AMERICAS_FAN
Active Member
- Messages
- 7,198
- Reaction score
- 0
Given that we have a bye-week this week, and that our next divisional opponent is the Eagles, I thought I'd start a thread about how we think their D will be affected by the loss of Kearse. The article below from the Philly web site sheds some light about how the Eagles plan to approach it. Supposedly they're not worried, and time will tell if they really should be or not. What concerns me is the depth they have on DL which allows for a rotation that keeps their guys fresh. This is particularly concerning to me because our OL still has yet to prove they can play consistently against above average DLines, and Philly's is above average AND deep. Has our OL really gotten better, or did we just look better against a marginal Reskins DLine, but will still struggle against better lines like the Jaguars? Food for thought....Here's the article ....
**
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Johnson: Nothing Changes
September 19, 2006
By CHRIS McPHERSON
[Eagles] Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson salivated at the potential for his defensive line before the start of the season. Two games into the season, that promise has been fulfilled with 12 of the team's 13 sacks. The Eagles are on a pace that would easily smash the mark of 29 sacks which the entire team had in 2005.
But not so fast. Defensive end Jevon Kearse, a key catalyst with 3.5 sacks, will not play another snap this season after he sprained multiple ligaments in his knee, including the medial collateral ligament, the lateral collateral ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament during Sunday's loss to the Giants.
How much impact will that have on Johnson's ferocious pass rush, which brought down Giants quarterback Eli Manning eight times? According to Johnson, it should not change things at all.
McDougle will take Kearse's place in the rotation
"It's not going to change," said Johnson. "We're going to continue to play eight defensive linemen and keep the rotation that we have. We might have some guys play a little bit more in that rotation."
Stepping in Kearse's spot in the rotation will be Jerome McDougle. It is ironic that an injury will provide McDougle with his chance to get on the field after injuries have sidelined the team's first-round pick in 2003 for most of his career. McDougle missed all of last season recovering from a gunshot wound incurred in a robbery attempt. He missed a good deal of this year's preseason with a fractured rib.
But McDougle is healthy and has been practicing for a few weeks now. McDougle was inactive for the first two games, but that was in large part due to the fact that Juqua Thomas plays a big role on special teams. Thomas' two sacks hasn't hurt him either. Johnson said that McDougle will not be the starter, he wants to talk to all of the players before naming one, but knows this is the opportunity that McDougle's been waiting for.
"He wants to be in that rotation," said Johnson. "He's looking forward to it and he's looking forward to playing. He hasn't played for a year. I think it's going to be a great opportunity for him and we're confident in him."
Johnson knew when the Eagles kept 10 defensive linemen on the final 53-man roster, it would be tough to keep everyone healthy for an entire season. After notching 15 sacks in his first two seasons in Philadelphia, Kearse was well on pace for a potential career-high season-season total. Twice Kearse has notched double digit totals in sacks including his career-high 14.5 as a rookie in 1999. Johnson is disappointed that he won't have Kearse in his arsenal, but he is more upset to see Kearse get injured because of the effort he was putting out on the field.
"I feel bad for him. He played his heart out," said Johnson. "He played really well the past two games. He's been around the quarterback besides the sacks. He's been pressuring the quarterback, causing fumbles. He was having an outstanding year."
With the addition of Darren Howard in free agency and tackles Brodrick Bunkley and LaJuan Ramsey in the draft, Johnson knew that would take some of the pressure off of Kearse. After McDougle's injury last season, the Eagles were forced to start rookie Trent Cole by the middle of 2005. Of course the playing time has helped propel Cole to his fast start of four sacks this season. Now the eyes will be on Howard who has yet to craft his first sack as an Eagle.
"I think it's just a matter of when he's going to get sacks," said Johnson. "He's had some good things besides pressures, he's playing on both sides and inside on our nickel package, he'll be fine."
Disappointed, yes. Worried, no. Johnson and the Eagles defensive line must move on because the season continues and the Eagles need to regroup before Sunday's battle in San Francisco.
**
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Johnson: Nothing Changes
September 19, 2006
By CHRIS McPHERSON
[Eagles] Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson salivated at the potential for his defensive line before the start of the season. Two games into the season, that promise has been fulfilled with 12 of the team's 13 sacks. The Eagles are on a pace that would easily smash the mark of 29 sacks which the entire team had in 2005.
But not so fast. Defensive end Jevon Kearse, a key catalyst with 3.5 sacks, will not play another snap this season after he sprained multiple ligaments in his knee, including the medial collateral ligament, the lateral collateral ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament during Sunday's loss to the Giants.
How much impact will that have on Johnson's ferocious pass rush, which brought down Giants quarterback Eli Manning eight times? According to Johnson, it should not change things at all.
McDougle will take Kearse's place in the rotation
"It's not going to change," said Johnson. "We're going to continue to play eight defensive linemen and keep the rotation that we have. We might have some guys play a little bit more in that rotation."
Stepping in Kearse's spot in the rotation will be Jerome McDougle. It is ironic that an injury will provide McDougle with his chance to get on the field after injuries have sidelined the team's first-round pick in 2003 for most of his career. McDougle missed all of last season recovering from a gunshot wound incurred in a robbery attempt. He missed a good deal of this year's preseason with a fractured rib.
But McDougle is healthy and has been practicing for a few weeks now. McDougle was inactive for the first two games, but that was in large part due to the fact that Juqua Thomas plays a big role on special teams. Thomas' two sacks hasn't hurt him either. Johnson said that McDougle will not be the starter, he wants to talk to all of the players before naming one, but knows this is the opportunity that McDougle's been waiting for.
"He wants to be in that rotation," said Johnson. "He's looking forward to it and he's looking forward to playing. He hasn't played for a year. I think it's going to be a great opportunity for him and we're confident in him."
Johnson knew when the Eagles kept 10 defensive linemen on the final 53-man roster, it would be tough to keep everyone healthy for an entire season. After notching 15 sacks in his first two seasons in Philadelphia, Kearse was well on pace for a potential career-high season-season total. Twice Kearse has notched double digit totals in sacks including his career-high 14.5 as a rookie in 1999. Johnson is disappointed that he won't have Kearse in his arsenal, but he is more upset to see Kearse get injured because of the effort he was putting out on the field.
"I feel bad for him. He played his heart out," said Johnson. "He played really well the past two games. He's been around the quarterback besides the sacks. He's been pressuring the quarterback, causing fumbles. He was having an outstanding year."
With the addition of Darren Howard in free agency and tackles Brodrick Bunkley and LaJuan Ramsey in the draft, Johnson knew that would take some of the pressure off of Kearse. After McDougle's injury last season, the Eagles were forced to start rookie Trent Cole by the middle of 2005. Of course the playing time has helped propel Cole to his fast start of four sacks this season. Now the eyes will be on Howard who has yet to craft his first sack as an Eagle.
"I think it's just a matter of when he's going to get sacks," said Johnson. "He's had some good things besides pressures, he's playing on both sides and inside on our nickel package, he'll be fine."
Disappointed, yes. Worried, no. Johnson and the Eagles defensive line must move on because the season continues and the Eagles need to regroup before Sunday's battle in San Francisco.
