The Eagles' failures at linebacker
Yesterday, around 4 p.m., word spilled out of the Novacare Complex that Casey Matthews would be replacing Jamar Chaney at linebacker in the Eagles' nickel package Sunday vs. the Dolphins.
The Eagles' failures at linebacker
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Yesterday, around 4 p.m., word spilled out of the Novacare Complex that Casey Matthews would be replacing Jamar Chaney at linebacker in the Eagles' nickel package Sunday vs. the Dolphins.
About seven hours later, the Steelers set up for 1st-and-goal from the 2 yard line in their Thursday night matchup against the Browns.
A Rashard Mendenhall run up the middle was stuffed with a jarring hit from Browns linebacker Chris Gocong. On second down, a run to the right side. There was Gocong again.
Third down? Gocong - this time with help from three of his teammates. And on fourth down, the entire Browns defense clogged the middle to complete the goal-line stand.
Matthews and Gocong. One a fourth-round pick in 2011, who was thrown into the fire, didn't get the job done, was benched and will now return in a limited role. The other, a third-round pick in 2006, who was unimpressive in four seasons with the Eagles, before being dealt to Cleveland.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not criticizing the Eagles for trading Gocong. He was not a productive player here, and while I haven't seen a lot of Browns games this year, indications are he hasn't had a great season (Pro Football Focus has Gocong rated 39th among outside 4-3 linebackers).
But the point is this: How did the Eagles get to where they are with their current linebackers?
Every August, I write something to the effect of: I'm not sure about the Eagles' linebacking situation, but it surely can't be worse than last year. And then usually sometime in October, I come to the realization that the linebacker are, in fact, as bad as, or worse, than the previous season.
This season, six different linebackers have stepped onto the field for the Eagles. Here's a quick look at each:
Jamar Chaney - He showed potential playing the middle at the end of last season, but the Eagles decided to move him to the SAM position in training camp. Not only did he play poorly, but Matthews was a disaster in the middle, so Chaney got moved back. He's struggled all season and now has been demoted in the Eagles' nickel package.
Casey Matthews - Even though the Eagles didn't think it'd be wise to throw first-round pick Danny Watkins or second-round pick Jaiquawn Jarrett into the mix right away, they felt Matthews would be just fine starting the season at middle linebacker. That experiment failed, and Matthews was benched, serving a role only on special teams and short yardage. Now he'll get more snaps in the nickel.
Moise Fokou - He started the season at WILL and then was moved to SAM after Matthews was benched. Fokou didn't perform up to expectations, and he was benched in favor of Akeem Jordan. Fokou recently had season-ending surgery on his ankle.
Akeem Jordan - The Eagles seemed poised to let him go, but ultimately decided to re-sign Jordan in late July. He is now the team's starting SAM linebacker.
Brian Rolle - If there's a bright spot in the group, it's probably Rolle. Playing the WILL position, he at least makes some plays against the run. No Eagles linebacker has more tackles for loss (5) than Rolle, which is why it's hard to figure out why he gets benched in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Keenan Clayton - Perhaps no player better exemplifies the Eagles' mess at linebacker than Clayton. He had a chance to earn playing time in training camp, but failed to impress the coaches. He played a limited role in the dime package early on before the Eagles made him a healthy scratch in Weeks 6 and 7. Now, he's seeing the field more in the nickel package. With him and Matthews on the field together, suddenly running the ball will seem like an even better proposition on 3rd-and-long for opposing offenses.
Greg Lloyd - Seventh-round pick who has not played a defensive snap this season.
Five of the Eagles' seven linebackers are in their first or second seasons, so when Andy Reid says the team is young in certain areas on defense, he's telling the truth.
But you know who else is young? Von Miller. Sean Lee. And NaVorro Bowman.
Granted, Miller was the No. 2 pick overall. But he's had 10.5 sacks as a rookie while playing for a coach (John Fox) and a defensive coordinator (Dennis Allen) who are in their first seasons in Denver.
Lee is in his second season with the Cowboys, who selected him in the second round of the 2010 draft. He got off to a great start this season and has made an impact, despite recently playing with a cast on his injured left wrist. By the way, Lee is playing for Rob Ryan, who's in his first season as the Cowboys defensive coordinator. Dallas is ninth in the league in scoring defense after finishing 31st a year ago.
And finally, Bowman. A third-round pick in 2010, who is tied for fifth in the league with 110 tackles, according to NFL.com. He's playing for Jim Harbaugh, who's in his first season as the Niners head coach and Vic Fangio, who is in his first season there as defensive coordinator. They are the league's surprise team at 10-2.
