If I were the Eagles defensive coordinator, I would leave Asante Samuel at the left cornerback position. I would have Nmandi Asomugha start at right cornerback, then in pass situations, I would move Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the right cornerback position and let Asomugha play the nickel position.
I would line Asomugha up on the slot receiver because most of the time, the slot receiver is the number one option in three wide receiver formations. The former Oakland Raiders is one of the most physical cornerbacks in the NFL. Many times he beats up on wide receivers to the point where they don’t even want to run their routes.
Remember that Asomugha played safety at the beginning of his college career. He’s a big corner, who stands 6’2″ and weighs 210 pounds. I would love to see the Eagles use his speed and athleticism to cause problems for opposing offenses in much the same way that Charles Woodson has done for the Packers.
Like the Packers, they could blitz him from the slot position. He could be moved around and isolated on the other team’s number one receiver.
The Eagles could use their nickel defense on second down to tempt offenses to run the ball and dare them to throw it. Once the Eagles defense forced the offense into a passing situation, they would have them where they wanted them.
If the Birds offense can perform the way it’s capable and get ahead of teams, the Eagles could dare teams to throw the ball against their defense with three Pro Bowl cornerbacks. You can’t win in the National Football League without throwing the football.
So far all of the talented corners want to play together.
Rumors have started circulating that Samuel is on the trading block, but his agent has made it clear that his client doesn’t want to be traded. He wants to get the chance to play with Rodgers-Cromartie and Asomugha.
Rodgers-Cromartie is willing to be a backup if that’s what is needed to keep the group together.
Asomugha was very complimentary of Samuel saying, “I’ve always said if there’s a playmaker at the cornerback position, that’s him. He really knows how to go after that ball, and I’ve always admired him.”
“It’s very workable. It’s the best situation,” Asomugha said. “Obviously, teams are passing a lot more. There are rules, I don’t want to say ‘catered to the offense’ because I don’t want to get fined or anything, but there are rules that . . . allow the offense to be more explosive. So you want to have as many defensive players, defensive playmakers, and defensive backs as you can.”
Good article G…If Reid’s smart enough to see this, big things can happen for us this season. I say let them all stay and we’ll have the best crop of corners in the league.
I just dont see room on a roster with a guy that makes damn near 10 million a year just to be a situational guy when his value is high right now and you can cover other needs that this team needs. Without Asante we still will be dominate in coverage and we can cover a huge need with our LB or RT position. I ask why have Rondo, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul running the point guard when you have no center? yeah you have depth but you lack in other areas where you need to improve on and teams will take advantage of that in knowing where your weak spots are and will test it.
vr – Have you factored in injury depth? Also, yeah, the value argument – even the Eagles can realize that while you always have to consider value/money/transactions etc. etc. etc. – BOTTOM LINE – the name of the game is winning on the football field. Managing the roster to maximize value at all times is SECOND to winning on the football field. You don’t make your team weaker just to maximize value.
If they trade 22 and get something legit in return, I guess I’ll be ok with it. But if they do that and one of the corners goes down for a bit…..
“If Reid is smart enough”..Rocko??..Really??..Are you really that thick to even say something like that after what he just pulled off this weekend?..As for Cromartie contemplating being a back-up to keep these guys together, I dont think it’s him they’ll ask to take a seat..More like Asante who needs to figure that out..
JMAC!!!! Where you been all my life?
Guys, I don’t think keeping all 3 (22-24 I love the consecutive #s by the way) means that there’s 2 starters and 1 is kind of a backup. I don’t think that at all. Depending on Wr matchups week to week, incidental injuries (allowing for extra healing time or whatever), nickel situations – HAPPENS A LOT OF MOST GAMES, blitzes, using DRC or Nnamdi as an LB…..there’s just so much stuff you can do with the 3, that I really don’t think any one of them has to feel lika backup at all.
Funny how you’re implying that this was your idea, when Juan Castillo said in a presser that Nnamdi suggested this exact same thing.
