Samuel, Asomugha and the Eagles' CBs
For the second consecutive offseason, the Eagles need to address the right cornerback position. I've argued (and have not been alone) that this is absolutely their No. 1 need - ahead of right guard, ahead of defensive line, ahead of linebacker, and whatever other positions you want to throw in there. The reason why is simple: putting a quality player opposite Asante Samuel will help every other player on defense. But that's not really new information. And while we know Samuel had probably the best season of his career last year, Aaron Schatz over at Football Outsiders recently put into context just how well he performed in 2010. Schatz wrote about how the league's cornerbacks measured up in three different categories: Success Rate, Yards Per Pass and YAC allowed. Success Rate is defined as "the percentage of passes that don't manage to get at least 45 percent of needed yards on first down, 60 percent of needed yards on second down, or 100 percent of needed yards on third down." The rankings initially looked only at cornerbacks that were targeted at least 40 times. Samuel played in 11 games last season, missing four due to injury and one in Week 17 when most of the Eagles' starters sat. Overall, Football Outsiders had him charted for 36 targets, but they included Samuel at the end of the post anyway. Here's how Samuel's numbers looked in the categories mentioned above:
Samuel, Asomugha and the Eagles' CBs
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
For the second consecutive offseason, the Eagles need to address the right cornerback position.
I've argued (and have not been alone) that this is absolutely their No. 1 need - ahead of right guard, ahead of defensive line, ahead of linebacker, and whatever other positions you want to throw in there.
The reason why is simple: putting a quality player opposite Asante Samuel will help every other player on defense.
But that's not really new information. And while we know Samuel had probably the best season of his career last year, Aaron Schatz over at Football Outsiders recently put into context just how well he performed in 2010.
Schatz wrote about how the league's cornerbacks measured up in three different categories: Success Rate, Yards Per Pass and YAC allowed. Success Rate is defined as "the percentage of passes that don't manage to get at least 45 percent of needed yards on first down, 60 percent of needed yards on second down, or 100 percent of needed yards on third down."
The rankings initially looked only at cornerbacks that were targeted at least 40 times. Samuel played in 11 games last season, missing four due to injury and one in Week 17 when most of the Eagles' starters sat. Overall, Football Outsiders had him charted for 36 targets, but they included Samuel at the end of the post anyway.
Here's how Samuel's numbers looked in the categories mentioned above:
| |
Targets |
Yds./pass |
Success
rate |
YAC |
| Asante
Samuel |
36 |
3.2 |
78% |
1.9 |
Samuel ranked first in the league in yards per pass and success rate. Among cornerbacks that were targeted at least 40 times, the Jets' Darrelle Revis was first in success rate at 70 percent (8 percentage points behind Samuel).
The Vikings' Antoine Winfield allowed 4.2 yards per pass, which was first among cornerbacks that had at least 40 targets. Again, Samuel was better than Winfield by a full yard at 3.2. And Samuel's 1.9 YAC was third.
The other aspect of Samuel's play that is not taken into account with the Football Outsiders rankings is interceptions. Despite only being targeted 36 times, Samuel ranked tied for second in the league with seven picks. The only other cornerback that ranked in the top 10 in Success Rate and the top 30 in interceptions was Green Bay's Tramon Williams, who was fourth in success rate (66 percent) and tied for fifth with six interceptions.
A couple other non-Samuel notes. One concerns the Eagles' nickel corner, Joselio Hanson, who had an outstanding season, according to the numbers. Here's how he rated:
| Targets |
Yds./pass |
Success
rate |
YAC |
|
| Joselio
Hanson |
46 |
4.4 |
63% |
1.5 |
Hanson ranked second among cornerbacks with at least 40 targets in yards per pass, eighth in success rate and first in YAC allowed. You could look at the numbers in one of two ways. One: Why on earth did Hanson not get more of a shot to start at right cornerback over Dimitri Patterson? Or two: It's clear why the coaching staff wanted to keep him in his role as the nickel corner, covering the slot, given how well he was performing.
The one name that is mentioned every time the Eagles' cornerback situation takes places is Nnamdi Asomugha. Here's how Football Outsiders charted his numbers last season:
| Targets |
Yds./pass |
Success
rate |
YAC |
|
| Nnamdi
Asomugha |
31 |
5.9 |
61% |
3.7 |
What's incredible here is that Asomugha played in three more games than Samuel and was still targeted five fewer times. Towards the end of the season, it really seemed like opposing quarterbacks were staying away from Samuel. As the numbers show, that was true of Asomugha pretty much all season.
Last offseason, the Eagles chose to focus on their defensive line as a way to mask issues in the secondary. This offseason, the opposite approach could be taken with the addition of one cornerback - whether it's Asomugha, a draft prospect or someone else.
