ESPN Mosley: The Eagles have secondary issues

[WoodysGirl]

Jan 7
10:43
AM ET

By Matt Mosley


We've focused a lot this week on the Eagles' inability to score points against the Cowboys, but Philly's defense is also struggling. And while the linebackers seem to be a mess, the secondary may be the bigger problem.

Howard Smith/US PresswireMiscommunication and changes in personnel have hurt Quintin Mikell and the Eagles' secondary.


The Eagles have some ball-hawking cornerbacks who have contributed to the most interceptions of the Andy Reid era with 25. But the Eagles have also given up 27 touchdowns passes, which also leads the Reid era. Daily News NFL writer Paul Domowitch thinks it has a lot to do with a lack of continuity in the secondary.

Playing next to Brian Dawkins last season, safety Quintin Mikell had an excellent season. He was solid in coverage and also did a nice job of supporting the run. This season, he appears to be doing too much. Mikell was supposed to be helping over the top when Patrick Crayton appeared to beat cornerback Sheldon Brown for a touchdown in the first half of Sunday's game.

"I should've been over the top," Mikell told reporters Wednesday. "I was just out-thinking myself. I was trying to make a play. Sometimes that happens. It's happened too often with me this year, and it won't happen again. I've just got to stay within the scheme."

Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has started a variety of different lineups and he's not afraid to make wholesale changes between plays. But players say all the different lineups sometime lead to communication problems. I can remember at the end of the Chargers game, a defense was called that was supposed to have Mikell covering tight end Antonio Gates. For whatever reason, the call wasn't executed and Gates caught a game-sealing pass against Quintin Demps.

Domowitch said the Eagles have given up a league-leading 15 touchdown passes when they blitz. I realize the Eagles blitz more than most teams, but that's still a staggering number. That might explain why McDermott only blitzed about 30 percent of the time against Tony Romo last Sunday.

I don't know if you can make enough changes in six days, but perhaps the Eagles' defense will play more under control this Saturday night. Cornerback Asante Samuel's one of the best in the league, but his gambling ways have put the defense in a bind at times. In fact, two of his interception attempts last Sunday led to big plays for the Cowboys.

If the Eagles can't do a better job of executing Saturday, Romo will have another big game.

 

[casmith07]

I expect to see a double-move directed at Asante Samuel on Saturday. Probably will result in a big gainer or TD.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If the Eagles can't do a better job of executing Saturday, Romo will have another big game.

They won't and he will.

 

[Doomsday101]

I have said it many time the eagles CB are way too aggressive and teams who are able to use that aggressiveness against them can hit big plays on them.

 

[joseephuss]

I have said it many time the eagles CB are way too aggressive and teams who are able to use that aggressiveness against them can hit big plays on them.

I agree and will add that Dawkins is missed in that secondary. He was not only a good player, he was a good leader.

 

[Nexx]

I agree and will add that Dawkins is missed in that secondary. He was not only a good player, he was a good leader.

Dawkins had a damn good year in Denver too.

 

[alancdc]

Crayton ate 'em up last week in the slot, and I am glad they are looking his way some especially on 3rd downs!

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I expect Dallas to run on the Eagirls at will....

 

[BAT]

I expect to see a double-move directed at Asante Samuel on Saturday. Probably will result in a big gainer or TD.

Double moves are reserved for Sheldon Brown. Cowboys will be sending the run in Samuel's direction since he is known for his "business decisions".

 

[aikemirv]

I have said it many time the eagles CB are way too aggressive and teams who are able to use that aggressiveness against them can hit big plays on them.

I would guess that is a live and die by the blitz effect. You get used to the blitz being effective so gambling does not hurt.... until the blitz is not effective!

 

[AsthmaField]

I think Austin is going to have a monster game this Saturday. I think they do blitz more than last week, and that we will be ready for it. I can see Austin getting some catches as the hot route on a blitz and running for some serious YAC.

 

[wileedog]

I expect to see a double-move directed at Asante Samuel on Saturday. Probably will result in a big gainer or TD.

