LB merry-go-round back on?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
LB merry-go-round back on?
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
There's been a merry-go-round at linebacker over the last few seasons, but the Eagles made efforts this offseason to make it stop with the acquisitions of DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks.
Could it start spinning again when the season opens Sunday at Cleveland?
Kendricks said Thursday after practice that the coaches had each of the Eagles' six linebackers practicing in various permutations in several packages on defense.
"I would expect for all of us to be playing because that's what we're game planning with," said Kendricks, who is expected to start at strong-side. He added: "It depends on what they feel and what they want because we're all playing every package. ... They're intertwining us with each other."
For instance, Kendricks said that Jamar Chaney was playing alongside him in one variation in the nickel defense.
"That went fine," Kendricks said of working with Chaney. "That got us in a rotation all the time so we all know each other's tendencies and how we do. Couple of times Chaney helped me out today with my fits and what I needed to do. And Meco will do the same thing."
Chaney had been sidelined with a hamstring injury. He said he's completely healthy. While he was out, Brian Rolle was demoted at weak-side, and Akeem Jordan was promoted. He said he's back at strong-side backing up Kendricks, but that might not matter. All of the Eagles' linebackers -- Casey Matthews is the sixth -- appear to be interchangeable.
"They're going to try and find a way to put the best guys out there," Chaney said. "They just told us to be ready."
If Chaney is out there for parts of the nickel defense, it does call into question whether Ryans is the three-down linebacker the Eagles said that got when they acquired him from Houston in March.
Asked if he was still a three-down linebacker, Ryans said, "I am."
So that does mean you'll be out there for all three downs on Sunday?
"That's the coach's decision," Ryans said. "I don't decide who goes out on the field."
Oh, that's just wonderful.— Jeffritoe- If we can't beat the Browns with any combination of linebackers, then we better start the head coaching search right now.
Whats the name of a tree that falls in a forest and no one hears it?
Demeco Ryans.— airbuzz - Can we at least see a regular season game before complaining? Negadelphians. Gotta love them.— Commish
- I agree lets see at least one game and then regardless of the outcome Fire Reid. Reid the coach with more losses than any other coach in franchise history.— Mr. Barffington
- If they lose to the Browns it will be McNabb;s fault!— gregneff62
- I am glad to see that others have been as unwhelmed with Ryan's as I have been. No more excuses this year, we all know we were the only team in the entire NFL last year without a preseason. Please go to whyyourteamsucks.com hilarious and unfortunately very accurate
- hope this isnt some experiment with Castillo trying to be clever. Reid has most losses in franchise history, that has to be the dumbest stat every repeated on this site, and thats saying something. No need to explain why— peteike
- Not to be negative, but it would be a bad sign if they were shuttling Demeco Ryans in and out.— p-diddy
- I love college football, I'm already looking at middle and weakside linebackers and safeties for the 2013 draft that can help the Eagles. Fact is these positions still needs to be upgraded!!!— Eaglehaslanded
- So, what's the old saying; if you have 6 linebackers, you don't have 3?— dktrwu2
- I think the rotation thing could be another example of the coaches outsmarting them selves.— NorthPhillyTechie
- Everybody just chill and let the games play out ... all the teams have issues and weaknesses, Eagles are no different. Let the young men play ball while we sit back and have a few beers and scream at the TV set :-)— petergou
- It is not very encouraging to hear that the Castillo plan is to have 6 LBs rotating in different positions if I read this post right. Expect the repeat of the chaos of last year where in addition to not having enough talent because of Reids disdain for the position, they won't know where to go from play to play.
— Johnny Callison - I agree with the other posters who say that the moving parts at linebacker may not bode well... If it weren't for the Eagles' past failings at this position, you could make the argument that interchangeability is a plus; given the past experiences, however, it feels like last year's circus may be returning to town.
Btw, am I the only one who thinks that DeMeco Ryans' comments are a little concerning? Hopefully I'm just reading too much into them— Mr. Magee
