Stability Matters

The Eagles have had more than 1,000 different DBs play for them this year. Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. It sure as heck feels that way. There have been 13 different DBs who started for the team this year. I don’t know if the Eagles had that many from 1999-2004. In one season? That’s just nuts.

Jim Schwartz talked about the value of stability in his press conference on Tuesday. Other than the O-line, the secondary is the spot where communication is critical. As Schwartz pointed out, when you are in a stadium of 70,000 fans, the offense has players moving around and the defenders are spread all over the field, you can’t always talk. Players have to know what their teammates are going to do.

The best way for that to happen is for players to practice and play together.

Obviously with 13 different starters, there hasn’t been much continuity at all on the back end. That could be changing.

Rasul Douglas has now settled in at RCB. Cre’Von LeBlanc has been solid in the slot. The addition of Avonte Maddox at LCB is a big deal. He’s talented, but also has been part of the team all year long. He was in the offseason program, mini-camps and Training Camp. Maddox knows the scheme well.

Malcolm Jenkins has been the SS all year. Corey Graham is the FS, but the coaches have found a role for Tre Sullivan as well.

If this group can stay healthy, it will really help the Eagles in the final two weeks, and possibly beyond.

There is the possibility that Sidney Jones returns, but Doug Pederson said that was a week-to-week injury and made it sound like he would be out at least for the Texans game, if not the finale as well. We’ll have to wait and see how things go for him.

It would be great to have Troy, Bobby, Al and Dawk, but if you can’t have that, you at least want guys who know their roles and know each other. We’re finally seeing some stability on the back end and it is coming at a critical time.

*****

Tim Jernigan and Jordan Hicks were limited in practice on Wednesday. That’s a step in the right direction, but we can’t read too much into that. The Eagles could really use one or both guys in the final couple of weeks.

*****

I wrote a game review piece for PE.com. One of the things I noted in there was the impact of chunk plays.

The Eagles scored three TDs. Two of them came on drives where Alshon Jeffery had a catch of 36 or more yards. The other TD came after Jared Goff’s bizarre turnover and the offense started deep in Rams territory.

You can’t drive the long field every time. You need big plays.

The coaches have called them for Carson Wentz and Nick Foles. Wentz has just struggled with hitting those this year.

Foles did a good job on Sunday. Let’s hope he keeps that up.

*****

I don’t get too fired up about the Pro Bowl. I was happy to see this.

Malcolm Jenkins said he’s a first alternate for the Pro Bowl. #Eagles

— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) December 19, 2018

It is hard to quantify Jenkins value to this defense and this team.

_