I Do Not Understand the FO's Defensive Moves (or lack there of)

by thebirds77 on Apr 6, 2010 12:05 AM EDT

Putting aside everything that has gone on with Donovan ( I am actually really excited about the new Kolb era) I believed that at the end of last season this team was only 2 or 3 defensive players away from being legitimate super bowl contenders. The only thing that was keeping us down was lack of talent at a few key positions on defense. At the end of the season it seemed clear that we had 2 glaring needs on defense, a left defensive end, and a legitimate FS. If we could have adequately filled those holes, perhaps one by free agency and the other by the draft, I thought we were set to be great. We had the McNabb trade too to possibly get a good player (like the rumored Atogwe trade with St. Louis had me salivating)

But so much has happened this off season that we now have many more question marks to fill. I am very skeptical that Tapp will contribute much more than the Parker, Abiamiri, Babin rotation did and we failed to go after Antrell Rolle which really frustrated me. Marlin Jackson is certainly not a sure thing either. I can live with the loss of Witherspoon but again, its another hole we have to address now. Most frustrating of all to me I think, and something I really don't understand is trading Sheldon for nothing more than a 4th and a 5th. I guess that's good value but again our defense loses one of its few "sure things" left and replaces it with nothing. I like that we have so many picks in the draft but now our defense, and therefore our chances at being very good, is far away from only having 2 or 3 question marks. For instance, we now have to focus on drafting a CB and are forced to accept Tapp as a legitimate starter. Additionally, it bothers me because draft picks are very uncertain (e.g. Jerome Mcdougle, Trevor Laws, etc.) I understand the rebuilding, getting younger, etc. arguments but the defense was pretty fragile last year, and it seems the FO has only made things worse. I'm just hoping they have a big plan in place to snag a solidified vet.

But what do you guys think?

Poll

Has the front office really blown our chances at having a good defense in 2010?

Yes, there are way too many question marks

29 votes

No, I think they plan on making another big trade or free agency move

13 votes

No, we can draft players to adequately address all of our weaknesses

37 votes

79 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

combo of 2&3

I’d wait til after the draft before I made any judgments with our roster. I assume there’s gonna be plenty of changes going on over that weekend, so I’m gonna sit back, see what happens, and then assess question marks and stuff like that afterward. I mean as doubtful as you may be about how some prospects turn out, you have to admit watching the eagles during the draft is always exiting. You never know what they’re gonna do.

"Now Sav Rocca played for the Magpies in Australia. I don't know if it's a bird or a pie or what it is." Ike Reese

by The Badassador on Apr 6, 2010 1:23 AM EDT reply actions

the off season isnt over yet

relaxxxxxxxxxxx

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Apr 6, 2010 2:24 AM EDT reply actions

Why even worry about if OJ could have been in a Rams deal? He’s tendered so low that they could easily just take him. It’s obvious that they really don’t have any desire to get him,..

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Apr 6, 2010 5:22 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Big plan.

I’m hoping that the ‘big plan’ is not to make the Giants and the Cowboys laugh so hard that they can’t perform. Those are two high scoring Offenses that represent 4 games next season and if the D is not solidified, they will NOT go well.

I’ve heard it said that a team can expect one additional loss per season for each rookie they have in their starting lineup. The D will have to be rookie heavy this year. And the second year guys are going to have to improve a LOT in order to be considered solid starters. It would make sense to trade a few picks for some solid starters, and I’m hoping for at last one deal like the Jason Peters deal from last year before the draft.

I’m really missing JJ right now.

by IggleGreen on Apr 6, 2010 9:00 AM EDT reply actions

Tapp is a legitimate starter. He’s the first 3 down DE we’ve had on the left side for a while. He will surely out perform our rotation of Parker, Abiamiri, and Babin. Not only that, but since he can play 3 downs, our situational pass rushers will be fresh. We’ll see an improvement against the run, and I think he’ll thrive opposite Trent Cole.

Rolle wasn’t worth the contract that he got. I’m happy we passed on him.

We’ll be fine. There is plenty of offseason remaining, and we are well equipped practically run this draft.

by Team Serbia on Apr 6, 2010 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

Which sets up great for 2011, not 2010.

