The Eagles have gotten better on the defensive side of the football, but their top pass rushing position, outside linebacker, is a question mark because they don’t have much depth. Long time Eagles passing rushing standout, Trent Cole, is no longer an Eagle, so Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham will now have to lead the way.
There’s no problem with Barwin, who will be starting at one of the outside linebacker positions. He’s an exceptional player as a pass rusher, run stopper and in pass coverage. The former Houston Texan led the team and the NFC in quarterback sacks with 14.5 a year ago and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
This will be Graham’s first year as a starter and he comes in as somewhat of a question mark. He was a disappointment for his first couple of season, but he has been very productive as a part-timer and backup. He registered 5.5 sacks in 2014 despite playing sparingly.
After the 2014 season, Chip Kelly decided to resign Graham for $26 million dollars over 4 years, and make him the starter opposite Barwin. There will be more pressure on the former Michigan Wolverine as a starter. He’s got to stay healthy and be productive because there’s nobody behind him, who is dependable.
Offenses are sure to attack him as a pass defender because he was previously a defensive end and pass coverage is something he’s still get used to.
Backing up Barwin and Graham will be last year’s first round draft pick Marcus Smith. All eyes will be on Smith to see if he’s capable of playing with more fire and passion. He’s put on about 15 pounds of muscle this off season, now we’ll see if he can get the job done.
Travis Long is an unproven youngster, who was signed last year as a rookie free agent. He tore his ACL in the fourth preseason game a year ago and never got the chance to play.. He’s another question mark at the position.
Bryan Braman, who got a contract extension, is an outstanding Special Teams performer, but isn’t considered much of a linebacker.
I would be surprised to see the Eagles move Alonso Kiko or Mychal Kendricks outside at times to make up for the lack of depth at the outside linebacker position.
First team: Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham
Second team: Marcus Smith, Travis Long
Third team: Bryan Braman, Brandon Hepburn
Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo
[Widget_Twitter id=”Select_a_Twitter”]
I see Kiko Alonso playing Outside LB quite a bit actually and rotating with Barwin & Graham with a little MSII mixed in..
I also see Kendricks,Ryans and 3rd Round Pick Hicks rotating and playing the Inside LB Position
Paulman thats a great point and something I have been thinking about more and more lately. If Alonso’s body can hold up to the Rigors at the OLB spot that could be a switch. They could use him like the Packers did Clay Matthews this past year.
***NFL News***
TB Bucs Claim Safety DJ Swearinger who was released by the Texans
Detroit Lions sign Free-Agent WR Lance Moore for Depth
NE Patriots Released 6 Year Veteran CB Kyle Arrington which now means that have lost their Top 4 CB’s from Last Years Team (Revis, Browner, Arrington and Dennard)
Paulman if you look at Clay Matthews coming out of college Alonso and Matthews body type virtually identical (Although rumor has Matthews as a Roid head back in his USC days)
I believe Kiko goes 6-3′ & about 245lbs but probably has the frame to put on another 10 Lbs or so to get a little bigger at the point of attack and could make an excellent OLB in both Rushing the Passer like Matthews and Dropping back in Pass Coverages which Matthews is not very good at..
Kiko Alonso reminds me a bit of the other LB from USC, the more athletic Brian Cushing… Built about the same, both Athletic, Versatile and can play Inside or Outside, Can Rush or Drop Back, etc,etc…