Former Cincinatti Bengal and Buffalo Bill Takeo Spikes is hungry for a chance to go to the playoffs and win a Super Bowl. He's so serious I don't think I saw him smile once during all the team's workouts.
He probably has a greater appreciation of a chance to be a champion than any of the other guys on this football team. Despite being regarded as one of the best linebackers in the league, he hasn't played in one playoff game in his ten year career. This has created a hunger in him which I hope will be contagious on an Eagles defense which has had trouble stopping the run and making plays with the game on the line.
Takeo suffered an achilles tear in 2005 and struggled at the beginning of the 2006 season. I was concerned before I saw him workout because the achilles tear is regarded as an old man's injury and it's usually a sign of wear and tear on a player's legs. Many times you'll see a player have an achilles injury near the end of his career. It's usually a sign that you're near the end. The personnel people in Buffalo don't think he has a lot left but I think they're mistaken.
Spikes looks like he's got plenty of life left in his legs and I was pleased to see him running around like he did during his Pro Bowl years. I could see he has "that burst" when he recognizes the play. "That burst" is the first two or three steps and it's what makes Spikes a playmaker and not just another player. His quickness is especially impressive when you combine it with his size. He'll be able to break underneath of an out route and pick off the pass. Spikes still has the explosion in his legs and he'll need it when he's running through a ball carrier on a tackle. I know it sounds stupid but a linebacker tackles with his legs because that's where his explosion comes from. Spikes still has the capability of blasting into a ball carrier and knocking the ball loose. His speed will come in handy when he's lined up against some of the faster running backs and tight ends in the league.
Along with his legs, I really liked the attention to detail which I saw from Spikes. He knows how important of a role "play recognition" has in creating a turnover. This shows his knowledge of the game. Takeo was asking question after question to his coaches and teammates while learning the Eagles defense. He wanted to know how the Eagles played each situation. For instance, If he recognized a "pick play" should he clamp on the receiver or pass him off to the other defender. On flow his way should he take the first receiver out or guy who releases outside. This attention to detail and drive for clarity will help the LB's and DB's omit mistakes and prevent wide open receivers during the season.
I also liked the constant conversations Takeo was having with Jeremiah Trotter and Chris Gocong. The linebackers have to be on the same page. Many times they're responsible for the TE's and RB's, so that requires them to anticipate the routes they're going to see after play action fakes. They have to see everything the same and react like a coordinated unit. Spikes will be running the huddle much of the time because Trotter will off the field on pass downs, so # 51 must have a good understanding of the coverages.
Takeo knows his time is running out and he may be able to get that message through to this entire squad. He's a veteran player who realizes that they can't leave any stones unturned in their preparation. That drive could push the Eagles defense to greater heights. This defense must rebound from two poor years and get their act together. A Pro Bowl player like Spikes may be able to light a fire underneath this defensive group, which has too many underachievers with impressive resumes and big salaries. I hope his sense of urgency spreads because the entire organization needs it.
