2009 Philadelphia Eagles Position Preview: The Defensive Line

It is said that games can be won or lost on the line on the line scrimmage.  The defensive line is literally the first line of defense in helping the defense perform efficiently. 

On the right side of the line for the Philadelphia Eagles, DE Trent Cole provides speed off the corner in the pass rush.  Cole recorded nine sacks in 2008 after coming off of a Pro Bowl season in 2007. 

Cole has become one of the premier pass rushers in the league despite being tagged with labels of being undersized, fragile, and not being capable of contributing regularly as a starter. 

On the left side, DE Juqua Parker filled in admirably in the place of the injured Victor Abiamiri and proved to be a nice complement to Cole. He tallied five sacks in 2008 and gave opposing offenses another capable pass rusher to think about every snap. 

Up the middle, the Eagles are solid at the tackle position.  Tackles Broderick Bunkley and Mike Patterson are stout against the run.

Bunkley has vastly improved from his tumultuous rookie season in 2006.  He has become one of the best up and coming talents at his position league wide.  The 6’2″ 306 lb tackle out of Florida State has averaged 80 tackles over the last two seasons, which has become the reason behind Philadelphia’s improving run defense.

Patterson is one of the unsung heroes of this line.  As is the case with Bunkley, Patterson has become a steady contributor to the success of this line.  He is truly one of the more underrated players on the defensive line, if not the entire defense.

A defensive line is nothing without depth.  Providing the depth are defensive ends Darren Howard, Chris Clemons, Victor Abiamiri, Bryan Smith and defensive tackles Trevor Laws, Dan Klecko, and Jervonte Jackson.

Darren Howard was originally signed in 2006 as a starter opposite Jevon Kearse.  Initially, Howard showed that he was not worth the high price the Eagles paid to lure the free agent away from New Orleans. 

However, in 2008, Howard recorded 10 sacks in a reserve role.  In a pinch, Howard can provide some relief for Cole in order to keep him and the rest of the line fresh.

Chris Clemons was signed in 2008 with the intent of being a pass rush specialist.  Clemons was absent for most of the season but showed signs of his potential late in the season by making an impact rushing the quarterback with six sacks.

Victor Abiamiri was set to be the starting right defensive end in 2008, but a wrist injury kept him out of action.  Abiamiri has the potential to be a very good pass rusher in this league if given the chance.  This could be his breakout year if he could stay healthy and productive. 

Last year’s third-round pick Bryan Smith did not see the field after being put on injured reserve.  In the time spent on IR, Smith has improved himself physically from the slender defensive end he was at McNeese State.  Smith could be one to watch in the preseason to see if he can be another weapon to be utilized in the pass rush.

2008 second round pick Trevor Laws did not see much time as well in 2008.  A standout at Notre Dame, Laws has untapped potential and provides depth behind Patterson and Bunkley.

Dan Klecko will be back at his natural position, defensive tackle, after playing fullback for Philadelphia in 2008.  If nothing else, Klecko provides needed depth and experience.

 

Unit Grade: A-

Despite being a bit undersized on the ends, this unit makes up for it with athleticism and being able to utilize the scheme that is put into action. 

Patterson and Bunkley should only get better and provide a stout defense against the run in 2009.

Abiamiri is this year’s training camp wild card on this line.  He should have a shot to acquire more playing time given he can stay on the field long enough to show what he can do.

2009 Philadelphia Eagles Position Preview: The Linebackers

In 2008, the Philadelphia Eagles linebacking corps showed that youth is not always a negative on the field.

The job of a linebacker is to pressure the quarterback when called upon, help defend against the potential receiving threat a tight end poses, and support the tackles against the run game.

All of these requirements need to be executed efficiently in order to force the opposing offense off the field in a timely manner.

The Eagles linebackers are quick and physical enough to fulfill these expectations. 

Roster Breakdown

Middle linebacker Stewart Bradley became the starting MIKE linebacker in 2008.  Bradley finished second on the team with 151 tackles for the season.

