Eagles Position Reviews: Defensive Tackle

by Bob_Q on Feb 5, 2011 7:06 PM EST in Philadelphia Eagles Roster Moves

The final half of this article series has been a long time coming, so thanks for bearing with me though the gap. Let's take a look at the Eagles' defensive tackles today.

The Players

Mike Patterson: Although he once again went the year without forcing a single turnover, Patterson had a few key stops during his up-and-down season. At times, he was manhandled by opposing offensive lines, but at other times the six year veteran managed to come up with crucial stops in the run game. Expect him to be back in a starting role in 2011 since he is currently signed through 2016 and will cost the team only $1.4 million this year. However, should the whisperings of Albert Haynesworth's transfer to Philadelphia come to fruition, it's possible that Patterson could find himself the odd man out along the defensive line.

Antonio Dixon: After going undrafted in 2009, Dixon has been a wonderful surprise to an otherwise struggling Eagles defense. Once thought to be on the fringe of the 2010 roster after suffering a concussion during training camp, Dixon proved his doubters wrong and won a starting position by week six. He is currently signed through 2012 and should be back in a lead role next season. It will certainly be intriguing to see how Coach Washburn assists in the development of this exciting young player.

Brodrick Bunkley: The elbow injury Bunkley suffered in week five not only ended up costing him two games, but possibly his permanent starting position as an Eagle. With only five starts on the year, Bunkley finished with a total of seventeen tackles and zero sacks. He will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2011 and will need a big year if he expects to stay with the team. He might even be used as trade bait before then.

Trevor Laws: The meteoric rise of Antonio Dixon has pushed this former second-round pick further and further down the depth chart. However, Laws has thus far excelled as a role player, accumulating thirteen tackles, four sacks, five pass deflections and even an interception this season. He will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2011, but should produce a quality season under Coach Washburn that will keep the young DT in Philadelphia for years to come.

Jeff Owens: After spending the majority of the season on the practice squad, Owens was called up to the big leagues during week 16 and, in a nasty twist of fate, tore his ACL almost immediately. Such a late-season injury could very well mean that Owens will not be ready for the 2011 season, so we may see him appear on the PUP list...if he survives the roster trimmings. Owens is currently signed through 2013.

Jeremy Clark: A late-season pickup to replace the injured Jeff Owens, Clark made his return to the City of Brotherly Love by starting in the week 17 scrimmage against the Cowboys. He accumulated no stats for the game and was declared inactive for the wild card match against the Packers, so don't expect to see the 27 year old veteran hang around for too long. He is currently signed through 2012, but should be gone during the preseason roster cuts.

Who Could Leave

Brodrick Bunkley, Jeremy Clark

Who Could Sign

Although he is a publicist's nightmare, there's no denying the talent Albert Haynesworth possesses when given the right motivation. We've seen countless gurus and fans alike speculate on the deadly matchup Haynesworth and Coach Washburn would create for opposing offenses, but will the Eagles take a risk on him? His massive contract will be a big deterrent, but if the Redskins finally decide they've had enough and release him, expect the Eagles to at least kick the tires.

Should Brodrick Bunkley depart Philadelphia via a trade, the Colts' Antonio Johnson could be a quality pickup to replace him. After losing his starting job to Fili Moala, Johnson could very well be headed for free agency this offseason. His 6'3" 310 pound frame would certainly give a nice size boost to the Eagles line, plus he has a history of knee injuries. I'm sure Andy's already on the phone with Howie Roseman talking about this guy.

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Comments

Mike Patterson was manhandled at times this season? Like when? I don’t recall that ever happening.

Merry Vickmas everyone! * Falls into pile of snow DeSean style *
"It's simple, ... I'm always striving to do more. Whatever I accomplish, it's not enough. I don't get satisfied. That's not my nature." -Brian Dawkins
"Well as long as you want to get it right it's Princess Buttercup... Jackass." -Udalango

by d-jackfan10 on Feb 5, 2011 7:11 PM EST reply actions

During the Lions game when Javid Best had a monster day.

"I like prime rib and I'd love to win a Super Bowl. I'm hungry for both of them." -Andy Reid

by Bob_Q on Feb 5, 2011 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

He routinely gets abused.

He is only average.

