With the 2011 NFL lockout giving the Eagles almost no time to mesh all of their newly acquired pieces last season, some would argue that Philadelphia was at even more of a disadvantage than the rest of the league. Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha discussed the adjustment the team had to make with the lack of a preseason during a WIP interview.
“Pretty much the first half of the season where we were still in the learning mode of it because that was our eight weeks to get down.” Asomugha said. “I think that compared to where we are right now it’s much more comfortable for myself, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and everyone else pretty much back there. Even Juan Castillo is much more comfortable.”
No, I cannot ignore the fact that the lockout took precious practice time away from the Eagles before the beginning of the 2011 season, but that doesn’t completely excuse their performance last year. Even if Asomugha is right about the Eagles needing the first eight weeks of the season to learn the system, even after their victory over the Cowboys in Week 8, they lost four of their next five games. Lockout or not, 8-8 is unacceptable in Philadelphia and the Pro Bowl cornerback knows it.
“It’s true. The 8-8 in Oakland? We were perennially the last team in the AFC West.” Asomugha said. “We would win maybe two games a year or four games a year. When we got to 8-8 and it was like wow! There is so much improvement. You’re not excited you didn’t make the playoffs, but you’re excited that we were moving in the right direction. I love how different that is over here because 8-8 is not acceptable. It doesn’t matter where you have come from. 8-8 should always be we are playing below where we should be playing. Out here that is the mentality. 8-8 shouldn’t be anywhere near what we are thinking. That was great.”
I’m glad that Asomugha understands that last season was a disappointment, and his ability to welcome the high expectations of the Eagles’ franchise speaks volumes about him as a competitor. I hope that he and the Eagles are ready to not only make their first appearance in the Super Bowl since 2005, but to win a championship for the first time in over 50 years.
A lot of the Eagles Defensive success depends on ASMO playing up to his “Elite Status” and not the average play that he’s displayed last Season..
Playing in the NFC East is a much more physical type of Football than
playing in the AFC West.. So let’s see you earn your big Contract Asmo..
Anyone else think that Boykins is going to be a special player in the NFL? They need to make sure this kid can get on the field. September can come soon enough!!! I need some football!!!
I have no idea on Boynkin, has talent,speed and appears to be a smart,tough little guy who will pack a punch and not shy away from contact.. Obviously at 5’9″ and 185lbs, he’s probably too small to play the Outsdie CB spot in where you go against bigger,physical WR’s.. I see him more as a slot CB to cover those smaller,possession type of Recievers.. I can also see him coming off the Corners and Blitzing (which the Eagles don’t do enough of) and to get back into the backfield b4 the QB has time to read,react..
I think Boynkin can return Punts and maybe even take that Chad Hall Role on Offense by next year and run a couple of Reverses, Bubble Routes, and a Option Pitch..
To me he’s a weapon, if you can get the ball in his hands 5-7 Times a game between Special Teams and a few Offensive Plays a game, he will make 1-2 big plays a game…
They will probably just concentrate on Defense this SUmmer for his Rookie Season to get him 100% entrenched on the Defensive side of things and maybe in the Return game, then next off-season, start having him take some Offensive Reps as a WR,Slot Back, RB, etc,etc
It is hard to say what I think of Nnamdi. I think he was over rated coming out last year and a cut below Reevis as a CB. However, I will maintain that I think Assante made it very uncomfortable for him in the locker room and his adjustment was difficult. That can affect a man’s play. Also, Juan tried to use him for too much. He instantly saw Charles Woodson. The Eagles are such copy cats!
But there is part of me who thinks back to Roynell Young and worries that he may have just hit that wall. Those of you that remember Roynell and what a solid player he was for years on bad teams will know what I mean. Solid (borderline PB player at times) player that just died on the field in 1988. He went from good to awful the minute he hit 30. In Namdi’s case he would be going from Great to average but you get my drift.
I think the fact is somewhere between. He is not one of the top three corners in the league anymore and probably not a PB player, but just outside that group in the top ten. If he can use his big brain and experience he can compensate for any physical decline and still be very effective.
On Boykin. I think he will be very good KR. I don’t want him returning punts because we need him in the slot. Hanson is done no matter what people say. He will play hard and look good in preseason because he has that drive to turn it on when he has to and fight for his life. The fact is he has always been an average over achiever. And this kid is a real baller that brings that KR ability to the table to boot. He will have his rookie growing pains but we will have the best corners 1-3 in football by the time the playoffs roll around.
Way too early prediction:
1) Packers
2) Eagles
3) Niners
4) Carolina
5) Saints
6) Seahawks
Niners over Seahawks
Saints over Carolina
Pack over Saints
Eagles over Niners
Eagles over Pack
1) Pats
2) Texans
3) Steelers
4) Broncos
5) Chargers
6) Bills
Steelers over Bills
Chargers over Broncos
Texans over Steelers
Pats over Chargers
Texans over Pats
I’m not going to say anymore.
#43 Roynell Young was a very good CB for a few Seasons.. I believe he had issues with his knees (similar to Sheldon Brown) that would swell and have to be drained and ended up missing lots of practice time as he got older (like A Samuel) and ended up losing a step (like they all do when getting older.)
Way to go Jbird… I thought only Paulman was allowed to predict that far out in the Future…. I am going to have to my game face on… Her’s my Early Predicition for Playoffs for 2012
NFC East – Eagles
NFC North – Packers (#1 Seed)
NFC South – Saints
NFC West – 49ers (#2 Seed)
Wild-Cards – Seahawks & Lions
Wild-Card Round – Eagles over Lions , Saints over Seahawks
Divisional Round – 49ers over Eagles , Packers over Saints
NFC Championship – Packers over 49ers
National Conference MVP – Lesean McCoy
NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year – WR Michael Floyd from Arizona
NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year – LB Luke Kuechley from Panthers
NFC Coach of the Year – TB Bucs Gary Schiano
NFC Coaches Fired after the Season
Vikings – Leslie Frazier
How do you know that Asante made Nnamdi uncomfortable? I dont see how you come to that conclusion, Asante was being paid a lot of money, while still maintaining his starting spot…if anything DRC would be the one that felt uncomfortable..
Because the media and fans flocked to Asmo as being the “leader and the voice” of the Defensive Secondary last year after he signed his big deal when everyone else on the Eagles an in the locker room knew it was still Asante Samuel’s voice and leadership who the Team looked up due to his expereince with the Team and in the lockerrrom putting Asmo in an akward spot/role who was bust enough trying to learn a new systenm, new teammates and coaches on the fly..
He expects more huh?
Now, this is tea news because usually when interviewing a player this time of the year the response….”I expect less this year.”
Hey Songs – PFE dot com has posted the dates for their football academies – dude – go get yourself a quota – I don;t want you to get hurt – physically or mentally – so go to the women’s class – I know – many of the chicks in there will no more then you… but maybe it will help you blog on here –
Navy, do you believe Juan Castillo can coach this defense to Superbowl form, and out coach the offensive minds in this league?
Yes. I also believe you are a jackass! – The former will have to be proven on the field – the later you prove every day – I (and the rest of the eagle fans) are very much looking forward to seeing the team on the field and what they can do – you seem to look forward to being a bitch and complaining – is that working for you?
He should expect more of himself: multi-millionaire CB got ass kicked all last year…Asante played better.