The linebackers played well against the Skins for the most part.
I thought the addition of new middle linebacker Will Witherspoon has made the Eagles linebacker corps more athletic on pass downs. His ability to make plays against the pass showed up right away.
His touchdown and force fumble were the difference in the game. Next to DeSean Jackson he was the team’s most valuable player.
Witherspoon’s strip of Jason Campbell was classic smart football. It’s something the Eagles need to do more. Too many players have the chance to cause a turnover but they settle for just getting a sack.
His six solo tackles and two assists showed that he was making tackles all over the field.
Omar Gaither is a good smart pass cover linebacker but he’s not the athlete that Witherspoon is.
Witherspoon is as athletic as weakside linebacker Akeem Jordan, but smarter and quicker at deciphering pass patterns. Jordan was very active on Monday night. He had seven tackles and three assists.
Although Jeremiah Trotter started the game, he didn’t play very much and didn’t register on the stat sheet.
Give credit to Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Pattterson who kept the Skins offensive linemen off of Trotter and Witherspoon.
Strongside linebacker Chris Gocong wasn’t very productive and continues to have problems jamming the tight ends when they try to get off the line of scrimmage.
I don’t know that Gocong will ever be a good linebacker because he hard-wired internally like a defensive lineman. His instincts tell him to attack and that’s fatal as a linebacker in a 4-3 defense.
The issue about covering the tight end continues to be a problem.
