Landri starting; more practice notes
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Landri starting; more practice notes
Jeff McLane
Derek Landri was unsigned as late as April, but finds himself the Eagles' starting DT. (AP Photo/Bradley C. Bower)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- To think, Derek Landri didn't sign a contract until April. Now he’s the Eagles starting right defensive tackle.
Despite a strong 2011 season in which he led the Eagles with eight tackles for loss despite playing in only 12 games, Landri did not get any multi-year offers as a free agent tihs offseason. He kept holding out for one, but as time progressed he realized teams would be only willing to tender one year.
“I was mad as hell,” Landri, 28, said Saturday at training camp. “It was frustrating. It’s like one of those things, you can’t sit there and try to comprehend it. I got a chip on my shoulder for 31 other teams.”
The same thing essentially happened last year after the lockout. Landri had a strong 2010 for the Panthers. He started in all 16 games and recorded career-highs in tackles and sacks, but he had to wait a week before signing with the Eagles, who brought him in only after Mike Patterson suffered a seizure.
This year he arrived at camp on much better ground.
“Well, it’s always comfortable knowing the coaches know your name,” Landri said. “But at the same time the comfort stops there because you got to come out and produce.”
Landri started alongside Cullen Jenkins through most of the spring, but when the Eagles announced that Patterson would miss training camp and Andy Reid was asked who would replace him, the coach initially only mentioned Antonio Dixon.
But when the first team defense lined up for its first practice it was Landri that was in the middle. Defensive line coach Jim Washburn rotates his front four almost evenly so who starts isn’t necessarily a big thing. But Landri’s run-stopping skills may have him on the field in the Eagles’ base defense more than even Dixon, whose forte is also in stopping the run.
“When you’re an undersized guy nobody gives you credit for playing the run,” said the 6-foot-2, 290-pound Landri. “I think I’ve proved to everybody that I can play and now it’s time for me to rush the passer.”
-- Mat McBriar can’t practice with the Eagles until Wednesday, but he punted on his own today after the morning walkthrough at Lehigh. The Eagles signed McBriar on Wednesday, but he can’t practice with the team immediately because in the new collective bargaining agreement free agents signed off the street can’t practice for three days. McBriar had offseason surgery to remove a cyst from his right foot. He wore a brace around his left calf with a small tube that runs down into his shoe. He boomed most of his practice kicks and could give incumbent punter Chas Henry a run for a roster spot.
-- The Eagles need a backup center. Julian Vandervelde said he’s up for the job. Dallas Reynolds has been handling most of the backup center duties during the early portion of camp. But live hitting starts this afternoon and Vandervelde said he’ll be in there. “I worked on my snaps the whole offseason,” said Vandervelde, who has only played guard in college and the pros. “In terms of team periods yet I haven’t had a chance to get in there. … I know Dallas and I are going to be rotating in between that center and guard spot. Howard [Mudd] really wants me to start getting more and more reps there.”
-- Brent Celek attended the walkthrough but did not participate. The tight end sprained the MCL in his right knee on Thursday and should miss the next several days.
Comments (43)
Washburn and Reid are stoned -- Landri will get buried on most plays because he is not big enough to play tackle in the nfl. To say he is a better run stuffer than the monstrous Dixon is a joke and a fraud. Another finess let's throw some fastballs at them ridiculous approach to a land acquisition game of violence and itimidation. This is nto a track meet or the ice capades. No wonder the Eagles are mired in mediocrity - how many times can the same failed fastball defensive approach be utilized? Why is it acceptable that our defenses always get pushed around and are never intimidating.— uts- He didn't get buried last year. I'd say he earned the right.
— phillychaos - Your head must've been buried in the mudd last year. He performed well. But, he'll only be sharing second line snaps with Dixon by week 3 or 4 when Patterson returns. The fifth DT is the least of anyone's concern.
— Pedro in Brazil 
Well, I'm happy Landri is signed and starting. He's a bruiser and underrated by the "experts" in the League. People should take notice of the Eagles' interior attack this year, thanks to Landri and Co. Go Eags!- UTS….YOU CLEARLY HAVE NOT WATCHED ANY GAMES! The guy can play and has shown more in limited time on the field then most of the other guys. He did it in Carolina too before the Eagles got him. Landri will be just fine with the 1's particularly since Washburn rotates and keeps the guys relatively fresh.— connorjr
- My post earlier this morning under the Desean vomits story by McLane points out exactly what is in this article about Landri getting the starting shot per Washburns choice. Keep Andy away from the defense. He has enough on his plate... and you can take that as you want it.— watsonmr
- WMR, agreed. But don't you think we are actually witnessing an evolution in Reid? He does seem to be listening more to his assistants. Maybe because he has a good bunch to listen too or maybe because he didn't trust the ex-coaches as much previously...whatever the reason, I like what I hear. Same evolution as far as his player selections too. Not ignoring LBs for starters which also indicates Asst. D coach input. Remember when RBs and WRs were also ignored? Yep, it took 13 years but maybe this is the new Reid?