The Eagles have drafted eight linebackers in the past five seasons. I mentioned Chaney, Matthews, Fokou, Rolle and Clayton above.
You can also add in Joe Mays, Andy Studebaker and Stewart Bradley.
Is there a standout in the group? Maybe I'm writing guys off too quickly, but I don't see one. Bradley had one good season. Rolle shows flashes of potential. Mays seems to be a good fit in Denver. But that's about it.
In 2009, the Eagles traded for Will Witherspoon, who was OK in his one season here. They even brought Jeremiah Trotter out of retirement.
Last year, they acquired Ernie Sims, who was great at hitting teammates after the whistle in training camp, but not so good once the games started against other opponents.
Look at the names above. Look at the misses in personnel evaluation, the draft picks that never panned out.
Of the eight linebackers the Eagles drafted since 2007, none were taken in the first three rounds. There have been two fourth-round picks; three sixth-round picks; and three seventh-round picks. So in many ways, maybe it's not fair to compare them to the likes of Miller, Lee and Bowman. Then again, it's the Eagles who decided they could get good enough players in the middle and later rounds.
And they were wrong.
Andy Reid and the front office have done a poor job of adequately upgrading talent at linebacker for years now, even after hiring Jim Washburn in the offseason and deciding to implement the wide-9.
There have been plenty of problems on defense this season, but the poor linebacker play has been a constant that's carried over from the previous era.
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Didn't the Eagles pick DTN before Bowman in the third round last year? Ouch.— APlaymaker- Clearly, the coaching staff needs someone who understands linebackers, how they should be used, and what makes them good.— reb
- It's funny that when QBs leave the Eagles they get worse, but when LBs leave they seem to get better. — december77
- i'm STILL pissed that they wasted 4 mil on steve smith, who has been terrible, and bypassed stephen tulloch, who was a very good player, similarly priced at an even greater position of need.
tulloch, who was healthy, and experienced playing behind and anchoring a defense with the same wide-9 concept in TN, versus steve smith coming off of microfracture surgery, when there were a slew of both high and low profile WRs out there to be had as maclin insurance.— poetx - I totally agree, but is it a fact that they didn't try to sign Tulloch? Can't really fault the FO if Tulloch didn't want to play in Philly. — december77
- i just shake my head in Shame i liked Will Witherspoon Chris Gocong n Joe Mays but they never spread fear in the offenses boots when James Harrison, Ray Lewis, or Clay Mathews comes to mind you think of Fear but with this support group that the eagles have dont strike fear n no one i thought casey matthews b a steal 4 us but sadly no! more like a disappointment! hopefully well end up 8 - 8 and have the top 10 draft pick and draft a good linebacker but you know how andy is about Linebackers and Defense!— VickaDelphia24
- Maybe they need a new linebacker coach to get their techniques right. Maybe a new strength and conditioning coach wouldn't hurt either. This D just looks soft.— balitok
- poetx I agree. Steve Smith sucks and if you can pay him to sit on the bench, why can't you pay Desean more than 600K/yr? I'm not saying I like watching Desean act disinterested and avoid contact and drop catches, but Steve Smith has done NOTHING!— 46 and 2
- I agree SS was a waste of money however, who knew that would happen?? He had 107 catches 2 yrs ago. And it is not as simple as swapping salaries for DJ. He is probably looking for 15Mil/yr. You can't say we'll just give you the 4M we gave SS. Also I believe it was only 2.2M. Anyone know for sure?
- Those 3 young linebackers mentioned on other teams aren't playing with other inexperienced linebackers. They're playing with more experienced backers and in Bowman's case, he was playing beside Patrick Willis, before Willis' injury.— Phila Phans
- we're doomed...— Bobby G
- As usual, Sheil is spot on with the LB comparisons! But by now, we all know that the Eagles picks, playcalling and decisions on where to put a certain player in position to make plays are all FAULTS!!! This organization is coming apart at the seams and as much as I like to back The Mike Vick Experience and Desean, even they can't help all of the problems the Eagles have right now. At least the O isn't as bad off as the D but since defense wins championships, the Eagles clearly won't be going to any anytime soon!— Panthro2011
- Incompetent GM + incompetent Coaches + incompetent Players DIVIDED by an inexperienced Coordinator = 4 and 12. Does the Owner still live in France? Can we get word to him in some way, to let him know how badly his investment is being handled by 2 Nerds and a Fat Guy? Its a shame the Owner isn't in this Country to see this fiasco first hand! If he was, you better believe, he would do something about it! Get moving on this, I think its Southern France!— younged
- spot on and hilarious. — coloradoeagle
- I think that's the crux of the issue facing the Eagles going forward, and I hope that Jeff Lurie recognizes it:
The Eagles don't just need to put the players in a better position to succeed, ...they need to put BETTER players in a position to succeed.
