is back on the strongside, where he played last season, and Matthews is the WIL, which might more closely approximate what he played at Oregon.
"I like to look at the whole offensive line, all the way to the fullback. Being at the MIKE, you can see all of that. At the SAM, you can pretty much see half of the line," Chaney said.
Chaney said he thought the three were in more natural positions now. Fokou and Matthews were not in the locker room during the time it was open to the media this afternoon. but Chaney said Matthews "said he's already starting to like the new position."
"With the WIL, he won't have to make calls -- he did a good job with all that; out of all the rookie linebackers in the league, he probably had the most pressure and responsbility on him, and I think he did a pretty good job," Chaney said.
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The Eagles said Michael Vick (concussion), Juqua Parker (ankle) and Darryl Tapp (pectoral muscle) were the only players who weren't full practice participants. Quarterback Vince Young (hamstring) practiced fully, but Mike Kafka took the first-team reps.
Where's the quote where he says the lb shuffle will work?— beerflow- Chaney @ the MIKE, Fokou @ the SAM and Matthews @the WILL-week 3.
Week 6---Matthews @ the MIKE, Chaney @ the SAM and Clayton @ the WILL.
Week 9---Chaney @ the MIKE, Jordan @ the SAM and Matthews @ the WILL.
Week 12---when the music stops lets just see.— Romus 
Comment removed.- I'll believe it will work when I see it. But at least it is a change. Matthews has been terrible and the linebackers as a whole have been really bad. They really need to bring in a veteran run-stuffer linebacker.— psualum
- Good move.. Matthews can be more instinctive and do less thinking at WIL— albertpa
- Really. Where's Levon Kirkland when you need him?— HolidayinCambodia
- Trade Matthews. Does Casey have any other brothers? Apparently that's the only place we can look. Ridiculous.— hallux
- Kudos to Reid for pulling the trigger. It shows he's not so egotistical to refuse to make changes when needed.— Commish
- Reid knows the Gints are going to run run run this Sunday. That's all. Time's yours.— greenflyer
- Wishbone...your Khloe Kardashian comment is funny.— schlippg
- Well, hopefully the first (there's more) bit of inexperience displayed by Juan Castillo as a defensive coordinator has been somewhat saddled...I'm eager to see both Rolle and Clayton get more time on the field, and before long, I have the feeling that will happen...After this linebacker corps , I hope he's looking hard at his safety situation.— bearsfriend
- The Eagles need one linebacker and one safety to make this a really good defense. Chaney + new linebacker + one scrub that is already here. New safety + one scrub that is already here. The defense can thrive with only 2 scrubs. Four is too many (I'm assuming Chaney will be decent back in the middle). Unfortunately, what is on this team is all we are going to get. So hopefully the shuffle works.— Penfold18
- How could this team not find a better starting LB? We don't need an Urlacher but come on someone that can bring the RB's down would be nice.— djack10
- This whole defensive philosophy is built upon playing with a lead and making the other team pass, but when the other team is ahead it really doesn't work at all. What's worse, we still gave up 4 td passes, though two of them were unbelievable plays by the Falcons. Hopefully the Eagles can win the division and get a home playoff game and then hope to get lucky. Reid does normally have a better second half record than the first, can't see that trend chaning this year.— airbuzz
- @airbuzz, completely agree. If they can get ahead early, they do have a chance to win despite the gaping holes in the middle. But we still need at least servicable LB/safety corps, not the horrendous one that completely lost the game for us against ATL. If Reid can admit the flaws in his theory enough to shuffle the LBs, here's hoping he can admit it enough to sign a veteran presence sometime during the season. Reid does have a better second half, but these 2 years we have seen them fizzle in the last 3-4 games and in the POs. Can't see that trend changing either if we don't upgrade from the current roster, or if Rolle turns out to be that diamond in the rough.— goeagles87
