Why keeping Asante makes sense
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Why keeping Asante makes sense
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
During Sunday morning's practice, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Joselio Hanson continued to line up as the team's starting cornerbacks.
The Eagles' offseason began with right corner as their biggest hole, but after acquiring Rodgers-Cromartie and signing Nnamdi Asomugha, the question that hangs over the defense now is: Will the Eagles keep all three cornerbacks, or is Asante Samuel headed out of town?
I've heard some people poking holes in Samuel's game recently, and while he isn't the most sound tackler or the most physical player, by most measures, he turned in a career year in 2010.
I've mentioned the numbers before, but Samuel allowed just 3.2 yards per pass on 36 targets, according to Football Outsiders. That was tops in the league - better than Darrelle Revis (5.6) and better than Asmougha (5.9). Samuel also had seven interceptions. Consider that for a moment. He created a turnover once every 5.14 times teams threw at him. If Rodgers-Cromartie would have had that ratio, he would have had nearly 20 interceptions in 2010.
Sure, it helped Samuel that teams threw away from him, considering Ellis Hobbs and Dimitri Patterson were manning the other side. But when teams threw his way, Samuel made them pay. According to Pro Football Focus, opposing QBs had a 31.7 rating when throwing at Samuel. That too was the best mark in the league.
Samuel is 30 years old and scheduled to make the following base salaries the next three seasons: $5.9M in 2011, $8.4M in 2012, and $10.4M in 2013. Johnathan Joseph, 27, just got a five-year, $48.75M deal from the Texans with $23.5M guaranteed. And Asomugha, 30, got a five-year, $60M deal with $25M guaranteed. Maybe Samuel's contract won't look so good in 2013, but I'm not sure it's such a problem for 2011, considering how well he played last year.
Which brings us to trade talks. Jeff McLane of the Inquirer caught up with Samuel's agent, Alonzo Shavers, who said his client does not want to be traded, but according to the article, the Eagles are already fielding calls and could deal the cornerback if a "great" offer came along. A league source told Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer that the Panthers could be interested.
By now, you probably know my take. I think there's great value in keeping Samuel and teaming him with Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie.
A few items to consider:
* The Eagles had to cover three or more receivers 47 percent of the time in 2010, per Football Outsiders.
* Teams like the Packers played offensively with three or more receivers 60 percent of the time.
* Samuel missed four games last year. Asomugha missed two.
In other words, let's say the Eagles made Rodgers-Cromartie the nickel corner. He's still going to be on the field quite a bit.
Greg Cosell of NFL Films had a very interesting Tweet yesterday:
Eagles looking to play like Colts of few yrs ago. Get ahead early, force opposing offense to play from behind, play nickel + dime + rush QB.
That makes a lot of sense to me. And it puts their offseason moves into context - not only with adding Rodgers-Cromartie and Asomugha, but with signing Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin as proven pass rushers.
Play more nickel. Let teams run the ball a little bit. Only keep a couple linebackers on the field. The Eagles have the personnel to do that right now, without making any additional roster moves.
There are only two ways I consider dealing Samuel. One is for financial purposes. If moving him is the easiest way to free up money and extend DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick, then it might make sense. But Joe Banner doesn't seem too worried about the team's cap situation, so maybe the Eagles could get something done with Jackson and Vick anyway.
Number two: If trading Samuel lands them a legitimate right tackle in return.
The more I think about it, the more I believe right tackle is now the biggest concern on this team.
Given all the moves they've made, I don't see how the Eagles can be comfortable with either King Dunlap or a less-than-healthy Winston Justice protecting Vick's blind side. It just doesn't add up - not after they've said they're "all in" and have made moves to back up that notion. Dunlap has been playing right tackle with the first team at Lehigh, and Justice is on the PUP list so far.
If they don't add a new right tackle, maybe the Eagles move Todd Herremans over there and plug newly acquired Evan Mathis or Mike McGlynn in at guard. But with each passing day, it becomes more apparent that this is something which needs to be addressed.