One of the radio guys in Philly (forgot which) said Asante was jumping routes all day long Sunday because he wanted no part of trying to have to tackle Austin or Witten.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I have said it many time the eagles CB are way too aggressive and teams who are able to use that aggressiveness against them can hit big plays on them.

Yep...Esp Samuels who loves to gamble. Sometimes it pays off for him, sometimes it does not. Both tend to result in big plays.

 

[CoCo]

Well the hallmark of Eagle defense for years has been gambling. Aggressive 2ndary play coupled with lots of QB pressure CAN result in 44-6. But if the heat doesn't get there, or the QB escapes, look-out!

When its working it makes the defense appear impenetrable. But there is a very fine line. I am not surprised that the loss of Dawkins and Jim Johnson has caused some struggles.

If our O-line & Romo takes care of business I don't know that their adjustments matter a whole lot.

 

[nalam]

Well the hallmark of Eagle defense for years has been gambling. Aggressive 2ndary play coupled with lots of QB pressure CAN result in 44-6. But if the heat doesn't get there, or the QB escapes, look-out!

When its working it makes the defense appear impenetrable. But there is a very fine line. I am not surprised that the loss of Dawkins and Jim Johnson has caused some struggles.

If our O-line & Romo takes care of business I don't know that their adjustments matter a whole lot.

This !

If our O-L and D-L do take care of their business in the trenches and play with discipline , Romo and D will excel and Eagles can't match it.

Dont over pursue , keep the play infront of you , dont panic if a play happens. Get rid of stupid drive killing penalties and take care of the ball. We will score enough for a comfortable win!

 

[28 Joker]

I give Matt Mosley credit. He states Samuel is one of the best CBs, and he highlights his gambling nature and how it can hurt his team at times.

If you don't watch Samuel play entire games, you will not realize that he gives up plays by gambling too much at times.

He hurt NE in that last Super Bowl. He dropped a pick and got beat when gambling.

Samuel has trouble covering in-cuts or routes that take him over the middle.

He's a good one for sure, though. He's dangerous due to his instincts and riverboat gambling nature.

 

[TruckDriver]

Pretty much, as far as Asante goes. He may be the best in the NFL at anticipating routes. His pick of that dolt Campbell in the last Birds-Skins game was a thing of beauty. He left his man and picked the ball in front of someone else. Thing was, he didn't even turn his head until the last minute.

But he gets killed once in awhile. That happened on Sunday on the Austin 40yd catch.

The biggest problem is the FS position. They did not replace Dawk. Macho Harris can run, but struggles with being physical against the run. Sean Jones will smack you in the mouth in the box (think your former boy Roy Williams) but doesn't exactly tear it up in coverage. And he goes for kill shots too much.

Quintin Mikell blew the coverage on Crayton's TD. He was supposed to be over the top to help Sheldon and freelanced. Bad move.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Pretty much, as far as Asante goes. He may be the best in the NFL at anticipating routes. His pick of that dolt Campbell in the last Birds-Skins game was a thing of beauty. He left his man and picked the ball in front of someone else. Thing was, he didn't even turn his head until the last minute.

But he gets killed once in awhile. That happened on Sunday on the Austin 40yd catch.

The biggest problem is the FS position. They did not replace Dawk. Macho Harris can run, but struggles with being physical against the run. Sean Jones will smack you in the mouth in the box (think your former boy Roy Williams) but doesn't exactly tear it up in coverage. And he goes for kill shots too much.

Quintin Mikell blew the coverage on Crayton's TD. He was supposed to be over the top to help Sheldon and freelanced. Bad move.

Samuels also had coverage against Witten on the first TD. He went for the pick and ended up giving up the touchdown.

We saw in the first game Asante flat out refusing to make tackles. Screens to his side of the field or a smoke route would certainly have a decent YAC.

 

[trueblue1687]

I expect to see a double-move directed at Asante Samuel on Saturday. Probably will result in a big gainer or TD.

Gambling corners are always suceptible to the dbl move. I can see Samuel falling for it more than once. He'll try to make up for a missed gamble and bite on another hoping for a quick pick.

 

[jobberone]

I expect to see a double-move directed at Asante Samuel on Saturday. Probably will result in a big gainer or TD.

Sometimes when you play with fire you get burned.