Unless there are trades involved, we can’t expect a defense full of backups and rookies to be all that good. We can’t count on any of our draft picks to be at a good, starting level right away. We might have one or two that fit that bill, but rookies are still rookies. Our defense will be serviceable at best this year. You just can’t get around it. In 2011 it might be Top 10 again. Maybe even Top 5 if we really do nail this draft.

by NOLACuse on Apr 6, 2010 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions

1/2 positions will most likely start a rookie

CB and potentially FS. Everything else is covered and will act as depth. I don’t think that is too much to expect.

DE: Cole, Tapp
DT: Bunkley, Patterson
LB: Jordan, Bradley, Fokou/Hall
CB: Asante, Rookie (with Hobbs, Hanson, Marlin there to backup)
S: Mikell, Rookie/Marlin

by Team Serbia on Apr 6, 2010 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe another rookie at one of the LBs

Right now my dream draft is Kris Wilson, Nate Allen, then a LB with all 3 of them starting.

by BarbarosaNo on Apr 6, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

This might all be true.

But that doesn’t mean it’s a good defense does it? Rookies aren’t all pro-bowlers their first seasons if you aren’t aware. Tapp is technically a question mark. And Fokou/Hall? Even if a rookie isn’t playing in that spot it doesn’t make it settled. There are a lot of questions marks and it only takes a couple positions to be weak for the whole defense to be vulnerable. I don’t know where all this confidence is coming from. The way I’m seeing people talk you would think Brown was actively a liability and McNabb leaving solves our linebacking situation or something. Our defense wasn’t great last year and as of now it’s worse. Until we see these rookies in action, I don’t understand why we can assume the defense will be any better.

by NOLACuse on Apr 6, 2010 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly

I really hope that they make a move for a vet at CB or FS, trading some picks for a sure thing sounds logical to me. Also even if we spend three picks on defensive needs, it would have been nice to spend one of those addressing the Oline which also does not have the depth it should right now.

by thebirds77 on Apr 6, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah like trading a 4th and a 5th for a player like Sheldon Brown.
Maybe we can get him, he plays for Heckert now and I think we have ties with him.

by jho on Apr 6, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

We might need to restructure his contract because I hear he is unhappy with his current one.

by NOLACuse on Apr 6, 2010 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Our LB situation is much better with Bradley back

Reid indicated that he could have played last season near the end but they held him out. So he’s back to rolling. Jordan isn’t a big drop off from Witherspoon (or at all really) so Will is okay. Yes, SAM is a question mark but the FO is high on Fokou and he looked good. Areas he needs to improve on are mostly solved through experience (ie, stupid penalties).

Last year, Brown was beat constantly. Blame it on the injuries or whatnot, but the second half of the season QB’s were picking on him. A young CB, such as Haden or Wilson, isn’t as bad of an option as you think. CB’s is prolly the position that translates the most accurately from college to NFL.

Tapp isn’t really a question mark. He was the 4th best DE in the league against the run (Trent Cole was #1), and while he didn’t register very many sacks, he was 5th in the league in QB hit’s. So we automatically improve our run, and our line gets consistency. Also, because Tapp is a three down linemen, our situational pass rushers (Parker, Abiamiri) are fresh a lot more and can take advantage of that.

by Team Serbia on Apr 6, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

He was on IR.

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Apr 6, 2010 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

DE – Cole, Tapp(prior starting experience)
DT – Bunk, Patterson
SLB – Fokou (FO is high on him)
MLB – Bradley
WLB – Jordan
CB – Asante, Hobbs(started for Patriots on 19-1 season), Hansen(good nickle and can help start in a pinch)
SS – Mikell
FS – Jackson(played FS for Colts), Harris (was decent for a rookie last year, now with 1 year under him)

Where are we relying on rookies. Sure we will draft some for depth and a few of them will contribute this year, but our team is not nearly as bad as some think.

by Mako21 on Apr 6, 2010 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

…and yes, there are a lot of errors. I’m at work.

by Mako21 on Apr 6, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

True

We will have rookie depth and maybe HOPEFULLY one or two will challenge a vet and become a starter. We are good right now. Maybe trade some of those draft picks for higher picks next year?

by ssean2266 on Apr 6, 2010 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I think a player’s second year is usually when you see the biggest improvement in play. I’m really interested in seeing what Fokou can do 1) with a full offseason of conditioning 2) a year of experience with the defense and 3) With Bradley on the field

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Apr 6, 2010 9:54 PM EDT reply actions