Sapp is playing SAM

This probably doesn't come as a shock to anyone who's followed since draft day, but I'm not sure we had it confirmed. Sapp (drafted as a DE) and Keenan Clayton (drafted as an SS/nickel LB) are both working in at strong-side LB.

Sapp sounds pretty open to the move.

Here's the Morning Call's blog post on the same subject.

about 2 years ago D3Keith 30 comments 0 recs |

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if the eagles were smart they would use Sapp like the redskins used Orakpo. Sapp should be fine making the transition, unlike Gocong, Sapp played a joker role at Clemson and Sapp is faster and more athletic than Gocong.

by 410eaglesfan on Apr 29, 2010 10:20 PM EDT reply actions

I’m really really really okay with this.

They call me The Professor.

by Whodie126 on Apr 29, 2010 10:29 PM EDT reply actions

Likewise

I’d be pretty uncomfortable going into the season with Fokou as our starting SAM. There needs to be significant competition at that position, and I think the Eagles have that now.

by Bob_Q on Apr 29, 2010 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Any one find it strange

the most teams are playing in 3-4 defenses to put more speed on the field while the Eagles are playing a 4-3 defense with converted DEs at the sam giving them less speed most likely.

Let's get it Birds.

by homestar2281 on Apr 29, 2010 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

Ummm, no.

The way our defense works, it’s much more important to have somebody at SAM who is strong and can hold the POA rather than to have somebody who’s fast.

See IgglesBlog’s post “the defensive fullback” for more info.

Veritas Liberabit Te

by DSmith215 on Apr 29, 2010 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I have read it and I understand why

I was just wondering if anyone thought it was interesting that the Eagles seem to be going in almost the opposite way as many other NFL teams.

Let's get it Birds.

by homestar2281 on Apr 29, 2010 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Link

I can’t find it

by BigJakes111 on Apr 29, 2010 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

what?

Let's get it Birds.

by homestar2281 on Apr 29, 2010 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think that's really correct

The 3-4 doesn’t really put more overall speed on the field, at least not in my opinion. Your nose tackle is generally slower than either 4-3 DT, while both DEs in a 3-4 and generally a LOT slower than 4-3 DEs. 3-4 OLBs tend to have some speed, but it’s usually a good mix of size, and speed (yes there are a couple of exceptions out there like Dummerville) but the inside backers on a 3-4 are generally slower than a MLB. I would actually argue that the 4-3 is more predicated on putting speed on the field than the 3-4 by a wide margin. I think of the early part of the decade when the Pats were running the show with an incredibly slow 3-4 defense.

I’m open to disagreement on the subject, it’s just how it seems to me.

by AZ Eagle on Apr 30, 2010 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I'm going to rec this, because I agree

although while the 3-4 doesn’t necessarily provide more speed, I think it is more predicated to stop the pass, partially because of the emphasis on edge pass rush and partiall because of the extra LB for coverage.

My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.

by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Apr 30, 2010 2:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I actually agree with you

but thats just what people say about the 3-4 when ever a team switches to it. and in theory it makes sense but as you said a 3-4 essentially has 5 defensive linemen and 2 linebackers.

Let's get it Birds.

by homestar2281 on Apr 30, 2010 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I think sapp has a better chance than gocong to be a productive SAM linebacker

by fhqwagads on Apr 29, 2010 11:43 PM EDT reply actions

I hated the gocong experiment from day 1

I’m anticipating the Sapp experiment much much more.

My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.

by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Apr 30, 2010 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Love Lindley's quote about being a durable starter

“They said I was too small for the SEC too,” Lindley said, “but I went out there and did good”

Was this before or after he dislocated his elbow and got the high ankle sprain?

by DLawrence55 on Apr 30, 2010 12:39 AM EDT reply actions

Clearly, he didn't use his free time going to English classes.

Also, if the Philly.com comments are a vast whirlpool of misery and loss, the CSNPhilly comments are a never-ending galaxy of idiocy and suck.

by Tracer Bullet on Apr 30, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think Chaney would be a better SAM. He is much better in coverage.

Jim Johnson(RIP). Brian Westbrook(36). Donovan Mcnabb(5). Brian Dawkins(20). Sheldon Brown(24). Jeremiah Trotter(54).

Thanks for the memories...

by Route36 on Apr 30, 2010 12:51 AM EDT reply actions

he’s working at SAM in the rookie camp.

My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.

by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Apr 30, 2010 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions

He's actually

Learning all 3 spots from what I read.

by macjack09 on Apr 30, 2010 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

kool

yesssssssssssssssssssssss

by GoEagles on Apr 30, 2010 1:04 AM EDT reply actions

Pretty fired up about this

I think he’ll come in as situational and start by the end of the year

"I don't have to worry about the Washington Redskins, I have to worry about the Philadelphia Eagles."- Andy Reid

by MeanGreen5 on Apr 30, 2010 10:05 AM EDT reply actions

At the end of the day, I don’t care if I’m playing nose tackle or long snapper or whatever. I’m just ready to play."

I like to hear this kinda stuff from our young guys.

"I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care. "

by midnitegreen on Apr 30, 2010 10:32 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

particularly one that says he has a chip on his shoulder

Let's get it Birds.

by homestar2281 on Apr 30, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

I just want Sapp on the feild

Athleticism and pass rushing ability always translates well onto the field when you have good coaching and great scheme. That is why the Raiders can’t pull it off, despite having far superior atheletes. We, however, can…

I really, really like the Orakpo comparison.

by birds'n'raiders on Apr 30, 2010 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

I think he is there just for this camp, I think he will be a DE during the season.

by The Legend on Apr 30, 2010 12:19 PM EDT reply actions

it’s debatable he did play a lot of snaps standing up in college. I don’t know how well his coverage is but as a pass rushing SAM I think he will do very well.

They call me The Professor.

by Whodie126 on Apr 30, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

ugh

why must we convert players, cant we just draft a LINEBACKER if we need a LB lol

by rainvillefromottawa on Apr 30, 2010 1:02 PM EDT reply actions

not really a conversion, not to mention almost all OLB in 3-4s are former college DEs.

They call me The Professor.

by Whodie126 on Apr 30, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

LB isn’t a term in Andy’s dictionary for football. It does however always provide horrible memories for him when used to describe his weight….. very scary and dramatizing.

by Ant on Apr 30, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't mind it

Actually I like it. Sapp is an athlete and knows how to play the DE and LB spot. So it might not be too hard for him to get. Just the ACL has me worried about can he get back to his old self.

by macjack09 on Apr 30, 2010 7:20 PM EDT reply actions