In the first quarter last night, safety Quintin Mikell got his hands on a pass by Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell and knocked the ball up into the air.
Quickly “Mr. Johnny on the spot” was new Eagles middle linebacker Will Witherspoon, who picked the ball off and headed for the endzone. He didn’t have far to run for the score, which put the Birds up 14-0.
It was a huge play in the game, but he wasn’t through making big plays in his Eagles debut.
Witherspoon also sacked Campbell, stripped him of the ball and set up a field goal for the Birds.
I could tell when he was introduced and stood before the mics last week that he was a smart guy and a quick study.
When I checked him out on the field last week at an Eagles Nova Care Complex practice I could tell that he was a very good athlete for a linebacker. He runs well and changes direction very well.
The scouting report on him was that he was as good as they come as a cover linebacker. That was correct.
He’ll be challenged when teams like the Giants and the Cowboys try to pound the ball against them.
It’s one of the reasons, the Eagles send their middle linebacker on the field last, whether it’s Witherspoon or Jeremiah Trotter.
They don’t want to let the opposing offense make a decision to run or throw based on which linebacker is on the field.
Sean McDermott wants Trotter on the field versus the run and Witherspoon on the field versus the pass.
As the season continues, keep an eye on how the Birds avoid letting teams attack Trotter with the pass and attack Witherspoon with the run.
