Eagles Notebook

Posted: November 2nd, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 46 Comments »

Nnamdi Asomugha did some really good things in the Detroit game.  He didn’t follow that up with a very good performance against the Falcons.  Greg Cosell of NFL Films went so far as to call him a “below average NFL corner”.  Cosell also said that in 3 games this year Nnamdi has given up a perfect QB rating on passes thrown his way.

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Wow.

Not sure I agree that he’s below average.  He’s definitely not the shutdown CB we all expected. He can be good, but he’s got to get a quality jam on the WR.  When going against speed guys, he does need Safety help over the top.  So did Bobby Taylor.  Guys that are 210 pounds don’t run as well as the smaller CBs.  And you can see that age has started to catch up to Nnamdi.

Tim McManus and his gigantic wallet did a good job of breaking down the All-22 tape to show his issues in the Falcons game.

Go here to see a picture of Tim’s George Costanza-like wallet.  It is a sight to behold.

* * * * *

Jeff McLane reported on Twitter that the Eagles worked out CB Trevard Lindley.  He’s made the initial roster each of the past 2 years, only to be cut the next day as the team adjusted the roster.

What do we make of this?

Nate Allen missed practice today.  Lindley got some reps at Safety this summer.  Could he be an emergency addition in case Nate can’t go?  Could he be coming here to help at CB and on STs?  We don’t know anything for sure.  The only reason the Eagles would need him at CB is if they were down on Curtis Marsh and/or Brandon Hughes.  We haven’t heard much from Marsh recently, but also haven’t faced many 4 WR sets.  Hughes struggled in the DET game, but got an extension a few weeks prior to that and did play well vs the Giants.

My guess is Safety, but that is only a guess.

* * * * *

What’s going on with the #3 RBs?  Dion Lewis was inactive due to injury for a while.  Then he played.  Then he was back to inactive.  Something has got to be up with him and the coaches.  The reason I say that is because Chris Polk has been awful on STs.

Go check out the STs stats and he isn’t on there.  Polk plays on STs, but just isn’t getting the job done.  The fact Lewis (who has 5 points) isn’t playing now means something is up.  We need one of these guys to step up and help out with blocking and covering.

It is very disappointing to see Polk play so poorly on STs.  There were some concerns at the Combine about his attitude.  Those went away in TC and the preseason, but you wonder if the concerns were warranted when  you see this level of STs play.  STs requires players to play with enthusiasm, as well as skills.  I don’t know if Polk thinks STs is beneath him or what, but he’s got to pick up the pace if he wants to stay in the league.  He’s not a good enough player to make it just as a runner.  And for comparison’s sake, Brian Westbrook was a good STer back in 2002 when he was just the #3 RB.  Brian paid his dues before becoming a star.

* * * * *

Saints talk…Darren Sproles is out.  He’s got a hand injury and will miss the game.  No complaints from me.

Jimmy Bama has a great post showing how awful the Saints are in some areas.  He also points out the one player that Michael Vick must fear.  Probably not who you expect.

* * * * *

David Syvertsen posted some overrated and underrated draft prospects over at ScoutsNotebook.  Might be a couple of names of interest on his list.

* * * * *

I put up the DGR this morning.  Very sorry for the late post.  Did a lot of Vick/Reid writing early in the week and that threw me off schedule.  Feel free to ask questions in the DGR or here and I’ll get to them as best I can.  Some of you may choose to ignore it since it is so late and covers a crappy game.  I don’t blame you one bit.

_

  • Iskar36

    I’ve been wondering about Lewis/Polk since the start of the season. I liked what we saw out of Lewis in his rookie year and we seemed to hear all throughout TC (while he was still healthy) that he was doing well, and at the very least looked improved. Polk has not stood out to me at any point and as you have said, he has been awful on STs. I know the Eagles love Brown, and I don’t mind them keeping Brown as the #2, but to me, it seems like Lewis deserves some touches as a RB and at least given a chance to out perform Polk on STs (especially considering Polk has done nothing). Personally, I wouldn’t mind Polk getting cut once they activate Patterson and having Lewis activated on game day.

  • Iskar36

    In terms of Allen do they know if he will not be able to play Monday? If so, they honestly don’t have a choice in terms of signing a safety, right? I really do not have any trust in Colt Anderson as a safety and with Brees back there, we will get destroyed if we don’t find a satisfactory replacement for Allen.

    • TommyLawlor

      My guess is that they don’t know his status yet. We can’t go with Colt Anderson vs Brees.