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I don't see how throwing to samual more often would mean his numbers would be worse. The stats are the stats. Grant it, with fewer targets there's more of a chance that the numbers will be higher (or lower) than the actual skill level of the CB, but at 36 targets, that's a fairly reasonable number for the law of averages to take effect.
Also, as some have pointed out, it says something good about a CB when teams don't throw on his side. It's like a good hitter in baseball. They aren't going to get as many shots, but when they get them, they make it count. Samual has proven he makes it count. Yes he will get burned on some plays but that's his style. He more than makes up for it in turnovers over the course of the year. The problem is that when samual gets burned for big once in a while, it makes it look like he sucks, but getting turnovers requires a gamble. Statiscally speaking, his gambles have helped the team way more than they've hurt, so when people say he's not an elite CB, it's a little silly. You wouldn't say that Roy Halladay is a bad "overall player" because he's not going to belt home runs every game. That's not his gig. Samual doesn't have to be the best at everything to make him elite. He just needs to make an elite level of contribution in some form on the field. As long as he's starting calibur or better in the other areas, he's doing his job.— JFW3- Until lockout is settled there are no free agents.— ed_m
The best way to help out the Eagles secondary is to get a big D tackle who can bull rush a center or guard back into the backfield once in a while. It will also help the D ends get more pressure on the QB. We need a pro bowl level D tackle. When was the last time the Eagles had one? This is not to say the secondary couldn't use an upgrade, but after Amakumura and Patterson there is a big drop off in talent level. Unless the Eagles can pull off a trade for Kolb and get a high first rounder, they won't smell those guys. Ideally, the guy you play opposite of Assante should be a lock down type guy, that way a QB will have more of a tendency to test Samuel and give him chances to get picks. Asomugha, in my opinion isn't a lock down guy but more of a gambler in the mold of Samuel. Having two gamblers could be one too many. I'd have to check the FA list to see if there's someone who better fits the Eagles needs, maybe a cheaper FA which would allow the Birds to possibly sign another FA, either a LB or O lineman, or maybe a safety since I think they're cutting Quinten Mikell loose for some reason.- provided there is a free agency period and the ability to make deals, the Eagles top priority is to get a stud right corner. Asomugha is obviously a great one and would be wonderful paired with Samuel.. the other great option is to trade Kolb in some type deal to Arizona to get the 5th pick and the option to draft Patrick Peterson. That guy has star written all over him. If neither of these options are possible, I go for Colorado corner Jimmy Smith with pick 23. His size and speed would greatly help cover the big receivers we'll have to face in the NFC East.— bradco
- Asomugha is the answer to the Eagles problems, the Eagles and League knows this. The Eagles are to cheap to make a real offer for him.
We have been down this road before. Asomugha and that 6'2 Safety from Cal.
the Eagles could have solved their problems if they weren't cheap.
i.e The didn't have to make a run for Peppers when he was available, the Eagles were going to sell out anyway without Peppers.
Sheil, do you think Asomugha is worth the asking price? Your opinion at philly.com is the only opinion I have learned to respect.
And, what do you think should be a fair trade for Kolb?
The rest of these hacks couldn't tell me if a bubble is round after playing up kolb like they did after a few practices.— Dexter - I don't want our starting two corners 31 years old. Forget Asomugha! but sign a good free agent cb and draft at least one as well. More great research and analysis from Sheil.
As for Samuel, the reason he did better tackling last year is because he did a better job tackling. He worked at it and did better at it.— pking222 
I would like to see what lindley can do.... but that won't happen if we bring in Nnamdi. Not as sold as some of you on hansen he just doesn't quite have enough give lindley a good shot at the nickle- Oh, the art of drafting and/or signing the right player, at the right position, at the right time. The making of championship teams.— wordsword
Comment removed.- good post, Wishbone.— wordsword
- No season!— jdld610
- Asante Samuel had a lousy year despite the interceptions; Once again in the playoffs he was exposed as mediocre cover specialist and tackler. All this guy wants to do is jump routes and intercept balls; He gets burned frequently deep against faster and larger wideouts; This is principly why he was let go in New England and it was not just a money issue; The Eagles need a left and right tackle urgently or Vick wont last 8 games next season. THAT IS THEIR #1 PRIORITY! I would attempt to trade or release: AS and make a move for that disgruntled Raider CB: Asomugha and build thru the draft while at the same time, it might free up some of the slary cap if we can trade or release him. Asante Samuel is one of the most overrated CB's in the history of the NFL and he was terrible once again two years in a row in the playoffs. Interceptions are NOT what makes a great CB. That's just icing on the cake. The guy simply is a lousy cover CB and has no upper body strength and only wants to shoulder tackle people; He is a poor excuse for a football player who was never taught the fundamentals of "in your face" coverage and proper tackling technique. and his teamate Ellis Hobbs also from NE was even worse. The Eagles are very poor at CB talent evaulation under this Reid administration, hopefully that will change.— sdeens
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