Showing posts with label Brodrick Bunkley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brodrick Bunkley. Show all posts

Brodrick Bunkley Will Start For the Eagles Next Season

Written By Bob Cunningham On Saturday, February 26, 2011 Comments
When the 2011 season kicks off, Brodrick Bunkley will be the starting defensive tackle next to Mike Patterson, and Antonio Dixon will be on the bench.

And the reason is simple: Bunkley better fits the new scheme.

New defensive coordinator Juan Castillo has already made it very clear that defensive line coach Jim Washburn will be able to do whatever he wants with the guys up front. It will be Washburn's scheme, and Castillo, along with Mike Caldwell, Mike Zordich, and Johnnie Lynn will have to work accordingly.

In Washburn's scheme, the defensive ends go after the quarterback. That's been talked about to death, so we all know that, but something that's not being talked about is the fact that his defensive tackles also play a one-gap responsibility rather than two.

Under Sean McDermott (and, to a degree, Jim Johnson as well), the defensive ends were taught to look inside and play run before attacking the quarterback. That half-second on every snap was the difference between a sack or a touchdown pass on several occasions.


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Do the Eagles Have the Personnel For the 3-4 Defense?

Written By Bob Cunningham On Monday, January 17, 2011 Comments

Could Dixon successfully transition into a noseguard?


With Sean McDermott out as the defensive coordinator and a 3-4 trend hitting the NFL once again, everyone is wondering whether or not the Eagles could, and should, consider a switch in defensive philosophy.

First things first, Andy Reid and the new defensive coordinator (whomever that may turn out to be) would have to decide if they have the talent on the roster to make it work.

When transitioning from a 4-3 to a 3-4, a team must first make sure they have a reliable noseguard. The Buffalo Bills made the switch and found Kyle Williams, the Green Bay Packers made the switch and drafted B.J. Raji, the Washington Redskins made the switch and had absolutely no one.

Williams is a Pro Bowler, the Packers are in the NFC Championship game, and the Redskins are in complete disarray -- so clearly a noseguard is very important.

For the Eagles, they might have one in Antonio Dixon. From what I've seen, I would be cautiously optimistic that he could handle playing the middle and covering both A-gaps. He has a great first step and clearly understands leverage and how to stop an offensive lineman's momentum.

He's also 6'3 and 325 pounds, so that certainly doesn't hurt.

For defensive ends, the only one I'm certain could pull it off is Brodrick Bunkley. He's got a good mix of speed and power to play the end position. If he's asked to control C-gap and squeeze down to B-gap, I believe he could do that.

His pass-rushing ability could be an issue, but that is something that could be worked on and taught over the offseason.

The other end would have to either be Mike Patterson or Trevor Laws, and I find myself leaning toward Laws because of his ability to rush the passer. Of the defensive tackles, he has the best feet but might lack in the running game.

There's a good chance that Laws could get washed out and create a huge hole up the B-gap or lose contain if he tries to take an inside step and gets caught. At 6'1 and 305 pounds, he has a low center of gravity but hasn't shown an ability to play the run consistently.

Patterson could be a guy used in a 4-3 set or as a backup to Dixon. He isn't even as big as Laws at only 300 pounds but has shown an ability to stand his ground and play the run. It would be a real shot in the dark as to whether he could hold up for an entire game, but should Dixon go down having Patterson would be a good safety net.

The linebackers are much easier to choose. In a 3-4, the outside linebackers obviously have to be able to rush the passer and have enough athleticism to drop back into coverage. The two clear-cut favorites on the roster are Trent Cole and Brandon Graham.

Cole spent a lot of the season dropping back into coverage because apparently McDermott thought it would be a good idea to send his best pass-rusher backwards. Even though it was a ridiculous thought to put him in coverage, he did a pretty decent job of it.

Cole would be asked to rush the passer more often than not, and we've seen him do that in a stand-up position before when he played the Joker role for both Jim Johnson and McDermott.

Coming out of college, Graham was considered a 'tweener. In fact, a lot of scouts and draftniks thought he would be better suited as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 and had him going to the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots -- two teams in need of 3-4 outside linebackers.

And the draftniks aren't the only ones who think Graham would be good in a 3-4.

"Woo, man, I would love that," Graham said Sunday in a conference call with reporters. "Being a stand-up [linebacker] with Trent [Cole] on the other side? That would be nasty. That would be nice. I would be excited about it, I can tell you that much."

I'm also of the thinking that Graham is probably more suited as a stand-up linebacker. That doesn't mean he can't play defensive end in the 4-3 or even that he won't be a very good 4-3 defensive end, but he reminds me a lot of Elvis Dumervil and could probably play just as well.

So far, we have Laws, Dixon, and Bunkley on the line with Cole and Graham playing outside linebacker. All that's left is finding two inside linebackers.

The obvious two choices for that would be Jamar Chaney and Stewart Bradley.

Chaney is tough enough to play MIKE in the 4-3, so he shouldn't have any issue being given half the responsibility as a 3-4 inside linebacker. Then Bradley, who is a natural SAM in the 4-3, should be more than capable of handling the calls and playing half the field in coverage when the outside linebacker next to him blitzes.

The secondary is obviously unchanged by the move and would remain the same.

If the team chose to switch to the 3-4, they would have an entire offseason to pick from free agency and the draft in order to fill their needs, but should they decide to make the 3-4 nothing more than a variation from their normal 4-3 set a handful of times during a game, they could probably run it with some success given the talent currently on the roster.

