Eagles need stability at safety
Here is the ninth in a series of looks at the Eagles roster:
Eagles need stability at safety
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Here is the ninth in a series of looks at the Eagles roster:
Today: Safeties
On the roster: The Eagles’ evaluation of safeties in recent seasons has been poor, and general manager Howie Roseman must figure out this position. The team was exceedingly high on Nate Allen in 2010, and the coaching staff must determine whether his struggles were because of scheme or talent. Kurt Coleman shows good effort and leadership, but he’s not a standout at the position and might be better as a key reserve.
Colt Anderson is a restricted free agent who is a strong special teams performer. David Sims was acquired last season and had little effect on defense. Don’t be surprised if there are two new starters next season.
Not on the roster: Pay attention to the Bills’ Jairus Byrd in free agency. Byrd, a former Oregon standout, is 26 and a two-time Pro Bowler. He’d be the best player at the position for the Eagles since Brian Dawkins, although the Bills might not let him walk. The 49ers’ Dashon Goldson is also a free agent, as is the Patriots’ Patrick Chung, another former Oregon player.
The Eagles have whiffed on safeties in the draft. If they dip into that pool again, they must be sure. Texas’ Kenny Vaccaro and Florida’s Matt Elam are the top players. Neither is a candidate at the No. 4 pick, and the next two months will determine whether one slips to the second round. Georgia’s Bacarri Rambo and LSU’s Eric Reid will also get their names into discussion in an early to middle round.
Coming tomorrow: Specialists
The eagles needs to sign veteran safety even if they have to overpay for him. Landry jones is a solid choice in my mind and they have to draft a safety early in the draft. Solid safety play should bolster our under achieving secondary. I hope we draft Rambo from Georgia so I can own an eagles jersey with the name Rambo on it.— killamagilla- The top two safeties are good if one of them is there at 2nd rd #4. I have been marveling for the last decade as the NFL has became a more and more passing oriented league, that somehow the position of safety and even Corner has been devalued. While cornerback is still considered a major position, it is not as much as it was in the late 1990's. It's a mistake. Cornerback shopuld always be a postion that you are loading up on in the NFL and a great centerfield safety is an absolute must. Most over rated position? Defensive tackel. The idea that we could ave back to back years where DT has 5 players in the 1st rd and almost a dozen in two rounds is crazy considering the impact of the position on the field. Yes, you need a nose tackle to play a 3-4 but it doesn't mean you start drafting solid DT over solid Corners.— UncleStosh
- Landry Jones is a QB out of OU, not sure how much he'd help the safety position. I'd much rather sign LaRon Landry from the Jets & then take a safety in the the draft.— cannon00
- Bills just released George Wilson for cap reasons. I recall him being pretty good, and still in his 20s. Any possible match there?— SU_alum
"The Eagles’ evaluation of safeties in recent seasons has been poor"
not exactly...howie's evaluation of safeties has been poor. and how do you fail to mention maybe the biggest stiff roseman has drafted, jaiquawn jarrett?— hannibal barca- ANYBODY THAT CAN TACKLE!!!!!!!!!!!— Lb 54 wide 9
- "Kurt Coleman shows good effort and leadership, but he’s not a standout at the position and might be better as a key reserve."
He's also very slow, can't tackle, and "lead" the secondary to one of the worst seasons in Eagles defensive memory.
So there's that.
— banned - LMAO!!! Great point banned. You turn the TV on. You watch the games. You see the obvious (that all smart fans see) and you come to the obvious conclusion (that all smart fans came to) - the guy can't play. Now why couldn't Andy Reid do that while he was here. It is really not that difficult to observe the obvious - THE GUY CAN"T PLAY!!!!! — BP2
- So how did YOU find out?
— tpizza 
we had a saftey on the board and missed him ( how did that happen) his name was EARL THOMAS that miss of taking the best player on the board will haunt us for yrs to come— chalton harley- Killa: your comments represent everything that has gone wrong with the Eagles the last 5-years. Great football teams never over-pay for any player; especially for a position like safety. Great teams have solid personnel depts and build through the draft. Hopefully the Gamble addition represents a step in the right direction. Because the 49ers have not overpaid to attain any player on their current team— Abbeyrick
- I know he wasn't an Oregon Duck, but there's this guy named ED REED who's a free agent. Actually the draft is pretty deep at safety this year, so maybe you don't want to back up the brinks truck for a safety with so many other positions needing an upgrade. But if you're going to sign a free agent, Reed would work for me.— cletisvandam
- The Eagles need to bring in players with some nastiness especially on D to change the current finesse culture. Not dirty players, but guys like Runyan and Trotter that would kick you when you're down and keep you down. I'm hoping Gamble is the guy to do it, like he did in San Fran.— Philly Dom
- The eagles need defensive players who are not afraid on the field. many on last years team turned coward once Juan Castillo left.— ricciaje
- The Sports Writers in Phila leads their reader right off a cliff. If Kurt Coleman was released from the Eagles today, you'd never see him suiting up for another team in the NFL at the Safety Position.
It's bizarre to assess Coleman would be a suitable reserve, Colt Anderson isn't a suitable reserve safety. For the love of God those kids can't hang with world class sprinters playing receiver in the NFL. Coleman after a few years in the league still takes himself out of every play biting on the play action fake.— Dexter
