• March 29, 2024

Eagles New Much-Improved Secondary Makes Its Debut

With the Eagles approaching their first exhibition game tonight, pay close attention to the play of their newly revamped secondary. The Birds landed a pair of All-Pro defensive backs to help improve a defense that surrendered 235.1 receiving yards per game last season, and were the worst red zone defense in the last 25 years in the NFL. Look for these stats to get better this year due to the additions of Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, and arguably the best shutdown cornerback in the league, Nnamdi Asomugha.

The new offseason acquisitions will join a cast that includes interception leader from a year ago Asante Samuel, second-year safety Kurt Coleman and safety Nate Allen which rounds out a secondary that is mixed with youth and experience.

With the departure of safety Quintin Mikell who signed with the Rams weeks ago, unproven second-year defender Coleman will fill the void. The youngster been the Eagles best safety at training camp this year. In limited action last season, the former Buckeye registered 36 tackles and a modest 1 interception with just two starts in the midnight green. With the exception of any injuries to this core, these are the most likely Week 1 starters.

Rodgers-Cromartie will start the season as the third corner, but he’ll likely be on the field for 90% of defensive snaps. The Eagles plan on playing nickel on most second downs. Surprisingly the four-year pro seems comfortable in backing up Samuel and Asomugha. His coaches have explained to him that he will be on the field most of the time and especially on the key downs like third and five and third and long with the game on the line. They have him lining up at the right cornerback position in the nickel defense which will take the field tonight.

Samuel, who has been a premier pick-artist dating back to his years with the Patriots, will start at the left cornerback position. He seemed unwilling to play along with DRC and Asomugha, but after finding out that he’s going to maintain his position, Samuel has welcomed the two Pro Bowl corners. He knows that the presence of the other two talented cornerbacks will likely give him more opportunities to intercept passes.

The arrival of Asomugha, whose signing with the Eagles was one of the biggest stories of this past offseason, brings one of the most physical corners of the decade to a pass defense that has been referred to as being soft over the past few seasons. He’ll be lining up at the left cornerback position and in nickel situations he’ll slide inside and cover the slot receiver.

Defensive coordinator Juan Castillo has made it known that he wants move Asomugha around and utilize him in much the same way that the Packers use Charles Woodson. Last season, the 30-year-old veteran commanded an Oakland Raiders defense that ranked third in surrendered receiving yards per game last season.

Although soft-spoken toward the media, Asomugha will add to this team’s mental toughness as soon as he steps on the field. Many times he is so physical with wide receivers that they don’t even get off the line of scrimmage.

Toward the ladder stages of the game look for most of the reps to be filled in by backups like Joselio Hanson, then special teams candidates like Jarrad Page and a plethora of draft picks that the Eagles have chosen over the last few seasons.

In tonight’s matchup against the Ravens, the Eagles will look to send a message around the league that they are the team to beat. Andy Reid and the rest of the organization are looking to a set a tone, and that all starts on the defensive side of the ball. This team will look similar to the days where they boasted multiple Pro Bowlers from the secondary.

We all can recall those years when this perennial NFC East power shutdown some of the top wideouts in the league, and instead of scoring touchdowns, teams were forced to settle for field goals in the red zone.

Instead of Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent and Brian Dawkins showing off their skills, look for Samuel, Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie to be the targets feared most when a quarterback looks to throw a deep route, outside to the flat or inside to a curl route. Quarterbacks will think twice because they know any mistakes or misfires has a good chance being picked off and turned into six the other way.

Colin Washington

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vricchini
vricchini
August 11, 2011 10:10 am

Who is everyones stand out star tonight?

I have Brent Celek as my stand out star!
I think in missing his WR’s (vick) we will see
Celek more than often.

paulman
paulman
August 11, 2011 10:21 am

Sounds good Colin and nice article..
My Stand out star for this evening is Undrafted Free Agent RB G Cooper and
WR Terrance Turner on Offense
On Defense, I look for solid games by LB B Rolle and CB T Lindley and Brandon Hughes as well as Safety J Page
I would imagine Starters only playing a couple of Series (maybe a quarter) and the rest of the game with 2nd/3rd Strings.. 1st Cut goes from 90 Players to 75 by next week I believe so..

seansyh
seansyh
August 11, 2011 10:30 am

I agree vricchini. Now that the eagles have strengthened their O line, Celek isn’t always forced to stay at the line and block. Last year he dropped some passes he should have caught, but two years ago he looked like a future pro-bowler. I really want to see if all this money we spent on the defensive line will pay off too. Our pro bowl corners will dominate even more with a consistent pass rush. I think the player to watch is casey mathews. We all know that Chaney can play based on what we saw last year, fokou is decent, but I’m really excited to see how Mathews will play against an offense that includes joe flacco, ray rice, anquan boldin, ricky williams, etc. Everyone has been taking shots at Casey because he isn’t as freakish as his bro. I guess tonight will be the first test. The ravens like to run the ball so hopefully we can keep the yardage to a minimum and force some 3 and outs.

Erock
Erock
August 11, 2011 11:23 am

Just stay healthy and make a couple big plays. We’re gonna stomp the Rams game 1.

