Post-OTA observations on the defense
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Post-OTA observations on the defense
Jeff McLane
As promised (sorta), here are observations and 53-man roster predictions on the defense (Sorry for the one-day delay. I forgot I had jury duty Monday.):
DEFENSE
Defensive end: There is very little you can gather from watching a defensive lineman practice in shorts. “Boy, that Darryl Tapp really knows how to power through that tackling dummy. And look at that Brandon Graham hustle over to the next drill!” That being said, I’d have to say I came away most impressed with Graham and rookie Daniel Te’o-Nesheim among the new guys. Graham looks to have a quick first step, but also had the good fortune to often be matched up against King Dunlap. Te’o-Nesheim just looks relentless. He’s going to play some inside on passing downs, which is remarkable (unsafe?) considering his size (6-3, 263).
Trent Cole is the man once again at right end and Juqua Parker looks like he’ll hold down the starting spot on the left side – at least for now. Graham, Te’o-Nesheim and former Seahawk Tapp will be part of the rotation.
I’m not sure what to make of Alex Hall and rookie Ricky Sapp. Each has practiced with both the defensive linemen and linebackers. They ended OTAs with the d-line. It’s no secret they’ll have a role in Sean McDermott’s assortment of blitz packages and faux 3-4 looks. I’m just not sure how big of a role it will be.
Makes the cut (8): Cole, Parker, Graham, Tapp, Te’o-Nesheim, Sapp and Hall. Cut: Eric Moncor. IR or PUP: Victor Abiamiri.
Defensive tackle: There was a long stretch during one of McDermott’s installation sessions when neither Mike Patterson nor Brodrick Bunkley saw any action. McDermott was running specific plays in which his nickel defense – with two defensive ends substituting for Patterson and Bunkley – would blitz. It was one blitz package out of countless others, but it really put into perspective how much the defensive tackle position is devalued in McDermott’s overly-aggressive defense. I think its one reason why the Eagles have drafted only one defensive tackle in the last two years -- Jeff Owens in the seventh round of this year’s draft – and haven’t signed any via free agency.
Nevertheless, Patterson and Bunkley are serviceable tackles that effectively clog the middle on running downs and occasionally get to the quarterback even though they aren’t out there very much on passing downs. They’re entrenched as the starters. Antonio Dixon, the Eagles’ latest undrafted rookie find, wore down as the season progressed a year ago, but appears to have dropped some excess weight in the off-season. Trevor Laws, meanwhile, is in jeopardy of losing his spot on the roster. The Eagles’ No. 1 draft pick in 2007, Laws was left off the gameday roster in the final five games last season. Needless to say, he has something to prove in training camp. I was mildly surprised that he wasn’t required to be at rookie and selected vets camp, but as a team official pointed out to me, there’s only so much a defensive tackle can learn/show during OTAs.
Makes the cut (4): Patterson, Bunkley, Owens and Dixon. Cut: Laws, Boo Robinson.
Linebacker: There were all sorts of storylines to come out of OTAs that revolved around the linebackers, which isn’t much of a surprise considering last season’s debacle and the player movement in the off-season. There was also the return of Stewart Bradley to the middle. He “tweaked” his left calf early in the OTAs and the team is saying its minor, which is probably the case. But you’d rather see Bradley remain unscathed for awhile as he attempts a comeback from an ACL tear.
Ernie Sims, acquired in one of several off-season trades, came as billed: He’s super quick, but can get caught over-pursuing. He was given the starting weak-side linebacker spot before he even put on an Eagles uniform. Akeem Jordan appears to have taken his demotion in stride. His versatility virtually assures him a roster spot as it does for Omar Gaither, who is still not 100 percent after foot surgery.
Moise Fokou maintained a tenuous hold on the strong-side linebacker spot, at least that’s how he frames it. I’m not sure, however, that he’s in much danger of losing the job. Jordan could slide over and steal it, but that seems an unlikely fit. Keenan Clayton is the backup right now, but he’s small and only a few years removed from playing safety. His explosiveness, though, should get him on special teams.
