A new offensive line coach, Howard Mudd and a new offensive line system along with a new defensive coordinator, Juan Castillo and a new defensive system could hamper the Eagles at the start of the 2011 season. They can say that it won’t be a big deal but I can guarantee you that it will slow the Birds down at the start of the season. Learning a new system always does.
Mudd’s new offensive line blocking system which worked very well with Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts will mean changes for Michael Vick and the Eagles offensive line. Vick will be more responsible for reading blitzes, making the necessary changes and getting the ball out of his hands. Center Jamaal Jackson won’t have as much control over the line calls. Vick will carry more of the load.
Should the Birds stack more responsibility on Vick after seeing the way he and the offense struggled against blitzes a year ago? It wouldn’t have been the move I would have made. Maybe it will work out well for the Birds, but it had better.
On the defensive side of the ball, Castillo will be attempting to simplify the defensive system. One of the main reasons, former Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott lost his job was for making his defensive system too complicated. I hope Castillo isn’t going too far in simplifying the defensive system.
A defensive player can’t be cognitively thinking during an NFL game as a defensive player. You must know your system well enough to be able to simply react because you’ve established muscle memory on what you need to do on certain plays in certain situations.
A new system requires the players to develop that muscle memory in the new system. It’s true that most systems have the players doing similar actions, but the changes will never the less require more work.
Switching to these new systems could help the Eagles in the long run, but it could hurt them in the short run.
What do you think about the Eagles changing systems on both sides of the ball?
I personally think its a great point that no one has looked at recently. Talking about super bowl runs and free agency but i mentioned it in a post last week. We still have a DC that was coaching offensive lines for 10 plus years. Plus side is he knows what hes doing and no one can key on what it is exactly he is doing because its new. Down side is he has to go through the learning cure!!! Witch in the eagles case seems much more likely. We dont have the luck!
curve!
I think a little too much is being made out of new OL/DL Coaches..
The Team and Coaches has said that the “System” per see is not really going to change but that the “Techniques” will change.. With most of the Starters returning and many veteran experienced players on both sides of the Line of Scrimmage, I really don’t see where experienced players like a Peters/Herremans,Justice,Cole,Patterson,Bunkley,PArkers,etc,etc are going to have any major problems or issues adgjusting to either Coaches Philiosphy.. The LB Corps will probably end up with the biggest changes to make and since most of the Eagles LB corps are all young and learning it together, I don’t expect any big issues there either…
change/unkown can go either way here. Sure, it could be more challenging adjusting to novlety, but a fresh/new change, if the chemestry and execution ‘clicks’ might just work from the git go. I don’t buy the idea that it cannot.
O/Line differences,
Mudd likes smaller,more athletic OL that use their speed,agility and angles to their advantage when blocking and operates more “zone-scheme” that Castillo did.. Castillo prefers big, OL who are athletic enough to get in front and use their hands and strength to sustain blocks
D/Line Differences
Washburn likes wider DE’s and 1 Gap Responsibility for DT’s (basically beat the man in front of yo and penetrate)
Previosus schemes under McDermott & JJ were for the DT’s to play more of a 2 Gap Technique where the DT’s would try to clog up the up the holes and stand their ground between and the Center and Guard positions thereby allowing the LB to come in and make the plays (problem is the Eagles have had average LB’s over the last 10 years or so) instead of penetrating..
I am hoping that DC and LB Coach Castillo will have the LB line -up closer to the LIne of Scrimmage instead of playing 4-5 years behind the DL, and especially the OLB I would like to see standing right next the DE and make more plays in the back-field and hopefully under Washburn/Castillo will employ more stunting/loops/delayed Blitzes to give opposing O/Lines more looks and to always have the opponenets OL on their heels…
Yes the Eagles will face some bumps in the road, especially with this lockout bull$hi……I’m more worried about the preperation the Eagles will have going into the season…With the lockout being where it is and if there is only little preperation…so if the coaches try to implement a different system with little time, then yes I expect some struggles…. I dont think you will see many changes in any system defense or offense…
All the reports I’ve heard on Mudd, stated he is simplifying the O LINE style…
doesnt matter what the scheme is because Reid still runs the team and makes the decisions….as long as he calls the shots, they wont win a SB…
Oh jott, you speak like such a pure fool. I’m not calling you a fool, you’re probably a good person, but you speak like a fool sometimes. That statement is made from a standpoint of not understanding the reality of the world. Its you’re opinion, and your entitled to it. But here sir, your opinion is 100% bullshit. The Eagles will win the superbowl regardless of who’s coaching if they have more points than the other teams in the playoff games. That’s it. Everything else is speculation.
I have some concerns about this as well mostly because of the lockout. Had it not been for this, I wouldn’t be worried about a new system as much as I am about the defensive and offensive line personnel. So that makes my concerns two fold. First the personnel on the defensive side isn’t that good and well as a couple concerns across the o-line and then compound that with new coaching and a new system, it could lead to a slow start. This is why I don’t think we are in a better position than any team that made the playoffs last year like people were trying to say a couple weeks back. Having said that, I hope we get some defensive personnel when the lockout ends that are more talented and able to pickup defenses quickly because I have 0 confidence in the personnel we have now.
Paulman I agree with your assessment about Mudd’s offensive line preferences. The major issue I have there is that moving around is not Peter’s strength. When he was (and not sure why he still is) regarding as one of the top 3 tackles in the league it was when he was in Buffalo and he would pancake anyone when run blocking. But we he has to worry about pass rushers we see him either getting beat, holding or false start. And who knows about the RT spot. This is the most important position now that this covers our QB’s blindside. So I’m hoping we get consistent solid play from out guys but I do have my concerns.
And right now, I have no faith in the defense. I don’t care what anyone says but with this personnel and an offensive line coach, I don’t have any faith. Until they actually show us on the field and/or we make some improvements with trades or a brief FA period, I see this defense getting scorched by the best teams. I remember last year in the first half we saw the defense play solid and all the talk went away about how they were going to be the weaker part of the team. Well in the second half of the season they showed us exactly who they were and based on those players, I have no faith they can do any better for the duration of the season. So hopefully we can get a couple solid players because I do not like our personnel one bit.