Bradley at 6’4″ 255 lbs., has the size to be a force in the middle.  His strength allows him to shed blocks easily in order to make the play. 

Bradley has proven to be a force in defending against the run.  This is evident in Philadelphia’s high ranking in run defense in 2008.

Strong side linebacker Chris Gocong is a unique talent.  A converted defensive end; Gocong made the transition to starting SAM linebacker in 2008.

Gocong was a sack master in his collegiate career at Cal Poly; accumulating 42 sacks in 41 games.

Gocong’s pass rushing ability has yet to come full circle, but the potential is there for Gocong to let loose and have a big year in terms of pressuring the quarterback.

Weak side linerback Akeem Jordan replaced Omar Gaither as a starter midway through 2008. 

Jordan’s speed has made him a standout since his 2007 stint on the practice squad. 

Originally a special teams player, Jordan’s instincts have made this undrafted free agent out of James Madison a pleasant surprise for this defense.

2008 sixth-round selection Joe Mays was the talk of the preseason with his performance at middle linebacker.  The hard hitting linebacker made his presence known with his nose for making plays time after time in his preseason appearances.

Mays is an intriguing prospect because of his high motor.  It will be interesting to see if he will see time at a position other than the middle, which has been cemented by Bradley.  Perhaps, Mays will challenge Jordan for the weak side position.

Omar Gaither is flexible in his positioning in the linebacking corps.  Gaither has saw time in the middle in the absence of Jeremiah Trotter in 2006 and started on the weak side for the first ten games of the 2008 season. 

Gaither has struggled at times in coverage, which made him expendable when the times got tough late in 2008. 

Strong side linebacker Tank Daniels has been primarily a special teams contributor for his career.  Daniels has size and toughness to be formidable, but has lacked the intelligence at times to become a complete player. 

Weak side linebacker Moise Fokuo, a 2009 seventh-round draft pick, will try to make the roster as a member of the special teams.  Fokou has been described as having above average speed, as well as being a non-stop motor, a reliable tackler, and a terrific special teamer.  However, Fokou needs to gain more in the way of muscle in order to contribute on a regular basis. 

Unit Grade: A-

The grade may be generous, but with the gained experience of Bradley and Gocong; this unit may only improve from here. 

The speed and athleticism of this group will prove to be a great strength in the long run.

As mentioned before, Joe Mays is the dark horse of this group.  Mays is a workhorse who has a big upside which could be fulfilled if given the chance.

 

 

2009 Philadelphia Eagles Position Preview: The Secondary

The Philadelphia Eagles secondary will be the first in a series focusing on a unit of the roster over the course of the weeks leading up to training camp.

 

Key Additions

• CB Ellis Hobbs via trade from New England
• SS Sean Jones via free agency—Cleveland
• CB Victor “Macho” Harris via draft
• FS Rashad Baker via free agency—Oakland

 

Key Subtractions

• FS Brian Dawkins—signed with Denver
• CB Lito Sheppard—traded to the New York Jets

 

Roster Breakdown

The Eagles’ secondary has undergone a minor face lift in the offseason with the departures of Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard. Dawkins leaves behind a legacy that any player would be hard pressed to live up to.

On the current roster, the responsibility of leading the secondary will fall upon strong safety Quintin Mikell. 

Mikell spent six years under the tutelage of Dawkins and has shown in that time to be the force on the field that Dawkins established himself to be in his time as an Eagle.  Mikell is very athletic with an eye for making the big play.

Time will tell if he can fill Dawkins’ shoes on the field and in the locker room.

Sheppard’s departure, however, will not leave quite the impact of Dawkins’. Corner back Asante Samuel is certainly Pro-Bowl caliber with his ball hawk ability. Sheppard made his exit that much more easy to swallow with his public dispute over his contract, which resulted in his noticeable absence from the field of play in 2008. 

Picking up the slack in the disgruntled defensive back category is Sheldon Brown. Brown has made waves over wanting a new deal, but as with Sheppard his requests have fallen on deaf ears. 

