Eagles Coleman Comes Down With Two Key Picks

The safety position has been a question mark for the Birds the last couple of years, but yesterday Birds safety Kurt Coleman had an excellent game.  He displayed his nose for the football and ability to make the big play when it was needed.

Coleman came down with a couple of interceptions at the time, they were needed. He also made some key stops versus the run and pass.  One of his tackles was a touchdown saving one.  Coleman finished the game with five solo tackles.

The first pick was in the red  zone with the Browns threatening to score.  Coleman pulled the ball down after rookie linebacker Mychal Kendricks got his hands on it and couldn’t get a handle on the throw.  Kendricks knocked the ball up in the air and Coleman collected it to stop the Cleveland drive in the red zone.

Coleman’s second interception was even more important than the first because it ended any chances the Browns had of winning the game.  Weeden was looking for a receiver across the middle but was pressured by an inside pass rush, which made him throw the ball high.  Coleman made great catch on the throw, reaching over his head and coming down with it.

Veteran middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans was smart enough to urge Coleman to get in the ground after the catch, so he could end any chances the Browns might have of winning the football game.

Coleman made another made a big tackle early in the game when he brought down Massaquoi in the open field after the receiver beat Nmandi Asomugha on a slant route.  He made the tackle look routine but it was anything but that because the Cleveland receiver was coming at him full speed with the freedom to go inside or outside.

For some reason, Asomugha didn’t try to jam him or cover him closely on the inside route.  The Coleman saved four points for the Birds because the Browns were held to a field goal.  I don’t think that Cleveland offense would have been able to get into the end zone, if they were still playing the game.

Coleman was run over by Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson.  The rookie lowered his head on Coleman and popped the safety under his chin and knocked his helmet off in what was a violent collision.  It’s one of the reasons Coleman, who is an undersized safety, has to prove he can stay healthy playing the position.

Asomugha, who was beaten early on the slant route, played a solid game and was in position to either make the tackle or break up passes the rest of the way.   The veteran corner broke up three intended passes in the game.  He made a outstanding play in the second half on a slant route, by reaching over the receiver with his long arms and knocking the ball down.

The veteran made his best play of the game versus a reverse, where he came from the other side of the field and tracked down Travis Benjamin.  The Browns had run a wide receiver reverse to the right side of the Eagles defense, but Asomugha was being taken to the left side of the defense because he was following the receiver he was covering who was going that way on a fake in the backfield.

The angular cornerback did a u-turn in full stride and nailed Benjamin as he was opening up his stride on the way to a touchdown.  It was without a doubt a touchdown saving tackle.  Coleman picked off Weeden a few plays later to keep the Browns out of the end zone.