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Eagles Could Be Without Three Defensive Starters Sunday

Written By Bob Cunningham On Friday, November 26, 2010 Comments

If Parker sits Sunday, Graham would be the starter.


The Chicago Bears' offense has been incredibly disappointing all season long. The team is winning, but Mike Martz's presence has not produced the type of fire-power everyone was expecting with Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Johnny Knox, and Devin Hester.

The biggest problem has been the offensive line. They're not an overly-impressive group to begin with, and Martz has never been known for his great blocking schemes. This has left Cutler open to hits and sacks.

Overall, the Bears are 30th in the league in quarterback hits allowed (64) and are dead last in sacks allowed with Cutler going down 37 times already.

Those numbers are the only thing that give me hope the Eagles can improve to 8-3 this Sunday.

Asante Samuel and Juqua Parker have not practiced all week long. Then in Thursday's practice, starting defensive tackle Antonio Dixon was forced to leave practice and took only mental reps on Friday.

Usually players missing practice on Friday means they're not going to play. All three guys have been listed as questionable (which means a 50-50 chance of playing), but head coach Andy Reid has said missing practice Friday does not necessarily mean they won't play.

Reid said during his Friday press conference that because Samuel and Parker are veteran guys the mental reps don't mean as much for them. They're veteran guys, so if they get to a point where they feel like they can play -- even as late as Sunday afternoon -- he would have no problem playing them.

As for Dixon, he only missed part of Thursday and did at least watch practice on Friday. Because of that, it's possible that Dixon could dress.

All three, according to Reid, are scheduled to make the trip to Chicago.

But even though they're all listed as questionable, the feeling is that Parker is probably more doubtful. No one seems to think he's going to play. In his place, rookie Brandon Graham becomes the starter once again.

Graham hasn't been overly impressive in his rookie season, but he has made some plays to show that he is coming along. Perhaps against a bad offensive line he can get his season on track and gain some momentum heading into the home stretch.

Samuel is a bit of an unknown. He says he wants to play and that he's going to give it a shot, but the feeling is that no one would be too surprised if he starts or if he's scratched.

But if I'm Sean McDermott, I'm praying to any god I can that Samuel plays. Without Samuel, Joselio Hanson and Dimitri Patterson become the starters. Hanson has played well as the nickel corner, but he's just too small to play on the outside. The Bears don't have great receivers, but they're probably good enough to give Hanson fits.

That would also mean that rookie Trevard Lindley -- who has been a healthy scratch more often than not -- would see a lot of playing time in the nickel. And for those who don't pay close enough attention, the Eagles probably run the nickel more than 50 percent of the time.

Jorrick Calvin and Brandon Hughes would be next in line should the Eagles play in a dime package, but it's likely the team would call on third safety Kurt Coleman before they resort to either of those guys.

If Dixon can't go, (and, like Samuel, no one is quite sure if he can or not) Brodrick Bunkley would step in and become the starter once again. Bunkley has seen a lot of time in a rotation and has been the starter for a few years now, so there's not too much cause for concern there.

That would just leave Bunkley and Mike Patterson as the starters with Trevor Laws rotating in on passing situations or to give either guy a break.

With Parker and Dixon out, it's also possible that third-round pick Daniel Te'o-Nesheim could be active for only the third time this season and the first time since facing Tennessee in Week 7.

The replacements should be good enough to slow down an already-weak offense. The problem is that the Bears' defense has shown they're more than capable of slowing down a good offense, so Chicago's offense might not need to do a whole lot of scoring to pull out a win.

For an UPDATE on this story, click here.

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King Dunlap, Ellis Hobbs to Miss Week 9 vs. Colts

Written By Bob Cunningham On Friday, November 05, 2010 Comments

Hobbs' absence could give Patterson a chance to shine.


After not practicing all week, backup left tackle King Dunlap and cornerback Ellis Hobbs have been officially ruled out for the Eagles' Week 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Dunlap had been starting in Jason Peters' absence, but Peters is expected to start against the Colts so Dunlap was going to head back to the bench anyway. He has proven to be a valuable backup, but now the undrafted free agent Austin Howard will be the guy called upon should Peters have a setback in the coming weeks.

Hobbs, as we knew, was already ruled out as a starter. The team hadn't ruled out the possibility of him perhaps playing in a reserve role, but Hobbs will sit this one out and open up some playing time for rookie Trevard Lindley.

Lindley is expected to see time when the defense goes to its dime set and could even platoon with Dimitri Patterson as the man across from Asante Samuel on the right side.

As for the rest of the Eagles' injury report, Peters (knee), wide receiver DeSean Jackson (concussion), defensive end Juqua Parker (hip), defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley (elbow), reserve lineman Nick Cole (knee), defensive end Brandon Graham (ankle), and quarterback Michael Vick (rib) were all listed as probable.

There were not any players listed as questionable or doubtful, and everyone listed as probable is expected to play barring any setbacks. Of the seven listed, only Cole is either not a starter or expected to see a lot of time in a rotational role.

Outside of Hobbs, the Eagles will have every one of their starters available to them, which is obviously very important when playing a quality team like the Colts. But if it takes Vick, Jackson, and Peters too long to get back into the swing of things after missing some time it still might not be enough.

The offense is going to have to score a lot of point on the arm of Vick and the rest of the offense if they're going to out-duel Peyton Manning -- recently ranked as the eighth-based player in NFL history by NFL Films' Top 100 series -- and even the slightest mistake due to an injury or otherwise could mean a .500 record for the Birds after eight weeks.

