Can Sims help the Eagles' blitz?
The Eagles need to get more out of their LBs and DBs when Sean McDermott dials up blitzes next season. How does newcomer Ernie Sims fit into that equation?
Can Sims help the Eagles' blitz?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
The Eagles made their selections in April's draft with the idea of getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks front and center.
At the media chalk talk event a couple months ago, general manager Howie Roseman even referenced the Giants team that won the Super Bowl, saying that they didn't have the best secondary, but could get to the quarterback.
While it would be great for the Birds to be able to rely on their front four to get that pressure, we all know this is still a blitzing defense.
So as we continue to monitor how the defensive line rotation is going to shake out, it's important to also keep an eye on the linebackers and defensive backs to see how comfortable they are when their number is called to blitz.
Which bring us to Ernie Sims, who is likely to be one of the Birds' new starters on defense in 2010. The Eagles acquired Sims from the Lions in the offseason, and he got all the first-team reps at weak-side linebacker during last week's OTAs. He's also been one of two linebackers on the field in nickel packages.
I caught up with Sims for a quick Q&A last week. Here's what he had to say:
Q: How are you picking up the defense?
Sims: It's coming along pretty good. Like I said before, I needed to get as much information as possible so that during this next month, I can be studying and get ready for training camp.
Q: What's been the most challenging part?
A: It's just different terminology. The blitzes are pretty much the same, but just different ways to teach the coverages and everything. That's where I've got to improve.
Q: Were you asked to blitz a lot with the Lions?
Sims: Sometimes. Sometimes, not. Sometimes we called it, sometimes we didn't.
Q: Are you looking forward to blitzing more here?
Sims: Most definitely. I'm really excited about that. I feel like I can help the Eagles out a lot with my blitz game, and my cover game.
Q: What's the key to getting there when your number's called?
Sims: Speed. I was taught at Florida State, you gotta pull your ears back, like your hair's on fire and come with a vengeance, because you don't have a lot of time to get there.
Q: How does the pace of practice and the atmosphere differ between here and Detroit?
Sims: Practice is practice. We go out there, we try and get some good work in. We try to learn from our film study early in the morning. I feel like it's the same.
Q: What do you have planned for the next six weeks?
Sims: Continue conditioning. I want to come into training camp strong and fast, and I want to come in healthy. I'm going to stay in my playbook and try to learn everything I can.
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The Rebuild is on!— CrashTestCorzine- this may be a rebuilding year, but this is the most excited I've been for a season to start since the year TO was signed.— therev
- The increase (I hope) in higher quality D-Linemen and Linebackers from the various sources that management used will have to "cover" (sorry...couldn't help myself)for the woefully thin talent level of the defensive backfield.I can already envision how some crafty O-Coordinator will be attacking us. And since you never have a GOOD idea of how your (defensive) team will perform until you have four games under your belt, I hope I am dead wrong about my observation! Training camp and those four exhibition games won't mean very much, because opposing coaches don't really game-plan for them. But with that horror-show of an offensive line weighing them down like an anvil under each armpit, I see only the opportunity for Andy to evaluate how THIS patch-job works for this year. And I REALLY want to be dead-freaking-WRONG about my view of our Birds!— TBear
- hoping for 8-8...— NJtoWS
- you want 8-8? Follow the Redskins, loser.— jalinsgs
- Practice is practice? Was I the only who who said 'practice' with a slight accent?— ziggy
- Ernie has no future plans in the broadcasting business, thank you.— MidGreen
- Huh? The Eagles seldom blitz their LB's, not since the days when Trotter could still play. Gocong had 4 sacks in three years as a starter. Bradley had only 1 in his year as a starter. Jordan had 1 sack in two years as a starter. Shel, what planet are you on?— jimmyj
- Here's the deal, since 2003 the only year an Eagle LB has had two sacks was in 2008, when SUPPOSEDLY Gaither and Gocong had two each. Anybody who has ever seen either of them actually sack a QB, please raise their hand! Not since the inimitable Nate Wayne in 2003 has an Eagle LB had 3 sacks. In the old days, early Trotter and Carlos Emmons, it used to happen every year, but back then the LB's weren't other teams' rejects and low-round fill-ins. Sorry Shel, I was just bored enough to look it up. So forget about the Eagles LB's on the blitz, or at least forget about them actually getting there if they do!— jimmyj
- jimmy Your right . . most times the eagles put a safety up in the box / a la Dawk / sometimes blitzing both corners . . that's wild . . because i was always wondering . . who's covering ? Maybe eagles will be sending the LB's more this year . . . they need to do something diff . to get to the QB . . .— ingy9
Comment removed.- Well, Sims will have to be healthy, and stop the run to be on the field. Then, he'll undoubtedly be a good blitzer. But he's not Demarcus Ware. He's a little guy who'll need a good gap. Generally, the best offenses have been able to succeed against the Eagles' blitz packages. Dallas last season was a good example. Once their offense had all the parts working well, the Eagles were at a lost to match it. And will be this season too if the Cowboys roll forward.— tacklinjoe
- Now, if Ernie can cover and blitz as well as he mixes his metaphors....— Warhound
- A big help to the defense this season would be sustained drives by the offense. Last years offense either scored in 6 plays or was a 3 and out. This kept the D on the field way too much. I think Kolb is going to change that if the O-Line can improve a little over last year.— craig123
- A big help to the defense this season would be sustained drives by the offense. Last years offense either scored in 6 plays or was a 3 and out. This kept the D on the field way too much. I think Kolb is going to change that if the O-Line can improve a little over last year.— craig123
- this guy is full of quotes. the next sheldon brown maybe...— juggadore
njtows, i am hoping for 6-10. our defense sucks. jackson talks to much, and our o-line looks shaky ... but hey atleast the yahoo WIP fans are happy...— kfoell- Craig: Kold will change that by throwing to the other teams, so our D will never be on the field. I hope not, but you guys better wait for Kolb to have some success before making him P Manning.— Bigbadrookie
- Should be fun/interesting to watch this team grow.— kramer65
- any guy who plays linebacker and has pet sharks in his home should be a playmaker— Egomark
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