trotter cut

[Quasimoto]

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/20070824_Johnson_has_faith_in_the_Birds_young_linebackers.html

Johnson has faith in the Birds' young linebackers
By Ashley Fox
Inquirer Staff Writer

Jim Johnson supported, and probably facilitated, Andy Reid's decision Monday to cut Jeremiah Trotter. Why?

"We felt good about our young linebackers, and Takeo [Spikes]," Johnson said yesterday.

There is little question that the Eagles have a lot of faith in second-year linebacker Omar Gaither, who on Tuesday emerged as the starter in the middle. Chris Gocong is high on the Eagles' list, even though Gocong, who played defensive end in college, has never played a snap at outside linebacker in a regular-season game.

Rookie Stewart Bradley has impressed the coaches with his work on special teams and his ability to grasp both the middle and strong-side linebacker positions. He is entrenched as the backup to both Gaither and Gocong, although Johnson said yesterday that Bradley would be hard-pressed to get any game action as long as those starters stay healthy.

Spikes is the only one with appreciable playing experience, although none with the Eagles. At 30 years old - he will turn 31 in December - Spikes also is the oldest linebacker, by far.

In fact, of the projected starting defensive front seven, only Jevon Kearse was on the Eagles team that went to the Super Bowl. There's been immense turnover, capped by Trotter's exit.

"It surprises me, but that's part of free agency, part of the NFL, it seems like," Johnson said. "All of a sudden we've had a big change- over at linebacker. Of course, we drafted some young tackles. I think now you could see it stay [this way] for a while. But all of a sudden there was a big turnover in about a two-year time. But that's part of the NFL."

Like Andy Reid the day before, Johnson refused to get into the reasons Trotter was released. But he praised Gaither's poise, his athleticism, and his knack for making big plays and always being around the football. Gaither is considerably smaller than Trotter - 235 pounds to 262 pounds - but he is quicker.

The questions are how will Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson fare in stopping the run, and if they are ineffective, can Gaither hold down the middle? It's a lot to ask of a man who played a different position in college.

"He is lighter, there's no question about that," Johnson said of Gaither. "Trot was such a physical guy, and we know that. Omar's a little bit more of a finesse-type linebacker. But again, he has a knack about playing football. This is nothing against Trotter - I never said that - [Gaither] just made plays, and these are things we like about Omar."

Gaither became the starter at weakside linebacker with five regular-season games to go. In his second start, against Washington, he picked off Jason Campbell for his first career interception, returning it 16 yards. Gaither got his first career sack against the Giants on Dec. 17, when he brought down Eli Manning for a 12-yard loss that put the Giants out of field-goal range.

In the season finale against Atlanta, with most of the regular starters resting, Gaither played middle linebacker nearly the entire game and had a career-high 14 tackles.

"We saw in the [second] game we started him in, all of a sudden he comes up with a big interception," Johnson said. "He's around the football a lot. We knew it, and again, we always felt he was a better [middle] linebacker than a [weakside] linebacker."

Gaither will not get any more reps than the rest of the defensive starters when the Eagles play at Pittsburgh on Sunday, Johnson said.

As for the rest of the defense, Johnson said that Trent Cole will start opposite Kearse at defensive end and that he considers both Cole and Darren Howard, who should get about the same number of reps against the Steelers, starters.

Brian Dawkins likely will play Sunday. The bigger question for Johnson is who will be the fourth safety behind Dawkins, Sean Considine and Quintin Mikell? Three players - C.J. Gaddis, Marcus Paschal and Chris Smith - essentially are battling for one spot.

"Those guys," Johnson said, "they've got to step up a little bit."

[SunMo]

I'm just annoyed that they have a starting linebacker with a number in the 90s...what is that?  Get a real number son.

[Beermonkey]

I'm just annoyed that they have a starting linebacker with a number in the 90s...what is that?  Get a real number son.

I was annoyed that Trotter was an old man wearing braces on his teeth. We are better off.

[Rome]

Who is this "Trotter" person?

[Magical_Retard]

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/20070824_Johnson_has_faith_in_the_Birds_young_linebackers.html

Johnson has faith in the Birds' young linebackers
By Ashley Fox
Inquirer Staff Writer

Jim Johnson supported, and probably facilitated, Andy Reid's decision Monday to cut Jeremiah Trotter. Why?

"We felt good about our young linebackers, and Takeo [Spikes]," Johnson said yesterday.