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Michael Vick "100 percent," DeSean Jackson Practices

Written By Bob Cunningham On Wednesday, November 03, 2010 Comments

Vick and Jackson make this a completely different team.


When the Eagles' injury report came out on Wednesday, there were only two names on it. Ellis Hobbs and King Dunlap both missed practice, but everyone else was a full participant. Obviously that would include quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver DeSean Jackson -- two guys the team has missed dearly.

Vick missed nearly three entire games, and Jackson missed nearly two games. Were it not for the bye week during Week 8, both guys would have likely missed another game.

But now Vick is saying he's "100 percent" and ready to go Sunday, and Jackson seems like he is, at the very least, nearly ready to go.

"I don't have any aches anywhere on my body, no pain, no soreness, no swelling," Vick said Wednesday. "The bye week really did a wonder for me."

Jackson also participated fully in practice Wednesday and has passed all of his concussions tests, but was non-committal when asked if he would play against the Colts.

"I don’t know yet," Jackson said Wednesday. "We'll see. Go out through the week. We'll see how I do and things like that. Still, it's only Wednesday, so we still have a couple of days to get a feel for how I'm doing."

Since he's passed his tests and is practicing without any restrictions, I don't think it's a stretch to say Jackson will be on the field absent a huge setback.

Another injured big-name player, defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, also practiced without any limitations on Wednesday, although he did wear a sleeve on his elbow. It looks like Bunkley is going to play against the Colts, but whether or not he starts is another story.

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Eagles Work Out Veteran Defensive Tackle

Written By Bob Cunningham On Tuesday, October 19, 2010 Comments

Pitcock is trying to continue his resurgence in Philly.


With Brodrick Bunkley likely still a couple weeks away from returning, the Eagles worked out former third-round pick Quinn Pitcock according to Adam Caplan.

Pitcock was the Indianapolis Colts' third-round pick in 2007, but suddenly retired after only one year with the team for "personal reasons." As it turns out, those reasons were a bout with depression, for which he used video games as an outlet.

As ridiculous as that sounds, we're not hear to pass judgment. Depression is clearly a very serious issue that we don't fully understand quite yet. But why, after going through something similar with Shawn Andrews, would the Eagles decide this is the guy they were going to look at as a possible fill-in?

And more to the point, why would the team sign a free agent rather than promoting rookie Jeff Owens off the practice squad if they're that concerned with only having three defensive tackles?

There was a lot of hype about Pitcock coming out of college, but it seems as though sitting out of football set him back substantially.

The Colts were reportedly very excited about his potential before the 2008 season, but the Seattle Seahawks brought him on board to help kick-start his return to the league and wound up cutting him during the final cut-downs on September 4th.

The move to bring Pitcock in for a workout could mean the coaching staff wasn't as impressed with Owens as they let on, but if that was the case he likely wouldn't have made it through all the practice squad shuffles.

There's no indication Pitcock will be offered a contract, so the team is probably just doing its due diligence and keeping all options open.

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Brodick Bunkley's Season Might Not Be Over

Written By Bob Cunningham On Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Comments

Bunkley might be good to go for the season after all.


Contrary to initial reports, Eagles' defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley might not have to miss the entire season. In fact, according to head coach Andy Reid, Bunkley might not even need surgery and could play as soon as this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

Bunkley apparently met with Dr. James Andrews (the guy who seemingly does every surgery for any athlete regardless of sport) for a second opinion. I'm not quite sure why he wouldn't be the first guy Bunkley would see, but either way Andrews told him avoiding surgery and simply rehabbing the elbow might work and save his season.

"Dr. Andrews said he's had some guys who had worse injuries and played through them and other guys whose injuries weren't as bad but couldn’t play through them," Reid said via Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. "It's just different for everybody, so we'll see. We'll rehab him and see how it goes. Yesterday, it didn't look good. But he has a chance to get back out there.

"Right now, the swelling is down, and he's not in a lot of pain. He won’t practice (Wednesday), but beyond that, we'll just have to see."

I'd be shocked if Bunkley practiced or played at all this week, but just the fact that it's a possibility is exciting. The defense is already in enough trouble with Bunkley on the field. Losing him for the season would have all-but ensured one disaster game after another.

But what about the first doctor who said Bunkley would have to miss the season? He must have gone to medical school and have a degree as well, so how is there such a huge difference of opinion regarding Bunkley's elbow?

Quite honestly, I'm not sure how to answer that. Unlike those gentlemen, I do not have a medical degree, but I would assume it's just a higher degree of optimism in Andrews than in the first doctor Bunkley saw.

Either way, I choose to side with Andrews. Mainly because a) it's better for the team, and b) I know his name so he must be pretty damn good.

My guess is we won't know for sure until the inactives are announced an hour and a half before the Eagles' game on Sunday. The team had apparently told practice squad rookie Jeff Owens that he would be getting called up to the active roster, but that likely won't happen unless Bunkley is placed on IR.

Since that appears unlikely, the Birds will probably just ride out this next game with what they've got and hope for Bunkley's return next week against the Titans, or more likely Week 9 after the bye.

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Should the Eagles Trade for Albert Haynesworth?

Written By Bob Cunningham On Monday, October 11, 2010 Comments

Is there any chance Haynesworth becomes an Eagle?


I cannot be the first person who had this thought.

The Eagles are likely down a starting defensive tackle, and there's a former All-Pro defensive tackle on the trading block. Sure, that guy is headcase Albert Haynesworth, but should that stop the Eagles from pursuing the trade?

