• March 28, 2024

Eagles Will Miss Bradley’s Presence In The Middle Of The Defense

I think we found out last year that the Eagles aren’t the same defense without Stewart Bradley in the middle.  He’s the signal caller, who gets everybody lined up properly and the big guy makes plays against both the run and the pass.

Bradley is one of the few middle linebackers in the league who stays on the field in nickel situations because he’s so effective against the pass in both zone or man-to-man coverages.

The concussion he suffered on Sunday when he he launched himself to hit a ball carrier but hit the hip of fellow linebacker Ernie Sims, will keep him out of this week’s contest.  That means veteran backup Omar Gaither will step in at middle linebacker.

Gaither can make all of the calls and get the defense set up correctly. He doesn’t make many mental errors, so he will be where he’s supposed to be.  Still Gaither’s no match for Bradley as a run stopper or pass defender.

The Lions are sure to try and test him with their running game as well as with throws to their tight end and backs.  Gaither doesn’t have Bradley’s speed but he doesn’t find ways to make plays because of his instincts.

I could see them lining up and trying to pound the middle of the Birds defense, if they can get Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley blocked.  Gaither weighs about 235 pounds and could be susceptible to the blocking of a big physical fullback.

“I think it’s a challenge as far as playing again”, Gaither said yesterday. “But, I’ve done it before and I’ve done it for a long time before. So, that part of it just really comes natural for me, just going back out there, being in the middle and being the starting guy again.”

The Lions will probably lean on their running game because they don’t want to ask too much of their backup quarterback Shaun Hill, who will be starting in the place of Matthew Stafford.  The former number one pick Stafford went down with a shoulder injury on Sunday against the Bears and will be out of action for 4 to 6 weeks.

Detroit is likely to put the ball in the hands of rookie running back Jahvid Best as much as possible.  A running game would keep the ball away from the Eagles potentially explosive offense, wear down the smallish Eagles defense and keep the game close so the Lions could try to steal it late.

If the Lions can play well in the first and go to the lockeroom with a close game, they will gain confidence and it will energize their crowd.

I could see them using play action passes to buy time for Hill to throw, then they could have him try to get the ball to star wideout Calvin Johnson or talented tight end, Brandon Pettigrew.  I expect to see them throw the ball up to Johnson if he’s found in a one-on-one situation with one of the Eagles little cornerbacks.  Johnson’s listed as 6’5″ 236 pounds.  Most the Eagles cornerbacks are 5’11 and under.

Eagles will linebacker Ernie Sims who played four years in the Detriot told his Eagles teammates that the Lions are going to be a fired up football team.

“I told them that they’re good, that they’re a good ball club; well-coached, eager players” Sims explained. “And that’s how I was, an eager player. When you have eager players their effort is through the roof. I think that’s very important when you’re playing football, effort. Effort goes a long way. Like I said before, we have to play real, real good and disciplined football and we have to dominate.”

I think Sims is going to have a big day making plays against Detroit’s running game.  It’s a standard running game, which features a lot of run plays with the fullback leading the halfback in the hole.  Sims will be able to clean up with some big hits from the backside.

Of course we know Sims would like nothing better than to get his first win as an Eagle in the home of the team that traded him.

GCOBB

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Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 16, 2010 11:57 am

Don’t forget TE S Sheffler (formerly of the Broncos) he’s a sneaky,deceptive TE who has a knack of finding seams in the Defense (Simialr to B Celek in a lot of ways)
Their 2nd WR N Bulerson is more of a straight down the field WR and not a real stop & go kind of Route runner,but he dioes run the “fly route” well and I am sure they will attempt a couple deep ones early to try to take advantage of CB Hobbs.
They should probably have LB SIms spy on RB Best on passing situations who will come out of the backfield for screens and short passes, but he has super speed and is proabbly their only true threat in the open field

rcp1936
rcp1936
September 16, 2010 11:57 am

Not only do they lose the MLB in the first game but the starting center again

Just like last year

Just DAMN

wmonell
wmonell
September 16, 2010 12:23 pm

Scheffler is underrated, very good player. but…im not worried based off of Finley’s numbers against us last week. Bradley was more of the initial bump guy and a rover, not necessarily covering the TE. If we stop the run game from moving the chains collectively, (Bradley’s sideline-to-sideline ability) this game will be over in the first half, no matter who our QB is. we are that far ahead of Detroit in every aspect.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 16, 2010 1:08 pm

Not so fast, my friend Walter Mondale..
Packers TE Finley only ended up with 4-5 catches for the Packers had a 17 point lead with a little more than a Quarter left to play, so they ran the ball more to eat the clock up, and then the Eagles finally had some good drives but ate up most of the 4th qauter trying to come back which didn’t leave the Packers much time on Offense in the last quarter. The Eagles had no answer in covering FInley when the Packers ran their normal offense,in my opinion, and if the choose to, he probably would have ended up with 8-9-10 catches for over 100 yds…

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
September 16, 2010 1:26 pm

Paulman is right, Finley didn’t kill us because of the flow of the game. When the packers really took control was when they started running the ball. I don’t think we would have had an answer for him because he had a few wide open grabs out there. It was just circumstantial that he didn’t have a big day.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
September 16, 2010 1:27 pm

