Hugs & Honors...Trotter's Unique Week

PhillyPhreak54 · October 27, 2005, 09:18:13 AM

QuoteHugs and honors: Trotter's unique week

The linebacker received two notable tributes for leading the Eagles' defense to a strong performance Sunday.

By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer

When cornerback Sheldon Brown stripped the football from San Diego's Reche Caldwell to secure the Eagles' win over the Chargers on Sunday, the CBS cameras caught a rare public show of emotion by Andy Reid.

As Jeremiah Trotter came off the field with the rest of the defense, the Eagles head coach grabbed his middle linebacker and hugged him.

"He just told me he was proud of me," Trotter said yesterday after the Eagles held their first practice in preparation for Sunday's road game against the Denver Broncos. "He said, 'You rallied the troops and ... you played like a champ.' I looked at him and said, 'I appreciate it.' He said, 'No, I'm serious. I'm really proud of you.' It meant a lot.

"That's not something Andy does a lot. When you go out and play well, he kind of expects it. That's your job, and that's why they bring you in. But he kind of knew the situation. I was kind of sick since Friday, and I was able to put all that aside. That's what leaders do. You can't let the guys around you see you down."

The league recognized Trotter's performance, which included a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and 11 tackles, by naming him the NFC defensive player of the week for the first time in his career.

"It's a nice thing, but it wouldn't have meant nothing if we hadn't got the win," Trotter said. "That was the most important thing."

Equally as important was that the Eagles' defense got back on track. After surrendering 84 points in their previous three games, the Eagles held the NFL's second-best scoring offense to just 17 points.

Of course, they also held all-pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson to a career-low 7 yards on 17 carries and stopped his streak of games with touchdowns at 18.

"We know the type of talent we have on this defense, and to struggle the way we did against Dallas and Kansas City for the first and second quarter, we know that wasn't us," Trotter said. "Against Oakland, they came back at the end of the game and had a couple of long drives against us. That's not us. We're a defense that starts fast and tries to shut teams down."

Trotter, as he always does, explained the Eagles' defensive resurrection in one word.

"Attitude," he said. "We took the approach after that big loss [in Dallas] that we needed to go back to the drawing board and work. It was a gut check, and we came in last week ready to work and focused on all the little things."

Though the Eagles' defense met the challenge of the Chargers and Tomlinson, the assignment this Sunday may be even more difficult. The Broncos (5-2) have won seven straight games at home. They are 4-0 this season at home, including wins over the New England Patriots and the Chargers. Denver averages 25 points per game at home.

"It's going to be the same situation as last week," Eagles safety Brian Dawkins said. "Their running backs are a little different. They pretty much hit it up inside, and their offensive line does a great job of blocking. They always have, and this year is no different."

The Broncos, who rank second in the NFL in rushing yards, have a double dose of dangerous backs. Veteran Mike Anderson and second-year back Tatum Bell have combined for 933 yards and six touchdowns. Bell is averaging 6.9 yards per carry.

"Their run game presents a problem," Trotter said. "The first step is to stop that."

Speaking of first steps, Dawkins believes that the Eagles' defense took a huge one against the Chargers.

"We were looking at the fact that we gave up all those yards and all those points for two straight games on top of losing to Dallas the way we did," Dawkins said. "That was very disheartening to all of us. We had a chip on our shoulders and went out to prove, not just to people outside this place, but to ourselves that we could go out and do something that many people didn't think we could do."

The Eagles' offense is in the same place the defense was after that game in Dallas. Quarterback Donovan McNabb and company have accounted for one touchdown and 13 points in the last two games. Trotter believes the offensive problems can be remedied the same way the defensive ones were against the Chargers: attitude in the Denver altitude.