I liked Landri last year too. Always around the ball and in the backfield. We get too hung up on girth for DTs. As long as they make plays who cares how big they are. John Randle comes to mind.— tpizza - just curious about the RB position comment. Ried started with Duce, but immediately grabbed Westy and Bucky. Once Westy was through he grabbed Shady. How is that ignoring the postion? You don't spend a 1st and 2nd round pick on those positions when you have Westy and Bucky...you spend it on the other bad positions. Now LBer is an obvious issue with high picks and poor trades. — Pedro in Brazil
- I was glad when they signed him again. I can't claim to be anything but a casual observer, he seems to make allot of plays last wyear.Doesn't matter who's starts though, not having Patterson , WON'T help. Hope he comes back soon, but safely— yourdaddy!
- This is a non issue. Whoever plays best will end up getting the most playing time.The Eagles have 4 good DT's without Patterson and Landri certainly did well with his playing time last year.— bradco
- As a female, I have to admit, I pay more attention to offense than defense. I know more about the O side than the D side in general and even I NOTICED Landri last year. Glad he's back in midnight green. If he plays a great as I know he can, I'm sure Howie will take care of him. GO EAGLES!— carmendmv
actually uta is on the right track. although Landri for an undersized guy definetely holds his own in the run well. but his overall point stands true as the EAgles have an entire FRONT LINE full of undersized guys. Its fine if you have 1 or 2 undersized guys that you like but when your ENTIRE LINE is weak and undersized and you get blown off the ball thats a problem. Landri is good for a 290 pounder though, and he was another teams late draft pick that beat out Andy's top pick. With drafting like that no wonder he has never won a superbowl.- You and UTS are just haters, if you looked at things like stats you'd realize you are misguided. Despite having no camp, a new DC and a bunch of new players, our D finished the season ranked 8th. We all want the No. 1 D and we all want 11 BDawks on the field but this is the NFL, be realistic and quit whining. Lemme guess...only child?
- lol, no. I dont know uts but it sounds like he just understands the game of football and knows Andys dumb system wont win a superbowl. Like I said, its simple. No team that calls over 60% passing has ever won a Superbowl. Andy calls about 65% passing every year. It wont win a superbowl, hasnt 13 times in 13 tries. Its simple.
- • No NFC team has won more games since 2000. The Eagles have won 20 more games since 2000 than the Giants, 35 more than the Cowboys, 46 more than the Redskins.
• The Eagles have won 41 percent of their games since 2000 against winning teams, the best record of any NFC team.
* Their 57-30-1 road record since 2000 is second-best in the NFL.
- The greates show on turf threw about 70% and New England forgot they had a RB. Who was Peyton's running back?
Last year Iggles ran about 45% of the time, yet you go on record saying 25%. What a joke— Pedro in Brazil - Yeah, Dixon is on the small size.......for summu wrestling. I'll take production over lard anytime. — Pedro in Brazil
- I thought Landri was the best Defensive lineman last year when he played. We'll see if he can do it playing more snaps, but I like his attitude. I hope he stays healthy and the birds sign him to a nice deal.— tr88
- You idiots with your undersized BS are just plain stupid. If a guy can play, he can play. Landri does not get pushed around, if you haven't noticed neither does Jay Ratliff who plays nose tackle at the same size. Size doesn't make you automatically better. Bunkley is bigger than Jenkins, did that make him better?— Paul SoTX
- lol, thats why multiple superbowl winning GM's refuse to draft players below a minimum hieght and wieght. Those idiots. Andy has failed 13 times in 13 tries, one of the worst accomplishments in NFL HISTORY. His postseason record is laughable compared to actual great coaches like Bellichek and Coughlin (couglin .600+ postseson record, Bellichek .700+...andy is 10-9 or basically flipping a coin would give you as good a chance as Andy in the postseason.) Maybe better. Also Coughlin is 5-1 or something vs Bellichek and has 2 superbowls, Bellichek has 3 superbowls and 5 appearances. Andy went to 1, lost to Bill, and has never been back, and is 0-5 vs Bellichek. ITS PATHETIC. HIS DUMB SYSTEM LOSES EVERY YEAR AND HAS NEVER RESULTED IN A SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONSHIP IN HISTORY. NEVER.