Celek should have a nice year…h ewas plagued by some b.s. injuries last year,least he improved his blocking with all the practice he had last year. Another TE flexing (Lee,Clay) should help him as well.

GO BIRDS

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
August 11, 2011 2:30 pm

Looking forward to everyone playing hard but please stay healthy.

1. The player to look at in my opinion and many probably know who it is and thats Casey Matthews. How can that not be the position were all gonna be watching, everyone besides me have had issues with the birds not signing a vet at LB. And i think he will certainly have a few rookie moments but for the most part will be soild out there making some good plays…Lets watch to see if he can get off blocks and make a tackle, and if he ha the speed to keep up with the tight end and make a play on the ball…

2. I ll be watching the Corners. What formations will they be in. They wont be throwing the kitchen sink at the ravens for there first preseason game idt but i believe that they will mix it up a bit. Hopefully one if not all of the big 3 can have a INT and take one to the house, Id flip…

3. I want to see how that pass rush will look, early. How many times will wash rotate the guys in and out, who gets pressure the most, i think all four will get consistent pressure in my opinion… Looking to see cullen jenkins make a huge impact tonight and babin too..

4. That OL. Will they be able to protect Vick and keep him clean, dont even let hm get hit once. I have this strange feeling that the ravens will come out with a regular season type game plan where they are going to blitz blitz and blitz some more, they will do there best to put Vick out, remember the preseason game the giants played either last year or the year before and eli got abused out there, the jets were blitzing him and hiting him repeatedly. Expect that type of physicality from the ravens. Testing the OL of the eagles and whether Vick can handle the blitz..Esp that right side where we had alot of issues a year ago…

5. The safeties. Nate allen and kurt coleman have looked good in camp but now is when it all matters. They cant live off of the hype of the big 3, they gotta come out and make a name for themselves, fly around and make plays. I ll be looking to see if J Jarrett is in position on each play, hopefully he can lay a huge hit on someone.. but this is all a learning experience for him..

6. Special Teams. How will the new kicker and punter look. Both rookies, both are accurate, we know they ll have first game jitters, but tey cant have mental lapses… I do think that our kicker Alex Henery will be perfect from wherever he boots it from, im pulling for him…

Godson
Godson
August 11, 2011 2:37 pm

Want to see the defense come out with a swagger and look dominate. My main focus will be on the DT, LB and safty spots. I also think Lindley is going to have a nice year and I beleive he will be our Dime CB and will be a very solid Nickel CB if any of the Big 3 Cb’s we have go down with an injury. I am hearing great things about Castillo, I will not be shocked if this defense is top 3 by the end of the year.

On Offense I would like to see how Watkins and the rest of the line plays. Ronnie Brown is going to have my attention. Other than that I know what our skill positions on offense will do once Desean and Macklin get back.

paulman
paulman
August 11, 2011 2:50 pm

I am excited to see the Eagles play as all the Fans are, but realistic enough to know that this game means very little but potential Injuries and that most Starters are probably looking at 2 Series or maybe a Quarter so I don’t expect a dynamic Offensive perfomance.. I am more intesrested in seeing how the Young OL & RB, Back-up QB’s perform on Offense and the LB’s and Safeties on Defense as well as the Rookie Kicker/Punter.. SHould be a good game, a little ugly and proably a low-scoring 16-13 type of game..

Stevo
Stevo
August 11, 2011 2:52 pm

honestly dont care about watching the O at all. Ive hated our D for many many years and for the first time i actually have hope. I want to see:

1) can Jenkins get to the qb from our DT spot? i hope so. what side will he be on? next to cole or babbin? I want to see those 4 work together.

2) I went on record as saying babbin was not coming here. I was wrong and I hope i was really really wrong about him being a 1 year wonder. I like his attitude… can he make me eat all my words? Im ready and willing to do so.

3) FS or SS- they flip the names so it doesnt matter but…. whomever plays behind ASAM better be good because we all know ASAMS strengths and weaknesses.. thats not a knock on him…. im just saying… that spot has to be good.

4) i waant to see the CB’s push eachother and get along. There is room on this team for all 3… this D will feed off them.

5) I want to see 2 or 3 big big hits. Let other teams know that we are not putting ourselves in the SB by our mouths. Let jan worry about Jan. Lets set a tone early…… we play to win each and every week.

paulman
paulman
August 11, 2011 3:27 pm

A couple of Answers for Stevo

#1) It will Cole, Dixon,Jenkins,Babin across the DL

#2) Babin is a player and will continue to be very productive w/Washburn’s system (Many of us thought he looked good before but Eagles mis-used him nad played Victor Abriami in front of him most of the time)

#3) Nate Allen will have Samuel’s side for he is the quickest and best ball hawk of the Eagles SAfeties (Coleman will play Asmo’s side where you dobn’t need as much speed)

#4) Don’t discount J Hanson (who believe it or not, many Players & Coaches around the NFL hold him in high regard) and T Lindley who I think has his breakout season

#5) Watch for Safeties Coleman,PAge and LB’s Chaney & Rolle lay the lumber tonight

Now take your wife out to Dinner tonight…

Stevo
Stevo
August 11, 2011 4:37 pm

oh geeze thanks pman- and the phills finish with 95 wins and in 2nd place right?