McDermott: Can't have offense 'run the ball down your throat'
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
McDermott: Can't have offense 'run the ball down your throat'
Daily News staff and Les Bowen
Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said today that stopping the run comes down to "technique and toughness."
"This is a throwing league, but at the same time, you can't have an offense run the ball down your throat," McDermott said. The Eagles are 27th in the NFL against the run going into this weekend's game at San Francisco.
"I think we have a tough group, but you have to bring that toughness every week."
McDermott was asked extensively about the decision to put Moise Fouko in the lineup at weakside linebacker. Akeem Jordan, like several Eagles, struggled to get off blocks against the Redskins.
"I'm not afraid to make a move. If I have a guy who I think is better, I'll play him," he said.
He added that Fokou has "kept his nose to the grindstone ... That physical play that he brings to the table, he's done the same thing on special teams to this point."
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Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said, "there's going to be several decisions made late this week as to how we're going to operate."
The primary ones involve running back LeSean McCoy, who has a cracked rib, and wide receiver Riley Cooper, who suffered a mild concussion Sunday.
Mornhinweg said that Mike Bell will be ready to play if McCoy can't and that Bell gets better the more he touches the ball. He also said if you watched the film of the second half, you could not tell that McCoy was injured.
He also conceded that the team needed to get better. "We're doing some things we just have to get better at, starting with the penalties," he said.
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Special teams coordinator Bobby April took the blame for the problems with his units.
"There have been a lot of big plays in the NFL this year on special teams...We haven't made any," he said. "That's on me."
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Former Eagles wideout Kevin Curtisrecently underwent surgery for testicular cancer. he expects to make a full recovery, and wants to play somewhere this season.
When is amyone going to realize that McDermott is not a good defensive coordinator. I blamed Stewart last year, but Juron is proven to be the best.— SundayFreak
Comment removed.- Wait? You CAN'T let the other team run the ball down your throat? My bad. Okay, starting now.— DennyP
- Bobby April said "That's on me." Well, if that means the same thing it means when Cheesesteak Andy says it, then it means nothing substantial will change except the frequency of how much we talk about something needing to be done.— Voytas
our defense is too small. thats the bottom line. yeah, we can rush the passer a little, but against physical teams, we get pounded. i blame the gm and the head coach- Bobby April seems to be to Special Teams what Andy Reid is to Time Management; A disaster!!— younged
- If McDermott doesn't get the defense better by the end of the year then he needs to go.— alihajishank
- Eagles are the Gold Standard...at what I have no idea!— tralala
- Fast, light, quick will never beat BIG, Strong and Mean.......Andy wanted fast and light...(a pasing league) but watch what happens when we play the giants, the packers, the vikings, the cowgirls......pound pound pound.......good job Andy....and we can blame Mcdermott but he only has the players that Andy gave him.....and you would think with 8 defensive linemen, that two could be run stoppers....duh.....Once again the genius has outsmarted himself...— nuggett
- Gee, you mean you need to stop the run?— p-diddy
- McDermott stinks. Bring back Buddy!— Big Ragu
- Buddy-he couldn't win in the postseason. McDermott has has the job for 20 games and doesn't get to draft his players. At some point, he will figure it out or will get fired. Two years is the minimum before I would remove him. Andy does need to hire a "game day coach" much like baseball has a bench coach to advise the manager. Of course, if he ignored the coaches advice, it may not matter.— bandofbrothers
- April - McDermott - Marty - Andy
We need some new coaching blood. Get rid of these BUMS!— FairmountFrank 
The Eagles are too small to do anything about it. Draft some big tough guys instead of small fast guys for a change. The whole defense cannot be undersized runts. Fire Andy Reid!- The D is set up to stop the pass and control the run. They weren't very good against the Redskins, but they played well enough to win if the offense eliminated their mistakes and the special teams didn't get out played. Of the 3 units, the D played the best.
