The Eagles training camp is just getting started and Akeem Jordan has already replaced Moise Fokou as the starting Sam linebacker.¬† That decision by defensive coordinator Sean McDermott tells me he’s open to any of these guys being the first teamer when the season begins.
There’s a good side to the decision because he has some confidence in both of these guys, and there’s a bad side to it because he wouldn’t make the move so quickly if he had a great deal of confidence in Fokou.
Jordan is more familiar with the defense and coverages because he has started for a full season, but Fokou is in only his second season and getting a better feel for the defense.
I haven’t seen much from either of these guys, as far as getting interceptions or making big plays.¬† In fact the Eagles linebackers don’t get their hands on the football enough for me.
Middle linebacker Stewart Bradley is the best pass coverage linebacker on the team which doesn’t say much for Will linebacker Ernie Sims or Sam linebackers Jordan and Fokou.¬† The better athletes are supposed to be at the outside linebacker spots.
Sims, who is as fast as a defensive back but has had only one interception in his four-year career and I see why.¬† He doesn’t understand the receivers’ routes.¬† He needs to sit down with a coach or Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel and let him explain to him the designs of pass routes.¬† Samuel reads routes better than any player I’ve ever seen.
A linebacker as fast as Sims should be picking off passes on a regular basis.¬† He doesn’t have a feel for pass coverage.¬† I know the former Florida State standout will blast you in run defense, but big plays like interceptions, forced fumbles and sacks are what it takes to be an outstanding player.
Sims will get the chance to blitz and he’s got to do a better job of that, than he did in Detroit where he had only 2.5 sacks in four years.
McDermott may be able to improve Sims’ game by making him more of a “thinking man’s” linebacker.¬† You have to be able to read formations and opposing team’s tendencies to be a big play linebacker.
Fokou doesn’t have a strong understanding of the coverages which is more understandable for a guy in only his second year.¬† I still think it’s amazing that you can lose your starting job after only two or three practices.¬† He must have been blowing assignments.
I don’t think Jordan is a Sam linebacker because he doesn’t have the long arms to jam and delay the release of NFL tight ends.¬† I do believe he has the speed and quickness needed to cover the league’s tight ends, but he’ll also have trouble getting off their blocks in run defense.
The Birds outside linebackers must contribute more interceptions, sacks and forced fumbles.¬† They’ve got to play smarter football.
Calal me a koolaid drinker. But I believe mcdermott when he says that he’s just experimenting and not promoting or demoting anyone yet. Its still early in training camp and the media is reading into everything to extremes.
that’s “call”…
I agree with Schiller,
A little too early (After 2 practices to determine starters and players roles already)
Just a move to keep Fokou focused and get more looks from Jordan and keep him pumped…
I am sure we will see back-up players playing with the 1st Unit from time to time…
(A Dixon, B Graham, Teo, Lindley, Coleman etc,etc, will get some snaps with the 1st team which doesn’t mean they are starters…)
Here we go again with the musical chairs at LB. I’m starting to wonder if this will ultimately be McDermott’s career signature.
Anyway…there’s a natural SAM linebacker that could start, but they have him at the MIKE. If the were to put a bigger DT in (Antonio Dixon) they could start Gaither at the MIKE and not have to worry much about him shedding blockers or not as many of them wouldn’t reach the LB level and the would have a strong experienced LB at the SAM. honestly I don’t know that Ernie Simms is ready to be a full time LB in this system and my sense is that Akeem Jordan would be a better playmaker because of his experience in the system. The Eagles, as an organizations undervalues experience all over the place which is pretty sad because it’s probably the reason they consistently can only “almost” get er done every year.
Butch, this offseason they got younger for sure, but when have the birdz “undervalued experience”? I just don’t see that at all. Give some examples.
butch, haven’t they given Gaither enough chances to win the job? What does it say about his play that after 4 years he still does not have a secure place in the starting line-up? The musical chairs was mainly due to the Bradley injury and then the attempts to fill the spot.
I would agree that historically the FO has undervalued the LB position, but with everyone staying healthy I believe we can find a strong unit out of this group.
Butch: I knew/saw McDermott from days when he was an 11yo wrestler with my sons. At that early age he was a perfectionist at meticulous at learning and practicing moves. He was, and to this day, still is a student of defense. He still thinks like a wrestler to anticipate and counteract every move his opponent might make and take advantage of their weaknesses… that’s what JJ was and why Sean was such a teachable mentoree. He’s testing guys so expect more switching up in camp/pre-season. His star LB who was qb of the defense went down; Dawk was traded and Sheldon was hurt along Mikell, Hanson and young guys playing out of natural position to fill holes. The team still finished 11-5 despite so many weakness, but the more talented and healthy teams whooped on Birds in the end.
I’d not trade McDermott for even John Spagnuolo who walked into Giants’ job at the peak of their best defensive personnel and took advantage. Sean has had to deal with more adversity.
I think the Signing on back-up LB/Special Teamer Tracey White is the end of Omar Gaither as an Eagle. I expect Gaither to be traded to thte Rams/Browns by the end of the week for a 5th Rd Pick in 2011 Draft in return. Tracey White becomes the jack-of all trade LB to fill in, in case of injury..
I believe Draft pick J Cheney will win the back-up MLB behind Bradley making Gaither expendable.
6 more slots for the fantasy football league. Hit me up drew_sg2000 at yahoo.com
Iggles, your personal connection to guy has you blinded. I like McDermott, but there’s ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I would take him over Spanuolo. Be for real…The Giants got to and won the Superbowl because of Spagnuolo, so there’s just no realistic way to that McDermott can compete with that at this stage of his career.