"Solace these balls. They better get their guy and he better make a good impression in 2011."--mvict responding to JasonB's comparison of the Eagles to the Bengals

Q: What do a leaky tampon and Sean McDermott's defense have in common?
A: They are equally ineffective in the red zone.

by EvilBanner on Feb 5, 2011 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

That is an outright lie. The Eagles had the second best interior run defense in the entire NFL and Mike Patterson has a huge role in that. Mike Patterson isn’t a penetrator and because he doesn’t get consistent pressure one track minded people like yourself think he sucks.

by d-jackfan10 on Feb 5, 2011 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

Where in the hell are those stats that determine that?

"Solace these balls. They better get their guy and he better make a good impression in 2011."--mvict responding to JasonB's comparison of the Eagles to the Bengals

Q: What do a leaky tampon and Sean McDermott's defense have in common?
A: They are equally ineffective in the red zone.

by EvilBanner on Feb 5, 2011 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

Footballoutsiders. Look it up.

by d-jackfan10 on Feb 5, 2011 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah.

I did. I don’t see where they are ranked 2nd in anything. The extremely small DT’s get thrown around, don’t make plays and put undue pressure on a crappy linebacking corps.

"Solace these balls. They better get their guy and he better make a good impression in 2011."--mvict responding to JasonB's comparison of the Eagles to the Bengals

Q: What do a leaky tampon and Sean McDermott's defense have in common?
A: They are equally ineffective in the red zone.

by EvilBanner on Feb 5, 2011 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry, I assumed everyone knew about FO and that they knew how to navigate the site.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl

Go to the bottom chart and this these numbers are there:

PHI: 4.07 / 14 // 3.08 / 2 // 3.37 / 2 // 4.58 / 24 // 3.71 / 13

On runs outside the left tackle opposing teams averaged 4.07 YPC which for the Eagles defense was 14th best in the NFL. Against runs behind the left side of the line teams averaged 3.08 YPC, 2nd best in the NFL. Against runs up the middle teams averaged 3.37 YPC, 2nd best in the NFL. When teams ran behind the right side of their line they averaged 4.5 YPC and runs to the outside of the left tackle averaged 3.71 yards per carry.

by d-jackfan10 on Feb 5, 2011 7:49 PM EST up reply actions

And if you hate small defensive tackles, you’re going to hate Jim Washburn…

Jason Jones: 6’5" and 276 pounds
Sen’Derrick Marks: 6’2" and 292 pounds
Jovan Haye: 6’2" and 277 pounds
Malcolm Sheppard: 6’2" and 285 pounds
Tony Brown: 6’3" and 305 pounds
Marques Douglas: 6’2" and 290 pounds

And other notable players he has coached are:
Randy Starks: 6’3" and 305 pounds
Kevin Vickerson: 6’5" and 321 pounds (misleading, he is long lanky and quick)

by d-jackfan10 on Feb 5, 2011 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

Albert Haynesworth

6’6" 335

"Solace these balls. They better get their guy and he better make a good impression in 2011."--mvict responding to JasonB's comparison of the Eagles to the Bengals

Q: What do a leaky tampon and Sean McDermott's defense have in common?
A: They are equally ineffective in the red zone.

by EvilBanner on Feb 5, 2011 9:27 PM EST up reply actions

Right but he was a freak athlete with a 4.8 40 yard dash and a 40" vertical jump at 6’6" and 318 pounds. He is a freak who is the exception not the rule and I’ve clearly shown ‘the rule’.

by d-jackfan10 on Feb 5, 2011 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

The average nfl DT is 6’3" 305. (via football reference)

Patterson 6’1" 300
Bunkley 6’2" 306

Slightly undersized sure, but I wouldn’t call them extremely small.

by fylr71 on Feb 6, 2011 11:49 PM EST up reply actions

Patterson isn't 300 anymore

He bulked up a couple of years ago. He’s probably more like 320 or 330.

by AZ Eagle on Feb 7, 2011 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

You're right... Mike Patterson

Isn’t a penetrator, he’s the penetratee

by MatKid92 on Feb 5, 2011 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

I say we keep

Bunkley, Patterson, Dixon and Laws.

Defensive player of the year for 2011 is...

Wild_Eagle!

Yes, Wild_Eagle's infamous reputation did help him get this award. But he shows that he walks the talk that he serves...with his keyboard. Wild_Eagle protects the motherland (BGN) from the evils of noobs, douche-bags, and other assholes. Although he may be crude and unnecessary, all great defenders draws the yellow flag from time to time.

by wild_eagle on Feb 5, 2011 7:11 PM EST reply actions

Feeling bold today W_E? Really going out on a limb with that one lol.

by d-jackfan10 on Feb 5, 2011 7:14 PM EST up reply actions

lol... our top 4

"This is one of the top 10 biggest bonehead trades in the history of the NFL."
-Redskins TE Chris Cooley

by Ralf E Chubbs on Feb 5, 2011 8:05 PM EST up reply actions

I guess so..

