Tinker McDermott; Vick unlikely for Sunday
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Tinker McDermott; Vick unlikely for Sunday
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Sean McDermott unveiled another twist to his defense on Tuesday night.
Needless to say, it didn't work.
McDermott, in his two seasons as the Eagles defensive coordinator, has become a bit of a tinkerer with his unit. It's something partly borne of the number of injuries he has to deal with it, but oftentimes is has nothing to do with losing players.
Against the Vikings, for instance, he had Akeem Jordan stepping in for weak-side linebacker Ernie Sims in certain situations. Last week against the Giants, he implemented a seven defensive back scheme whenever New York face third and long. Last year, he hardly ever had a linebacker play all three downs. The list goes on.
"What he's done is he's using everybody, trying to work everybody's strengths into the game plan, which is a good thing," Eagles coach Andy Reid said on Wednesday, a day after the Eagles "pathetic" -- his word -- loss to Minnesota. "He's trying to put everybody into a good position there and that's OK. That's the way that works."
McDermott's defense only surrendered 17 points to Minnesota, but gave up 31, 27, 24 and 31 points in the Eagles' previous four games.
Reid said that injuries had something to do with the too-many-player-on-the-field penalty the defense was called for in the fourth quarter with the Vikings on the Eagles 1-yard line.
"There's got to be a communication when you're coming in and on and off and we had a couple guys that got banged up a little bit and had to come out," Reid said.
Cornerback Dimitri Patterson was benched in favor of Joselio Hanson in the second half. Patterson, who took over as the starter after the bye in late October, has struggled of late.
The defense suffered another season-ending injury when defensive tackle Jeff Owens tore the patella tendon in his knee. He will head to injured reserve, joining three other rookies -- defensive end Brandon Graham, safety Nate Allen and cornerback Jorrick Calvin -- and nine total players.
In other injury news, defensive tackle Trevor Laws has a shoulder sprain and a chest contusion and was sore, Reid said. Linebacker Stewart Bradley has been ruled out for Sunday's game with his elbow injury, but there's a chance he'll be ready for the playoffs, Reid said. Linebacker Keenan Clayton (hamstring) is back and "should be full speed," according to the coach.
The most notable injury, of course, was Michael Vick's quad contusion. Even if Reid were to want his quarterback to play in an otherwise meaningless game on Sunday against the Cowboys, the coach isn't sure if it's even possible.
"I'm not even sure he can get back from what he's got here with the quad," Reid said. "It's very sore right now. I got to look at that. He'd be one that you'd have to look at to see what you do there."
Reid is likely to rest Vick with the short work week. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson (sore foot) and cornerback Asante Samuel (sore knee) are also likely candidates to get a needed game off.
Vote: Grade the Eagles
This is not a very good defensive football team. It has not been from game # 1. It has not improved as the season progressed. They give up 25 points per game, they are last in Red Zone defense. It is week 16. This defense has been exposed.— gee1971- And the NFL wants to extend the season 2 more games! I don't think so. Could you imagine if this season had 2 more games. We'd be playing the Pracice Squad by week 18 let alone any playoffs.— DeTom
- more like "stinkerer"...am I right guys?— figgypop
- This team's D has bigger holes than Lady Gaga. Don't book any late playoff road trips, this team will be on the golf course.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatus
- I'd rest every guy they can, from Vick to McCoy to Herremans to Trent Cole (who won't want to come off the field, so they should probably have him in street clothes.) Good time for Kolb, Jerome Harrison, Eldra Buckley, Teo Nesheim and company to get more game experience.— tacklinjoe
- Not sure who should take more blame for the crappy D - the guys that drafted these "players" or the guys responsible for coaching them.— AndysBigBrain
- 3rd and 11, waste a timeout, then put a linebacker on a wide receiver? 75% Red Zone TDs? QB making his first start with those numbers? That's coaching. I am impressed by the run D, though.— T
- Dmitri Patterson is not an NFL starting-caliber corner. Nor is Joselio Hanson for that matter. Moises Fokou is not an NFL linebacker, Ernie Sims is a joke. The top two draft picks are out for the season. We're down to backups at every level of the D. Anyone who thinks half these guys could even sniff the field on a top defense is fooling themselves. Dick Lebeau himself couldn't work with this personnel, the talent is just not there. McDermott is doing what he can with what he's been given to work with, if you want to blame anyone for the state of the defense blame the front office
- Jim Johnson is turning over in his grave— your_mom_says_hi!
Under Jim Johnson, the Eagles were always a defense that got to the quaterback, get off the field on 3rd down, great redzone defense and they forced alot of turnovers and sacks. McDermott had all those years to learn from the great mastermind JJ and now this defense is really struggling and has alot of holes. Look for the Eagles to draft A Cornerback in the First Round of Next Year Draft (If there is 1) and a Saftey in the 3rd or 4th round as well as a Linebacker.— briandawkins20- This guy stinks. The umpa-loompa wanna be needs to hit the unemployment line, err online. Commented on dropping LB's and specifically D-line men back in coverage mutliple times. I just don't understand that concept. 'We only need a few seconds to get to the quarterback' yeah, but the receiver is gone in a few seconds...from what I see, it does not work.
-not bob levy— remyy - @figgypop... you got that right, man! Now's not the time to tinker. Stick to what works! And they need to rest the starters for playoffs. Sunday's game is meaningless, even if it's the Cowgirls.— TerryW
Man 2010 Eastern Conference Champions, Vikes...NOT a BAD LOSS.... NOW.. being the best time for the performance I witnessed last night.What a STINKER...PUTS US ON A MUCH TOUGHER PATH to DALLAS. SOo what. The Job is the same Beat the next five opponents we face. Yea our Coaches and Players Sucked, after that Record Breaking, History making performance in NY. All week these MEN.. their Politically Correct Rhetoric COMING FROM both players and team... SAID "The Giants game is in their rear view mirror". "We are focused on the Vikes". PLAYED like all they needed to do was walk on the field to get the win. Guess the Vikes showed us!!!! SOO !#$%^$%# disappointed about this letdown. Wanted that 2nd seed. But this piece of humble pie the VIKES FORCED down our throats... Hmm May yet prove to be perfect timing for this Young Team on a hot streak still learning THEY Cannot ALWAYS PUT the game on VICK's back. After that history making, record breaking NY win...Young Team Feeling invincible believing their own press. This LOSS Might be just what we needed...Losing SUCKS...ARRGH %$^#*&^. Anyhow I believe in this team even with it's flaws perceived and real. All these years waiting for a championship IF IT TAKES BEATING THE BEST TO BE THE BEST at HOME OR ON THE ROAD...SO BE IT...soo MUCH SWEETER THE PRIZE. SO all Y'ALL TURNCOATS..Kev should start...SHIP JUMPERS... JOHNNY COME LATELY wanna be Eagle fans y'all still here...HAHAHAHA.It aint that serious hahahaah. Perfect time to refresh coaches and players after EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS all year. Mike was hammered last night he has to accept he cannot do it by HIMSELF...All the Time...Kev needs to start and beat Dallas with our back-ups. I think he can. Hope this team uses this LOSS and re dedicate themselves to creating and maintaining a winning tempo on the field Physically and Mentally. Go Eagles. SEE U IN DALLAS- Fire McDumbnuts when the season ends!!!!!— regcargav
- If you hand a good chef inedible ingredients, the only thing he can make is hash. Sorta describes our D to a T.— TBear