Blockbuster trades are not usually something in which the Eagles partake, but they have done it in the past when they felt it was necessary. They traded for Terrell Owens in 2004, and most recently traded Donovan McNabb within the division to the team that reluctantly employs Haynesworth.

In between they have pulled a lot of smaller trades here and there (Billy McMullen for Hank Baskett, picks for Ernie Sims, Antwan Barnes, and Reggie Wells, a trade deadline move for linebacker Will Witherspoon, etc.), so while they try to stay away from trades, they're clearly not opposed to pulling their fair share.

But, again, would it be wise to add Haynesworth to that list of trades?

As mentioned before, Haynesworth has shown the ability to play like an All-Pro. In the Tennessee Titans' 4-3 scheme he was able to play inside at tackle, outside at end, and switch from side to side.

He was a run-stuffer and also a pass-rushing presence that opened a lot of possibilities for the guys playing beside and around him. That ability earned Haynesworth Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods in 2007 and 2008 as he racked up 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 73 tackles.

Needless to say, that's a guy the Eagles could really use.

Unfortunately, out of Haynesworth's nine-year career, he's only played at an All-Pro level for two seasons -- both of which were contract years. So unless the Eagles can get Haynesworth to agree to one-year deals year after year, he likely will only produce like a middle-of-the-road player but demand to be paid like a superstar.

And if you think for a second that's a player Reid would ever have on his team, then you haven't paid attention to the NFL or the Eagles for very long.

In fact, there were rumors that Haynesworth was offered up as a part of the McNabb trade and the Eagles essentially told the Redskins "thanks, but no thanks."

So while the Eagles likely won't trade for Haynesworth, should they? Or in other words, is Reid's resistance to a player like Haynesworth ultimately a mistake?

Many will say yes, but I don't believe so.

Reid has made it very clear he's going to build a young team, and Haynesworth doesn't fit into that. Giving up draft picks for a guy like Haynesworth might help them win this season, but they're not built to win this season so ultimately the trade would turn out to be a waste.

Brodrick Bunkley will be back next year, and then the team would be left with three starting defensive tackles, but one would be very unhappy as he hits the bench. Unhappy players create controversy and, even though you wouldn't know it by watching the quarterback situation, Reid avoids controversy at all costs.

The more likely scenario is the Birds ride out this "re-tooling" year with Mike Patterson and a rotation of Trevor Laws and Antonio Dixon, while Haynesworth and the Redskins organization pretend they can stand one another.

There's a possibility Haynesworth finishes the 2010 season in a different uniform, but there's almost zero chance Haynesworth is part of a second intradivisional trade between the Eagles and their rivals down the interstate.

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Brodrick Bunkley to Have Season-Ending Elbow Surgery

Written By Bob Cunningham On Monday, October 11, 2010 Comments

Losing Bunkley would be a huge blow to the defense.


Early in the Eagles' Week 5 game against the San Francisco 49ers, defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley was forced to leave the game and head to the locker room. He had been hit by a teammate while both were trying to make a tackle, and his elbow bent sideways and backward in a rather unnatural fashion.

Now, according to head coach Andy Reid, Bunkley will be forced to have surgery and will likely miss the rest of the season. Reid, as always, was non-committal on whether or not Bunkley would actually wind up on IR, but that seems to be the popular opinion.

In Bunkley's absence, Trevor Laws and Antonio Dixon will likely start in a rotation next to Mike Patterson. The team could go out and sign another tackle if they put Bunkley on IR, but it's more likely they'll use Laws, Dixon, and Patterson as the primary tackles and bump Brandon Graham or Darryl Tapp inside on passing downs.

The Eagles' seventh-round pick Jeff Owens is also available to them on the practice squad, but they'd probably like to keep him there. If they felt he was ready to contribute, he likely would have made the active roster.

With the way Laws has stepped up his game this season, the team probably isn't panicking too much. They will, however, need a lot more production out of middle linebacker Stewart Bradley if they're going to fix their woes defending the run.

Bunkley seemed to be the only guy actually doing his part in that respect, and with him gone there will be a lot more blockers getting their hands on Bradley. Hopefully the first five weeks of the season were just a warm-up for Bradley and he's ready to get back to his 2008 form.

In other injury news...

Reid said left tackle Jason Peters was unable to put weight on his knee after the Eagles' 27-24 win over the 49ers Sunday night, and said the tackle does have some ligament damage. Reid did, however, sound optimistic that Peters would be able to go Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

If Peters can't go, the start would either go to King Dunlap or Todd Herremans could be slid out to left tackle and Reggie Wells could get the start at left guard.

Also, Asante Samuel and Riley Cooper are expected to be available next week while Michael Vick's status remains up in the air.

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John Henderson Unlikely to Become an Eagle

Written By Bob Cunningham On Saturday, May 08, 2010 Comments

Henderson doesn't appear likely wind up in Philly.


All across the blogosphere there seems to be rumors of John Henderson finding his way to Philadelphia and entering the rotation at defensive tackle with Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson.

However, it's highly unlikely Henderson even gets a sniff from the Eagles much less a visit, a contract, and playing time. It's not even necessarily a knock on Henderson -- a guy who has been to a couple Pro Bowls and was once considered a premier defensive tackle -- as much as it is a testament to how the Birds feel about the guys they've got.

It's obvious why they like what they have in Bunkley and Patterson. Both guys have been very good run-stuffers and, perhaps with any sort of pass-rush from the left side and a solid linebacking corps behind them, they can finally elevate their game to the next level.