The front office's repeated failures in player personnel evaluation have created a disadvantage that even the best coaching staff/scheme's would be hard pressed to overcome.
This isn't a new problem, just one that may finally being recognized.— andyd - This is one a devastating -- and deserved -- indictment of Andy Reid and his total lack of understanding of what it takes to create a staunch defense. For this alone he should be fired ASAP. I don't ever ever want to hear again how the Eagles' scheme doesn't emphasize LBs. It's the same as saying the Eagles' scheme doesn't emphasize success.— Dave Clemens
- So this will take how long to fix? Seems like a huge mistake that can't be corrected in one or two years.— adipaolo
- So this will take how long to fix? Seems like a huge mistake that can't be corrected in one or two years.— adipaolo
- One pick...one answer...2nd round --Brandan Jenkins, OLB, FSU, 6'3", 260 lbs. Answers the LB questions.— Romus
- I'm still pissed that PIERRE-PAUL and EARL THOMAS were sitting there and Reid manage to sandwich Brandon Graham in between the two of them.— Geno D
- New coach ...new direction. The good draft....M. Barkley-QB, B. Jenkins-OLB, Chase Minnifield-CB and Dwight Jones-WR...new beginnings.— Romus
- We can rant till we're blue in the face.
Nothing changes unless/until Lurie determines that he's had enough of Banner, Reid et al.
Till then, alas, more of the same ...— FishFryFrank - Their drafting has gone KAPUT since Tom Modrak left. Reid cannot be trusted to draft. He is killing my Eagles.— NM Eagle fan
- Andy's drafts have been remarkable. You'd think one time he would have messed up and accidently gotten a good one. But he's always bad.— 4thand10
- This is actually pretty sad. You can understand missing on one or two draft picks but 8?— Ssteve115
- I think it pretty evident the eagles like to draft DB's and DL's with their early picks. Evrey team has weaknesses. Lets see... we could have taken a LB last year but instead took Maclin. So we could have a better situation at LB but worse at WR. Do you see how this works?— Mugwumps88
- Hey tpizza, even Sheil is in agreement with us about Ernie Sims. Celek was never the same last year after Sims leveled him in practice. As far as Andy and the linebackers, 13 years and not picking a decent linebacker in the draft. That is unbelievable. In that time span with that many selections, you could almost pick a good one by accident.— watsonmr
- castillo is horrible.— psualum
- Good coaching can hide poor players, and good players can hide poor coaching, but poor coaching and poor players are brutally exposed. We are brutally exposed at linebacker. Actually, we are just brutal.— OverFiftyYears
- younged, the owner, Lurie, lives in Villanova and attneds every game, He was there when the fans chanted to fire Reid, then left en masse. He doesn't live in France.Hopefully, he is getting the message.— mike l
- Well, it's obvious that this coach has never seen the importance of linebackers, even though great defenses are anchored by them. If they had any intelligence, they'd use the first two picks in the next draft on linebackers. However, they should bring in Seth Joyner to make the picks. Don't let Andy or Roseman anywhere near the draft room, either, because they will be too tempted to draft another small, underachieving defensive lineman.— Hemingway
- The team better find a good defensive coordinator before they attempt to upgrage the LB's. Or else more draft busts are in the future....— MrMiles1
- Birds got to move on and clean house with the LB's. Start with Mathews. Why invest in an asset that shows little-to-no chance of approaching acceptability at LB. Guy has not shed a block all year as far as I can see, and even on special teams seems to just float around and get bounced by even the lightest of blockers. Just cause he has hair like Sampson, doesn't mean he is strong... ENOUGH!— Beijingjake-II
- Andy Reid's understanding of the defense left with Jim Johnson. Defensively, Eagles have been going backwards for several seasons.— Smashmouth
- Picture of Fabio looks like the one on the cover of the new hit romance novel: "My Prince Gets Run Over."— Astro Jones
- this is an excellent piece, sheil. we haven't had a LB worth a damn since trotter... BEFORE they let him go to the skins. one decent LB and they let him walk rather than pay him. hope the same thing doesn't happen with desean...— eaglestuckinbigD
- Job 1 after this season is to hire a football person to be GM/VP Player Personnel. No more accountants running the draft. The team is stocked with talentless linebackers and safties because the people picking them don't know what talent is. It really is that simple.— coloradoeagle
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