With trusty Gaither backing up Bradley, Joe Mays is likely the odd man out. Jamar Chaney has "future middle linebacker" written all over him.
Makes the cut (6): Bradley, Sims, Fokou, Jordan, Gaither and Clayton. Cut: Mays and Simoni Lawrence. IR: Chaney.
Safety: Marlin Jackson’s Achilles tendon injury, while tragic, really wasn’t that devastating. There was a good chance he wasn’t even going to make the team coming off two ACL tears. Jackson may have been with the first team before his injury but that was based solely on his seniority over rookie Nate Allen.
Allen was going to get the job at some point, barring some unforeseen genetic disorder. The Eagles didn’t expend the No. 37 overall pick – the “McNabb pick” – to have Allen sit and watch. It was obvious the Eagles were clearing the path when they moved Macho Harris to cornerback before rookie camp.
They could always go back to Harris if Allen has a hiccup, and Quintin Demps appears to be extra motivated after dropping the ball last year, but the rookie has the inside track. He made some glaring mistakes during practices, but has the obvious tools. It’ll be interesting to see how he hits once the pads come on.
Quintin Mikell suffered an MCL knee sprain just before camp broke. That bears watching as does his return from a below-average season.
Makes the cut (3): Mikell, Allen and Demps. Cut: Kurt Coleman and Ryan Hamilton.
Cornerback: This position may be of the greatest concern heading into training camp. Of the starters the Eagles let go during the off-season, the one could you honestly say they may live to regret getting rid of is Sheldon Brown.
Brown might have tailed off last season and might have only so much left in the tank, but he’s the consummate pro that you can rely on week-in and week-out. I’m not sure the same could be said of Ellis Hobbs, who is coming off back surgery. Hobbs was held back through most of OTAs so his recovery remains a bit of mystery. Simply put, that’s not reassuring. Because Hobbs was still hobbled, Joselio Hanson, Dimitri Patterson and Harris were able to occasionally work with the starters. Hanson is lobbying for the starting job, but he’s better equipped to play the nickel. Patterson is a special teams hand, but nothing more than that. Harris is an interesting case study. He showed during camp that he can handle the finer points of playing cornerback, but I’m not sure if his lack of speed and over-aggressiveness will allow him to play on the outside. He could supplant Hanson as the nickel, however.
And then there’s Trevard Lindley. He may be the wild card. The rookie doesn’t have much to say off the field, but he impressed on it. He’s still adjusting from the move from left cornerback, where he played in college, to right cornerback. But he’s shown that he has the instincts to play the position.
Asante Samuel, meanwhile, did what he does during OTAs: yack it up for the first week and then skip the second.
Makes the cut (5): Samuel, Hobbs, Hanson, Harris and Lindley. Cut: Patterson, Geoffrey Pope, Devin Ross, David Pender.
SPECIAL TEAMS
No change here from last year: David Akers is the kicker, Sav Rocca will remain the punter, despite his inconsistencies and the training camp presence of Ken Parrish, and long snapper Jon Dorenbos will continue to hold the greatest job in all of sports.
Makes the cut (3): Akers, Rocca and Dorenbos. Cut: Parrish.