Trevor Laws was a second-round pick a couple years ago (and in fact was taken two spots before DeSean Jackson), and the Eagles refuse to give up on him just yet. They believe he can be the inside pass-rush they've been looking for, and will give him at least one more year to make an impact before moving on.

But the biggest reason why Henderson won't wind up in Philly is Antonio Dixon. Dixon was the forgotten man a lot last year, but he always seemed to be making plays when they needed him to. Whether it was getting a pass-rush or playing the run, Dixon was impressive in his rookie season and looks to see an extended role in 2010.

Right now he's the third tackle and the Birds have a lot of faith that he can turn into a playmaker one day; They have so much faith, in fact, that they're going to ignore the urge to go out and sign a guy like Henderson who has been so dominant in the past.

Patterson, Bunkley, Dixon, and Laws will probably be the four defensive tackles, so there's really no room for Henderson. He doesn't fit the youth movement taking place, and he would certainly want far more money than the Eagles would ever be willing to pay him.

They might kick around the idea of bringing in Henderson if one of those four were to get injured, but even then the spot would most likely go to Jeff Owens, a seventh-round pick out of Georgia.

Either way, it doesn't look like there's going to be a scenario that ends with Henderson in Philly.

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Eagles Will Need More From Patterson and Bunkley

Written By Bob Cunningham On Saturday, April 10, 2010 Comments

Bunkley will be counted on for an inside pass-rush.


In 2008, both Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley were being discussed as two of the best up-and-coming young defensive tackles in the league. As a tandem, they were being discussed as a top five duo.

However, both seemed to regress a step or two in 2009. Neither played poorly, but it wasn't nearly the production we were all used to saying from the duo in '08. Everyone kept waiting to see the duo that stuffed Brandon Jacobs and Eli Manning on separate fourth down attempts, but those players never showed up.

And it's not just the run game. Neither guy has been able to get a consistent pass-rush up the middle since they first arrived as first-round picks, forcing Jim Johson/Sean McDermott to use an odd third-down package involving defensive ends playing on the inside.

It's a package that's highly susceptible to the run, and ideally would be avoided altogether. But in today's NFL, a pass-rush is simply too vital to leave Patterson and Bunkley on the field on obvious passing downs if they're not going to be able to get to the quarterback.

In 2010, the Eagles will need to get more of a pass-rush from the duo, first and foremost. They have shown that they are capable of playing the run and that will come back as the players around them get healthier and the talent increases, but they've never shown the ability to get a pass-rush.

That was mainly the idea behind drafting Bunkley. Patterson was a run-stuffer at USC and not expected to get an inside pass-rush, but that's why Bunkley was brought it. He always had a quick first step at Florida State and it figured to translate to the NFL. It hasn't, and now the Eagles are looking for answers.

Trevor Laws was drafted in the second round to provide an inside pass-rush, but that has been an absolute misfire as Laws has been a non-factor since day one.

Rotations, at every position, are all the rage in the NFL today, but a duo of two-down defensive tackles will kill this defense. If this unit is going to take the next step, they will need Bunkley and Patterson to provide more of a pass-rush.

Sacks aren't even necessary -- simply getting in the quarterbacks face will be enough.

Both Patterson and Bunkley can be top-flight, elite defensive tackles in this league, but they're going to have to show a commitment to taking that next step if they want to keep their jobs past next season.

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Should Eagles Consider Position Change for Bradley?

Written By Bob Cunningham On Saturday, February 06, 2010 Comments

Would Stewart Bradley be more useful elsewhere?


I don't mean I want Stewart Bradley moved to wide receiver or have him take over at corner when Sheldon Brown moves to safety, but should the Eagles consider moving Bradley out of the MIKE position and slide him over to SAM?

Strong-side linebacker has been a problem for this team ever since Carlos Emmons left and headed to New York earlier this decade. The Chris Gocong experiment did not work the way they thought it would, and now the Birds are once again left with no answers at SAM.

However, Bradley is a guy who fits perfectly. He's got a rare combination of size (6'4, 254) and athleticism that would allow him to not only play the run on the strong side, but able to cover even the upper echelon of tight ends.

Let's also not forget that SAM is not uncharted territory for Bradley. In fact, he played SAM linebacker at Nebraska, and it was the move to MIKE that was actually the gamble for Bradley.

But as is usually the case, a solution to one problem only brings up more problems. The obvious one being, who would then move into the middle?

It's not ideal, but if the Birds were to draft Navorro Bowman with their first round pick, they could play him immediately at WILL and move Witherspoon into the MIKE spot again. It's not ideal because Witherspoon isn't quite big enough (6'1, 235) to play middle linebacker, but he's smart and quick enough to make up for it.

Not only that, but even in a down year Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson are still very good at eating up blocks and not allowing the guards to get to the second level.

I would rather see the Birds pick up a guy who can play SAM, or perhaps see Moise Fokou flourish and be able to cover the tight ends, but I just don't see it happening. For next year, the Birds could do very well with a trio of Bowman, Witherspoon, and Bradley.

Even Akeem Jordan at WILL (if the Birds don't draft Bowman) would work out just fine.

I'm drawing the line. I'm personally sick and tired of seeing tight ends gouge this defense and if it means moving Bradley to SAM to make it stop, then I'm all for it.

Will he be able to run as well as he did before the knee injury? I'm not sure, no one is, but it's a risk I would certainly be happy to see them take in an effort to stop the tight ends.

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Eagles Facing a Make-Or-Break 2010: Trevor Laws

Written By Bob Cunningham On Thursday, January 28, 2010 Comments

2010 is a make-or-break season for Trevor Laws.