No receivers had a big day. So that doesn’t mean to get excited about our pass defense or ability to cover TEs. It was just one of those games

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 16, 2010 1:47 pm

I look at the Packer game kind of like the Eagles 1st game last Season versus the Panthers..
Remember the Eagles didn’t do a whole of on Offense, but they got a couple of quick,cheap scores
with D-jax Punt return and a V Abriami TD fumble recovery and the game was pretty much over by
halftime.. If I recall, McNnabb didn’t even have a 100 yards of passing and the offense #’s were not good across the board but the Eagles won big…
It is amazing how stats, #’s and even the final scores of ballgames somtimes is not really indicative of how the game was played… This week is Critical that Eagles get off to a decent start and win..
If they lose to the Lions, they will not win 4 games this season

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 16, 2010 2:26 pm

*** Breaking News *****
From one of my sources out on the West Coast
The Chargers trade All-Pro disgruntled WR to the Washington Redskins for WR D Thomas, and
2 Draft picks (a 3rd Round in 2011 and a 5th Rounder in 2012)
The Redksins are starting to put an offense together fror McNabb
(WR’s Moss,Jackson,Kelly and TE’s Cooley and Davis) is a pretty good receiving corps

WellWellWell
WellWellWell
September 16, 2010 3:01 pm

Even if he is traded he can’t play till week 5 because of his suspension.

WellWellWell
WellWellWell
September 16, 2010 3:03 pm

All of the details of it are up on NFL .com right now. I was reading it earlier.

erock
erock
September 16, 2010 3:08 pm

I think they’ll reduce the suspension, new team wont enforce that. He hasnt played a down of football and i think he’ll be ineffective until week 10-12…you can’t just walk on the field and take shots form db’s and backers and be the same player you were last year.

Paul…Peanuts punt return and the strip of Jake the Bum arent cheap scores .I was there and gotta say they were earned . Had those fans checking out at halftime. They kill the Lions.Book it.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 16, 2010 3:12 pm

To Erock
I don’t think this version of the 2010 Eagles will be killing anyone this season
I expect a 3 point game versus the Lions and coming right down to the end in a typical ugly game
but a win is a win and this team desperately needs one for their “fragile phsyce” of this Season will go down in flames

erock
erock
September 16, 2010 3:42 pm

Just like your prediction of the Braves winning the division? J-O-K-E….there choking and we have CHamps swagger.So hows that prediction working out? When they kick the crap out of the Lions i’ll expect you too tell me i was right as i will do the same. i have no problem in telling you your Paulmandomis.
It’s week 2 and your dialed into there phsyce? Dr. Paulman? Dude, we all know about the same thing about this tema at this stage…nothing. One thing i liek about the Big Guy is he keeps em steady and they come afte it in these games.So they gave Rodgers fits with the front 4 and MLB down and you think SHaun Stinkin Hill will keep it tight? Wonder who his back-up is cause you will see him.

erock
erock
September 16, 2010 3:52 pm

Shaun Hill 9/19 88 yards…sure he almost threw a pick that 22 will bring in this week.
Best 14rushed for 20 yards…Barryesk…sure Bunk will do fine.
Megatron 4 catch 45 yards…Bears corners are who? Tillman…that guy still plays?
Suh…one sack against that stellar Bears o-line..ok we arent getting it together but overall we have more talent.

beatdown like Tyson over Spinx…book it

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 16, 2010 3:54 pm

as a fan of the entire NFL
His back-up is Drew Stanton who they drafted a few years back from MIchigan State i believe..
Their Psyche is indeed Fragile for this is a very young team that has placed high expectations for itself and the added pressure of playing for the Philadelphia Eagles..This is perhaps the biggest game AR has coached since the NFC Championship Game vs Arizona a couple of years back for if the perform poorly or “don’t put the pleyers in position to make plays” then the wheels are going to come off and where they will fall, no one knows. If the entire premise that the Eagles could and will
win with McNabb gone, that the Team’s success is predicated on Coach AR/MM schemes and genius, then many of the veterans who are still left are going to be scratching their heads saying right… “there’s goes my chance to be on a Championship team and now I am stuck in Phila on a 2-3 year rebuilding deal”…
S Hill is not a bad QB.. the Eagles have been beaten by worse… IF this guy gets time, he had a strong and pretty accurate arm… (ask people in the Bay area for most of whom preferred that the 49ers play Hill over High Draft Pick Alex Smith…)

WellWellWell
WellWellWell
September 16, 2010 3:58 pm

He’s been suspended for violating a substance poilcy of the NFL…they’re not going to reduce anything. Espically with his behavior…no chance.

WellWellWell
WellWellWell
September 16, 2010 4:00 pm

Don’t forget we got beat by the JokeMarcus NoHussle led Raiders.

erock
erock
September 16, 2010 4:08 pm

He’s a bum too.