      • Ark87

        The saints are an awful running team, at what point do you just throw in another corner on the field in the safety’s stead. I suppose this is why you bring Lindley up. It could be a pretty strong move against the first rank passing attack/worst ranked run game in the league.

  • austinfan

    The problem with Aso now is he’s become a S/CB tweener, lacks the speed to play on an island in man, lacks the quickness for zone, lacks the tackling skills and maybe the instincts for FS. He might struggle to find a job next year, because what system does he fit anymore?

    Which raises a question, with DRC’s up and down play at CB, do you franchise him? Certainly they’re in no rush to give him a big money extension. In that case, the door is wide open for a new HC to move to a zone based system next year, which would probably help Allen and Coleman, but requires finding some zone CBs (though that’s much easier than finding good man coverage types). Does Boykin fit that sort of defense? Does Marsh have a future at CB (I’ve thought about him being better suited at FS? Maybe that’s why they’re taking another look at Lindley?

    With Ryans and Kendricks, add another fast WLB/SLB and you could shift to a conventional 4-3 in a cover 2 like scheme.

    • TommyLawlor

      DRC had one bad game, but has otherwise been terrific in 2012. I’d pay him.

      Boykin can play man or Cover 2. Can press. Can be physical. Up and down tackler. Good ball skills.

  • http://twitter.com/corry_k Corry Henry

    Just out of curiosity, where is Phillip Thomas?

    • TommyLawlor

      Are you referring to the Senior Safety at Fresno State who is playing like an All-American or the former Syracuse All-American that AC Viking loves so much?

      Haven’t seen Thomas signed anywhere. He looked good this summer. You wonder if there are still drug concerns with him.

      And there is a PT that is having a great year for Fresno St. Will write about him after studying a game. Just recorded one the other day.

      • http://twitter.com/corry_k Corry Henry

        Was actually referring to the former Syracuse All-American, but you can’t argue with two Phillip Thomases for the price of one. Even if one is a drug addict.

        There must be some concern. I would think he’d be on the short list for final roster cuts who are called back in for a work out.

        • TommyLawlor

          I knew the reference. Just wanted to be a smart-ass. Plus, I do think it is funny that there is a kid this year with that same name who is having a great year. What are the odds?

      • A_T_G

        Wait, are you saying we could have an all-Phillip Thomas safety duo if we play our cards right?!

        That would be so awesome, I wouldn’t care why the new head coach decided the wide-9 was outdated and started lining up all the lineman outside the hashes, in what he calls the prison shower formation.

        Really the only possible downside, and I’m sure there is but one, would be the confidence-crushing realization of the guy forced to deal with being the second best Phillip Thomas on the team.

        • TommyLawlor

          I pray that one of them has the middle name of Michael.

          • A_T_G

            Nah, I don’t want the deep middle patrolled by a guy that goes by the nickname Tubbs.

          • TommyLawlor

            But he would be so cool. If only we could find a DB named Sonny Crockett…

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462635892 Thorin McGee

    Regarding Nnamdi, has everyone here seen Matt Bowen’s breakdown of the Jones TD at NFP?
    http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Julio-vs-Nnamdi.html

    The problem does not seem to be speed or safety help, he just played with terrible technique. That’s the opposite of the Nnamdi we thought we were getting, and it’s a problem.

  • ACViking

    Re: Philip Thomas

    Hey, T-Law . . .

    In the immortal (paraphrased) words of Lou Saban . . . “You’re killin’ me, Tommy. You’re killin’ me”!

    Seriously, like you said, he did seem to play well in TC.

    • SteveH

      I too was a drinker of the PT koolaid. I’m shocked no one picked him up, what kind of drug issues did he have?

      • TommyLawlor

        Suspended by Syracuse. No official word, but a source told me drugs were the issue. No idea if he had any problems once an Eagle. Never heard a bad word about him.

        • http://twitter.com/corry_k Corry Henry

          That’s a shame. With my very amateur eye, he looked like he could have been a player in the league.

    • TommyLawlor

      Oh yeah. Thomas really flashed in some games. I was hoping he’d be PS material. I really liked his upside. When guys show game talent and get cut, they are character issues or it is the mental side of things. Haven’t heard what the deal with PT is/was.

  • eagles2zc

    NA needs to go see Kobe’s German doctor and take some shots to rejuvenate his knees. He’s rich enough

    • TommyLawlor

      Nate or Nnamdi? Nate has hammy issues. Nnamdi’s just getting older.

