Cover-2: Birds Out of Hand

'I asked Greg [Cosel] if he thinks the Eagles are generally using Asomugha to his (and their) best advantage. "This is not a knock on [the coaching staff]; it’s just my opinion of what Asomugha is," Greg said. "I don’t think he’s a great slot player. I don’t think he’s a great change-of-direction athlete. I don’t think he’s a short-area burst athlete. I don’t think he’s a physical player. I think he’s a press-man corner who has a great feel for using the sideline. He’s very balletic in his movements as a press man corner. He’s very fluid and smooth, which is very different from being a great change-of-direction athlete.

"I don’t think he fits inside, but he’s being used that way –- obviously, the Eagles believe he can play there. That would just be a difference in evaluation between myself, watching him on film, and what the Eagles obviously believe. Time will tell, but I don’t believe he’s a slot player."'

7 months ago NJBammer 40 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I think pretty much everyone noticed this after Game 2.

Formerly BWestFactor
FLY #7 FLY !

by ShadyMcVickFactor on Oct 13, 2011 1:52 PM EDT reply actions

Sorry, meant the GIants game

Formerly BWestFactor
FLY #7 FLY !

by ShadyMcVickFactor on Oct 13, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Obvious sentiment shared with most of Eagles nation..

by TimmyGee on Oct 13, 2011 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

But Juan thinks NA can be a Woodson type

So doesn’t that outweight the reality that he isn’t?

by The Reddgie on Oct 13, 2011 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

I really hope Castillo does not give Nnamdi the “Woodson role”. That would be a waste of his special talent.
Woodson does what he does now because he is one of the best blitzing and tackling cornerbacks in the league which Nnamdi isn’t.
Also because Woodson has lost a step, maybe two. Just let him shutdown WRs or elite TEs.

I guess Castillo didn’t take my advice when I tweeted this on Aug. 5th.

Bleeding Green Nation

Follow @Route36_BGN

by Route36 on Oct 13, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, I am sold

Let’s start the movement right now.

#Route36forDefensiveConsultant

Come on BGNers, time to make it happen!

by The Reddgie on Oct 13, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Number Juan

needs to go if we lose to the redskins with a shitty D performance, end of story. This man had MORE than a fair shake with 3 pro bowl corners and we are getting trashed in the passing game (and running game, but I’ll give him a pass due to less than admirable LB’s). I’m willing to look the other way with Grande Piggy, but Number Juan needs to be replaced with Anyone!

by BleedinGreen116 on Oct 13, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

everyone KNOWS THIS ahhhhhhhhhhhh

just need jaun to accept it.

by Stuk on Oct 13, 2011 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

I’m suprised Castillo hasn’t used defensive tackles in zone. The guy seems completely clueless.

"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."
-Brian Dawkins

Nnamdi, Asante, DRC; The Three Graces...charm, beauty, and creativity... Unfortunately their graces are wasted because of one Juan Castillo.

***OFFICIALLY ON THE FIRE ANDY REID BANDWAGON***

by immynimmy on Oct 13, 2011 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

You’re taking away the element of surprise here. Now the redskins know what we are going to do on Sunday

by Saidrick on Oct 13, 2011 2:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The Eagles staff knows how to best misuse talent

Who are we to argue?

by DLawrence55 on Oct 13, 2011 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

kinda like

hey lets build a oline for a guy like peyton manning who throws the ball in less than 3 seconds instead of building a line for a guy like Vick who holds the ball for 5-7 seconds.

by Stuk on Oct 13, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Or having quicker routes that develop faster because we are a west coast offense.

"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."
-Brian Dawkins

Nnamdi, Asante, DRC; The Three Graces...charm, beauty, and creativity... Unfortunately their graces are wasted because of one Juan Castillo.

***OFFICIALLY ON THE FIRE ANDY REID BANDWAGON***

by immynimmy on Oct 13, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

was listening to NFL siris this morning

Ross Tucker was talking about how the eagles just went out and hired a bunch of great coaches and players without knowing how to put them together and make it all work.

really makes u wonder wth reid and the FO were thinking.

by Stuk on Oct 13, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Great coaching staff (not including Juan)

and great talent usually means success. It’s possible the lack of offseason hurt the Birds more than we realized in this respect. I’m still in favor of giving Juan more time to grow into his role, but he’d better show much improvement fast for me to be happy.

