Emptying the Notebook, Part I
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Emptying the Notebook, Part I
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
With the start of training camp just days away it's time to empty the notebook. I wrote some 2,000 words on ten pieces so I'm breaking the notes into two entries -- one today and another tomorrow.
1. When the Eagles traded for DeMeco Ryans one of my first questions to Andy Reid was whether the ex-Houston linebacker would play all three downs. Reid, put on the spot, answered as you would expect him to: He said Ryans was a three-down linebacker. In a sit-down with the Eagles coach last month, I asked him the same question. “Do I think he’s a three-down linebacker? Yes,” Reid said. “Do I think other guys can come in? I think one of Casey [Matthews’] strengths is his pass game and how he handles that. You can take each guy and individually pick them out.” In a perfect world you would prefer that your middle linebacker -- your field general – played all three downs. In recent seasons, the Eagles seemed to force Stewart Bradley and Jamar Chaney into playing all three downs and both struggled in pass protection. Just because the Eagles made a significant investment in salary and in giving up a fourth round pick to get Ryans, and just because he has been labeled a savior of sorts, I’m not sure if Reid – based on the above comment – feels obligated to play the former Pro Bowl linebacker for all three downs. Matthews did look solid in pass protection late last season. Right now he is Ryans’ backup. The Eagles throwing him out there with Mychal Kendricks on passing downs does seem plausible. But it would drastically cut into Ryans’ playing time and dilute the importance of bringing the 28-year old in. I imagine the Eagles will open the season by playing Ryans on all three downs, but don’t be surprised to see some shuffling at a position that has increasingly become devalued in the NFL.
2. The Eagles aren’t sure yet if Mike Patterson will be ready for the start of training camp. Veterans have to report by Wednesday. Patterson, who had brain surgery in January to correct an anteriovenous malformation, will undergo a physical that day – as all players do – and then a decision will be made about his return. There doesn’t seem to be any major cause for concern, although Reid went from saying in May that Patterson would be ready by camp to modifying in June that he may not be. Patterson’s agent, J.R. Rickert, told me on Monday that all signs pointed to his client still being ready by the season opener. Still, we’re talking about brain surgery here. The Eagles will likely proceed with caution. Patterson, who is entering his eighth season in the NFL, can afford to miss a few weeks of camp. The Eagles are also fairly stocked at defensive tackle with veterans Cullen Jenkins, Derek Landri and Antonio Dixon and newbies like Fletcher Cox and Cedric Thornton. Patterson is still listed as a starter and still slated to play most run downs. He showed last season that he could function as a credible pass rusher in Jim Washburn’s system. But his forte is clogging lanes even if they’re a little wider than usual.
3. As far as summer indiscretions go, Dion Lewis’ arrest for pulling a hotel fire alarm failed to really register. From what I’ve been told, the Eagles aren't going to make a huge deal out of it. Reid will likely chastise the second-year running back, but Lewis should remain No. 2 on the depth chart when full squad practices start Thursday. What other choice do the Eagles have? Rookies Bryce Brown and Chris Polk are interesting prospects, but to expect either to push Lewis before the season is probably asking too much. Brown has never been asked to block, a must-have skill-set in Reid’s offense. Polk did block in college, but he didn’t look to have the burst Brown did during spring practices. Lewis has a year under his belt and was actually not bad at picking up the blitz the few times last season that he was asked to do so.
4. If you were as confused as I was about who will be handling the majority of pre-snap blocking calls join the club. Michael Vick took on the bulk of the responsibility last year because that’s the way Howard Mudd, who had Peyton Manning in Indianapolis handle the calls, wanted it. It made additional sense with a rookie at center. But early this offseason after I noticed Jason Kelce pointing out the middle linebacker on one particular drill I asked him if he was doing more pre-snap. He said he was, but only to assist Vick. I asked Vick and he said nothing had changed. Reid said Kelce was helping more, but that Vick still had final say. And then Howard Mudd finally showed up at the end of the spring session and I think we finally got a straight answer. “Yeah, he’s taking on more responsibility,” Mudd said of Kelce. “He understands what we need, taking some pressure off from Mike.” Why does this matter? Because Vick does need to have his load lightened. There’s no shame in that. Not everyone can be Manning.
