There’s no way you could make a legitimate assessment of the new talent at the linebacker position this weekend because they weren’t doing any hitting.
One major fact I could see was that all of these young backers can run.¬† They’ wanted to improve the speed of their backers and their defense and they’ve done it in a major way.
I checked out Eagles new starting Will linebacker Ernie Sims walking through the locker room and couldn’t help but think that I was looking at one of the new safeties.
Sims seems to be about 5’11” at the most, but you can also see that he’s well put together, while weighing about 215.¬† He made it plain when I talked to him after the Sunday morning practice.¬† The young Mr. Sims wants to be one of the Eagles defensive enforcers.
He had a reputation in college of hitting ball carriers so hard that he would knock himself out.¬†¬† The former Detroit Lion plans on catching some of the league’s running backs with big hits when he gets the chance.
Sims said the name of his game is speed and big hits.¬† He said we’ll know it, when he lays the wood on somebody.
Third round selection Keenan Clayton told me he’s picking up the defense quickly because there are similarities¬† between what the Eagles are doing and what they did at Oklahoma.
Like Sims, Clayton isn’t that big.¬† They have him playing Sam linebacker position which lines up over the tight end.
He’ll be giving up three, four or five inches in height to every one he covers, but he might have a speed and quickness advantage.
The youngster said covering the tight end is one of this strengths.  Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has made it clear that they must do a better job of stopping tight ends.  They definitely have the speed now to do it.
It must have been the ACL surgery that he had which caused rookie Sam linebacker Ricky Sapp to fall to the fifth round.  This young dude can fly for a guy his size.
He told me that all of the coverages and changes that he’s being asked to do now are new to him.
This young man stands about 6’4″ and has terrific speed for a guy his size. He said he will learn it all and get used it. says it’s a major adjustment.
Sapp’s first love is rushing the passer and it’s easy to pick it up.¬†¬† He starts smiling when you talk to him about rushing the passer.
I think at some point they’ll give him some chances to come off the corner.
Seventh round pick Jamar Chaney comes from the same mold at the Birds other linebackers.  He can run.
He’s only about 6′ foot but he’s stocky with a powerful lower body.
Chaney will get theopportunity to send both Omar Gaither and Joe Mays packing, if he can pick of the defense because he’s got good speed.
I think he and Mays will be competing with each on the special teams.
I don’t have a big a problem with shorter LBs – not as big an issue as with CBs – QBs have to be pretty sure of themselves to throw high to a TE – 1) it exposes them TE to big hits, 2) slightly overthrown is picked off 3) potential for lots of tips. You over throw a WR the ball typically goes OOB. Should be fun to watch when season gets going
As always, I am worried about the secondary. Linebackers should be good, especially with Stewart Bradley back in there.
In my opinion, playing defense in today’s NFL in a catch-22. If you go big, receivers and backs and TEs will run by you. If you go small, fullbacks will run through you. It seems that the Eagles are building their defense to stop Dallas’ passing attack. It will be interesting to see how they fare against Washington’s running game. I wish it were September.
DW… the Redskins have no running game (slower, wear/tear on bodies, etc). Their heyday of those “big name” backs has long passed. We’ve got the backs to do some bangin’ now when necessary: Weaver, Scott & McCoy. Can you imagine Weaver blocking for Scott inside the 10yd line?! And all of them can catch the rock.
DW… the Redskins have no running game (slower, wear/tear on bodies, etc). The heyday of those former “big name” backs has long passed. We’ve got the backs to do some bangin’ now when necessary: Weaver, Scott & McCoy. Can you imagine Weaver blocking for Scott inside the 10yd line?! And all of them can catch the rock.
Sorry about double post after trying to edit first.