On the other hand, according to the article NA played mostly in press covereage during the Bills game, so that might be progress…

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Bear Bryant

by NJBammer on Oct 13, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree.

I’m happy to see that Juan and AR are making proper adjustments. I just question why some are taking so long. Page should have been benched weeks ago, but at least he’s benched now. And Juan definitely needs time to grow into his role. He’s not gunna be a star his first year as DC…. Obviously.

"Get 'Em"

by FlyEagles15 on Oct 13, 2011 9:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The Eagles are the ultimate system team, Wash, Mudd are the latest examples of that

Reid and Marty are indoctrinated, card carrying members already. Everything is a fucking system. I think this goes a LONG way as to why the guys we get rid of usually suck for other teams, and why are drafts are so feast or famine

by DLawrence55 on Oct 13, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions

But our best WR can’t/won’t/is too scared to run across the middle, where most of the quicker routes happen.

by The Reddgie on Oct 13, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope you arent talking about Jackson…. more like 4th best receiver.

I come in peace. Neutrality is my thing.

Barry Sanders is better than Deion Sanders.

by BIBTD on Oct 13, 2011 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Well played

Rec’d, I was out of place with my declaration and thank you for correcting me.

by The Reddgie on Oct 13, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

right

Because jackson calls the Wr routes?

ok, the giants suck.

by BigBlueIntervention on Oct 4th

Namdey Asomgua sucks.

We should have signed Antoneo Cromote so he could have taught his brother, cousin, son or however they are related how to play in teh slotz.

I also h8 his nice guy act. I herd he blows through teh hoes faster than runningbacks thru our dfense.

by Snax on Oct 5, 2011 11:02 AM PDT

by EagleEyes on Oct 13, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

You again?

No, he runs them, and since he can’t/won’t/is too scared to run them, the coaches don’t call them for him.

The delayed crossing route works really well, unless the other team sees it on tape and knows that it is one of Minionwheg’s faovrite plays and subsequently keeps an eye out for it during the game. But, again, that isn’t necessarily a “quicker route,” is it?

by The Reddgie on Oct 13, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

you know you can run "Quick routes"

without going over the middle? You said “Most” of the quicker routes happen over the middle (slighting him for not running over the middle) but then you don’t give him credit for the comeback, screens or stick routes he runs (which dont have to be over the middle but are quick routes). The guy makes plays, period. We finally had the bright idea to run screens for him and look what happened, a TD. The guy will do whatever is called but we have to call more SHORT routes to get the ball in his hands (they don’t have to be over the middle) but we need the ball in his hands with space or in space.

ok, the giants suck.

by BigBlueIntervention on Oct 4th

Namdey Asomgua sucks.

by Snax on Oct 5, 2011 11:02 AM PDT

by EagleEyes on Oct 13, 2011 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t classify a comeback route as a quicker route, even with DeSean’s speed/quickness. The screen plays seem to work more than they don’t with him, so I would be interested in designing more of those, especially if we can get him the ball while he is moving into space. And he should definitely run more stick routes. In fact, all of our WRs should run them.

Obviously I have no idea if he can’t/won’t/is scared to run patterns in the middle of the defense, I am (at best) half-jokingly guess-timating that is why he doesn’t run them, I just know that he rarely runs those patterns. It certainly could be a product of Minionwheg trying to get the deep pass out of him every other play. What I do know is that there are more ways of involving him in our offense than what we currently do, and if I was smart enough to know exactly how to do that, I wouldn’t be on the internet right now I would be in a NFL office.

Why not run an angle route out of the backfield once in awhile? (I don’t know if that is what it is really called, but he would run towards the sideline at a 45 degree angle and as soon as the defender turns his hips, cut back to the middle of the field at a 90 degree angle. BWest used to abuse Pierce with this route all the time) Or design a legal pick play for him where he is in motion and runs right behind the DL and speeds across the defense and see if whoever is covering him can keep up with him?

My long-winded point is I know he is a play-maker, they need to come up with better ways of putting him in a position to make them, other than just run deep or catch a screen. Going over the middle may be a potential answer.

by The Reddgie on Oct 13, 2011 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Never thought i'd say this to you but

I agree. If you run 10 and Ins or 7 yard comebacks that definitly qualifies as a quick route though (see last yrs first dallas game, took a 10 yard comeback 91 yards to the house). We just need to have him run routes where it creates space between him and the defender and then hit him once the space develops. As long as Kolb isnt throwing the over the middle passes its fine by me (see last yrs Falcons game).

ok, the giants suck.

by BigBlueIntervention on Oct 4th

Namdey Asomgua sucks.

by Snax on Oct 5, 2011 11:02 AM PDT

by EagleEyes on Oct 13, 2011 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Sweet Fancy Moses

We agree? Quick, someone see if it is snowing in hell.