- If uts played football, he definitely was not a lineman. Landri can play. Dixon is there whenever size is an issue. When desired, the Eagles can field a line of Cox (DE), Dixon, Landri, and Jenkins (DE). Not exactly small.— armchairGM
- yea well our undersized D-line led the leage in sacks,so I'm quite sure that takes them out of the "weak" catagory ,and when you have so many of them rotating it keeps them fresh.Now i'm sure some will quickly point out the lack of run stopping ability that presented but i again will remind those who do we had no LB'ers to to ease the burden.I read daily from the doubters and haters which is fine if thats what you do,but if your gonna critisize the Eagles d-line you truely dont know football,in a passing leage you want sacks up front and the LB's filling the gaps— greensob
- Anyone who thinks that you win with small d-ends and a 290 lb d-tckle is stoned, Then throw in that Kendrick is small and Rolle is tiny and they want to start Rolle. What is this -- a track meet or nfl football? And the proof is in the pudding because Andy's small defenses always get exposed later if not sooner, his defenses are never intimidating and never dominating. Why are they not? Because his fastball approach is a failure yet he stubbornly clings to it.— uts
- I always thought Billichek was stoned, but he still won the 05 supebowl with a 2-4-5 defense. He played Seyemore and another D lineman the whole game and WON. I'll take stoned coaches over psychotic fans anyday. — Pedro in Brazil
- None of the Eagles Defensive Tackles are sufficient in collapsing the pocket, and in today's NFL that's is necessary to pressure the Quarterback and prevent them from stepping into their passes. There isn't a Defensive Tackle other than maybe Jenkins on the Eagles who averages 2 Tackles a game.
When it comes to defending the running game, and protecting their Linebackers, the Eagles gets Nada, nothing from the Defensive Tackle position.
Name another Defensive Tackle from Notre Dame worth their salt playing in the NFL.— Dexter - I guess leading the leage in sacks wasn't putting pressure on QB's? — greensob
- Not to mention that rookie Fletcher Cox that everyone had rated high in the draft--apparently the entire NFL doesn't understand that 6'4" and 300 lbs and quickness should be shunned for 6'3" 330 lb space-eaters.
It is an either/or approach, 4-3 D's tend to have less need for massive bulk inside versus the 3-4 nose simply because of total d-line coverage.
As for the "Reid" system never working better go see how the Steelers, Bears, etc. did it...their approach was the same.— wphgratch - CharlieGarner25, how is our entire line weak and getting beaten off the ball? You know we absolutely destroyed the league in sacks and yards lost last year right? Undersized or not, this line gets it done. If Washburn finds 4 midgets that do the same thing I'd be just as happy. As long as they produce, it's a win in my book.
Last year, the problem was the linebackers. Well we fixed that this offseason so we'll see if that along with an actual training camp will help this team bring it's first title to philly.— eaglepride - It's not hard to be considered a good Defensive Tackle in Phila. They've not had a quality Defensive Tackle since Cory Simons, and before that Jerome Brown.
The issue with the Eagles Defense was specifically a soft middle, starting with the Defensive Tackles. You beat the Eagles going through the gut of their defense.
Because there are no defensive tackles and thus no pressure from the middle of the Eagles Defense. All of the runs that gashed the Eagles Defense last year came through the Defensive Tackle gaps, Quarterback don't have to roll out because there is no constant pressure up the middle. Offensive guards take advantage of the Eagles Linebackers because there is no need to double team the Tackles.
This is elementary, watch the Eagles tapes.— Dexter - Charlie, you are wrong. Tuck is not bigger, Umenyuri is not bigger, Kiwanuka is even smaller than the Eagle starters at DE. Pierre-Paul is a little bigger, but not by much. To put Bellechek in the equation is to truly show that your are a moron, because they play the 3-4 which has no true DE's, but has three tackles and the outside LBs are the pass rushers. In this case those guys are smaller on average when you compare pass rushers to pass rushers, than the Eagles guys. The best pass rushers in the history of the NFL have to be giants, according to you, right? Lawrence Taylor weighed 237, Jared Allen, the best in the game right now is 270, the same as Trent Cole. Why doesn't William Perry lead the NFL in every defensive category? After all he must have weighed like 500 lbs.— Paul SoTX
- Part of the problem with the linebackers was due to the Defensive Tackles not requiring double teams from the opposing offensive lines. When you do not have to double team up front that sets up a situation where offensive linemen can jump your linebackers, and now your linebackers have to fight off blockers to get to the point of attack.
That's a horrible situation for 50 and 60 plays. Ray Lewis, nor does Patrick Willis have to content with offensive linemen every play, both because of their Defensive Tackles who play in front of them ties up linemen so both play down hill. Because of the weak tackle play of the Eagles, the linebackers can't play down hill.
