It's time to step up for the Eagles defense and new defensive coordinator Sean McDermott knows how to tell what time it is. This is life in the NFL.
You get time to chill out and get your feet wet. The regular season doesn't start for three weeks but it's already step up time for McDermott and his crew to be tested.
Unlike many businesses where you couldn't fire a person unless they showed up to work in their birthday suit and started chanting phrases they had heard at foul-mouthed movie, pro football is all about put up or start walking.
You can't hide anywhere. If you can't play you're going to be exposed in a heartbeat.
Despite the fact that the Eagles defense had to face two Hall-Of-Fame bound quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, in the first two weeks of the preseason, people are starting to ask questions about Eagles new defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and his defense.
I know they didn't game plan to stop Brady or Manning but it doesn't enhance the confidence of Eagles fans when offenses are going up and down the field with ease against the team's defense.
All the talk will be about Michael Vick onThursday but I'm going to be looking at the Eagles defense, especially the first team.
The coaches are going to treat this one more like a regular season game so McDermott and company will get some work putting together a game plan to stop the Jags. We'll get a better look at how he'll do as a designer of bltizes.
I'm hoping middle linebacker Joe Mays has gotten over the jitters of starting. He's got to play what he sees and not overreact to play action fakes.
Strongside linebacker Chris Gocong needs to start getting better jams on the tight ends.
Weakside linebacker Akeem Jordan must begin recognizing pass routes quicker. He should be able to get his hands on more passes but that means anticipating the routes.
The other night when the Eagles played the Colts I wanted to see defensive end Victor Abiamiri get in there and make some plays. I saw him get in there, but I'm still waiting for him to make some plays.
I want Jason Babin to keep me believing that he can be a difference-maker.
The secondary must get on the same page and make some plays.
It's step up time fellas, everybody will be watching.
