UPDATED: Castillo envisions Nnamdi as Woodson
Juan Castillo talked up the idea today of having Nnamdi Asomugha follow in the star-studded footsteps of another former Raiders cornerback: Charles Woodson.
UPDATED: Castillo envisions Nnamdi as Woodson
Jonathan Tamari and Jeff McLane
Juan Castillo talked up the idea today of having Nnamdi Asomugha follow in the star-studded footsteps of another former Raiders cornerback: Charles Woodson.
“Nnamdi is a special guy – he wants to make plays. He respects Rod Woodson. I think he’d love that role, being able to blitz, a big tall guy like that coming off the edge, and then all of a sudden press coverage against the slot guy,” Castillo said. (Castillo kept saying “Rod Woodson,” but he was clearly referring to the Packers’ Charles Woodson, since he kept talking about Super Bowl champions).
UPDATE: Some people have asked if it was possible Castillo actually meant Rod Woodson - but referred specifically to the Packers and last season. He meant Charles.
“(Nnamdi) and I rode in the car together to practice yesterday and he was the one that mentioned, that we talked about Rod Woodson that he would be excited about a role like that if it went that way,” Castillo said.
UPDATE: Asomugha told the Inquirer that with the Raiders he had a package of plays each week that put him in the slot to either blitz or cover.
"Of the 3 of us, someone’s going to be inside when we go on third downs," Asomugha said. "(Castillo) knows I’m a football player and he knows that he’s seen me do it in Oakland."
He added, "I’m willing and able, I’m just here to help out." (END UPDATE)
It’s an intriguing idea – having Asomugha play in the slot. The cliché is true: it is a passing league and teams often put three wide receivers on the field. Having a big corner who can blitz or cover would be an incredible asset. The Eagles play nickel at least as often, if not more, than they play their base defense.
On the other hand, as valuable as a shut-down corner is, would the team really take one of the best in the league off of coverage and have him pass rush? As good as Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are, Asomugha is better. It could be smoke. If the Eagles intend to trade one of their corners, they have to talk up the idea of keeping all three to preserve any leverage.
Woodson (Charles) has excelled in that role in Green Bay. But there’s an important distinction here: he’s no longer the team’s top cover man. Tramon Williams is. Green Bay uses Woodson almost as an extra linebacker. Asomugha is so valuable as a cover man, it seems risky to take him out of that role. (As one Twitter follower wrote me: Roy Halladay could probably close games, but his greatest value is as an ace).
Rodgers-Cromartie, who returned to practice after leaving yesterday with an Achilles injury, said he was OK deferring to Asomugha and Samuel and playing the nickel. They're the "two top dogs," he said.
We’ll know more about the Eagles real plans when we see them line up all three corners once they're all allowed to practice together – which should be Aug. 4.
Allen is back
Nate Allen was on the field Monday morning for his first full-contact drills of training camp. The second-year safety, returning from a torn patellar tendon in December, said he felt good, though he admitted to having a little hesitation when rushing into the offensive line on blitzes.
“It’s in here a little bit,” he said, pointing to his temple. “But I feel good.”
Allen, reserved and quiet by nature, has had to be more of a vocal presence on the field. With Quintin Mikell gone, Allen is the second-most experienced safety on the roster, and the other one, Marlin Jackson, has never played in a game for the Eagles.
Second round pick Jaiquawn Jarrett was on the field with Allen, who said he’s trying to be a leader and help show the younger guys the way.
“I was in there last year, I can relate to him,” Allen said. “His mind’s going a million miles an hour.”
Jarrett was starting at strong safety with Kurt Coleman sidelined with an ankle sprain. During 11-on-11 drills, the rookie was late to react to a screen pass and yelled at himself afterward. Allen ran over to Jarrett, said "It's OK J.J.," and then gave him some advice.
Practice Notes:
-- The defense looks better than the offense so far – particularly along the lines – but that’s something you might expect after a long layoff.
-- Part of that might be due to Howard Mudd constantly tinkering with his offensive line set up, particularly on the right side. Jason Peters, Todd Herremans and Jamaal Jackson have consistently been at left tackle, left guard and center. But right guard and right tackle has been mix-and-match with AQ Shipley, Mike McGlynn and Julian Vandervelde (guard) and King Dunlap and Austin Howard (tackle). Jason Kelce even got some reps at first team center. Mudd is likely trying to get a look at how each performs with the first team O and against the first team D as he sorts out his line up. McGlynn has generally been the starting right guard, though.
-- I can’t wait until the Eagles get their top corners and receivers in here and eligible for practice. At one point we saw Jason Avant and Riley Cooper against Brandon Hughes and Trevard Lindley. Not exactly “get your popcorn” worthy.
-- Mike Kafka threw a nice 25 to 30-yard touchdown to Terrance Turner, dropping the ball in between several defenders. Sorry on the yardage, I didn’t see exactly where the snap came from.