I find it interesting that Jeff says Dimitri is "nothing more" than a ST guy when every other OTA report I've seen praised him highly for his play throughout camp. Also, another instance of the Philly media over-valuing Sheldon Brown. Hey, Jeff: we *couldn't* rely on him "week-in and week-out" because by the end of the season he was a *huge* liability. He play had regressed horribly. The Browns are looking to start rookies over Sheldon right now, Jeff. Rookies. Even the team that traded for him knows he's no more than a nickel corner at this point in his career. These idiots that think Sheldon had his best year last season because of the INT #s amuse me.— DCSS215- Damn Tamari, do you have a big head and little neck, or did someone photoshop your picture ?— JimLemley
- Baba Booey— Tacklebury
- Say what you want about shelden brown but he is way better than those bums who are going to replace him....— tunde25798
- I'm telling you people watch out for Lindley. I watched him play in college. He has excellent man coverage skills. The Eagles' defense is the perfect system for the type of player he is. He fell to the 4th round because he looked terrible at the combine and ran a slow 40 time. But so what? In real football games his coverage ability stands out.— soulman386
This defense will be play lights out with the loads of talent they posses. Between Gaither's bionic ankle and Bradley's bionic knee the MLB position is set for years to come. Add to the mix Sims knack for making big time plays in big games and this LB corps could be the best in the NFL. Eagle's Nation should be excited about the gamblers that we now have at the corner positions. Sheldon played the position too careful and didn't allow the defense to make game changing plays. Now with Hobbs and Samuel we have that dynamic 1-2 punch that could give up a TD or three but also take one to the house and have faith that Kolb will get those other two TD's back on the next two drives. The slow-footed but steady Hanson gives us a weapon that the NFL has never seen before. Allen will be the Anti-Dawkins in that he will come to play in big games and not put up goose eggs in the final game of every season. The limitless range of Mikell will make the NFL forget about Polamalu as Mikell will be the best SS in this game period. Bunkley and Paterson will continue to excel together and push the middle of the line back just ask Romo. Graham will be defensive rookie of the year and Tapp will make the Pro Bowl as they are poised to get at least 10 sacks apiece. Alex Hall, Ricky Sapp and Moise Fokou will make give us the top 3 strong side LB's hands down in the NFL. The brilliant mind of Andy Reid knows how to maximize the potential of players and will have this unit playing bananas this year. With the burden of worse QB in any franchise history in Donovan McNabb finally lifted and the new era of a real All-American and unquestioned leader of men, Kevin "Mr. Clutch" Kolb, this team is ready to win at least 5 of the next 10 Super Bowls. Wolf Out!- Erine Sims, lighning quick, but not for a strong safety that he really is by size. OLB will be a disaster again this year. If Mikell isn't injured, he should have a much better year if Allen is half the player he should be. Big, big hole across from Samuel, that can be diminished if the DL picks thing up this year. Graham needs to be good early. If they have to consistently blitz to get to the passer, it's gonna be a long year because this is the weakest secondary of Andy's tenure. If Cole misses any serious time this year, look out below. This year's schedule does not appear to have any Chris Redman games on it, at least from the vantage point of June.— jimmyj
- David Pender cut? No way. The Eagles are very high on him...— crohnkiller
- Also to cut Coleman will come back to haunt the Eagles. He was nothing but a playmaker at Ohio State..I would rather see Coleman than Demps on this team. Coleman shows his play with his words, Demps talks about his play and then Im stuck looking around..Coleman makes the team— crohnkiller
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Hope Lindley is the answer here - they will desperately need good play from that corner until the D-line gets it going in every game - like the idea of Ernie Simms at SS if Mickell is out - could be a great run stopper like Michael Lewis was— Tom Man
- "calling you out," after reading lonewolf's comments over time...you'll see that he's being sarcastic and that he only likes to get people riled up with his comments. He's not being serious. Just take it for what it is.— anshah8323
- I think Jointqua is gone. He's making 2.3 mil this year and is the oldest Eagle. Tapp is serviceable enough to rotate start until Graham is ready. If you cut him you can keep 7 LB's or 4 safeties--considering the Eagles problems at these positions, I think that would be a better move than keeping 7 DE's on the 53. IR Abiainjiri or give him an injury settlement, and PUP J. Jackson so they can have Mays play ST's for the first part of the season--no way Jackson is back and ready to start anyway. Just because of the weakness of the position, they need to keep more than 3 safeties (even if you count Macho as the 4th).— JofreyRice
- i think sheil got it right, I would only question going with 3 safeties by cutting the rookie coleman. I know macho could move back to safety which makes me think we keep D.Patterson- which means 6corners— LVEagle28