Although Brown has made it clear that his displeasure will not be a distraction, it will be interesting to see how things shake out when the time comes to report to Lehigh in late July. 

The acquisition of Ellis Hobbs from the New England Patriots and the new contract signed by corner back Joselio Hanson are no coincidences. Both are proven defensive backs who could very well step in when the need arises. 

Hanson is currently listed second on the depth chart behind Samuel at the left corner back position, but figures to have the inside track on the right corner back spot if Brown’s contract situation worsens. 

Hobbs will slot in anywhere from third to fifth in the rotation of corners, but will provide another option due to his experience in the return game.

2008 fourth round selection Jack Ikegwuonu is an unknown commodity at corner back.  Ikegwuonu was placed on injured reserve in 2008 due to a knee injury suffered at the NFL scouting combine. 

The Eagles took a risk on the Wisconsin defensive back, who declared for the draft after his junior season. Ikegwuonu was excellent at getting a play on the ball during his collegiate career. He could prove to be a surprise out of the secondary if the risk pays off.

The free safety position vacated by Brian Dawkins provisionally belongs to second year safety Quintin Demps. However, Demps has a fair amount of growing to do to become a serviceable free safety in this league. He has the ability to become a good pass defending safety, but lacks the range to play one on one in coverage.

Rashad Baker will challenge Demps for the free safety spot. The journeyman will make the Eagles his fifth team in five years. Baker is most notable to Eagles fans for intercepting Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia in week 17 that led to a Raiders win and a Eagles playoff berth. 

Baker has the intelligence and speed to make a challenge for the position, and his knack for making a play on the ball will not be overlooked either.

An interesting prospect in this position battle is rookie Victor “Macho” Harris. The Virginia Tech product is tough and very physical with quickness and instincts to match. Harris is one of many defensive backs on this Eagles roster that has a history of above average ability at making his presence known by breaking up passes. 

The 6’0″ 194-pound Harris will make the transition from corner back to safety in the NFL. Harris is a long shot to start this year in place of Dawkins, but could be the future at this position in a few years.

Unit Grade: B+

Samuel, Brown, Hanson, and Mikell will make up for the inexperience of the rest of the defensive backfield. Demps will have to grow up quickly if he indeed is the starting free safety.

The play of the secondary will depend heavily on the pressure put upon the opposing offense by the defensive line; which by all indications should not be much of an issue.

There is so much potential waiting in the wings in this secondary that it will be interesting to see which players will have their time to reach it and which ones won’t.

McNabb’s Raise Eliminates Training Camp’s Drama Potential

For now, Donovan McNabb has been reassured that he is the Eagles’ quarterback for the next two years.  Monetary reassurance in the form of $24.5 million should eliminate any potential drama when the team comes together at Lehigh.

The striking of this deal not only is huge for McNabb’s psyche, but for the team’s as well.  The media will not have the opportunity to drive a rift between the incumbent quarterback and the organization. 

For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, keeping the quarterback happy is the permanent number one priority.  A happy Donovan in June should, for all intents and purposes, make for a happy Donovan in September.

The specter of a contract dispute is now gone. 

The additions made to this team have the potential for a brighter future for this team.  The question all along has been will McNabb be apart of that bright future?  Through 2010, the future is only as bright as McNabb can make it for this Eagles team.

To venture to say that McNabb is as comfortable with his standing with the organization as he was in 2004 would not be too far of a stretch. 

For the first time in the five years since the Super Bowl appearance, there is no significant drama revolving around this quarterback.  That is a major factor in ensuring the stability of this team will stay intact.

Donovan McNabb is among the top tier of quarterbacks in the National Football League.  To bridge the gap between being a good quarterback and a great quarterback, McNabb needs to take that next step that has eluded him in the past. 

With the security of the next two years, it will be interesting to see what a Donovan McNabb with the right frame of mind can accomplish under center for this team.

Could Kevin Kolb Become Trade Bait?

According to Pro Football Weekly, Eagles back-up quarterback Kevin Kolb could be trade bait during the next offseason.

