Eagles defense must remain stellar (Key 3)

by Eric Schwartz

Thursday September 10, 2009 

Eagles defense must remain stellar (Key 3) thumbnail

Keys to the Eagles ending the season with a title (Part 3)

Key No. 3: The defense can not miss a beat.

Since 2003 there has been a consistent recipe for the Philadelphia Eagles success: A little bit of Donovan McNabb here, a little of Brian Westbrook there,  and a big heap of tough, aggressive defense.
The defense has been the backbone of the team for the better part of this decade. A year doesn’t pass without at least two members of the defensive backfield reaching the Pro Bowl and the Eagles are always around the top of the league in sacks and quarterback pressure.
The leader through it all was Brian Dawkins.
Dawkins is no longer with the team as he went to the Denver Broncos as a free agent in the offseason, despite his desire to stay in Philly. As if replacing Dawkins wasn’t a daunting enough task, the Eagles found themselves needing a new middle linebacker after Stewart Bradley went down with a season-ending injury in the preseason. No top safety, no middle linebacker — not a great place to be.
Stepping in for Dawkins is rookie Victor “Macho” Harris, who surprisingly beat out Quintin Demps for the starting free safety job.
“I’m ready,” Harris told the Associated Press. “I feel like I’m definitely ready.”
He better be. Harris will face challenges not only on the field as a rookie, but trying to replace the team’s — probably city’s — most popular player. Harris will lineup next to Quintin Harris, who returns to the strong safety spot.
That duo will need to be productive for the blitz schemes that Sean McDermott promises to employ to work.
Like at the free safety position, there was a surprise winner of the middle linebacker job after Bradley went down. Omar Gaither will start after beating out Joe Mays for playing time.
Now in his fourth year, Gaither was a starter two years ago before relinquishing his linebacker spot. Now that he has it back, he will need to show improved coverage skills to stay on the field. The Eagles always ask a lot of their middle linebackers and even afer the loss of Bradley, that will not change. Gaither will be flanked by Akeem Jordan and Chris Gocong, giving the Birds a young and athletic trio.
The Eagles no doubt have talented players, the question is whether or not this group of players can play up to the level that Eagle’s defense in the past have.
The unit must work as a whole. Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown are great corners, but without a consistent pass rush, both will look nothing more than average. In the same way, if the front four doesn’t win the line of scrimmage, the linebackers won’t have nearly the impact they are capable of.
With the change in coordinator and at a few key positions, one can not expect the Eagles defense to be stellar from opening kickoff Sunday. However, by the time NFC East play begins in Week 7, it better be.
NFC East games are often won by defenses. For the Eagles to reach the top of the mountain it must be their defense winning those battles.

Filed Under Eagles

Comments

Got something to say?