Landri starting; more practice notes
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Landri starting; more practice notes
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- To think, Derek Landri didn't sign a contract until April. Now he’s the Eagles starting right defensive tackle.
Despite a strong 2011 season in which he led the Eagles with eight tackles for loss despite playing in only 12 games, Landri did not get any multi-year offers as a free agent tihs offseason. He kept holding out for one, but as time progressed he realized teams would be only willing to tender one year.
“I was mad as hell,” Landri, 28, said Saturday at training camp. “It was frustrating. It’s like one of those things, you can’t sit there and try to comprehend it. I got a chip on my shoulder for 31 other teams.”
The same thing essentially happened last year after the lockout. Landri had a strong 2010 for the Panthers. He started in all 16 games and recorded career-highs in tackles and sacks, but he had to wait a week before signing with the Eagles, who brought him in only after Mike Patterson suffered a seizure.
This year he arrived at camp on much better ground.
“Well, it’s always comfortable knowing the coaches know your name,” Landri said. “But at the same time the comfort stops there because you got to come out and produce.”
Landri started alongside Cullen Jenkins through most of the spring, but when the Eagles announced that Patterson would miss training camp and Andy Reid was asked who would replace him, the coach initially only mentioned Antonio Dixon.
But when the first team defense lined up for its first practice it was Landri that was in the middle. Defensive line coach Jim Washburn rotates his front four almost evenly so who starts isn’t necessarily a big thing. But Landri’s run-stopping skills may have him on the field in the Eagles’ base defense more than even Dixon, whose forte is also in stopping the run.
“When you’re an undersized guy nobody gives you credit for playing the run,” said the 6-foot-2, 290-pound Landri. “I think I’ve proved to everybody that I can play and now it’s time for me to rush the passer.”
-- Mat McBriar can’t practice with the Eagles until Wednesday, but he punted on his own today after the morning walkthrough at Lehigh. The Eagles signed McBriar on Wednesday, but he can’t practice with the team immediately because in the new collective bargaining agreement free agents signed off the street can’t practice for three days. McBriar had offseason surgery to remove a cyst from his right foot. He wore a brace around his left calf with a small tube that runs down into his shoe. He boomed most of his practice kicks and could give incumbent punter Chas Henry a run for a roster spot.
-- The Eagles need a backup center. Julian Vandervelde said he’s up for the job. Dallas Reynolds has been handling most of the backup center duties during the early portion of camp. But live hitting starts this afternoon and Vandervelde said he’ll be in there. “I worked on my snaps the whole offseason,” said Vandervelde, who has only played guard in college and the pros. “In terms of team periods yet I haven’t had a chance to get in there. … I know Dallas and I are going to be rotating in between that center and guard spot. Howard [Mudd] really wants me to start getting more and more reps there.”
-- Brent Celek attended the walkthrough but did not participate. The tight end sprained the MCL in his right knee on Thursday and should miss the next several days.
Part of the problem with the linebackers was due to the Defensive Tackles not requiring double teams from the opposing offensive lines. When you do not have to double team up front that sets up a situation where offensive linemen can jump your linebackers, and now your linebackers have to fight off blockers to get to the point of attack.
That's a horrible situation for 50 and 60 plays. Ray Lewis, nor does Patrick Willis have to content with offensive linemen every play, both because of their Defensive Tackles who play in front of them ties up linemen so both play down hill. Because of the weak tackle play of the Eagles, the linebackers can't play down hill.
That's linebacking 101
— Dexter- “You can see by looking at the defensive linemen that they carry 30, 40, 50 pounds of fat,” said Jerry Kramer, the All-Pro guard who led the Packers’ famed sweep in the 1960s while playing at about 250 pounds. “Fat doesn’t make you strong and quick. It makes you heavy. Muscle makes you strong. We’ve gotten enamored with the 300-pounder, but give me an offensive guard who’s in great shape at 270 or 275 and understands leverage and positioning, and I’ll bet he’ll whip the fat guy every time.”— wphgratch
- Paul, Charlie can't be reached and reasoned with, he's delusional. He's more than likely referring to two hand tag football.
Anybody see the Eagles practice today on their web site?