Our DT position is pretty good.

Defensive player of the year for 2011 is...

Wild_Eagle!

by wild_eagle on Feb 6, 2011 12:43 AM EST up reply actions

Bunkley more cut out for a d-end all upper body strength. I think both starters r going to be gone or coming off the bench. Eagles haven’t had pressure up the middle since Simmons left. Laws and graham got down this season. Dixon solid too.

by pragit on Feb 5, 2011 10:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I say we keep

~~Bunkley, Patterson~~, Dixon and Laws.

If Revis has an Island, Asomugha should have a continent.
"beat the man in front of you, then attempt to seriously injure the quarterback."
"Reidtard" for president!!!!
Sending pics of your junk > dog killing > generally being a douche > sexual assault allegations > being on the Cowboys.

by number5 on Feb 6, 2011 2:44 AM EST up reply actions

It does make sense

If we don’t sign anyone major like Albert. If Owens didn’t tear his ACL we might try and move Bunk but we need him for the depth cuz we all know the injury bug seems to bit the us worse then anyone else.

by MidwesternEaglesfan on Feb 6, 2011 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

Patterson is average...

…Bunkley is garbage. He gets thrown the fuck around by even the weakest of guards. The only place you can see penetration up the middle in the city of Philadelphia is in the back room of Delilahs…if you know what I mean…

"Solace these balls. They better get their guy and he better make a good impression in 2011."--mvict responding to JasonB's comparison of the Eagles to the Bengals

Q: What do a leaky tampon and Sean McDermott's defense have in common?
A: They are equally ineffective in the red zone.

by EvilBanner on Feb 5, 2011 7:17 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

lol

I feel u dog! He is more fit for a 3-4. Can’t come off the line once he’s engaged lacks athletics like swim moves up and under. More fit at defensive-end in a 3-4. He’ll work out good in the 3-3-5 in 3rd and long. Joker loves the bull rush.

by pragit on Feb 5, 2011 10:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Patterson is better than average as a DT. He’s a solid starter. Frankly I would like to see him lose about 15 pds to become a bit quicker and more importantly in better shape. Simply wears down too much as the game goes on due to his poor conditioning. Eagles asked him to gain weight to be more effective vs. run but he has gained too much weight at this point.

I agree with largely on Bunkley. He’s never had a single really good year through out the entire year. Nonfactor as a rookie, modest 2nd & 3rd years, and the last 2 years he has’t been even a solid starter. Hell, he was a 2-down player who has been constantly substituted for on obvious passing situations his entire career. Conserding how high he was drafted, I would consider his career in an Eagles’ career underwhelming.

by MG77 on Feb 5, 2011 11:31 PM EST up reply actions

Interesting theory

I like the shift from talking about run stopping to talking about penetration.

FYI though that’s in large part due to the two-gap scheme we ran. I’m unaware of any DTs that got a lot of penetration in the two-gap (which is more about holding the line and stuffing the run)

by Alon on Feb 6, 2011 1:03 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

People love to throw stats around...

…without considering the underlying information behind them. You are exactly right. In a two-gap system, the DTs first responsibility is playing the running back. You give on offensive guard 2-3 seconds head start while our DTs try to figure out 1st if the back has the ball and 2nd which way he is going….I’m pretty sure that will not only impact stats, but how dominant a person could look.

by Qwest on Feb 7, 2011 5:12 PM EST up reply actions

rec

Patt and Bunk really suck

by number5 on Feb 6, 2011 2:45 AM EST up reply actions

No they do not. Not even close. Are they impact players? No. But they are solid players who are good against the run. Collectively the Eagles defense has been a top 5 run defense since Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson took over as the starting defensive tackles.

by d-jackfan10 on Feb 6, 2011 3:09 AM EST up reply actions

passing league bro, passing league

by number5 on Feb 6, 2011 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

Remind me

How often are our true DTs out on passing downs?

Oh. Right. They aren’t.

by birds'n'raiders on Feb 6, 2011 3:22 PM EST up reply actions

There you go...

