Eagles New Much-Improved Secondary Makes Its Debut

With the Eagles approaching their first exhibition game tonight, pay close attention to the play of their newly revamped secondary. The Birds landed a pair of All-Pro defensive backs to help improve a defense that surrendered 235.1 receiving yards per game last season, and were the worst red zone defense in the last 25 years in the NFL. Look for these stats to get better this year due to the additions of Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, and arguably the best shutdown cornerback in the league, Nnamdi Asomugha.

The new offseason acquisitions will join a cast that includes interception leader from a year ago Asante Samuel, second-year safety Kurt Coleman and safety Nate Allen which rounds out a secondary that is mixed with youth and experience.

With the departure of safety Quintin Mikell who signed with the Rams weeks ago, unproven second-year defender Coleman will fill the void. The youngster been the Eagles best safety at training camp this year. In limited action last season, the former Buckeye registered 36 tackles and a modest 1 interception with just two starts in the midnight green. With the exception of any injuries to this core, these are the most likely Week 1 starters.

Rodgers-Cromartie will start the season as the third corner, but he’ll likely be on the field for 90% of defensive snaps. The Eagles plan on playing nickel on most second downs. Surprisingly the four-year pro seems comfortable in backing up Samuel and Asomugha. His coaches have explained to him that he will be on the field most of the time and especially on the key downs like third and five and third and long with the game on the line. They have him lining up at the right cornerback position in the nickel defense which will take the field tonight.

Samuel, who has been a premier pick-artist dating back to his years with the Patriots, will start at the left cornerback position. He seemed unwilling to play along with DRC and Asomugha, but after finding out that he’s going to maintain his position, Samuel has welcomed the two Pro Bowl corners. He knows that the presence of the other two talented cornerbacks will likely give him more opportunities to intercept passes.

The arrival of Asomugha, whose signing with the Eagles was one of the biggest stories of this past offseason, brings one of the most physical corners of the decade to a pass defense that has been referred to as being soft over the past few seasons. He’ll be lining up at the left cornerback position and in nickel situations he’ll slide inside and cover the slot receiver.

Defensive coordinator Juan Castillo has made it known that he wants move Asomugha around and utilize him in much the same way that the Packers use Charles Woodson. Last season, the 30-year-old veteran commanded an Oakland Raiders defense that ranked third in surrendered receiving yards per game last season.

Although soft-spoken toward the media, Asomugha will add to this team’s mental toughness as soon as he steps on the field. Many times he is so physical with wide receivers that they don’t even get off the line of scrimmage.

Toward the ladder stages of the game look for most of the reps to be filled in by backups like Joselio Hanson, then special teams candidates like Jarrad Page and a plethora of draft picks that the Eagles have chosen over the last few seasons.

In tonight’s matchup against the Ravens, the Eagles will look to send a message around the league that they are the team to beat. Andy Reid and the rest of the organization are looking to a set a tone, and that all starts on the defensive side of the ball. This team will look similar to the days where they boasted multiple Pro Bowlers from the secondary.

We all can recall those years when this perennial NFC East power shutdown some of the top wideouts in the league, and instead of scoring touchdowns, teams were forced to settle for field goals in the red zone.

Instead of Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent and Brian Dawkins showing off their skills, look for Samuel, Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie to be the targets feared most when a quarterback looks to throw a deep route, outside to the flat or inside to a curl route. Quarterbacks will think twice because they know any mistakes or misfires has a good chance being picked off and turned into six the other way.