With the talk of a new contract for Donovan McNabb, Kolb could become expendable.  Kolb’s contract runs through the 2010 season.

The Eagles still reportedly like Kolb’s potential as a starter in the league.  However, this situation could be reminiscent of the Packers dealing Matt Hasselbeck to the Seahawks or most recently the Matt Cassel trade to the Chiefs by the Patriots.

The possibility of a trade could be predicated on how well McNabb performs in 2009 or how well Kolb does on the field if given the chance to showcase his talents in a blowout.

Regardless, the quarterback situation for the years beyond 2009 is still in question for Philadelphia.

 

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: McNabb’s Code Of Silence

After 10 full seasons playing in Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb has not exactly won anyone over by opening his mouth.  Perhaps, McNabb has experienced an epiphany of sorts in his new code of silence since the conclusion of the 2008 season.

With talk of a new contract still on the back burner, McNabb has chosen to give the cold shoulder to any media trying to squeeze a worthwhile sound byte out of him.  Smart move on his part.  No amount of talk will persuade the dissenters among the fan base to suddenly stand behind their quarterback.

The proclamation of wanting weapons or grant me my freedom has apparently subsided as well.  The draft and free agency have provided a bright future for this franchise with or without the services of number five at quarterback.

The Kevin Kolb era is on hold for now and should be as long as the current quarterback is happy and can still play at an optimum level.  The key term here is happy; a happy quarterback, in the case of McNabb, makes no waves that could usher in the beginning of a new field general.

On the surface, this new approach could spell either success or doom for the incumbent signal caller.  Silence can be misconstrued as defiance during a rough period on the field, which in turn could lead to drama off of it.  However, maybe McNabb has matured enough in his decade plus of NFL experience to let it all roll off of his back in hopes that greener pastures are in his future; either with the Eagles or another team.

To the Angelo Cataldis of the world, get off of your soap boxes and think logically for a moment.  Change for the sake of change can be disastrous.  I applaud these critics for standing by their convictions, but to have a vendetta against a player who has arguably been the best all around quarterback this franchise has ever seen is ludicrous.  The delusion that Kevin Kolb, an unproven NFL quarterback, is some sort of savior from your disdain for McNabb is equally as perplexing. 

For McNabb, actions will back up his current silence and bring silence from the critics as well.

Cardinals’ Boldin Plans on Firing Rosenhaus

According to ESPN.com’s Mike Sando, disgruntled Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin has reportedly decided to fire his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, after requests for a new contract or a trade to another team have apparently fallen on deaf ears.

“Regarding Anquan Boldin, let me say that I have great respect for him. I’m hopeful we can work this out and he can return to the Rosenhaus Sports family in the near future. We are proud to continue to represent his brother, D.J. Boldin,” Rosenhaus said. 

Rosenhaus had previously tried to pressure the Cardinals into trading Boldin earlier in the offseason prior to the NFL Draft.

With two years remaining on a contract signed in 2005, Boldin has been in pursuit of a new deal ever since teammate Larry Fitzgerald received a four-year, $40 million contract extension in 2008. The Cardinals have instead planned on renegotiating deals with safety Adrian Wilson and linebacker Karlos Dansby. 

Boldin has reportedly sought the representation of two of Fitzgerald’s agents, Eugene Parker and Paul Lawrence.

Boldin has reportedly wanted $10 million a year in a potential new deal from the Cardinals. Rosenhaus reported on his Twitter account on May 18 that “We recently made a proposal to the Cards for less.”

 

Johnson Will Be Missed: How 2009 Coaching Changes Will Impact the Eagles

Jim Johnson, arguably one of the most intelligent defensive coordinators this game has ever seen, will take a leave of absence as he recovers from skin cancer. In his place for the time being is Sean McDermott, a longtime assistant in the Philadelphia Eagles organization.

On the surface, this is a psychological blow to the defense. Not to diminish the job Johnson has done in his tenure as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, but McDermott has been in the organization since 2000.

