New coordinator, same scheme for Eagles defense
Don't expect any major schematic changes from new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
New coordinator, same scheme for Eagles defense
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Don't expect any major schematic changes from new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
Bowles said Tuesday he's going to keep the Wide-9, which defensive line coach Jim Washburn oversees. The Eagles will continue to mix man and zone coverages. They'll blitz on occassions, but be smart with the times that they do. Bowles will make some tweaks and inject his personality, but it will mostly be a different messenger sending the same messge.
"I might have a different spin on it and my own ideas here or there and a few tweaks that they go through," Bowles said. "They’ll understand exactly where we, as a coaching staff, are coming from, and understanding exactly what the game plan is as they have been.”
Regarding the Wide-9, Bowles said, "that's what we do." Regarding blitzing, Bowles said, "You can’t blitz too much or too little. Too much of one thing leads them to do another, so game-plan wise and schematically that’ll have to fit in during the week.”
**Pay attention to how Bowles uses Nnamdi Asomugha, the veteran cornerback whom Bowles has worked with the past few months. Asomugha has praised Bowles, and Bowles has developed a sense of how he believes it is best to use Asomugha.
"He’s best utilized mixing man and zone coverages, as we have been doing," Bowles said. "There aren’t too many things as a corner that you can or can’t do. You can’t go into a game and say, ‘We are going to lock him down the whole game.’ If you play 75 snaps of man coverage you’re going to get beat three. If you play all zone coverage, you’re going to get beat. We have to continue to mix it up and make sure that the game plan is conducive, not only for him, but also the other 10 guys.”
**Bowles has not yet decided whether he'll make calls from a press box booth or on the sideline. Bowles has been in the booth all season. Castillo has been on the sideline. The determination will be made in the coming days, but Bowles sees advantages to both.
"I’ve been on the field and I’ve been in the box," Bowles said. "In the box, you’re probably a little bit calmer because you can’t yell at anybody; nobody’s going to hear you. On the field, you have your hands on the players but the reaction steps are a lot quicker out on the field. So, you have to kind of get a feel for what the rest of your coaches can do and a feel for what your players need, whether I’m up or down.”
Why is Reid infatuated with the wide-9, after he just fired Juan whom he promoted from o-line to DC because no other experienced DC would have the scheme pre-dictated? Here's hoping it is changing and he's not going to broadcast it.
Yea...sure. At least I can retire my "Why Juan" rant.— frustrated1- you don't change scheme midseason.— p-diddy
- Ya start by situationally weaving in 4-3 schemes with increasing frequency.— frustrated1
- The berth of a new beginning or the drawn out continuation of something old, guess we'll see won't we! The time is now yours! Just sayin'...— DJ
- Bowles has NFL player experience and has worked in a number of franchises as a coach. I am looking forward to seeing him improve the defense and in particular, provide in-game adjustments. The guy seems like a winner and I hope to see that soon...— Soaring Eagle
