It didn't take long for everybody to see why the Eagles put Joe Mays as the starting middle linebacker in place of the injured Stewart Bradley. On a short yardage drill he promptly went and blew up fullback Leonard Weaver the lead blocker on a running play.
Afterwards I asked Mays what type of linebacker he is and he said, "I'm a downhill linebacker". I concur, he is definitely a downhill linebacker in the fashion of a Jeremiah Trotter.
Mays isn't as big as Trotter who weighed 260 pounds but Mays isn't a little guy at 246.
He likes to meet the fullback deep in the backfield rather than wait for him in the hole. On the particular play I was talking about Mays got to Weaver and forced LeSean McCoy to change direction.
The change meant a loss of a yard for the rookie. The tackle was made by the Eagles defensive line but the play was made by Mays.
That is essentially why he's the starter and not Omar Gaither.
Mays made a number of tackles during the goalline and short yardage sessions this morning. He did get beat however by Lorenzo Booker on an out route at the goalline.
It was a difficult coverage because he had to come from inside and try to catch the speedy Booker before he caught the football and got into the endzone.
The second year backer won't be on the field on pass downs but on first and second downs primarily, he will be the man.