      • eagles2zc

        Didn’t even think of Nate, but he he needs some shots too! Anderson playing safety was not pretty

    • GermanEagle

      Funny enough he just called me..

      • eagles2zc

        Do your thing man. I expect to see a faster Nnamdi Monday!

        • GermanEagle

          I worked my (German) magic…!

          You should see at least 4 pics and 1 int return TD from Nnamdi on Monday.

  • bdbd20

    Tommy,

    Just curious, do you think the master plan is to move Nnamdi to FS?

    • Ark87

      I wonder about that as well. He seems to have lost a step due to age and may not be fast enough to be an elite CB anymore (frankly he’s a liability so it’s wise to give him help over the top at all times).

      He is however fast enough to play safety- so the question you ask is natural. There are 4 attributes I value in a safety.

      Tackling- When safeties miss tackles points are scored. Aso is an ok tackler for a CB, but not a sure enough tackler for my liking.

      Angles- Safeties often must cover a lot of E-W ground to tackle or cover a N-S runner/receiver, bad angles are touchdowns. No idea if Aso is natural at this.

      Football IQ- Safeties can see the entire field, a safety that can use that vision to diagnose a play in real time and take decisive action is deadly. Think Ed Reed. Aso is one of the most intellectual CB’s I’ve ever seen. But who knows about his football IQ. CB isn’t much of an X’s and O’s position.

      Ball Skills- Playing Center-field in a duel with the QB. Can you be where he doesn’t want you to be when the ball is in the air, can you make a play on the ball? This should be the assumed strength of a CB transitioning to safety, but what made Aso an elite CB wasn’t his ball skills.

      My point is I’m not sure Aso can just become a safety where his declining speed won’t be an issue and suddenly become elite again. Aso’s game and the skillset he utilizes don’t directly translate to being an elite safety.

      I’d say it would be a good and worthwhile off-season project to really develop/polish these skills, put on some pounds, and re-structure his contract to be a safety. Don’t see it happening this year, though.

    • zbone95

      NA has no ballskills to become a free safety. Frankly i dont understand why they matched up naamdi with Julio i mean speed vs speed route running vs jamming. The coordinators our outhinking themselves.

      • Anders

        NA was a college safety turned NFL CB. Its impressive he have played CB at the NFL let alone at a pro bowl level for so many years

    • TommyLawlor

      I’ll talk about Nnamdi’s future in a post.

  • SteveH

    Well at least we get a nice low key offense for our defense to have a bounce back game against.

    • TommyLawlor

      If we give up 30 points this week, that’s okay…right?

      • Ark87

        oh man, hahaha…it’s sad but true…How about this… beggars can’t be choosers…We can give up 50 points as long as we score 51…It’s going to be a shootout…pray that it isn’t a one-way shootout

        • http://twitter.com/alex_karklins Alex Karklins

          I believe that’s called a “firing squad.”

          • A_T_G

            Good one.

  • dislikedisqus

    In the DGR, why do you blame DRC for the first TD and not Coleman? When I look at the configuration, it doesn’t look like DRC wd have deep responsibility on the slot.

  • teltschikfakeout88

    Tommy I love the addition of David to your scouts notebook site. He mentioned a uga player named Rambo that he thought was overrated. That got me thinking about Malcolm mitchell. I don’t think he is eligible to come out but was wondering if you had seen him play and whether he stood out.

  • GermanEagle

    Wow, that’s interesting:

    YahooSports: “Cole offers quotes from an unnamed Eagles defensive player to prove the point that Reid would have lost the locker room if the switch had been made from Vick to rookie Nick Foles.”

  • http://twitter.com/corry_k Corry Henry

    OT: Penn State homer question, does Zordich have any future in the NFL? Late round guy/UDFA?

    • phillychuck

      I would suspect he’d be a UDFA at best. Not a lot of guys in the NFL these days whose best position is fullback. Don’t think he’s fast enough to be a RB in the pros. Might make it if he can be a beast on ‘teams.

  • ACViking

    Everyone:

    T-Law has a new post up at SBN Nation assessing the Birds’ roster . . . MUST READ.

    http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/11/4/3596778/assessing-the-philadelphia-eagles-roster

  • A_T_G

    The power crews are down the street from my house. Friendly guys from NC. Hopefully these foreigners with their funny accent understand the importance of restoring my power before tomorrow evening.

  • GermanEagle

    Any interest in Sean Payton next year, Tommy?!

  • GermanEagle

    The Difference between the Bears and the Eagles?!

    7 D(ST) TD’s…

    • GermanEagle

      Make it 8…