Defense could be best in team history

[PhillyGirl]

Defense could be best in team history
By: JEFF OFFORD (Thu, Sep/08/2005)

PHILADELPHIA - Remember Blaine Bishop? Looked old, played older.
Remember Barry Gardner? Seemed as confused as a kindergartner in a 12th-grade algebra class.

Remember Greg Jefferson? Don't worry, nobody does.

As great as the Eagles' defense has been since coordinator Jim Johnson started calling the shots six years ago, it's certainly had its fair share of not-so-great players.

This season the Eagles are poised to feature one of their most complete defenses in franchise history. From top to bottom this version of Gang Green doesn't seem to have a weak spot.

    * A couple of honest to goodness pass rushers? It has it.

    * A line that can bottle up the middle? Has that, too.

    * Linebackers who not only plug gaps, but cover the pass and pressure the quarterback? Not a problem.

    * A secondary that, well, can do everything? Bingo.

"We understand exactly what Jim wants from us now,'' safety Brian Dawkins said. "All the new guys that played last year have a year under their belts and I think we're trying to take this thing to another level. We're trying to be one of the best, if not the best, defenses to play for this organization."

They have a shot.

Last year's defense enjoyed a very good season, and was probably the Eagles' best defense since 2001-2002, when the Birds almost kept the St. Louis Rams from going to the Super Bowl.

Last year the Eagles started young guns Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown at corner in place of all-pro vets Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor and didn't miss a beat. Sheppard ended up with five interceptions and a spot on the Pro Bowl team. And even though Brown didn't make the Pro Bowl, he had a good, all-around year.

At end, Jevon Kearse came on board as a free agent and racked up 7 sacks in the regular season and two more in the playoffs. The Eagles reshuffled their linebacking corps near midseason, axing Wayne and moving Trotter in the middle full time. The move played a key role in solidifying the rush defense.

Last year's defense gave up an average of 319 yards per game, third best in the NFC. They ranked sixth in the conference in running yards allowed and sixth in passing yards allowed.

This season those numbers could get even better.

"We have a lot of starters back, we have great communication, guys are playing well together,'' defensive tackle Darwin Walker said. "It's exciting right now.

"I think our defense is as good now as it's been since I've been here.''

The loss of Corey Simon could be a problem. Simon is considered one of the best defensive tackles in the league. Yet, throughout the preseason the Eagles defensive line has shown it doesn't need Simon to be productive.

Johnson, who uses the blitz like some people use coffee creamer, has had few complaints this summer. He isn't ready to proclaim this group his best ever, but the potential is there.

"It's preseason so I wish I could say that,'' Johnson said. "I think we are on a nice course right now as far as having a good preseason, but it's only preseason.

"There are certain things we need to get better at, but I'm pleased with certain aspects of the game."

[Wingspan]

Defense could be best in team history

i love this defense. but really i dont see them being better than 1991.

teams were flat out scared to face the eagles defense then.

[rjs246]

Top to bottom this defense is sick. Fast, strong, intelligent. Oh jesus, it needs to be Monday like right now.

[ice grillin you]

this article has to be from the website right??...this defense will be nowhere near as good as the gang green...it wont even be in the top three in the nfl this year...hell im on record as saying it wont be as good as the taterskins $$$$


*A couple of honest to goodness pass rushers? It has it.

good god i hope they arent talking about kalu as the the second one....kearse is a sick but thats all they got st DE

* A line that can bottle up the middle? Has that, too.

its possible this could be the case but you cant say the D automatically has this

* Linebackers who not only plug gaps, but cover the pass and pressure the quarterback? Not a problem.

what lb on this team pressures the qb?...trotter is a big time force the rest of them stink...this is their weak link by far

* A secondary that, well, can do everything? Bingo.

the secondary is ridiculous...cant say enough good things about them

[Larry]

If one of the RDEs to step up, this defense will truly be dominant.

[rjs246]

If if if ND is healthy and if if if he has figured out how to stay at home and defend the run, I will really like our DL. He is quite obviously the biggest question mark there and behind him are a whole lot of unknowns...

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

This offense has a better chance to be the best in Eagles history IMO.

[ice grillin you]

If one of the RDEs to step up, this defense will truly be dominant

they dont have the capability to be dominant because they dont have the playmakers at LB that is necessary to put a defense on another level...but i couldnt agree more that they need a good RDE...and if they had one they would be a top three D this year

its a lot to ask for but im hoping that by the end of the year trent cole will have turned into a passing down force off the end...i love the guy and think hes gonna be a stud however it may be a little soon to get that this year from him

[phattymatty]

I tend to disagree with his LB explanation.  I could name 20 teams with a better LB corps than ours.

[ice grillin you]

their lb's consist of trotter...a special teamer...and a bow tie wearing sand artist...doesnt exactly strike fear in opponents

[Larry]

This offense has a better chance to be the best in Eagles history IMO.

I agree.

With Spudz claiming that Parry will be playing less than 10% of the snaps, we'll be trotting out 3 WR/single RB sets as the base package.

There's a certain irony to that:  this is Joe Gibbs' dream offense.  This is the same type of alignment he ran in the Air Coryell days of SD and the early years of the taterskins:  3 speedy WRs, massive OL, versatile RB (Joe Washington was supposed to be the #1 RB according to Riggins, because he fit the Chuck Muncie mold), and a scrambling QB.

You have Owens that always needs to be doubled, a super-quick Lewis going up against the 3rd corner, Westbrook and the big OL running against a nickel defense (or do you go dime so you don't have a LB covering Westbrook  ), LJ running free in the seam, and McNabb as the dual threat (he does need to run more, IMO, to reestablish that threat; I believe defenses aren't respecting his running ability as they should).   

[LBIggle]

yah.. their probably jumping a gun a little bit on that.  the secondary is awesome.. agreed.  the lb's...  yah their about average. and the left side of the defensive line is good.  but there's no contain on the right side.  are we resting our hopes that mcdougle will come back from a gunshot wound and magically see the light this year.  im not.  sure this is nitpicking but if their going to be the best in the organizations history,their gonna  have to be pretty damn dominant in every aspect.

[hunt]

best in team history.......i say best in the history of the planet, maybe even the universe!

[General_Failure]

There's no way they're better than the Ant All-Stars from Netpune

[ice grillin you]

how long ago was this?