The Eagles drafted Trevor Laws in the second round back in 2008 with the hopes that he could be a good addition to an already-impressive defensive tackle tandem in Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley, and maybe even push one of them for some starting snaps.

It goes without saying that it has not happened yet. In fact, Laws seemingly took steps backwards in his second season and was a non-factor all season long. He didn't have any meaningful stats and was even a healthy scratch for the last month of so of the season.

Laws was -- unbelievably -- taken two spots before the Eagles' young superstar DeSean Jackson, but he hasn't even been able to replicate Jacksons snaps or games played, much less his production.

His rookie season seemed promising as Laws was getting more and more snaps as the season went on. He would come in and relieve either Patterson or Bunkley, and because he's a quicker tackle, was even helping get a pass-rush up the middle outside of the Eagles' nickel package.

He seemed to be progressively getting better and better, but there were no big plays to speak of or anything to really make him stand out. However, there wasn't anything like that for Bunkley in his rookie season either, so there was no reason to panic.

But this offseason, I saw him working out day after day with the trainers off to the side with the walking wounded. He was injured for a good portion of training camp, and though he seemed to be moving well enough as far as I could see, day after day he was missing more and more practices.

Missing practice could have been the reason for his lack of production, or it could have been a lingering injury, but either way he wasn't nearly productive enough for the Eagles and is now facing a crossroads in his career.

Next year will be his third season, and if he doesn't produce, the Eagles could let him walk once his rookie contract is up. In order to avoid that, Laws is going to have to show that he has the power and quickness to make an impact and get a pass-rush up the middle. That's why he was drafted, and if he can't do it, he will be shown the door.

Andy Reid hasn't had much success with second round picks over the years (Matt McCoy, Barry Gardener, Quinton Caver, Victor Abiamiri, etc.), so seeing Laws fail to make an impact wouldn't exactly be a surprise, though it would be a disappointment.

Laws certainly has the talent to produce at this level, so as long as he stays healthy and is able to participate in training camp this season, my personal belief is that Laws will produce the way they expect him to, and that he will make an already-impressive defensive tackle tandem in Patterson and Bunkley even better.

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Brodrick Bunkley, Akeem Jordan Heading In Different Directions

Written By Bob Cunningham On Friday, December 04, 2009 Comments

Losing Jordan hurts, but having Bunkley is good news.


Brodrick Bunkley will most likely play this Sunday, but Akeem Jordan will most likely continue to watch from the sideline.

Bunkley suffered an ankle sprain last Sunday against the Washington Redskins, but defensive coordinator Sean McDermott says he expects Bunkley to be at 100 percent come game time. It's still possible that he could wind up sitting out, but should remain probable.

Jordan, on the other hand, ran with the scout team Wednesday while participating fully in drills. Thursday saw a setback for Jordan who was limited in drills and didn't even run with the scout team. He will most likely be ruled out for the game Sunday around game-time.

"We're on a day-to-day basis right now with Akeem, same as like we were last week with Akeem," McDermott said before practice on Thursday. "I think he did some things yesterday in practice and looked good."

It's a good sign that he'll return next week when the Eagles head to the Meadowlands to face the Giants, but doesn't give much hope that he'll play this week in Atlanta.

In his place, Will Witherspoon will most likely play WILL again with Joe Mays and Jeremiah Trotter rotating in the middle. Chris Gocong will stay at SAM.

Losing Jordan for another week is huge, but hopefully it won't prove to be as costly as the loss of Matt Ryan for the Falcons, along with the potential loss of RB Michael Turner, WR Michael Jenkins, and RG Harvey Dahl.

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Questions Surrounding the Eagles - Part 2 - The Defense

Written By Bob Cunningham On Monday, July 27, 2009 Comments

The Eagles defense swarms to stop Kevin Faulk.


Every year there are questions surrounding not only the team as a whole, but each player individually.

These questions are the ones that will determine the player's year, or rather, the answers will determine the year.

The defense has a ton of expectations to meet not only for themselves as a unit, but individually and to the fans, media, and coaches. The answers to the questions as individuals will shape the defense as a whole.



Trent Cole

Q: Can he become the great pass-rusher that he has shown flashes of becoming?

A: Overall, I would say that Trent Cole is a top five defensive end in the league. If not, he's sure close to it. However that's overall play, as a pass-rusher he may not make it into the top ten. He's got to prove that he can beat the great left tackles in this league before he's called a great pass-rusher. He's got Jordan Gross Week 1.


Mike Patterson

Q: Can he step up his game even further, finding himself in the Pro Bowl?

A: He was on the verge of a Pro Bowl last year, so I would say it's reasonable to expect a Pro Bowl-caliber season out of him again this year. He's really stepped up his play in the middle, he just needs to become a bit more consistent rushing the passer.


Brodrick Bunkley

Q: Can Bunkley becoming the inside pass rush the Eagles expected him to become?

A: With the weight that he's put on to become the run-stuffer that he is, I don't see it happening. He's still got a decent inside push, but I don't see him becoming a Corey Simon-type pass-rushing tackle. However if he can keep plugging the run the way he has, he'll hear no complaints from me.


Juqua Parker

Q: Can he fend off Abiamiri and keep his starting job again in 2009?

A: I believe that he can. Honestly I thought he might have kept his job even before Abiamiri got injured. But now with Abiamiri down until mid-August, the job is Parker's. I don't believe that the Eagles coaching staff feels they can rely on Abiamiri anymore as this is his second untimely injury in as many years.