G:
Who covers the TE ??? G?
@nsidious Chaney.
DCR Covers the TE’s Nsidious,
If the oponent is running 2 WR sets, then bring in HAnson/Lindley to cover their 3rd WR but remain to have DCR roam the middle ofthe field and cover the TE
I believe they will utilize DCR very similar to what the PAckers have done with C Woodson which is move him all around and be a “Spy’ on the Atletic QB who like to scramble, Shut down a teams TE or take a RB out of the passing game, and even blitz on occasion ..
Who covers the TE?
DEPENDS – on the defense, the offensive formation, the down and distance situation, the specific TE, the WRs, the RBs……SO MANY FACTORS
Sometimes SAM, sometimes MIKE, sometimes WILL, sometimes SS, sometimes FS, somtimes a corner….
if you think the answer is more simple than that, I don’t think you understand pro football.
Should have been when Opponents run a 3 WR Set is to let the nickle CB’s (Hanson/Lindley) to come in to cover the slot-Receiver and let DCR continue to roam the middle of the ield and cover the TE’s and protect the middle to help force the WB’s to try to attack the outside where Asmo/Samuel will be waiting to make big plays..
Paulman et al.:
I appreciate your input. I was thinking about a named Safety and Linebacker. Obviously we have 3 good cover corners now that will cover the slot and Wideouts. If Shamburg is correct and it’s Chaney – I’m not convinced we’re good.
Paul – what you’re talking about is not a nickel package. You’re saying 4 CBs – maybe a sort of dime or quarter coverage, but that ain’t nickel.
Yeah really jimmy…Get off of Andys balls and stop drinking the green koolaid so quick. It’s good that we’ve got these good players but we ain’t won a SB yet. We’re just putting the pieces together; when I said Andy; meaning if he lobbys for all 3 to remain in case the FO wants to trade Samuels unless it’s for a beastly LB etc.
I’m going to say this here first. If, with this current team…this current group of EXTREMELY talented pro bowl individuals on defense and offense…..and with the best d-line and o-line coaches in the game today…..IF Andy doesn’t deliver a superbowl within the next two years — he’s gone.
Randy Moss retires
Randy Moss Retires.
Damn, crazy……no market for him I guess.
out there on the internets, the hateration for us is ridiculous.. You think we were hated last year because of Vick? that was nothing compared to the venom aimed at us now…
other fans (especially fans of division rivals) are trying to make us into the Heatles… lol
the jealousy is absurd right now. its gonna be a fun year
Rasheed — haters gonna hate. Jealousy is the best sign of Envy. Holla!
I believe he’s coming back. He didn’t want one year deals from NE and the Jets. He wants to win a SB. He’s in great physical condition. He will be back, but he doesn’t want to attend training camp. Cris Carter says he will be back 3 weeks into training camp. I think we will sign Randy Moss.
One of the underrated things so far about all the secondary talent we added – THAT’S WHAT VICK,VINCE and the WRs will PRACTICE against!
Yes Sheed they will hate. I was listening to Mark Schlereth on espn sportscenter and as ok as he is about some things, he was hating on us by saying we aren’t the best team; he says Greenbay is the best team. Their good and won a SB and all but I believe we’re the best team hands down. All we need to do is keep on adding pieces and get that lombardi.
Exactly Schill…It’ll make our offense that much better.
@ Rocko…could care less what ESPN is saying about us….being “the best team” on August 1st don’t mean sh*t…..as Big Red knows all too well, it is where you finish that matters.
Team & FO are doing a great job so far, but a whole lot of season is left…injuries always play a big part in who lives up to the pre-season hype….Birds are doing things right, but let’s actually start seeing some games before anyone believes that hype.
Go Birds!!
Yeah Schill…good point. I think the in-practice competition between the offense and defense will only make both sides better. Good point.