There is little question that the Eagles have a lot of faith in second-year linebacker Omar Gaither, who on Tuesday emerged as the starter in the middle. Chris Gocong is high on the Eagles' list, even though Gocong, who played defensive end in college, has never played a snap at outside linebacker in a regular-season game.

Rookie Stewart Bradley has impressed the coaches with his work on special teams and his ability to grasp both the middle and strong-side linebacker positions. He is entrenched as the backup to both Gaither and Gocong, although Johnson said yesterday that Bradley would be hard-pressed to get any game action as long as those starters stay healthy.

Spikes is the only one with appreciable playing experience, although none with the Eagles. At 30 years old - he will turn 31 in December - Spikes also is the oldest linebacker, by far.

In fact, of the projected starting defensive front seven, only Jevon Kearse was on the Eagles team that went to the Super Bowl. There's been immense turnover, capped by Trotter's exit.

"It surprises me, but that's part of free agency, part of the NFL, it seems like," Johnson said. "All of a sudden we've had a big change- over at linebacker. Of course, we drafted some young tackles. I think now you could see it stay [this way] for a while. But all of a sudden there was a big turnover in about a two-year time. But that's part of the NFL."

Like Andy Reid the day before, Johnson refused to get into the reasons Trotter was released. But he praised Gaither's poise, his athleticism, and his knack for making big plays and always being around the football. Gaither is considerably smaller than Trotter - 235 pounds to 262 pounds - but he is quicker.

The questions are how will Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson fare in stopping the run, and if they are ineffective, can Gaither hold down the middle? It's a lot to ask of a man who played a different position in college.

"He is lighter, there's no question about that," Johnson said of Gaither. "Trot was such a physical guy, and we know that. Omar's a little bit more of a finesse-type linebacker. But again, he has a knack about playing football. This is nothing against Trotter - I never said that - [Gaither] just made plays, and these are things we like about Omar."

Gaither became the starter at weakside linebacker with five regular-season games to go. In his second start, against Washington, he picked off Jason Campbell for his first career interception, returning it 16 yards. Gaither got his first career sack against the Giants on Dec. 17, when he brought down Eli Manning for a 12-yard loss that put the Giants out of field-goal range.

In the season finale against Atlanta, with most of the regular starters resting, Gaither played middle linebacker nearly the entire game and had a career-high 14 tackles.

"We saw in the [second] game we started him in, all of a sudden he comes up with a big interception," Johnson said. "He's around the football a lot. We knew it, and again, we always felt he was a better [middle] linebacker than a [weakside] linebacker."

Gaither will not get any more reps than the rest of the defensive starters when the Eagles play at Pittsburgh on Sunday, Johnson said.

As for the rest of the defense, Johnson said that Trent Cole will start opposite Kearse at defensive end and that he considers both Cole and Darren Howard, who should get about the same number of reps against the Steelers, starters.

Brian Dawkins likely will play Sunday. The bigger question for Johnson is who will be the fourth safety behind Dawkins, Sean Considine and Quintin Mikell? Three players - C.J. Gaddis, Marcus Paschal and Chris Smith - essentially are battling for one spot.

"Those guys," Johnson said, "they've got to step up a little bit."

when have they not been confident in the scrubs or project players they pick can get it done? hell ANDY was confident with pinkston, thrash, and fred ex.

[Feva]

I'm just annoyed that they have a starting linebacker with a number in the 90s...what is that?  Get a real number son.

I hear that #54 is available.

[Father Demon]

I'm just annoyed that they have a starting linebacker with a number in the 90s...what is that?  Get a real number son.

I hear that #54 is available.

Wrong.  It's being retired this season.

[ice grillin you]

does anyone else think jim johnson sounds like fozzie bear

[SD_Eagle5]

In fozzie were in his 70's then yes

[SunMo]

I'm just annoyed that they have a starting linebacker with a number in the 90s...what is that?  Get a real number son.

I was annoyed that Trotter was an old man wearing braces on his teeth. We are better off.

plus, you lose about 10,000 black points if you have straight teeth, what was he thinking?

[QB Eagles]

What a boring story. What's Johnson going say, "Our linebackers are horrible and I have no faith in them whatsoever"? That's one of those stories where the Eagles PR arm writes it and Ashley Fox runs spell check and sends it to her editor.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Jesus. Farging. Christ.

I just heard today.

Angry.

farg this.

[MDS]

He sucked and it was time. I realize you love him, but Gaither needs to be starting.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Die.

Let me be angry and irrational and spout off nonsense for a little bit.

[MDS]

I'm not stopping you, big guy. Being irrationally angry is nothing but fun.