Takeo Spikes is going to make cutting back against the Eagles defense an unsafe lifestyle for opposing running backs. I predict a few decapitated bodies during the upcoming season.
I had talked about the Will linebacker position a number of months ago when the Birds signed Spikes. I had conversations with some friends in the league and they had told me he was a hunter. I found out this morning that he's just what they said. Finally the Eagles have a Will linebacker who hunts opposing running backs. Many times the design of the defense is to get the Will linebacker (freed up) or unblocked, so he can lay a pounding on the running back.
On most rushing attempts, the running attack goes to the tight end side and Will lines up away from the tight end. If the front side defense or the guys to the tight end side, do their job, then many times the Will linebacker will be coming full speed to the play and unblocked. If he times it right and mirrors the running back. He will meet the back in the hole and it's a beautiful thing when it all comes together.
Spikes knows how to make that happen. I saw how Spikes was shuffling and lurking in the cutback hole a number of times this morning. He has the experience, quickness and tenacity to cause some car wrecks in the backfield. I loved the way he shot into the hole during the 9 on 7 drills in the morning. He knows to just sit behind Trotter and let him make the running back commit.
Jeremiah attacks a running play like few middle linebackers have before. He plays a very physical brand of football which normally makes a running back make a decision immediately. This will make life easy for a linebacker with the athleticism of Spikes. Trot used to be able to blow a play up and also make the tackle. He's not as agile any more so he'll be clearing away the inteference so Takeo can make the hit. I don't know how long Trot is going to be able to continue turning runners back, but now he has a battery mate in Spikes who is going to just kill a running back this year, who gets caught looking at Jeremiah and cutting back blindly.
Oh yeah those hits will force fumbles and they'll be seen by the opposing running backs. A good head hunting Will linebacker will make running backs run more carefully and cautiously. It's been a while since the Birds defense made a running back have a little fear in the back of their mind.
Cutting back on the Eagles defense is not going to be a successful lifestyle any longer.
