At times, the Eagles secondary was downright awful last year. Too many times the safeties couldn’t cover or tackle and the cornerbacks were uncomfortable doing what they were asked to do.
From the looks of yesterday’s OTA workout, the secondary should be much improved. Both the cornerbacks and safeties seemed to be much more confident and comfortable in their roles.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had the play of the day at the Eagles practice on Thursday. He matched up on wide receiver Riley Cooper in the 7-on-7 drills when Cooper tried to run a comeback route. On a comeback route, the wide receiver tries to come off the line and give the cornerback the impression that he’s going deep.
The wideout takes off and runs about 20 yards as fast as he can run, then he hits the breaks and comes back to 15 to catch the football. Cooper didn’t come out fast enough to get Rodgers-Cromartie out of his back pedal, so when Cooper stopped at 20 and tried to come back to 15, the former Arizona Cardinals cornerback was running with him step for step. In fact he was ahead of him.
When Michael Vick mistakenly let the ball go, Rodgers-Cromartie put his hands up and after a bobble he secured the ball and was gone. It was a touchdown going the other way.
I don’t like Rodgers-Cromartie’s nonchalant attitude at times. I know it was just practice, but he takes his time getting ready before plays and I saw that last year during the season. Sometimes he doesn’t play with a sense of urgency even though the moment in the game requires it.
Nmandi Asomugha is great at jamming you on the line and taking a wide receiver out of the play, but he’s not very comfortable playing off of a receiver and back pedaling when the ball is snapped. After watching the cornerbacks, Rodgers-Cromartie may be the best pure cover guy on the team, when you’re talking about both playing up in press technique and playing back.
Asomugha is so tall and his legs are so long, that stopping and starting aren’t his strength. He stands about 6’3″ or 6’4″ and his arm span is about that of a 6’7″ guy. He’s very adept at coming to the line and jamming a receiver long enough to make the quarterback forget about him. I could see him discouraging a receiver with that ability.
Cornerback Joselio Hanson is still doing a nice job at the nickel position, but he’s got no business outside at the regular cornerback position. Rookie cornerback Brandon Boykin is already well ahead of him there.
Hanson has quite a challenge ahead of him with new secondary coach Todd Bowles saying that every player will have to show him why he belongs here.
I love the way Nate Allen is moving. He’s got tremendous potential for picking passes off with his speed, quickness, and ball skills. I believe Allen could have been a decent cornerback in the right scheme.
I could see Allen having a nice interception total at the end of the season with the team’s pass rush and these cornerbacks. He gets his hands on a lot of passes.
He needs to get in there and build up his confidence to the point where he believes what he sees and jumps on it. I can see why he was a second-round pick, but I can’t say the same about Jaiquawn Jarrett.
I do think Jarrett is improving, but he’s not there yet. Kurt Coleman is clearly ahead of him and I see a nice rapport in the defensive backfield with Allen and Coleman working together. Coleman has a nice command of coverages and does a nice job of anticipating routes.
Backup safety Tom Nelson did a nice job of picking off a Mike Kafka pass. He baited Kafka to throw a crossing route, by making it look like he was dropping into the deep third. Once Kafka let the ball go, Nelson was patting his glove to pick it off.
Good Stuff G,
I don’t believe Jarrett is a NFL Caliber Starting Player let alone worthy of a 2nd Round Selection which is water under the bridge at this point I see him strictly as Back-up/Special Teamer and possibly even b beaten out by Tom Nelson for being the primary back-up at Safety.. Jarrett is too small and too slow but hopefully Coach Bowles can use that Temple Connection to Coach him up to be reliable back-up….This Tom Nelson is not afraid to throw his body around and hit people and may surprise some people this camp…
How did Curtis Marsh, Brandon Hughes, Trevard LIndley all look..
We heard that Lindley put on about 7-10 lbs and has bulked up a bit..
Interesting comment on DRC’s “nonchalant” attitude on the field. I saw that during games last year also…was that how he played in ARZ too? I suspect that it was. There is no question that he is a talented and gifted athelete, but often appears to lack interest on the field. The play of our defensive backfield is critical to the success of our defense, so it is my hope that Coach Bowles has a better success getting the group to play together than Coach Lyn did last year.
Agreed Green. He won’t be long for Philly if he continues to play that way. Good luck to Bowles.
After Vick, DRC is the player I am most concerned about. He had a pretty terrible reputation in Arizona, and I was not at all impressed with him at the TC practice I attended last year where he spent about 2/3 of his time doing the “robot” as he horsed around the field. This despite being yelled at numerous times to “get you head out of your ass”, “hustle” that kind of thing.
That being said, it is a contract year for him and he has talent,. I have the feeling he might just have one of those patented (non-desean) “career years” prior to getting paid. I might be more worried about DRC next season than this (if he gets a nice bonus).