Sante,Bunk,Trent,Todd,Jamal, and Akers…all vets that help the glue stay tight.Qmike as well.Dude seriously,biggest game of his tenure against the Lions in week 1. What happened too trade alerts? They’re at least funny brosiff?! I respect the accumen man. But the seasons a marathon and not a sprint. Imma gonna stay even keeled and believe in our talent…smash yings and smell the fresh air. Who’s with me on a W?

Shaun Hill…if he was worth a damn Singletary woulda held onto him. B-U-M.

Beatdown on the horizon.

KTDawk
KTDawk
September 16, 2010 4:40 pm

Pman i thought you were more positive than this. close game with the Lions, yes the Lions are improved but to be honest, we still have a ton of talent and some hungry players on D that i anticipate to shut down the Lions O.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 16, 2010 4:50 pm

Think for a moment E-Rock
Here’s a coupld of fans at a local watering hole somewhere outside of Detroit..
“can’t wait, the Eagles are coming to town for our home opener win…
Vick, he’s a bum, E Sims another bum…, D-Jax is a primma donna…
J Maclin , one good shot on his and he’s done…. DT Suh is going to have a field day with McGlynn,
COle,Wells or whaever else they use.. VanBoshman will force LT Peters with 5 holding penalties and off-sides…. their Kick-off Coverage team… Special Teams Boboy April.. now that’s funny”
They are sayging the same garbage about this Eagles team… ..

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 16, 2010 4:52 pm

Sorry KT
I lost my “Christmas Spirit” and am in a bad mood today… I will be more positive tommorrow…

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
September 16, 2010 5:28 pm

KTD, Paulman was all peachy and then Week 1 came. But I don’t blame him. There are a lot of questions on this team. And right now, there is no such thing as a guaranteed victory. I don’t think we’ll lose this game but I wouldn’t be surprised if we did. Under Andy Reid we always lose 1 stupid game per year that we should win. If it’s not this week it could be next week at the Jags.

jroc757
jroc757
September 16, 2010 6:05 pm

here we go this guy omar gaither!!!! you know what he was so so outta place week one that he looked like he was wearing a greenbay jersey!!! i mean we can t start chaeney instead of this bum!!! why is he on this team still!! hes only good at the weakside but middle he looks lost!! watch this if we dont dont do good against the run first half… watch andy reid plaay musical linebackers 2 play the middle!!! or better yet trotter will be at the game wearing his street clothes and by half time he’ll go in a phone booth and put on a jersey and some pads and go out there and get burnt by the place kicker on the field!!!!!!!! I have no faith in gaither we should have clipped him early this season but you know andy reid…. hes a real horder when it comes 2 bums!!!

vricchini
vricchini
September 16, 2010 6:36 pm

I got to think we can beat the lions but knowing Andy Reid his game plan would be to rotate mike kafka on every 3rd down, call a quarter defense on 4th and inches and his excuse would be “Mike is very athletic and we thought we could bring him in on 3rd down i need to do a better job”. “I called 4 corners 2 safeties and a 3 man rush on 4th and inches cause im a dumb shmuck of a coach with no coaching skills”

sounds about right doesnt it?

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 16, 2010 9:03 pm

To jroc757,
I did not like both Gaither or Roster making this Eagle Squad this year..
They have been Eagles for 3-4-5 years and bring very little as position players and I think both their Special Teams play is way overrated.. I don’t know for the life of me how H Baskett ever got a reputation as a “good special teams player”, what has he ever done…
(just another Dave Spadora and Eagles FO/Coaches marketing bs story that the local Media and fans salivate over and takes as being true..)

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 16, 2010 9:07 pm

meant to type “Gaither and Baskett.” as the 2 wasted roster spots on this club..
(They should have kept Tracey White and Kelly Washington instead )

Butch007
Butch007
September 16, 2010 11:25 pm

Gaither will be fine, but it’s necessary that the Eagles go with a bigger line up front, probably including Antonio Dixon getting more playing time on 1st and 2nd downs and Tapp getting some snaps on 1st and 2nd downs at RDE.

schiller
schiller
September 16, 2010 11:58 pm

Butch you want coe out?

schiller
schiller
September 16, 2010 11:59 pm

Cole

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 17, 2010 12:44 pm

Tapp probably will be inactive again this week Butch…
Eagles gave up Clemons and a 5th Rounder and he can’t even make the active roster for game days..
and then they had to go out and Get A Banres for another furture draft pick…
I expected Tapp to be a contributor… it appears he is the 2010 version of TE Kris WIson & SS Sean Jones who both failed miserbly here with the Eagles

schiller
schiller
September 17, 2010 12:54 pm

PM, it’s only been 1 game. Tapp has 15 (minimum) games to be active and contribute…. jumping the gun a bit? I say yes.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
September 17, 2010 2:07 pm

If they felt so good about Tapp’s play all OTA’s,Camps and Preseason, would they have made a last second trade to Ravens for DE A Barnes when they still had other needs for some back-ups/upgrades at Safety,TE,RB where they were thin and still are…

Butch007
Butch007
September 19, 2010 9:41 pm

I miss labeled that I meant LDE for Tapp. I still would like to have seen them keep or bring back Pannel Egboh to play that spot if they really don’t like Tapp.