• March 29, 2024

Notes On The Eagles Defense

There were a lot of players missing from practice yesterday.  Wide receiver DeSean Jackson went down after going for a ball in between Kurt Coleman and Jaiquawn Jarrett.  Danny Watkins has his ankle rolled up on but both of them were walking fine after practice.

Defensive ends Trent Cole and Jason Babin are still out.  Cole with the shoulder and Babin with the calf.  linebacker Jamar Chaney (hamstring), safeties Nate Allen (hamstring), O.J. Atogwe (groin) and , and wide receiver Jamel Hamler (hamstring).

Todd Herremans has a strained shoulder and is still being held out of action.

Big Fletcher Cox was missing, excused for a personal reason.  Evan Mathis is still reovering from an illness.

Special teams phenom Colt Anderson seems to run and cut better every day as he works out on the side, but he’s not ready quite yet.

They’re going to have some tough cuts to make on the defensive line especially inside at the defensive tackle position.  Veteran starter Mike Patterson is still recovering from the off season brain surgery.  He works out every day on the side.

Derek Landri continues to produce.  He finds ways into the offensive backfield and he’s a battler.  Still I don’t know if he can be a successful starter.  He’s been very productive as a backup, but I think he might be the kind of guy, who if he’s given substantially more playing time, his production might drop off.

Antonio Dixon seems to be in better shape this year, but he’s still the biggest one of the crew.  He creates a lot of problems for offenses with his activity in the middle of the defense.

The guy who has really surprised me in Cedric Thornton.  He seems to be much more powerful than he was in the past and he’s been bringing it in the one-on-ones and in the team drills.

Ollie Ogbu has showed glimpses, but he doesn’t play with enough consistency.  At teams that looking for some pass rush help up the middle on 3rd downs may look at him, but he’s not big and sturdy enough to play full time.

We know that Cullen Jenkins, Mike Patterson and Fletcher Cox are going to be here, so the decision about who will stay is likely to involve Landri, Dixon and Thornton.  Right now Thornton and Ogbu are the last ones in line and the most likely to be cut.  If’ they’re cut I think Thornton will be able to make somebody’s team this year.

At the linebacker position, Jamar Chaney picked the worst time of the year to come up with a hamstring injury.  He had just been promoted to be a starter on the team’s nickel defense.  Rookie Mychal Kendricks continues to be active and making plays any time he’s on the field.  I see him getting caught out of position at times, which is understandable for a rookie.

So far Jaiquawn Jarrett has starting to make his presence felt with some big hits in the practice.  There’s no question that he can bring the wood.  This is no time for recently-acquired veteran safety Oshiomogho Atogwe to be hurt because he hasn’t busted a grape yet in camp.  He’s got a lot of work to do if he plans on getting a starting job.  So far I haven’t seen it.

Kurt Coleman has been running around making a lot of plays.  He’s the size of a cornerback, but he brings all he has when he hits somebody.

GCOBB

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rcp1936
rcp1936
August 4, 2012 10:30 am

First preseason game hasn’t even been played and they are already injury riddled

EricT
EricT
August 4, 2012 11:20 am

No worries. Many of these are just tweaks and most of them will be fine for the opener. Cooper is the only one so far that has any substantial injury. He’ll be back by week 4.

EricT
EricT
August 4, 2012 11:22 am

G,
This is what we like to hear from you. Relay your experience to us and tell us what these guys are doing well and not so well. Talk about angles and why they are important and how the coaches stress them and correct for bad ones. Talk about what linebackers see that they react to like stance, body positon, etc. to determine run vs. pass vs. screen.

Give us the good stuff that you were trained in. Give us behind the scenes.

paulman
paulman
August 4, 2012 11:24 am

Good stuff G-Man, I called DT Cedric Thornton rise as the surprise player in Camp and definitely think he’s makes the 53 Man Roster..I also called and expected Safety Atogwe’s struggles not only to win a Starter’s Spot which I think is not goign to happen, but he may struggle to even make the final 53 Man Roster..
I think Eagles Carry 5-DE (Cole,Babin,Graham,Hunt & Curry)
Darryl Tapp gets traded by the end of Camp to the Patriots for 6th Round
PIck)
5 DT’s will be Jenkins,Dixon,Cox,Landri and Thornton
(M Patterson placed on PUP list, then to IR list and then retires next off-season , I don’t ever see him playing a game for the Eagles again

Eagles can have Jenkins and Cox line up as DE based on going Big with Dixon and Thornton inside on certain packages versus heavy running teams like the Steelers and Ravens or in short-yardage and red-zone situations,.. which would be a tough Front 4 to move the ball against on the ground

On a side note, how is LB Monte Simmons looked ths Camp, does he have a chance to stick now that Fokou/Lloys have been traded,, He has some size but can he play out in space .. whats your thoughts on Simmons

Rocko
Rocko
August 5, 2012 10:46 pm

Kolb blew a gaket again today and got put out in the 1st Quarter. Glad we got rid of the bum. Chad hall and Cooper are next; they both suck.

Rocko
Rocko
August 6, 2012 7:41 am

Kolb looked ridiculous yesterday…the bum ripped off 2 teams for millions and played worse than Jamaecus Russel.

Rasheed1
Rasheed1
August 6, 2012 10:32 am

I saw some of the game. I missed kolb’s pick, but I did see when he got injured. It looked like Clay Matthews disguised as a cardinal… Just dragged kolb down and injured him. The line didnt look too good, but kolb just looks spooked out there.. The defensive players look alot bigger and nastier when chasing kolb. lol

paulman
paulman
August 6, 2012 11:54 am

Kolb is not a NFL Starting QB, he’s a back-up at best and has a tendancy at the first sight of pressure, to panic and run deep out of the pocket instead of stepping up.. He looks like he has gotten worse as far as footwork and mechanics since going to the CArdinals.. I think CArdinals go with B john SKelton as their Starter and Kolb will get released after the 2012 Season..They have already paid him a $7 Million Roster Bonus and it’s hard to believe that Kolb has earned almost $30 Million in his 5 Year Career without really doing much to earn 1/10th of that…

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
August 6, 2012 5:19 pm

Could you imagine…..that could have been OUR starting QB? For those that complain of Vick, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side… ::shutters to think::

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
August 6, 2012 7:01 pm

I told everyone when Kolb was drafted he was a waste….Day one….Current bums on our team that will never amount to anything….Chad Hall & Riley Cooper…why do these bums make the 53 every year? There’s guy by the name of Plaxico Burress who would actually contribute if signed while we waste valuable space for these guys who are waste.