I am not sold on DRC either, If he can put together a good season, he will have a big payday coming in front of him whether it’s from the Eagles or some other Team in Free-Agency, if he dicks around and plays up and down will little sense of urgency and focus, then obviously he is not the long-term answer for the Eagles at CB opposite of Asmo which is why I think this is a huge camp for Curtis Marsh and Brandon Huges or Trevard Lindley to see if any of them can step up and improve their play and confidence and maybe be that potential Starting CB come 2013 in the evet that DCR is not what the EAgles were hoping he was..
Cue Songs, that Allen, Coleman & DRC are @$$…. 3….2….1….
Nah DCar, he is too busy watching “Trading Places”, “48 Hours” and all of the “Beverly Hills Cop” movies to find some more “bananna in the tailpipe” come backs…….still a classic!!
DRC AGAINST RILEY COOPER……..
FREAKING WHOOPTEDOO!!!!!
RILEY COOPER IS A DAMN BUM AND IF DRC IS LINED UP AGAINST THE LIKES OF COOPER FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR THEN CANTON CAN START WORKING ON HIS BUST.
Let’s look at the 68% completion rate QB’s had against DRC before Arizona shipped his ass outta there, and you can bet those receivers he was playing against were better than Riley (waste of space) Cooper.
Told you guys Drc has Djax speed and he’s like 6’2″. Breakout year watch.
Look at DRC legs.. They are smaller than my arms… He’s looks to brittle to me to take on big WR/s RB’s & TE’s let alone pulling OL in the Runing Game…
Paul why do you care how his legs look? O____o… As long as hes ready to bring it this year i could care less, he has to have a big year in order to keep that starting corner job and he has enough motivation with him wanting a new deal. Im with pdiddy, I believe he’ll have a big year, the coaches have been impressed with him so far too..
Well he plays like a pussyif want to know the truth JH and maybe it’s because he’s 6-2 and only 180 lbs and could se some more weight,strnth and toughness..
They better hope the pass rush is good and Cox is the real deal.
I still don’t think Vick is a winner though…
Paul, I wouldnt call one poor year that he had as an indication of him being a “pussy” as you put it. The entire year he was playing out of position, playing in a brand new system/defense with new coaches, the list goes on. And you cant call him out about his weight and strength when at that same weight and strength he managed to get a Probowl nod, So c’mon man, lets not get carried away over a down year he had personally and as a team..
I give you a lost season for him as far as Coaches,Scheme and POsition and he was jacked around the first 10 weeks or so, but One think that My eyes see about his play is that he is afraid of contact and ducks,dives adn does almost anything to avoid it and that my friends I cannot stand to see no matter if it’s from a rookie or a 15 yeasr Vet a big player or a small player.. If your going to play the game of Football, then get you head in there and make some hits and don’t be afriad to get hit for I still think this is one of the Eagles Probablems is that they have 3-4-5 Players who are all afraid of contact …
(D-Jax,Maclin,Asmo,DRC, Samuel from last year)
Altra, and until he wins something you cant call him a winner. Now Vick does have the drive and intensity and will to win, but he hasnt won in the playoffs enough nor has he won a SB in order to be called a winner. Therefore, hes not a” winner.” I guess we can also say that Dan Marino wasnt a winner either since hes never won a SB. Regardless of the personal statistics and accolades, the ring is the thing. Without the SB ring, the rest has little meaning. Vick will be the alltime leading rusher as a QB in the NFL but if he doesnt win a SB, he’ll just be viewed as another Randall Cunningham, all the rushing yards, all the highlight reels, no SB Ring.. Vick has to win and win big in order to get the proper recognition and to be consummated as one of the Alltime greats..
Paul, again i wouldnt call it being scared to make a tackle, id say that alot of guys were out of position and unclear/unsure where they needed to be, it was alot of hesitancy on the defensive side from the DL back to the safeties. Guys not playing in there natural positions, just a really bad year all around and in my opinion the worst during the Reid regime..
Jon Hart..come on guy..
There were multiple plays where DRC is running along the receiver as if he’s blocking for him.
Even if others are out of position you still tackle the guy in the opposite uniform once he comes near you.
If you guys think Asante was a poor tackler wait until you get a gander of this DRC guy…..We’ll be begging for Asante.
But Songs the entire team did the same. It was a very confusing frustrating year, but when are we gonna put that behind us and get ready for this new season? We cant keep reliving what they did last season itll only make us mad and annoyed, lets give them a chance to prove that they righted the ship.
DRC will out run players, out jump players but he’s more afraid of contact than ASAMUEL. I think it’s a fair assessment to call him a pussy on the football field.
