Rotation, Rotation, Rotation

Posted: June 7th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 11 Comments »

For my PE.com column I wrote about Jim Washburn and the rotation system he likes to use.  Getting used to this will be tough for someone like Trent Cole who’s not accustomed to coming off the field.  It will be a big help for other guys.

In doing some research for the column I stumbled across a Titans DL/Washburn article from the spring of 2008.  Here’s the most interesting part.  This is the season when we had cut Jevon Kearse and he went back to TEN.

“Jevon is just sort of figuring it out again how to play fast,” Washburn said. “He’s been in a whole different system. This is practice five or something. He gets a little better every day. This is a good system to play in if you’re a defensive end that runs. We have a guy named [defensive end] Dave Ball, who has been with some other teams, and he’s like, ‘Wow, this is a dream come true. You get to play fast.’”

All 4 defensive linemen must go all out on every snap for this system to work.  That isn’t to say guys were taking plays off last year, but there is no more playing with caution.  Guys will be in for 3 or 4 snaps, then out.  Everyone.  I’m curious to see how the new system works.  Trent Cole’s numbers might come down, but the whole D-line’s might go up.  And that’s what is most important…production from the line as a whole.

* * * * *

As I’ve gone back and re-watched parts of games I’ve appreciated Mike Patterson more and more.  Over the last couple of years he was really good…playing horizontally.  Mike held his ground on plays to his side, then moved along the line when plays went away.

The new system calls for him to be a vertical player, attacking up the field.  Mike hasn’t had much of a chance to do that in recent years.  Its possible some of his old USC production could jump out in the new system.  Or, maybe he’s no longer capable of getting up the field quickly enough to be disruptive.  He has to lose weight and come to work (whenever things get rolling) in good shape.  I really hope Mike is able to do this.  I’d like to see him get to succeed in the new system.


11 Comments on “Rotation, Rotation, Rotation”

  1. 1 Dan in Philly said at 2:27 PM on June 7th, 2011:

    Possible that Cole’s numbers stay the same with reduced playing time? He’s a high motor guy, but not used well last year, and as he ages, it could be this system will allow him to imrpove on a per play basis while taking time off to avoid injury…

  2. 2 Tommy Lawlor said at 2:33 PM on June 7th, 2011:

    That’s actually a good point Dan. Cole’s numbers drop off a bit as the season goes on. Maybe that won’t be the case in the new system. Less snaps, similar production.

  3. 3 Davesbeard said at 2:58 PM on June 7th, 2011:

    Every time we talk about the D-line I get more excited about Ricky Sapp. With a fixed knee if he gets that burst back he could really be something in certain situations e.g third and long. I can’t really remember why he dropped Tommy, was it that he was a bit of a tweener, injury issues, not as good as I think?

  4. 4 Netherman said at 2:58 PM on June 7th, 2011:

    Sorta off topic but caught a bit of an interview with jared allen on sirius last week and he named Trent a one of the defensive ends he studied to learn some”double swipe” move. He never gets the credit he deserves from mmm, but gets so much praise from other players…i am so excited to see him in wash’d system.

  5. 5 Netherman said at 3:00 PM on June 7th, 2011:

    Mmm=msm main stream media

  6. 6 Tommy Lawlor said at 3:10 PM on June 7th, 2011:

    RE: Ricky Sapp

    I think the major reason he dropped was concerns with his knee. He did have surgery in early September to clear some “stuff” (sorry for getting so technical).

    Sapp is ideal for this scheme. If he busts, it’s all on him.

  7. 7 Davesbeard said at 3:12 PM on June 7th, 2011:

    Came across this while looking for videos of Ricky Sapp (who’s burst off the line is as awesome as I remembered)

    As someone else commented, how on earth did he make it to the seventh?? Was it competition?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LMZmeY-kgo&NR=1

  8. 8 phillybirdzfan said at 3:16 PM on June 7th, 2011:

    Off-Topic:

    Clark Judge posted a blog saying the eagles aren’t really interested in Asomugha. The first reason: “They tell me there is an indifference toward Asomughha, mostly because he will cost a fortune but partly because he’s a press cornerback who plays only the right-cornerback position.”

    How is that a reason the Eagles wouldn’t want him?

  9. 9 mcud said at 3:23 PM on June 7th, 2011:

    Re: More production with less snaps for Cole.

    I absolutely think that Trent Cole will benefit from not being on the field as much. In fact, if Washburn stays for more than a year or two, and this rotation system gets really established, it will prolong Trent’s career.

    I’ve sorta thought from the beginning that while Brandon Graham was slotted to begin his career at LDE, that he was drafted as a Trent Cole replacement at RDE.

    This thought is a result of a couple of reasons.

    First, Trent is underpaid, perhaps even “very” underpaid, and he knows it (and is less than pleased about it). Thus far, he’s been the good soldier, and kept his displeasure pretty private, but considering that he’ll turn 30 in a year (+4 months), every day that passes coincides with a bit of lost leverage. Now, we’re not having a typical offseason, but if we were, I wonder if Trent wouldn’t be tempted to hold out at this point. In addition, Trent plays nearly every snap. I’m concerned about the wear on his tires.

    The best I’ve ever seen our DL play (at least in the Andy Reid era) was the first two games of 2006, where we sent our DL in waves. I was terribly excited about what JJ was doing with the guys, and then Jevon Kearse blew his knee out, and the rotation went with it. I certainly hope that we see some of that with the new rotation. Just like you see set lines in hockey, I think a DL group that comes in waves could really help us in the 4th quarter, both of games and the season. Give me 8-9 fastballs to throw at the opposing OL, and wear them out. That sort of thing…

  10. 10 mcud said at 3:38 PM on June 7th, 2011:

    I see Tommy touched on the 2006 rotation in his fandemonium article. Nicely written sir.

  11. 11 PK said at 4:37 AM on June 8th, 2011:

    Just think how John Abraham reinvented himself with more limited playing time with the Falcon, who knows maybe Cole’s pass rush numbers will actually improve…