I like what I”m seeing out of Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. He’s got three Pro Bowl cornerbacks that he wants use in their NIckel defense, but he wants to make sure he has each player lined up in the position which allows that player to perform at the highest level.
For that reason, Castillo has been moving the three Pro Bowlers, Asante Samuel, Nmandi Asomugha and Domique Rodgers-Cromartie from cornerback, to the nickle position, then on to safety.
Asomugha has lined up at right cornerback and at the nickel position in the slot. He played the right cornerback spot for the most part during his time with the Oakland Raiders, but Castillo has given him a chance to play the nickel position.
Playing inside is something new to the former Cal Bear. He’s been asked to blitz off the corner and blitz inside near the tackle or guard positions. He’s been asked to play the run from inside as well as screens and draws. It’s been something new, and surprisingly he doesn’t mind being moved from a position which he’s made three Pro Bowls from.
“No, I like it this way because it doesn’t give any offense a beat on what we’re doing,” said Asomugha. “If you’re in the same spot every
time then they’ll know how to attack you, but if you change it up then they won’t know what to do.”
Samuel has played the left cornerback position as well as safety. The veteran is most comfortable at the left cornerback spot, but his ability to read routes and read quarterbacks, makes him an ideal candidate for playing the safety position. Samuel isn’t the best tackler but they would line him up at safety because it would give him a great change to get his hands on the football because nobody 
reads a quarterback like Samuel.
Castillo has used Rodgers-Cromartie at both cornerback positions as well as inside at the nickel position. So far the former Arizona Cardinals might be the one of the three who has looked the best inside versus the slot and as a blitzer. Rodgers-Cromartie is being treated as the third of the three cornerbacks by the Eagles, since he has least on his resume, but he’s probably the fastest of the three.
“On defense I don’t think I’ve played with a faster guy than Cromartie,” Asomugha said. “Some of the stuff that he’s able to do athletically is pretty eye-opening.”
It’s still very early in the process, so the defensive coordinator plans to continue experimenting with the corners at the different spots.
SORRY BUT… I LOVE THIS SITE , COME HERE EVERYDAY, BUT,,,,, SENSING WEAK STORIES LATELY…. MIGHT HAVE TO JUMP SHIP IS YOU AINT CUTTING IT. THATS WHATS UP!
Birds have 3 all pros CBs
It ain’t like their CBs don’t go down with injuries each year
Having the extra one even if they have to figure out how to use him/them is a Good Thing
Yeah but I will take 2 stud CB and give me a stud LB in a trade. With a pass rush 3 stud CBs arent really needed. Nice to have but if I can get a stud LB or a very good LB and a high draft pick I will take it. With the anticipation of a very good pass rush our DBs wont have to cover as long.
It’s preseason and G’s telling us about our all-pro defensive backfield….and its Mon. morn…stop your whining and go to another site.
I think we need to give theses backers some time,developing into a playmaker is easier with playmakers around you. Corners and studs on d-line will help one stand out.
Good point…Santes knee flares up your in a good spot with depth.
I states a few times that I expect the EAgles to employ a 4-2-5 scheme in obvvious passing situations ..
DCR will come in and play the middle of the field in place of the MLB
I envision a Defense Line-up in 2nd & 3rd Long (6+ Yards) as the following
DL (4) T Cole, A Hargrove ,C Jenkins, J Babin
OLB’s (2) J Chaney and K Clayton
CB’s (3) Asmo,Samuel out wide and DCR in the short middle
Safety (2) Jarrett and Allen playing deeper
This would be a pretty good line up where LB Chaney/CLayone have the speed to run with TE’s, RB’s out of the backfield and DCR in th MIddle can again cover TE’s and crossing routes/drag routes, etc,etc
WHOA WHOA WHOA – everybody marke this date – Paulmam just said something REALLY bold – “The 2011 Eagles will play nickel coverage versus the pass”. OMG Pinch yourselves, you’ve just witnessed an amazing statement!!!!!!
And let’s all take note, not only did Pualman state that, but he want’s us to realize that he even said it farther back in the past.
SIMPLY ASTONISHING.
*clap clap clap* — Schiller. LMAO.
STOP THE PRESSES!
Thank you Schiller, that’s the nicest thing you ever said about me, but I was not talking about nickle packages, I was saying a base defense (versus 2 WR’s) in passiing situations the Eagles would emp[loy a 5-2-5 Defense
IF the Oppossing team comes out with 3-4 WR,s then the Eagles would bring Hanson/Lindley also out onto the field as additiional coverage guys…..
Paul, ‘base defense in passing situations’ is the same thing as nickel. You can play around with semantics all you want. But the #s you gave, which changed from you first to second post, are just another way of saying the same thing. Look, you can name specific DBs all you want, Juan Castillo said himself that he’s going to play the top 3 CBs in all sorts of different formations, and we all know they may also put in Hanson, Lindley, etc… if they’re still on the team at times as well.
Everything I just typed is obvious information that we all know. Come on Paul, you’re better than that. Base defenses in passing situations is the nickel.