That's linebacking 101
— Dexter - “You can see by looking at the defensive linemen that they carry 30, 40, 50 pounds of fat,” said Jerry Kramer, the All-Pro guard who led the Packers’ famed sweep in the 1960s while playing at about 250 pounds. “Fat doesn’t make you strong and quick. It makes you heavy. Muscle makes you strong. We’ve gotten enamored with the 300-pounder, but give me an offensive guard who’s in great shape at 270 or 275 and understands leverage and positioning, and I’ll bet he’ll whip the fat guy every time.”— wphgratch
- Paul, Charlie can't be reached and reasoned with, he's delusional. He's more than likely referring to two hand tag football.
Anybody see the Eagles practice today on their web site?
Their practices at Camp is broadcast on their site live. Today was the first day of hitting. The Offensive line dominated the Defensive Line today. Brandon Graham, and the Rookie, Curry did stand out of all the Defensive Linemen. In all drills the Offensive Linemen were heads and shoulders above the Defensive Linemen.
— Dexter 
@CG25.. Reid system does work.. The system is fine thats why he is still here. Because the system has proved itself over time to be effective at making mediocre players look better than they actually are. Look at all the players we have had that have gone to other teams and been garbage. Kevin Kolb being the most recent one. The problem is it took Reid 13 freakin years to figure out that in order to make Shrimp Alfredo you need actual shrimp not just the shrimp seasoning packet sprinkled on the mystery meat. This year we have shrimp.. This year we went to maine itself and got the best catch of the waters. If we dont win this year its not because the organization didnt try or that the cook wasnt good. It was because its just philadelphia.— Zeru- Reid got the system from Holgrem..Holgrem got it from Walsh.. Gruden has a ring. Shanahan has 2. Holgrem has 1. Walsh has 4. The problem all this time was the cook and restaurant owner thought it was ok to go cheap on the ingredients up until now. If any year could be the year this is it. — Zeru
- charliegarner25 and UTS are morans
I'm no homer by any means as can be critical if/when needed but Garner25 you seem to be always negative and often completely wrong and UTS I haven't seen you here much but you're off base on this as performance trumps size….if you prove it on the field that's all that matters!— connorjr - lol, this is sad. I am on vacation so I am not sitting on my laptop responding to every comment. When I say "system" I mean Andy's SPECIFIC system, not just the "West Coast Offense". Of couse the West Coast Offense has won superbowls. Are you kidding. ANDY REID RUNS HIS OWN VERSION OF THAT SYSTEM, a really dumb, extreme more pass happy version that is his own unique system. Andy Reids unique 60% pass playcall system has NEVER WON A CHAMPIONSHIP. EVER. That is true lol...when GB, the niners, shanahan and anyone else you EVER ran it RAN THE BALL AT LEAST 44% OF THE TIME Niners were like 50/50 back then, same with the broncos, none of those teams ran Andys unqiue system because they did THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE WON. So no, Andy's system has never won a Superbowl. never. and it never will with him in charge. As no team that throws the ball over 58% has ever won a SB, and Andy calls like 65% passing which has also never won a Superbowl. Its simple.
- Good thing the Eagles ran it MORE than the Giants and Patriots last season. I guess that means the Eagles won the SB...oh wait...nevermind.— Penfold18
- Yes, the only reason that is technically true is from Mike Vick scrambles. Those arent true "run plays". Those are called passed by Andy, stupidly called passes by Andy that break down and Vick has to take off running for his life. Thats not how you win a football game, and its definetely not how you win a championship. The CALLED passes were at 65%, more then those other teams. 65% called passing has never won a superbowl. ever. Also even wore, which puts the nail firmly in the coffin is Andys 10-9 barely over .500 playoff record whch is laughable compared to Cougling 5-1 vs belichek .600+ playoff win percentage and Bellichek is .700+ in the playoffs. Andy is .500, a coin flip essentially, and is 0-5 vs bellichek. So I dont know where the math is that he is even remotely good in the playoffs, hes not. He will never win a superbowl, and quite frankly its become pathetic at this point.
- charlie,did you factor in Eli and Toms scrambles to get thier pass/run % or do you only manipulate Vicks numbers?Yea thats what i thought,Dope! — greensob
- You know whats pathetic a guy on vacation who cheer for the Giants blogging about how Andy Reid sucks. Nice life I feel for you.— JL68
- lol, thank you. Actually I still found time to watch some of the training camp, more then most people probably. I hate the Giants. Unfortunately the coach of my team is a moron and I Cant say it enough. He will never, ever, win a superbowl. Never.
- 1st of all, too much is being made over who started at DT in the 1st day of contact drills. Landri starting literally means NOTHING! Not for nothing, Landri is a helluva football player. I like his game alot. Landri was literally in the opponents backfield all season long!
The kid can play...but him starting the 1st day of live practice really doesnt mean anything!— johnGiam
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