Do you remember the start of training camp when Sean Jones was supposed to be battling Quintin Demps for starting safety spot next to Quintin Mikell?
Both of them wound up backing up rookie Macho Harris. Jones took longer to decipher the defense than everyone expected but he’s on top of it now and it’s made a big difference in the defense.
The progress of Jones has elevated the Eagles to the point where I think they’re one of the best secondaries in the National Football League.
There’s no way I would have said that earlier in the year with a rookie like Harris out there playing like he was scared to get beat. He was tentative about attacking the ball or a ball carrier.
Jones has impressed me tremendously.
Jones gets his hands on the football and he knows how to lay the lumber. He got a penalty on a hit to a receiver’s head against the Falcons but he does a great job of tackling with an attitude.
I still remember the way he punished Brandon Jacobs the last time they played the Giants.
You put Jones with Quintin Mikell and you have a pair of very good safeties.
You know how good Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown are, but the addition of Jones has elevated the safety play.
Mikell tackles, blitzes and covers as well as any other safety in the NFC. Jones is starting to look like he’s right there with him.
They’ve got Joselio Hanson returning after his four-week substance abuse penalty and that will mean they have tremendous depth because their backups got the chance to play and will be ready if they have to play.
I don’t think Eli Manning is getting a lot of sleep this week. He’s probably thinking about taking the chance of throwing the ball into this secondary and he knows how much of a risk it is.
This secondary will play a key role down the stretch as the Birds try to make the playoffs.
