Healthy Chaney Complicates LB Picture
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Healthy Chaney Complicates LB Picture
Les Bowen
Jamar Chaney said Thursday his hamstring is 100 percent, as the Eagles continued to try to find the right mix of linebackers in base and nickel for their season opener Sunday at Cleveland.
Rookie Mychal Kendricks, the strongside starter who also plays in nickel, said he expects all the linebackers who are active to play some sort of role against the Browns, not just the starting group of Kendricks, DeMeco Ryans and Akeem Jordan.
"They've got us in a rotation all the time, so we all know each other's tendencies. You know, like a couple times today, Chaney helped me out with my fits and what I needed to do, and [Ryans] will do the same thing, and I'll do the same thing with [them]. We all have to help each other when we're in there," Kendricks said.
Chaney briefly was part of the first-team nickel package at Lehigh before injuring his hamstring. It doesn't seem too much of a stretch to think that he might return to that role now that he's healthy again.
"Probably so. They're going to find a way to put the best guys out there ... They told me to be ready [if called upon at any linebacking spot]," Chaney said.
"Whatever the coaches tell us is what we do. It's no big deal to me," Ryans said, when asked about the possibility of shuffling.
Asked if he still considers himself a three-down linebacker, which is what the Eagles heralded Ryans as when they traded for him, Ryans said: "I am."
But will he be a three-down linebacker on Sunday?
"That's the coaches' decision. I don't decide who goes out on the field," Ryans said.
Be very worried— ChrisE- I'd be worried if I were Weeden!— Eagle_1960
- To be honest, with such a young D it takes a couple of years to gel, and none of our safeties inspire fear in receivers. I expect athleticism with moments of brilliance, but a pump fake eats this D alive for now. Last year I said I'd take 8-8, this year 9-7. Still bleedin' Green.— hallux
- Keep Chaney off the field. we saw what he did last year.— Tyrone Biggums
- You mean a sack, 8 passed defended, and 3 INTs? Yeah, that sucks.— operagost
- The problem with the LB's is the coaches won't give the same group any time together. They have no time to build the chemistry needed to perform as a unit because the coaches keep shuffling them in and out. This is simple management concepts of group dynamics (Forming, storming, norming, performing). If a group does not have a chance to complete the process then they are not going to perform to their full potential.— dusk2k3
- Ninnies, worry worts, and weak of stomach--just let the first few weeks play out and then start to comment. Some of you kids should have seen the Eeeagz from the 60s and early 70s. I don't know how fans today would be able to deal with losers we rooted for back then :-)— petergou