-- Alex Henery was crushing field goals. He hit one from 45-yards out with a LOT of room to spare. Still, let’s see how he’s doing in December at the Linc in a big divisional game before we get too excited.
-- Tuesday the team has a day off, as mandated by the new labor deal. Unusual for an Andy Reid camp.
-- Injuries: Kurt Coleman (ankle), Brent Celek (back spasms) and Dion Lewis (hamstring) sat out the morning practice.
Gruden would beat this team with wheel-routes, bubble-screens, drag routes, and TE seam routes...anything that would make these suspect linebackers run in coverage. Pressure will be on our D-coordinator to make those in-game adjustments that our Fat Head(coach) can't.— mccloudmj- More to the point ... Rod Woodson wasn't used as a slot defender in a SB winning season, Charles was.— typicalphillyfan
- More to the point ... Rod Woodson wasn't used as a slot defender in a SB winning season, Charles was.— typicalphillyfan
- hey Baxter81 how about a little fact checking of your own..Rod Woodson didnt join the Raiders staff until this offseason, therefore he has "clearly" never coached Nnamdi...— buckbrennan
- Rod Woodson was Nnamdi's cornerbacks coach in Oakland. He was "clearly" talking about "Rod", not "Charles". How about a little fact checking?— baxter81
- You have the give the Eagles management team a lot of credit, getting these players that obviously make the Eagles a favorite this year. But I still am taking a wait and see attitude. We've had great teams before. Remember the 2005-06-07 seasons when McNabb looked awful and second stringers gracia and Feeley came in and made them look great, playing the undefeated Pats tough and should have won that game. It's still up to the quarterback. However, we do have a formner starting QB to back Vick up. But a lot of things can happen during the course of the season. It should be an interesting year.— marioP
- All of the writers and coaches continue to ignore the #1 reason to keep three star corners: injuries. It's a fantasy to think that all three of these guys will be healthy for 16 games. In a passing league, the ability to sub in DRC for Asomugha, and then Hanson in the nickel, means something.— armchairGM
Comment removed.- Why thank Banner? It wasn't his decision to move Castillo to DC. Another clueless "fan" showing his ignorance.
— phillychaos - I don't know what the exact quote was but, as a reporter, if you're not 100% sure, wouldn't you ask to clarify who he's talking about?? I mean, Rod Woodson did win a super bowl and he too converted from corner to safety, maybe the quote WAS referencing him him. Chuck Woodson was more of a hybrid corner last year. Anyhoo.. if that's the thought process (regardless of Charles or Rod!) I'd be curious about switching up Nnamdi and Asante. If Nnamdi's best strength is press coverage and Asante excels playing off the ball, would it be crazy to use Asante as more of a coverage safety who can sit back and play center field?— stikolaboloni
None of this matters with Andy Reid managing the game.- If the Eagles can get ahead by a few scores this year, the revamped D can almost certainly put the clamps down and win the game. That will play right into the D's perceived strength, pass coverage. Teams won't be able to go up and down the field throwing the ball. Sure, the other team could go into dink-and-dunk mode to exploit our linebackers but that will only get you so far and will take a lot of time off the clock. Once they get near the red zone, dink-and-dunk mode becomes far less effective (as we Eagle fans have come to learn the past few years) because the field is shorter and there is a lot less room. This grand plan only works if we keep the trio of CBs.— Penfold18
- To even float the idea that you would risk injury ON A BLITZ to the best cover corner in the NFL is just lucicrous. Keep that man glued to a dangerous receiver! I understand that less than stellar QB's will be checking down a lot when facing our corners, so here's hoping the LB's start shaking out into their coverages. And unless that O-Line starts giving better protection than last year, it's not gonna matter HOW good our "D" is!— TBear
- "...Mike Kafka threw a nice 25 to 30-yard touchdown to Terrance Turner, dropping the ball in between several defenders..." LOL! A couple more of these blurbs and Kafka will be the new hot Eagles QB we can trade for a 2nd rounder. You have to give it to the Birds with the QB's.
— DennyP - The rookie first rounder needs to get in camp so Mudd can set the OL.— P Even
- I hope Juan Castillo isn't in too far over is head when we are going heavy for a SB.— HAROLD Eskin
- PS- Henery didn't exactly kick in Westwood or Coral Gables ;-) Love Akers and think he's got a lot left in the tank, but Henery's bona fide. Chance to be one of the best Eagles kickers ever.— KNuff
- It certainly wouldn't hurt to give offenses another look to worry about and be confused by. However, Rodgers-Cromartie would seem to be the best fit for slot blitz given he's the fastest guy on the defensive squad. Justsaying...— KNuff
- Your headline is incorrect: It was Nnamdi who suggested that Castillo could use him in a role similar to Woodson's role; it was not Castillo who suggested it.— critias