Saying Vick is just another Randall, some serious disrespect to Cunningham, Vick and his apologists have every excuse, but Cunningham was essentially coach less for a good part of his career, put it all together at the end with the Vikings, not an accurate comparison
Jakedoggy dogg the comparison is dead on bro. We can compare them bc all both have done is put up rushing numbers. Yeah Randall had a good year with the vikes, made it to the nfc champ game, im not discrediting him at all. But facts are facts. The ring is the thing. Randall does not have one of those. Vick had a great year in 2010, finished 2nd to brady in mvp voting so it does happen. But in order for Vick to separate himself from Randall and that “type” of QB’s he has to win a ring. Its not enough putting up incredible stats, the same is true with Dan Marino, he never won a ring so we cant call him a winner. Its not just about Vick its about all the guys that play that position..
Let’s just say this about QB Vick and forget about comparisons and his even his past seasons in his Career . 2012 will define Vick and this Eagles Team… If he can’t take this Team with all it’s weapons who are signed under great deals, are highly motiviated and in their primes, then let’s just say it will never happen.. It’s time to step up to the plate and win. There will be no excuses for Coach AR,QB Vick and this entire Eagle Franchise in my opinion… The Time is now…
Pman I have a question for you so you wouldn’t have a player like Deion Sanders on your team?
Drc is the best pure man to man cover guy on the team fellas. What he lacks in hitting he makes up with speed
Pdiddiy?..are you comparing DRC to Deion Sanders?
Have you ever seen QB’s complete 68% of their passes against Deion Sanders in his prime?
Do that sound like a shut down corner if QB’s choose to pick on him and have success regularly against him?
One over question….
Do you think Arizona would have traded him away with a low cap number to pay if he was anywhere near what you’re insinuating here?
No Songs not comparing, but stating that even if your not a big time hitter you can still be effective at that position.
LIsten Drc has one year to prove his worth. This is his contract year if he doesn’t produce he’s gone. Let’s just see what he can do.
Okay let me take a poll who would you rather have on your team Rod Woodson or Deion Sanders. Rod was more complete than Deion but I still thought Deion was better.
deion sanders over rod woodson, never, except in this newer, softer, cornerback play that deion ushered in, and rod woodson was an olympic sprinter, drc never would have played in the days of lester hayes, et al
nfl now panders to diverse fan base, tebow, religous right, riley cooper and mathews, all hair no talent, but chicks dig them, drc, he’s the crack head’s man
Say what you want Deion changed the fucking game period. A true shut down corner.
pdiddy this is not a discussion of Deion or Woodson but…….
DRC
He’s not even on the same planet with those guys and it’s embarrassing to their greatest for him to be mentioned in the same paragraph with them.
We would rather have Deion or Woodson in their prime….who wouldn’t?
DRC is ass and he don’t have the skills to impose his will and change games.
Right now DRC doesn’t measure up against Lito Sheppard in his prime not to mention the legends you brought up in a futile attempt to justify DRC.
pdiddy,
I would take Ron Woodson over Deion Sanders any day on my Team..
Woodson was a more complete Player, good against the rush, could blitz and get to the QB as well.. Deion was a great player, but I would take Woodson over him…
I also would have taken CB Carlos Rogers last year in Free-Agency over Asmo who I think is one of more overrated players in the NFL..
Everyone keeps sayin “if Reid takes us deep and far this year is the only way he returns”; Dam that buddy, it’s either Superbowl or bust – “point blank”!!! Either we win it all or his arse is barbecued like a greasy little ribeyed steak with lots of tasty fat around it. I’ll take Ronnie Lott over all of them. He played with a broken/severed finger and didn’t give a dam about his health. He was who B-Dawk modeled his play after; pure reckless abandonment. Reids arse better win a SB this year or get the hell outta here!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Rocko, I agree 100% big homie. @Pman I agree with you on Carlos Rodgers.
@Songs your right I got off topic, but let me say this Drc has made a Pro bowl and has elite speed. He is young enough to still improve, this is his contract year let’s see what he can do.
@Rocko, I agree lot was the best but that fucker was crazy. He cut off the tip of his finger to finish a game. Man fuck that.
Dammit I meant Lott
You guys keep focusing on Drc, you will see the real bum wears #24. ENOUGH SAID.
Here’s some news guys you all need to be aware of…..cancer and leukemia is in the vaccines…help your children and keep the needle away from them starting at birth……it’s death in a syringe.
Also if your diagnosed sat away from these doctors..chemo is death and 90% of the people who do chemo die a painful death. Dandelion root dried out cleans the blood and eradicate cancer cells. it grows wild.
songs, also try chuchuasa and cat’s claw from the amazon rain forest, amazing tree bark tea,, keep up the good work rev.
And if you sprinkle fairy dust around your head it will help keep the demons from talking too loud in your head.