Darren Howard

Q: Can he ignore his age and have another superb year rushing the passer?

A: As long as Howard is only relied upon for about 15 snaps a game, I think he can keep this up for another year. He showed last year that he's able to transition from being a speed-rusher to finding ways to beat guys with great defensive moves. Whether lined up at end or tackle, Howard gets the job done.


Trevor Laws

Q: Can he pushed Bunkley and Patterson for more playing time?

A: In his second year, the Eagles certainly hope so. He wasn't brought in to start any games, but with the rotation that the Eagles run they would certainly love for him to command about the same amount of time throughout the game. I'm not sure if he's ready for that much time, but he'll see a significant increase in time this year.


Dan Klecko

Q: Can he show that he belongs on this team?

A: Unfortunately Klecko may be the victim of a numbers game. The Eagles probably don't want to keep four DT's, so Klecko is going to have to show that his versatility makes him too valuable of a commodity. That means perhaps showing the he can rush the passer and still play some offense in an emergency situation.


Victor Abiamiri

Q: Can he get healthy and show that he has what it takes to start in this league?

A: The Eagles coaching staff seems willing to hand him the job, but he keeps hurting himself and showing that he can't be trusted to stay healthy. I don't see him starting this year, but if he takes advantage of the snaps that he does get, he could certainly become a starter for the 2010 season.


Bryan Smith

Q: Is he too small to be playing defensive end in the NFL?

A: Out of a tiny school, McNeese State if I'm not mistaken, Smith dominated against inferior talent, and size. At 6'1 and about 235 pounds he's built more like a linebacker, and more be forced to move if he wants to keep a job in the NFL. He didn't see a single snap last year, but I see that changing in '09.


Chris Clemons

Q: Can he take some time away from the starters on either end?

A: Clemons showed flashes of the player that the Eagles thought they were getting in the offseason last year at the end of the season, and they're hoping he can carry that momentum over into this season. He's a great speed presence on the edge and I do believe will see some significant playing time in '09.


Chris Gocong

Q: Can he take the next step in becoming a great linebacker?

A: Gocong has shown that he's a solid linebacker, but not much more than that. He's a pretty sure tackler and isn't bad in coverage, but he hasn't shown a real strength area. After racking up 23.5 sacks (in one year) at Cal-Poly, he hasn't been used much on the blitz. From what we've seen, Gocong may be close to his ceiling.


Stewart Bradley

Q: Can he become the next great Eagles middle linebacker?

A: The Eagles have a history of some good middle linebackers in Jeremiah Trotter, Chuck Bednarik, and Byron Evans. A lot of people expect Bradley to be added to that list. He has the skill, the size, and the intelligence to make it happen, and I believe that he will. He's got the factors, once he puts them together it will be special.


Akeem Jordan

Q: Can he progress enough to keep his starting spot in 2009?

A: Jordan supplanted Omar Gaither last season after the "Baltimore Debacle" and never looked back. He played very well, but Gaither is a guy who has started here before and in order to keep him on the bench Jordan will have to show that he's polished in his knowledge of the playbook and his skill on the field.


Tank Daniels

Q: Can Daniels steal some time away from Gocong?

A: Daniels, in his second stint with the Eagles, has always been primarily a special teams guy. He said this year, however, he wants to see some time at linebacker. I like him as an athlete, but not having seen him play the position, we don't know if he put that athleticism to use. If Gocong doesn't step up, I'd like to see Daniels get a shot.


Joe Mays

Q: Can Mays make his mark on special teams and maybe earn some defensive time?

A: "The Headbuster," as he's called in the locker room, made a few heads turn with his crushing hits in last year's preseason, but unfortunately for him that only equated to special teams time. Mays is a hard-hitting guy who can play fast, but having Bradley in front of him hurts. He may have to move to the outside to see some time.


Omar Gaither

Q: Can he push Akeem Jordan out and earn his starting spot again?

A: For my money, I like Gaither out at the WILL more than I like Jordan. I think Jordan is a good player, but Gaither has been starting somewhere on this linebacking corps since his rookie year, so he knows what he's doing. He's an experienced guy that I think a young group really needs on the field.


Asante Samuel

Q: Can he dive deeper into the system and play even better than he did in '08?

A: I absolutely believe that we'll see an even better year out of Samuel. Yes the defense may change a bit, but it's basically the same thing with McDermott. Another year in the defense gives Samuel a complete understanding of it and will allow him to take more chances and make some bigger and better plays in '09.


Ellis Hobbs

Q: Can Hobbs show that he deserves to start, or is he destined for the nickel?

A: I think even with Sheldon Brown being unhappy about his deal, he will remain the starter opposite Samuel, and rightfully so. However with Hobbs the Eagles are in great position with their corners. They will have a former number two guy in Hobbs playing the nickel, and a nickel guy in Joselio Hanson playing the dime. They should be set.


Joselo Hanson

Q: Can he challenge Hobbs for the nickel position?

A: He may see some time in the nickel, but I do think he will primarily be relegated to dime duties. He showed a lot of promise last season, but all of the guys in front of him are established vets. Of course, the Eagles are paying him $5 million a year, and may not want that sitting the bench. Expect a rotation, with Hobbs getting the majority.


Sheldon Brown

Q: Can he put his contract squabbles aside and have another successful year?

A: A lot of times players with contract squabbles go to one extreme or the other. Either they play the greatest season of their career, or the worst. Brown seems like a guy who's leaning towards the first option simply because that's his character, but who would be surprised to see the latter? This is why Hobbs is an Eagle.


