Domowitch: Demotions For Trotter & S. Brown?

[PhillyPhreak54]

Paul Domowitch | Demotions for Trotter, S. Brown?

THE OFFSEASON addition of Takeo Spikes and the subtractions of Dhani Jones and Darwin Walker means the Eagles will open the season with at least three new defensive starters.
Spikes has been penciled in at weakside linebacker. Chris  Gocong is the front-runner to replace Jones on the strong side, and assuming he doesn't get lost on the way to Lehigh, 2006 first-round pick Brodrick Bunkley will be Walker's starting replacement at right defensive tackle.

But don't discount the possibility of that list of new starters growing by two before the Eagles check into their hotel in Green Bay for the Sept. 9 season opener against the Packers.

While defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said the other day that Jeremiah Trotter still is the team's starting middle linebacker, his inclusion of the words "right now" made it clear the four-time Pro Bowler is going to have to prove this summer that he still deserves the job.

With Spikes taking over at WILL, second-year man Omar Gaither, who did a solid job there after replacing Matt McCoy in early December, will move back to the middle. Johnson said

Gaither will be the team's MIKE linebacker in its nickel package, but also will be given a shot at beating Trotter out for the starting job.

Then there's the right cornerback position. Right now, that job belongs to Sheldon Brown, who has been the starter there the last three seasons. But keep your eye on William James, who is gaining ground on the outside.

Johnson is very high on James, a former Giant who was one of the league's better young corners before injuring his back 2 years ago. He called him the key to his secondary the other day. Not "a" key. "The" key.

Right now, James, who signed with the Eagles last November but played in just four of 10 games because of injuries, is listed as the team's third corner behind Brown and Lito Sheppard.

But Johnson has told both Brown and James, who signed a new 1-year deal with the Eagles in March, that this is going to be a may-the-best-man-win situation this year.

"William is a guy who can start," Johnson said. "When he played last year, he played well. We just didn't get enough out of him as far as being healthy on the field."

Asked whether James will be given an opportunity to beat out Brown this summer, Johnson said, "I think [James] is a starting [quality] cornerback. Anytime you get that kind of competition, sure, he's going to push the other guy.

"But Sheldon's a good corner. We expect Sheldon to have a good year. But the best players are going to play.''

Brown has had his ups and downs the last two seasons. Johnson moves him inside on passing downs and he has been very effective in that role, but he doesn't seem to be nearly as confident on the outside.

There has been speculation that the Eagles might consider moving him to safety at some point in the future, perhaps after Brian Dawkins retires. Last year, Johnson often had him playing deep in some of his coverage schemes. While he's only 5-10, Brown is solidly built and can deliver a good blow, as Saints running back Reggie Bush found out in the playoffs.

"I haven't thought that far down the road," Johnson said.

"I still think he has good corner ability right now. He might not be able to make that transition. A year down the road, maybe I'll think about it. Right now, I'm not thinking about it."

[Don Ho]

I love it!  As much as I love Trot, Gaither is going to be a great LB and I'd love to see him at MLB.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Obviously I am biased when it comes to Trotter, but I don't think he's done yet like many do. Yes he struggled last year but I think a lot of that had to do with the DL not playing well and the other LBs not producing. He shouldn't be given up on yet.

We talked about Will Peterjames the other day. I like him as a 3rd CB and maybe even as a full-time guy because he was good in NY when he was healthy. Last year he played decent at times considering he had no training camp and was coming off a serious back injury. But demote Sheldon? I don't know about that. Yes, Sheldon has been giving up some deep balls at times but he's still a good CB.

Then again - they play so much nickel that does it really matter who is the starter? Maybe only in the players minds because that means status and money, but to win in the NFL a team needs 3-4 good corners anyways.

The LBs are still a set of musical chairs though. Can Gocong be the SAM? If he fails do they move him back to DE? Does Bradley then step in at SAM? Or is he the future there with Spikes sliding over to SAM and then OG going back to WIL?

I am not comfortable with them moving OG out of the WIL spot anyways. He played well there last year and is only going to get better. I really think they should use Spikes-Trotter-Gaither.

[Feva]

I can get behind Gaither replacing Trotter long before I can get behind James supplanting Sheldon.  At this point though, I'm not sure I like either move because this defense is going to have enough new starters as is.

[ice grillin you]

this isnt news
its why you hold training camp
the better player wins

i love trot but hes just about done
hes real close
if not in
levon kirk-land

id love to see some fresh blood at mike
and have trot be a part time playa

as for sheldon
i think much more highly of him
than most do
but if peterson beats him out
more power to him
i dont think it happens tho

romey is gonna have a stroke
he doesnt think will is even a third corner
and now he might replace sheldon

[Feva]

Personally, I don't see how anybody can downplay James' ability.  The guy was a quality starting CB in this league and the only reason he's not now is because of his injuries.

I'm just not sure I'm confident enough in that abilty to remain healthy to put him out there ahead of Sheldon.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

IGY's prose is breathtaking.

Seriously, though... it's obvious Trotter had lost a step last year.  I think he can be an important contributor at times (running downs), but if Gaither beefs up a bit and can handle the middle on a regular basis, more power to him.

I think the James/Brown (ha!) competition is only to light a fire under the eventual starter... Brown.  It's just not the Eagles' MO to start a guy that's not drafted by them and only under contract for 1 year over a homegrown talent signed to a long-term deal.  I just don't see it happening.

Of course, that doesn't mean James won't see the field a hell of a lot regardless, even if Sheldon remains the starter in name.  I don't care either way, as long as they stop calling defensive plays that leave Sheldon on an island against #1 receivers.  He's a solid #2 corner, but he can't be expected to cover guys like Plaxico Burress 1-on-1.

[Rome]

They're always talking about 'competition' on that retarded coaching staff.  Personally, I think it's a bunch of high school bullshtein, myself.  I think Brown is better than Peterson by a considerable margin, but it certainly wouldn't shock me to see Peterson outside and Brown inside in nickel situations.

As for Trotter... no shtein he'll be getting less playing time.  He has the knees of a 78 year-old man, for Chrissakes.  They rotated him last year because he was getting beat like a pinyata, so why wouldn't the eventual transition continue?

A whole lot of nothing that article was.  Shocking, I know.

[PhillyGirl]

I think the James/Brown (ha!) competition is only to light a fire under the eventual starter... Brown. 

this

[ice grillin you]

why would a probowler need a fire lit under him??

[PhillyGirl]

why would a probowler need a fire lit under him??

He had an off season. Plenty of players do. If this helps him get out of the funk he was in, so be it.

[Feva]

I'll even bet that all players have an offseason.

[PhillyGirl]

I'll even bet that all players have an offseason.

booooooo

[ice grillin you]

i dont believe in lighting fires under players...thats horsecrap and it doesnt work...you either are a player or youre not...what it does do is make a guy look over his shoulder...and corner is the last position that needs to be doing that

i dont believe sheldon even had a bad year last year but if jim johnson does he doesnt need to intimate that to the press...again thats what training camp is for...if sheldon is really that bad or james that good it will all play out then

[Feva]

^^un-huh^^