I’ve been hearing the Asante will be that CB that will roam the field, it kind of makes a lot of sense….because of his nose for the ball…a lot of tip balls come in the middle of the field…Not that I agree, I’d prefer Asante staying outside on the receiver..check out the interview with Brian Baldinger on eagles.com, if you haven’t already seen it…
Greenfan, I could also care less about what ESPN says about us. I was only emphasizing Rasheed1 and Birdo’s point about how these people are hating on our eagles. We’re looking good so far I’ll agree. This ain’t about what ESPN or any other network thinks about our eagles. i don’t buy into that crap either.
Realtalk — I kind of like that to be honest. Nobody can jump a route like Asante, so if he see’s something going on in the middle of the field, it’s his.
Half the field is already going to be cut off thanks to Nnamdi so…..”weak” link is DRC in all of this…..he’ll probably end up with the most interceptions on the team.
we agree Rock, we agree
Aiight Greenfan, cool.
I JUST HEARD ON THE RADIO AND DON’T KNOW IF IT’S RELIABLE BUT
Nmandi Asomugha IS GOING TO BE USED AS A NICLKE BACK? I HOPE I HEARD THIS WRONG.
Big E – what does that have to do with Andy’s weight?
Big E,
It is reliable. D coordinator Juan Castillo said
“Castillo says that when an offense runs a three-wide receiver formation, he plans to use Nnamdi Asomugha as the nickel back, while Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be the two outside corners.
“I think Nnamdi is a special guy,” Castillo said. “He wants to make plays. I think he respects (Charles) Woodson. I think he’d love that role, being able to blitz, a big, tall guy like that coming off the edge, and then all of a sudden in press coverage on the slot guy. Sometimes if he’s going to match, the slot guy may be the inside guy anyway. So it’s exciting.”
Castillo said that he and Asomugha talked recently and it was Asomugha who expressed interest in playing the same type of role as Woodson did for the Packers last year. Joselio Hanson, who has been the team’s nickel back for several years, would be utilized as the dime back.
Big E – Obviously I was just messing with you.
But seriously – what would be your objection to using Nnamdi in that role? It seems like it would not be a full-time thing. And the way I see it – if Nnamdi really eliminates half the field, then having him some where in the middle would leave only a little space on the very edges – where we have 2 probowl CBs….If he’s in the slot, and they throw to either somewhere in the middle of the field or to the side he’s on…. other team is screwed. It’s like giving him the chance to cover 60-75% of the field.
Plus, if he’s the best tackler of the 3 stud CBs (anyone wanna disagree?), then having him somewhere in the middle sures up any long runs or yacs….
The eagles defense isnt a 3-4 scheme, its a 4-3 with some 3-4 mixed in, there going to use cover 2 this year as well… i say that because they are going to use Nnamdi in a similar role as the packers use charles woodson, and to me there very similar players with nnamdi bein better… But they are similar. So expect to see Nnamdi to be in that mlb role able to come up to the line and blitz and swarm the middle of the field like a hawk… BUT asante will do it and so will DRC… If we recall against the colts Asante was in the role as safety, so imagine him at safety and jarrett coming up to the line to blitz or to cover the slot recievers just throwing offenses off completely… the eagles havent even tapped into all the possiblities yet because all 3 havent even practiced together yet… But just know that all 3 corners will be all over the field on defense…
Just got word that nnamdi went up to Juan today and said he would like to play in the same role as charles woodson in that nickel role, blitzing the qb, and causing havok… Iam soooo pumped right now… and i keep hearing ones on here still saying that there gonna trade asante…thats not happening. They love the flexibility it gives them on defense… Not gonna happen, esp for a LB or a Safety? Noway… And Nnamdi wants asante and DRC on the team… look at him going up to the coaches and telling them that he ll sacrifice playing the position hes used to playing for the better of the team… Thats what players do who want to win…
Gcobb agree too..
Sup schill, Paul and all the rest of the old heads on this site..Been working on the gas rigs up here in Northeastern Pa these past 18 months..110-120 hours a week..but Im back to talk about all this..in all my days ive never seen anything like this..I love it..Now let’s roll!!