Macho Harris

Q: Is he a cornerback, or is he a safety?

A: Personally I think I'd like Harris at safety, but the Eagles are going to give him an opportunity at corner. If he can't stick with the guys on the edge, they'll most certainly move him inside and groom his at free safety.


Quintin Mikell

Q: Can he step up and fill the leadership void left by Brian Dawkins?

A: Absolutely. Mikell is not the vocal leader that Dawkins is/was, but he will lead by example. He's a hard-hitting, physical kind of guy and that always has an impact on the other ten guys with whom he's playing. I expect Mikell to earn his first Pro Bowl nod, and perhaps even an All-Pro team appearance.


Sean Jones

Q: Can he show that he deserves time at either free or strong safety?

A: If the Eagles are smart, they'll move Mikell to his natural position at free safety and insert a proven guy like Jones as the starter at strong safety. 14 picks over three years doesn't lie, the guy is an absolutely ballhawk. I would love to see him on the field as much as possible.


Rashad Baker

Q: Can Baker push Quintin Demps/Sean Jones for some playing time or backup role?

A: Baker is a hero in Philadelphia before he stepped foot in the city. He was the guy who picked off Jeff Garcia last year, ensuring a Raiders win and an Eagles playoff berth. However, Baker will have to fight just to stay on this team. I'm not sure that he'll make it with Macho Harris probably becoming a safety.


Jack Ikegwuonu

Q: Can he put his legal troubles aside and show all the talent he supposedly has?

A: Icky is the most perplexing player on this team. From what we've heard, he should have been a first-round pick, but the injury prevented that. His legal troubles are behind him, and now he has to show that potential. Who knows what he will do, but hopefully he comes to camp focused and with a chip on his shoulder.


Quintin Demps

Q: Can he put a bad NFC Championship game behind him and earn a starting spot?

A: I like Demps, but as I said with Sean Jones, I don't believe it's his time. I think Jones should start at strong with Mikell at free, leaving Quintin Demps as a backup to both guys, and the starter as kick returner. He will eventually be a starter, and a good one, but he's a bit young and there are some better options at this point.


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State of Eagles' Defense - Part 3 - Defensive Line

Written By Bob Cunningham On Tuesday, April 14, 2009 Comments
Last season the defensive line was good. Not great, but good. They helped lead the way for the third ranked defense in the NFL, and the best overall defense in the NFC. However, there is room for improvement.

Trent Cole is a Pro Bowl guy, and has been year in and year out. He’s been phenomenal during his career with the Eagles and is recognized throughout the league by offensive coordinators as a guy for whom they must gameplan.

He commands the double team, which should allow for other players to make plays. Unfortunately that has not happened as much as it should from the guys on the other side, specifically Juqua Parker.

Parker accounted for only five sacks last season, being overshadowed by Darren Howard who doubled that amount with 10. Chris Clemons, the third end, finished with one less than Parker with four.

In the Eagles’ Jim Johnson-led defense, no one player will have more than between 13-15 sacks because of all the rotation and various blitz packages for various players. But with that said, five is just simply not enough out of a guy who is supposed to be our starter opposite Cole.

Howard has had a resurgence and could, or rather should, overtake Parker for the starting role while limiting him to a backup status (which for this defense of rotation simply means Howard should start getting some of Parker’s snaps).

Clemons, Victor Abiamiri, and second-year man Bryan Smith should all push for more playing time at defensive end next year. A healthy Abiamiri and Smith will mean more fresh legs and more speed on the edge, allowing for more sacks in ‘09 than in ‘08.

No one should be shocked if the Eagles also decide to take a defensive end in the middle rounds, somewhere between the third and fifth.

Brodrick Bunkley was originally drafted to be an inside pass-rushing presence more than a run-stuffer, but it would appear as though the opposite has happened. Bunkley was only able to muster up two sacks last year (to put that into perspective Dan Klecko had two in the first three games he played defense - more on him later), but came on big in the running game.

Bunkley’s most memorable plays from last season would have to be his stuffs of Eli Manning and Brandon Jacobs on fourth-down plays in the playoffs.

Mike Patterson also suffered in the area of rushing the passer, coming up with zero sacks last season. That’s struggling at its best. However Patterson seems to be in the same boat as Bunkley in that he has come on very strong in stopping the run and being a huge presence in the middle.

In their defense, these guys do come off the field on third downs to make way for Johnson’s pass-rushing line consisting of Howard and Abiamiri in the middle.

However with that said, they still need to step up on first and second down to get pressure on the quarterback. If they show they can get to the passer, perhaps they can be left in on third down.

Trevor Laws was the Eagles’ first pick in the draft last year, going 47th overall in the second round. Laws seems to have a lot of potential and should find his way into some healthy playing time in the coming years if he can turn that potential into production when he gets the limited time he’ll likely be receiving for at least another year.

Dan Klecko will likely be coming back to his natural position, and that’s right where he belongs. Weaver is a significant upgrade at fullback, and I’m sure Klecko will be happy to bulk back up and play defense.

He played admirably, but what we saw was the best we were getting out of Klecko on offense. He showed promise last year as a defensive tackle, registering two sacks in the first three games before being switched to fullback.

Now Klecko can go back to defense while making the occasional appearance on offense inside the 20’s.

Overall this is a group filled with immense talent. Some of that talent when untapped last year and must be taken advantage of in 2009. The line is what makes this defense go, and without a good year from the line we Philly fans could go through a rather agonizing season.

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