As for the Eagles undervaluing experience you can look at all of the players they’ve “attempted” to convert positions for completely ignoring the experience they have at a different position as a prime example.
With the Gaither situation it’s funny how short people’s memories are in terms recognizing how many non-performance related changes happened to get to where it is now relative to him. You should recognize the he initially was moved to weakside LB, not because of poor play his play at the MIKE the previous year was superlative. The change was made because JJ wanted to experiment with Bradley at the MIKE even though Bradley had never played the position before and JJ was unwilling move Gocong for whatever reason. Also consider that that Gaither was demoted from the starting line-up roughly around the same time he declined a long term contract extension from the Eagles. (if the Eagles thought so little of him would he have even gotten offered an extension?)
The bottom line is if one values experience one immediately recognizes that there’s no one on the team more suited to play SAM than Bradley and it just so happens that there’s an experienced guy that’s played MIKE well and that barring injury he could give the team a good season in that position. Granted, in order for Gaither to play well the Eagles would have to super size one of their tackle positions, but I fail to see how that’s a problem. The insistence on keeping Bradley in the middle despite the holes it creates elsewhere in the LB core is just childish.
Butch…agree 100%
Gaither did not take the low ball deal offered by the FO and was relegated to alternative positions after doing well in the middle, and I’ll tell you what……..Last year was supposed to be the year Bradley would show he’s a solid MLB but was injured…..The jury is still out on him too.
Damn….I wish we were in the days when the Eagles were a lock to go deep into the playoffs…This FO have f’d up everything. Now we are back in the Hoying era.
Butch I too like gaither, and I think he stays due to his experience – go figure! But he was good v the pass at MLB, but the d had problems v the run until Bradley came along… Bradley plays MLB better than anyone on the team and its the most important lb. He’s not moving. And I think Clayton will become starting Sam soon.
Schiller- if you watched the video you would see that G did not take this issue to extremes.
one thing comes to mind when people say Front Office is cheap,
How about players who were overpaid for their performance on the field as a Philadelphia Eagle..
Players like J Kearse, J McDougal, F Mitchell, T Pinkston, F Mitchell, D Howard, B Bishop, G Lewis,
Shane Andrews and others.. Do others think these players will give the Eagles F/O some of that guranteed $$$ they made while as an Eagles back…. Very doubtful… You live with the deal you make, You chose the profession you are in, No one holds a gun to your head to sign ,so be a man and do the job to completion is my thinking…
Ernie Sims will make the Pro Bowl.
JMac- Are you buying him a ticket to attend the festivities?
Also add, WR’s Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown, TE LJ Smith to my above list for overpaid while being an Eagle and hopefullt this year Stacey Andrews shows that he was worth the $$$$ for his contract.
Bout the only Free-Agents who were worth their contracts in terms of Production on the field have been
OT J Runyan, CB A Sammuel and WR T Owens that I can recall, most others have been disappointments which is why it’s better to build thru the draft and stay away from Free-agency if you can, but any long-term deal has it’s risks.. for the most part, The Eagles do a darn good job of locking up young talent after their initial 2-3 seasons to keep them around and provide Financial Security for the Players they want as their core group. It will be interesting to see once there is a new CBA in place to se if the Eagles will have to change their philosophy in dealing with player contracts..
Paul..you think the Eagles brass did a good job in the way they handled salaries under the old agreement?
NEWSFLASH….”0″ superbowls
The Pats, Steelers, Bucs, Saints, Colts, and Ravens did the best as a “FO” in the last decade. The eagles brass did nothing more than show other teams how to manage the cap and those teams mentioned took it to the next level. The Eagles had a 3 year window and a surplus left over in those years to maneuver but did nothing with the surplus and once the gig was up they did absolutely nothing to adjust. underachievers
please don’t give this losing organization any credit.
Songsrme2,
I am critcal when I feel it’s warranted, Just because they haven’t won the Super Bowl yet doesn’t mean
the Eagles Organization is a loser.. I remember growing up in early 70’s watching the Eagles and seeing
them humiliated almost every game for 6-7 years in a row before Vermiel took over.. So I know what a loser organization performs like, many of under 35 crowd have become spoiled with the Eagles success of the last 10-12 years, It could be worse, you could have been born in Cleveland,Buffalo,Detroit and many other cities who fans would trade places with their Franchises with the Eagles in a heartbeat..
I do agree that they screwed up from 2004-2006 when they should have won a Super Bowl with better talent at WR outside of TO, but it’s water under the bridge now..I am excited in the direction the Eagles are now moving for they became too predictable with McNabb and some of the other older players as have some of the Coaches and play calling.. It appears that all are envigorated including the Coaches
Paul….we don’t drink the kool aid anymore.
you said many teams would trade positions with the Eagles in a heartbeat….I disagree. 4 years ago you probably would have added the saints to the list that would trade places with the Eagles but now they are a better organization. In a league in which any team can win with a great FO and great talent coached by good coaches teams don’t need to wish they were another team…They can go from nothing to great in a little time..but our Eagles are content with being competitve for years to come, and you know what? it works for them. They can be competitive, sell tickets, let the team appreciate in worth, and don’t even need to win a Superbowl. Only in Philadelphia would fans agree with such madness. let’s be competitive….that’s fun….how could an organization sell what they supposed to be anyway? football is competition….you’re supposed to be competitive, yet they spin this as something fans can look forward to in place of winning a Superbowl. Paulman..WAKE UP!