Their practices at Camp is broadcast on their site live. Today was the first day of hitting. The Offensive line dominated the Defensive Line today. Brandon Graham, and the Rookie, Curry did stand out of all the Defensive Linemen. In all drills the Offensive Linemen were heads and shoulders above the Defensive Linemen.
— Dexter 
@CG25.. Reid system does work.. The system is fine thats why he is still here. Because the system has proved itself over time to be effective at making mediocre players look better than they actually are. Look at all the players we have had that have gone to other teams and been garbage. Kevin Kolb being the most recent one. The problem is it took Reid 13 freakin years to figure out that in order to make Shrimp Alfredo you need actual shrimp not just the shrimp seasoning packet sprinkled on the mystery meat. This year we have shrimp.. This year we went to maine itself and got the best catch of the waters. If we dont win this year its not because the organization didnt try or that the cook wasnt good. It was because its just philadelphia.— Zeru- Reid got the system from Holgrem..Holgrem got it from Walsh.. Gruden has a ring. Shanahan has 2. Holgrem has 1. Walsh has 4. The problem all this time was the cook and restaurant owner thought it was ok to go cheap on the ingredients up until now. If any year could be the year this is it. — Zeru
- charliegarner25 and UTS are morans
I'm no homer by any means as can be critical if/when needed but Garner25 you seem to be always negative and often completely wrong and UTS I haven't seen you here much but you're off base on this as performance trumps size….if you prove it on the field that's all that matters!— connorjr 
lol, this is sad. I am on vacation so I am not sitting on my laptop responding to every comment. When I say "system" I mean Andy's SPECIFIC system, not just the "West Coast Offense". Of couse the West Coast Offense has won superbowls. Are you kidding. ANDY REID RUNS HIS OWN VERSION OF THAT SYSTEM, a really dumb, extreme more pass happy version that is his own unique system. Andy Reids unique 60% pass playcall system has NEVER WON A CHAMPIONSHIP. EVER. That is true lol...when GB, the niners, shanahan and anyone else you EVER ran it RAN THE BALL AT LEAST 44% OF THE TIME Niners were like 50/50 back then, same with the broncos, none of those teams ran Andys unqiue system because they did THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE WON. So no, Andy's system has never won a Superbowl. never. and it never will with him in charge. As no team that throws the ball over 58% has ever won a SB, and Andy calls like 65% passing which has also never won a Superbowl. Its simple.- Good thing the Eagles ran it MORE than the Giants and Patriots last season. I guess that means the Eagles won the SB...oh wait...nevermind.— Penfold18
- Yes, the only reason that is technically true is from Mike Vick scrambles. Those arent true "run plays". Those are called passed by Andy, stupidly called passes by Andy that break down and Vick has to take off running for his life. Thats not how you win a football game, and its definetely not how you win a championship. The CALLED passes were at 65%, more then those other teams. 65% called passing has never won a superbowl. ever. Also even wore, which puts the nail firmly in the coffin is Andys 10-9 barely over .500 playoff record whch is laughable compared to Cougling 5-1 vs belichek .600+ playoff win percentage and Bellichek is .700+ in the playoffs. Andy is .500, a coin flip essentially, and is 0-5 vs bellichek. So I dont know where the math is that he is even remotely good in the playoffs, hes not. He will never win a superbowl, and quite frankly its become pathetic at this point.
- charlie,did you factor in Eli and Toms scrambles to get thier pass/run % or do you only manipulate Vicks numbers?Yea thats what i thought,Dope! — greensob
- You know whats pathetic a guy on vacation who cheer for the Giants blogging about how Andy Reid sucks. Nice life I feel for you.— JL68
- lol, thank you. Actually I still found time to watch some of the training camp, more then most people probably. I hate the Giants. Unfortunately the coach of my team is a moron and I Cant say it enough. He will never, ever, win a superbowl. Never.
- 1st of all, too much is being made over who started at DT in the 1st day of contact drills. Landri starting literally means NOTHING! Not for nothing, Landri is a helluva football player. I like his game alot. Landri was literally in the opponents backfield all season long!
The kid can play...but him starting the 1st day of live practice really doesnt mean anything!— johnGiam