Seriously though, I can’t imagine him not being successful at running a route that will force a CB to flip his hips and then cutting against the CB’s hip flip and into open space. The more I think about it, he should be running comebacks regularly, especially after we connect on a Go route or something else deep.

by The Reddgie on Oct 13, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Does it really shock anyone that a Reid ran team is using someone out of position?

by Easedel on Oct 13, 2011 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

I do think he’s the most physical corner we have. Not that that says a ton, but I do disagree with the idea that Nnamdi isn’t a physical player.

by laxer298 on Oct 13, 2011 4:16 PM EDT reply actions

The whole D is being used wrong

This d is built for jj zone blitz or a man coverage scheme. Not a wide 9 with cover 2 zone. Except maybe jason babin. Eagles built a d like they have been for the last 10 years. Great dline great db’s and average lb’s. ? mark on the safeties.

by ZX2355 on Oct 13, 2011 4:25 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Since when was our saftey position a question mark for the past decade? We had Dawkins and Q

If you dont like Big Red, then F#%@ You!
-Ricky Bobby

by GreenInBaltimore on Oct 13, 2011 4:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The current safeties on the team.

duhhhh. Actually if they were running the correct scheme as noted safety would be the weaklink right now but i bet they would be way better than 30th in run d

by ZX2355 on Oct 13, 2011 4:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Right. Because Q didn’t make a shit load of tackles last year against the run.

The Jruth shall be told.

by packimop on Oct 13, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

in this system q’s play would be downgraded in the same way as chaney. Bet

by ZX2355 on Oct 13, 2011 5:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Are you even watching this team? Two players that missed the most tackles against the Bills were Page and Chaney. In this system we need BETTER safeties and linebackers than the old system.

The Jruth shall be told.

by packimop on Oct 13, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I've personally though and still do think

That the the Cover 2 look they’ve been playing has been a bigger detriment than the “Wide 9”, and the 2 exacerbate each other.

With weak LB’s and the Wide 9 it is important to give some extra help, but instead of having a traditional SS play up in the box and FS back, we are playing a zone with both safties tending to stay back. Throw on top of that not using our best CB to his ability and boom terrible defense. I still contend that the defense while it may have flays at LB and S, is doing a lot to shoot itself in its foot instead cover up its weaknesses.

This was one of Jim Johnson’s greatest abilities (RIP), to be able to maximize each of his players skill sets in his schemes. Castillo to this point has almost been doing the opposite.

I can’t say that this would definitely work, but it is what I think would make more sense than how we have been using our personnel. I would really like to see either Coleman of Jarrett get the start in a more traditional SS role let Nnamdi play press on the outside. I think the Wide 9 actually works really well with the type of lineman we have, and if you give them support via Safties it could make up for the less than stellar LB;s we currently have.

by Balagast on Oct 13, 2011 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

Plus

If you want to run a Cover 2, your secondary needs to TACKLE, not WATCH

by DLawrence55 on Oct 13, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

So Cosel echoed what everyone else already knows? Everyone but Juan. Wonderful.

Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.

That is all.

by EREX21 on Oct 13, 2011 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

Anyone know where (most likely on-line) I could watch the replay of the game on Sunday? I may miss it and it won’t be playing on my cable (DVR)….NFL network only replays the games days after…..I want to watch it like, a few hours after its done….

Formerly BWestFactor
FLY #7 FLY !

by ShadyMcVickFactor on Oct 13, 2011 5:32 PM EDT reply actions

You might be able to buy a replay on NFL Network.

"Even those invested in the idea that the journey is the destination may feel they've taken a train to nowhere." - Terry Lawson

by waterfield on Oct 14, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Well Nnamdi may not be a slot CB...

BUT GOOD THING HANSON IS. I honestly dont know what the problem is. It’s almost like (outside of Babin) We’re stocking positions and players that fit JJ and the slew of assistants schemes rather than the Juan/wide 9 scheme.

by stash600 on Oct 13, 2011 10:56 PM EDT reply actions