Not lost in all of this is the fact that in the nine years McDermott has been a member of the coaching staff, he has learned under Johnson; thus leaving little doubt in his ability to execute the defense properly.

To see the success of former Eagles assistants in the Andy Reid era is reassurance that this time will not be much different in terms of success. Steve Spagnuolo, now a rookie head coach of the St. Louis Rams, engineered the New York Giants defense that shocked the world against the vaunted New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Spagnuolo, mentored by Johnson, has proven to be a more than competent defensive mind.

McDermott will have to face the question of how to motivate a high ranked defense that lost its leader, safety Brian Dawkins, to free agency. He has to take hold of the reins immediately to make an impact with this unit. With his past coaching history as a secondary coach, look for McDermott to turn to the likes of safety Quintin Mikell or even the more veteran cornerback Sheldon Brown, if he is still on the roster when the season kicks off.

How the defense will react to the change from the grandfatherly Johnson to their age equilvalent in McDermott will determine how this defense responds when its back is against the wall. Will they step up and make a big stop for Johnson, or will they let the advisement of McDermott go in one ear and out the other?

McDermott may not have years of experience on his side like Johnson, but familiarity with him may bring the defense closer to him in regards of respect.

Overall, this move will be hard to digest at first glance. However, based on track records it should be a smooth transition for the Philadelphia defense.

 

Mock Interview with Eagles Rookie Jeremy Maclin

Here are the questions that I would ask in a possible interview with Eagles rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.

Q:  How do you foresee your transition from a spread-style offense at Missouri to the West Coast offense run by the Eagles?

Q:  DeSean Jackson had a impressive rookie season in 2008. What can you take from his success in trying to have a successful rookie year?

Q:  You were projected to be drafted as high as seventh overall to the Oakland Raiders. You fell to 19th. Do you feel any resentment over teams passing you by and does it motivate you to make them regret doing so?

Q:  What do you bring to the table to be utilized in this offense?

Q:  How does it feel to have the opportunity to play with a quarterback the caliber of Donovan McNabb?

Q:  The learning curve for a wide receiver typically lasts into the second season.  How quickly do you think you can absorb the offense and execute it efficiently?

Q:  Finish this sentence. My ultimate career goal is…

Sky’s the Limit…Or Is It?: Expectations for 2009 Philadelphia Eagles

On the heels of an impressive draft, the Philadelphia Eagles seem poised to regain their standing as one of the NFC’s elite, right?  Not so fast, don’t make travel plans for Miami just yet. 

While the 2009 edition is an improvement over the team that found itself one win away from a Super Bowl berth, there are pitfalls that can turn the rosy preseason picture into a solemn gray.

The offensive line has been shored up at both tackle positions with the acquisitions of Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews.  As a whole, this unit is as solid as one will find league-wide. 

Coupled with newly acquired fullback Leonard Weaver as well as Brian Westbrook and rookie running back LeSean McCoy, the running game should benefit greatly from this upgrade. 

However, it is all too well known that coach Andy Reid is not in love with running the ball.  If Reid falls in love with the passing game as he is notorious of doing, it could spell disaster for the capability of a balanced, efficient offense that this team’s rushing attack could provide.

The departure of Brian Dawkins leaves a hole in the heart of this team.  His tenacious play and attitude spoke volumes on and off of the field.  Most importantly, Dawkins’ leadership will be missed. 

The defense as a unit is solid, however, when the going gets tough, who will step up and be the calming force the defense needs to get the job done?

The key to success in 2009 lies solely in Donovan McNabb’s hands.  Given the efforts by the front office to give him the protection that he needs and new weapons like rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, McNabb needs to step up most of all for this team to fulfill its lofty expectations. 

Barring injury, there are no excuses for a failure to execute on the field for McNabb.  2009 ultimately could be McNabb’s second strike, the third being his contract year in 2010. 

On paper, this team is poised to make a serious run at a trip to the Super Bowl in 2009.  However, the game is not played on paper.  That being said this edition of the Philadelphia Eagles still has the potential to be a special team.

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