I've heard suggestions that the Eagles should target a middle linebacker in exchange for Samuel, but given the way they've viewed the linebacker position in recent years, I'm not sure that makes sense. My guess is any LB they'd consider would have to be young, proven and relatively cheap. Not an easy combination to find.
We still don't know what the Eagles will do with Samuel, but for now, everyone is saying the right things. Samuel's camp says he doesn't want to be traded. Rodgers-Cromartie says he can be the nickel corner. And Asomugha today called the Eagles' situation "very workable."
I'm sure Howie Roseman and company are fielding calls, as reported, but unless the right deal comes along, holding on to Samuel makes the most sense.
You can follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Detroit will not be trading Calvin any time soon. In case you haven't noticed, the Lions are building quite a formidable team out there, and will give GB all they can handle.— ol duke- Yes, teams use 3 receivers a lot, but we also have Hanson, Lindley, and Marsh. Best argument for keeping Samuel is that injuries happen. And since the Eagles obviously place a great value on cornerbacks, with three starting-caliber guys, odds are better that there will always be two true starters on the field. Having DRC as the 3rd corner is not unlike having Vince Young as the backup QB.— armchairGM
- Keep him.— NC Eagle Fan
- Curious what folks think - keep things the way they are now, but given Asante's style, what about moving him to Safety and let Nmandi and Dominique work the corners? I admit I don't know as much about this as others, just throwing the idea out there.. We lost Mikell to the Rams...— custodiodj
- Why isn't trading DRC and keeping Asante an option to consider?— Dr Bri
- Get rid of Samuel and free up that money for a linebacker & pay Desean ...and get a draft pick or two.— misterhman
- @DrBri - because the new D requires that the corners play bump and run and Asante doesn't play that style. In case you haven't noticed he's not a very physical player ;-)— Eagle GREEN Mt State
- Hanson did look decent as the nickel, just not as a starter. I just wish I had an idea of how much cap room they had to figure out what moves they could make. Tatupu is out there now. Maybe he wants a ring. A RT and a backup RB would be nice.— HandNik
- At this point, I say keep him...His turnovers will be needed.— PhilliefaninAZ
- Know when a professional football player is done ? When his body or mind can't take contact any more. Asante had to come out multiple times in the same game last year. This has been going on for the last few years,
Remind you of anybody else recently whose career ended rather suddenly under similiar conditions.
Brian Westbrook.— candidly - Useless to trade Asante for a draft pick or two but to get a top notch RT or LB and to free up money for DJax I could see it happening. If Hanson and/or Lindley can fill the nickel Asante may be too much of a luxury and is a goner. Hopefully they have enough cap space and Joe "Hell Yeah Megabucks" Banner says they do so that they can keep all three. Not THAT would be terrific.— tpizza
- Asante Samuel is worth WAY MORE than a "stud" right tackle could EVER be. If the Eagles do a deal like that, they should be shot. But since Plaxico Burress is off the market, I can't see that happening (the Eagles FO getting shot). Maybe a stud right tackle PLUS a second round pick, or straight up a first rounder. Corners are like gold in todays NFL. Like the Eagles are saying, blow me away with an offer, otherwise, STFU we're keeping all three corners. Linebackers aren't even in the running for a trade for Asante, maybe Clay Matthews plus a pick? You people are obsessed with linebackers, it's pathetic. I've got news for you all, the spread offense is going to be the new wildcat this season. 3 corners gives the Eagles a distinct advantage over every other team in the NFL. It shuts down the spread before you can even run it. Just relax. If the Eagles keep all 3 corners, they can trot all their rookie draft picks at LB and still be a much better defense, especially with Cullen Jenkins at tackle and Babin at DE, they're going to get better pressure. What's that leave? Other teams will have to run. Do you REALLY think the run game, anybody's run game, will be able to score enough points to keep up with the Eagles fast break offense? No? Me neither.— cletisvandam
- Has anyone asked Joselio Hanson what he thinks about Rogers-Cromartie being the nickel back?— SteveS11
- we should look at lindley, patterson and hanson, only one of them should stay, i hope its lindley — xlGmanlx
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
