New Eagles safety McLeod comfortable in Wide 9

AMONG THE hard lessons taught during the Eagles' 4-12 season in 2012 was the revelation that playing safety behind a Wide 9 front was really tough, if not impossible.

Safeties Kurt Coleman and Nate Allen frequently bit on play action, sometimes because they were too easily confused, but other times because they were expected to handle gap responsibilities against the run, with Jim Washburn's defensive ends seemingly under orders to avoid contact with anyone who wasn't a quarterback.

The Eagles are expected to go back to extensive use of the Wide 9 in 2016, under Jim Schwartz, who worked with Washburn in Tennessee, before Andy Reid hired Washburn to coach the Eagles' d-line in 2011, and in Detroit, after Reid fired Washburn 12 games into the 2012 season. Tuesday, Schwartz will talk to reporters for the first time since the day he was introduced as Doug Pederson's defensive coordinator in January.

Schwartz will be asked about the Wide 9, its strengths and weaknesses, and quite a few more times going forward. Presumably, he feels - and has proved in other NFL stops - that splitting the d-ends out wide and telling them to go get the passer isn't as flawed an approach as it seemed to be when the Eagles tried it with Washburn.

One factor in Schwartz's favor: Coleman and Allen aren't here anymore. Projected 2016 starting safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod are much more experienced, more accomplished players than Coleman and Allen were four years ago.

McLeod, signed as a free agent from the Rams this offseason, said he played a lot behind the Wide 9 under then-St. Louis defensive coordinator Tim Walton in 2013, and at times behind it under coordinator Gregg Williams the past two seasons.

"I'm used to it," McLeod said Monday. "I don't think it's tough; that's why you have presnap keys that you have to lock in on. Obviously, different stances tell you certain things. The higher the (offensive) linemen are (in their stances), you might back up a bit. The lower they are, you might cheat up. You just have to have the ability to recognize certain things. Obviously, that comes with film study . . . You just have to lock in and be focused . . . If the rush isn't getting there, then you can be holding up (in coverage) for a long time. I don't think we're going to have a problem with that."

McLeod has not played for Schwartz, but he said he likes what he has seen so far from the former Lions head coach.

"A very positive guy. Passionate about what he does," McLeod said. "Wants things exact . . . He's hands-on with everything, explaining the scheme."

We don't know yet exactly how Schwartz will deploy his safeties. There aren't that many teams featuring the traditional box and free safeties anymore, at least not strictly. Jenkins, at 6-foot, 204, is bigger than McLeod, 5-10, 195.

"We're very interchangeable. Both have corner backgrounds, are able to match up with tight ends . . . He likes playing more down in the box, being more involved. We'll just see what happens. That's why we have OTAs and training camp, to work all those things out," McLeod said.

McLeod, who turns 26 next month, said his biggest adjustment from St. Louis is Schwartz's coverage emphasis.

"A lot of things from a zone standpoint turn into man principles here, which I wasn't used to," he said. "He likes things played tight, just compete and challenge guys."

He said in St. Louis, Williams sent a lot more blitz pressure than Schwartz likes to send, though McLeod himself didn't do much blitzing with the Rams.

"We have a good front that can rush. Let those boys eat. As long as we hold up in the back end, we should be fine," he said.

Since making the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2012, McLeod has "adapted to the scheme and how coaches wanted to use me. I consider myself a versatile guy, from being down in the box to back end . . . I've done it all in this league."

McLeod made his name as a rookie on special teams. His second season, he began a streak of 48 successive starts that he carries with him to the Eagles, even though he isn't the biggest guy, and he plays a physical style. You won't have to search very long to find the clip of him concussing Denver wideout Emmanuel Sanders in a 2014 game, McLeod arriving at a right angle just as Sanders reaches out for an overthrown Peyton Manning pass.

"I think anybody can be intimidating. It's all about how you approach the game," McLeod said. "It's a very physical and intimidating game. Under the rules that they've set, I feel like that's how I play. Not a dirty guy. I just try to impose my will on people at times, when needed."

McLeod is known as a sure tackler; he notched 106 last season.

"At the end of the day, (as a safety) you've got to save it," he said. "When everything else messes up in front of you, you've got to be that guy . . . Every yard matters. Once they catch it, get 'em on the ground. Can't afford to let them get 5 yards, that might be the difference in them getting three points, or zero points on that drive. I take pride in that. I think when guys see that, the whole defense will kind of have that mentality as well."

McLeod's coverage skills are well-known, also. They, more than the hitting or tackling, were what made him worth $35 million to the Eagles over five years, with a $17 million guarantee.

"I think you've gotta have depth and vision," he said. "It comes from film study, knowing the quarterback's mechanics - are they going to look you off, or are they going to just stare guys down? As the game goes on, you get a feel for when certain things are going to happen . . . Depth is key, and vision and break. Once you go, you've got to lock in and get going."

The anticipated competition between Donnie Jones and former Jets punter Ryan Quigley will not occur, with Quigley having been released Monday in favor of defensive tackle Derrick Lott.

Lott, 6-4, 313, spent time on the Bucs' practice squad last season. Tampa released him last month. He'll be 26 next month. This will be Jones' 13th NFL season, as he prepares to turn 36 in July, and his fourth year with the Birds.

@LesBowen

Blog: philly.com/Eaglesblog