"I talked to [offensive tackle] Tra Thomas today, and I told him: I think he's got the dog back," Trotter said. "He was talking noise and choking people for no reason [against San Diego]. That's the way you've got to be, man. You have to choke somebody for no reason - just because you feel like it. I'm glad he's got it back, because if anybody on that side of the ball is going to have it, it's going to be him.

rjs246 · October 27, 2005, 09:24:29 AM

I'm clearly in the wrong line of business if these guys get to choke people for no reason.

SunMo · October 27, 2005, 09:25:42 AM

Trot doesn't tell the part where Andy thanks him for saving his ass because he was screwing the pooch all day on offense

PoopyfaceMcGee · October 27, 2005, 09:59:09 AM

Quote from: rjs246 on October 27, 2005, 09:24:29 AM
I'm clearly in the wrong line of business if these guys get to choke people for no reason.

I wasn't aware you were built to play O-Line in the NFL.

rjs246 · October 27, 2005, 10:06:15 AM

Quote from: FFatPatt on October 27, 2005, 09:59:09 AM
I wasn't aware you were built to play O-Line in the NFL.

I weigh less than half of some (many) O-Linemen. But I like to choke fools. Does that count?

mussa · October 27, 2005, 10:12:05 AM

thats what i like to hear. go choke the shtein outta somebody! yea i agree the offense needs some attitude. lets all hope the eagles have a chip on their shoudlers this weekend. we are going to need it.

congrates to Trott. He played like a beast.

T_Section224 · October 27, 2005, 10:19:06 AM

Quote from: rjs246 on October 27, 2005, 10:06:15 AM
Quote from: FFatPatt on October 27, 2005, 09:59:09 AM
I wasn't aware you were built to play O-Line in the NFL.

I weigh less than half of some (many) O-Linemen. But I like to choke fools. Does that count?

sign him up. can't be any worse then some of the guys we're putting on the field, and certainly nastier then most...

MURP · October 27, 2005, 10:20:32 AM

hugs, not drugs.

Diomedes · October 27, 2005, 10:22:07 AM

Speak for yourself, hippy.

MURP · October 27, 2005, 10:25:49 AM

drugs, not hugs.

PhillyPhanInDC · October 27, 2005, 10:44:05 AM

Quote from: rjs246 on October 27, 2005, 09:24:29 AM
I'm clearly in the wrong line of business if these guys get to choke people for no reason.

What is shocking is that it took you this long to realize this. You could have been playing for the Ravens during your prime.

Feva · October 27, 2005, 10:58:11 AM

Quote from: rjs246 on October 27, 2005, 09:24:29 AM
I'm clearly in the wrong line of business if these guys get to choke people for no reason.

The knob slobbin' business isn't working out the way you'd hoped, huh?

rjs246 · October 27, 2005, 11:07:01 AM

Quote from: EagleFeva on October 27, 2005, 10:58:11 AM
Quote from: rjs246 on October 27, 2005, 09:24:29 AM
I'm clearly in the wrong line of business if these guys get to choke people for no reason.
The knob slobbin' business isn't working out the way you'd hoped, huh?

Ooooh! Snap! I got burned with a gay joke! I'm so zinged.

Tomahawk · October 27, 2005, 11:50:24 AM

Quote from: rjs246 on October 27, 2005, 11:07:01 AM
Quote from: EagleFeva on October 27, 2005, 10:58:11 AM
Quote from: rjs246 on October 27, 2005, 09:24:29 AM
I'm clearly in the wrong line of business if these guys get to choke people for no reason.
The knob slobbin' business isn't working out the way you'd hoped, huh?

Ooooh! Snap! I got burned with a gay joke! I'm so zinged.

And gay. So zinged and so gay.

BUUURRRN (along with T.O.)

shorebird · October 27, 2005, 10:08:17 PM

Congrats to Trot, we should all be glad he's back on this team, are you listening GF?

QuoteOf course, they also held all-pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson to a career-low 7 yards on 17 carries and stopped his streak of games with touchdowns at 18.

I'm still amazed by that stat everytime I read it.