5. The accepted storyline this offseason is that Juan Castillo will allow Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to play more man-to-man, press cover defense this season. “It’s definitely fair to say,” Asomugha said back in May. “Yeah, it’s fair to say.” That may very well end up being the case. It certainly makes sense with Asante Samuel gone and the man-press-loving Asomugha and DRC still here. I’ve often found myself saying it in interviews as if it is a matter of fact. The truth is we don’t know yet what Castillo’s scheme will look like. We probably won’t have a semblance of an idea until the first preseason game. For most of last season the Eagles avoided blitzing, mostly because they didn’t need to. They sent a few extra pass rushers by the end of the season and I think the addition of Kendricks, if he’s up to it, could impel Castillo to blitz a little more this season. But why weaken the back seven if you can generate enough pressure with the front four? So I think the pass rush philosophy will remain unchanged unless Washburn’s crew can’t get it done. As for the pass defense on the back end I still think Castillo will run a fair amount of zone. Even if Asomugha and DRC go one-on-one, the Eagles’ safeties and linebackers will likely remain in, say, a Cover-2 man defense.
I am scared to death at not having a seasoned, and proven, backup RB.— beegal99- I'm scared to death of having a former Giants beat writer now writing about the Eagles. — Penfold18
- If the corners can play to expectations, this defense is going to be awesome.— beegal99
- Yes, this defense will be better if Dixon stays healthy, Ryans can play even a little bit and they get halfway decent safety play. But no defense, no matter how good, is a cure for a -14 turnover rate.— dlivesay
Reid will likely see what's available after teams make cut downs and get a seasoned vet at RB, like he's done in the past. I wouldn't be surprised if Lewis is that backup. It's his second year and he knows the system. He does a decent job blocking the blitz, so it's reasonable he sticks as the #2. We definitly don't want another Brown out there trying to throw from the 1 yard line while in the grasp.- dion lewis sucks. we need a legitimate backup.— soybot
- @soybot why do you say that? Any evidence? He looked decent against Wash. last game of the year and should be better this yr..he looks primed to get 5 to 10 touches most games in my opinion !!— diehardeagle
- And Jeff and Zach Ryans is a 3 down Lb... he's fast, he's very mobile and takes good angles in coverage...probably will prove to be our best mlb in coverage in Eagle history lol. When you think about it's not that hard ..Top 2 in Eagles history in my opinion are 1) Bryon Evans who was good to decent n 2) Trot who was decent ....— diehardeagle
- it only took them a year to figure out that Mike "Dynasty" Vick couldn't identify the coverages and call the blocking scheme.
I guess that's progress.— ekw555 - Who said that he couldn't ?,, oh yeah,, you. I will be glad when ignorant jerks like you find another place to spread your natural hate. Most centers call line coverages so please take your dog and disappear. Now that would be progress. — phillyroni
- The real question is not if Ryans is in on 3rd downs...It is: Is he healthy enough, recovered sufficiently to be any good at all....It has been two season since he was an all-pro and uninjured....so let's not get carried away......— nuggett
- Great question,,,,,,
We can only pray that the answer to that one is ,, YES.— phillyroni - Then you were not around for Bergey, who was the best linebacker in the Eagles history who had never played in Franklin Field.
If Ryan can cover End to End and get off blocks to make Tackles, he will be alright by my standards. Anyone that's capable of filling the hole and tackling is a step up from last year's MLB. Should Ryan show he's sufficient in those two areas the Eagles will be hard to beat. The speed on the outside should sent everything back to the middle of the field. What I have a concern about is the Safeties. All the Eagles needed to improved upon last year was to toughen the gut of the defense, and they've manage to work on that from the Defensive Tackle position to the new MLB, the question mark is still at Safety.
— Dexter - Dexter, I am with you on Bergey. Trotter did not do one single thing as good as Bergey, not cover, that's for damn sure, not tackle...nothing. Ryans is a Pro Bowl caliber three down MLB and it will be the first time the Eagles really have one since Bergey. Evans was a little light in the britches in comparison to Bergey, Trotter or Ryans for that matter.— Paul SoTX
- The Eagles are paper thin on offense so if injuries crop up it's going to be frightening. The Eagles are a couple of high-ankle sprains away from Mike Kafka handing off to Dion Lewis and throwing slants to Riley Cooper. They'd be hard-pressed to beat the Soul at that point.— guyguy4
- "The Eagles are paper thin on offense," or they're freakin' loaded with Vick, McCoy, Jackson, Maclin, Celek, a great line (even without Peters), and some competition at WR, RB, TE, and backup QB. I agree, thogh -- if everyone listed above gets injured, they're in serious trouble!— Leegles
- The constant negative view of some fans amazes me.It boggles my mind that so many who take the time to read an article and post still have a fearful viewpoint,no matter what.Training camp has yet to start...c'mon man!It's like the Eagles are the only team with question marks and all the rest are perfect...the glass is half full people.It would be nice if more could enjoy the success and positives the team has put into place...one great season is coming up and I plan to enjoy it.— greenbloodVAEagle
- Let Chris Polk be Shady's backup— Ace-Philadelphia