…people seem to forget that on obvious passing downs, we like to use our reserve DE’s in the DT position to try to get more pressure up the middle. I expect this to be over with Washburn as he has never employed that technique…come to think of it, JJ didn’t do it often either….so it may be a passing fad for us. However, your point is right on the money.

by Qwest on Feb 7, 2011 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe because they SUCK

by number5 on Feb 7, 2011 10:46 PM EST up reply actions

If memory serves me correct

Bunkley was playing hurt last year

by Phourth_Horseman on Feb 6, 2011 5:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

i think patterson has something to prove

bunkley and laws are in contract years…

not excited about anyone other than laws and dixon… although i think patterson can (and hopefully will) surprise.

got to pick up one or two DT (i’m ok with one of them being fat al) in either draft or FA

"This is one of the top 10 biggest bonehead trades in the history of the NFL."
-Redskins TE Chris Cooley

by Ralf E Chubbs on Feb 5, 2011 8:07 PM EST reply actions

The defensive tackles were one of the stronger parts of the eagles defense this year. Patterson and Dixon did well in the middle. They will only get better with washburn as coach but I think the biggest impact of washburn will be the d ends improvement, including Trent Cole.

by PhilsForever on Feb 5, 2011 9:47 PM EST via mobile reply actions

laws

Laws got to get on the field more this was the first time in years that we created pressure up the middle with him and graham rotating. I new when those two guys went down with injuries that we were in trouble. Laws was reborn with his off season work out regerrment. I read an article earlier this season about him I have much respect for the young man MUCH!

by pragit on Feb 5, 2011 10:23 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Whatsa Regerment?

by Qwest on Feb 7, 2011 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

Something to consider

not to jump on the “coaching change will make miracles happen” bandwagon, BUT…

I’ve always been an extreme hater of the 2-gap system. It requires D-Linemen to be responsible for 2 gaps on the LOS in a way that they have to sort of engage their blocker, read the play, THEN attack the ball..

While the 2 gap system helps in the run defense, it severely reduces the efficiency of the pass rush because d-linemen have to not only read the play, but disengage the O-lineman trying to block them. This is especially difficult for quicker/undersized D-linemen like the Eagles have.

In a 1-gap 9 technique system, the ball snaps and D-Linemen get to shoot the gaps and cause all sorts of trouble in the backfield which, IMO, plays to Eagles D-Linemen strengths.

I expect the D-linemen to be much improved playmakers in 2011. Go Eagles

by SadPenguin on Feb 5, 2011 10:30 PM EST reply actions

Laws

Hands down was the most unexpected and pleasant surprise of the ’10 season. He gave the Eagles a real impact on passing down at times rushing the passer from the interior. Literally have had that Howard did that in ’08. Really missed his presence the last few games after he got injured.

It is kind of hilarious how you hear about all of the youth on the Eagles’ roster yet their DL is packed with veteran guys who have been at the league at least 3-4 years (and more) and had a ton of other starters who have that experience too. It wasn’t that this was a young defense this year. It was more the fact that it wasn’t a defense with much depth at most positions, didn’t get alot of contributions from the younger players, and really struggled at times.

by MG77 on Feb 5, 2011 11:35 PM EST reply actions

Agreed.

I don’t know what lit the fire for Laws or maybe it was nagging injuries until last season, but I like how he turned out. Laws’ emergence makes that 2008 draft look pretty good now:

DeSean Jackson
Trevor Laws
Mick McGlynn
King Dunlap
Joe Mays (we got a little out of him, lol)
Mike Gibson (starts for Seattle now)

by cliphord on Feb 6, 2011 8:28 AM EST up reply actions

Demps

he may have blown out in the summer of ’09, but he was a good kick returner and solid 3rd S. I feel like we gave up on him way too early. Had great speed and a real nasty attitude. He got picked up on wavers by the Texans and started. I think he had a pick in the few games he played.

by birds'n'raiders on Feb 6, 2011 3:30 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with this, Demps got the shaft here in Philadelphia by Sean McDermott. Demps was talented but McDermott being the idiot he was decided he didn’t like Demps’ attitude so he benched him. Demps was Jim Johnson’s project because he had incredible athleticism, playmaking skills and a nasty attitude and McD just threw it all away. I actually liked Demps despite the stupid late hit penalty in the NFC Championship game.

by d-jackfan10 on Feb 6, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

I think

Demps was overrated as a KR though. Never really saw him do anything exciting. Once his confidence was shot (for whatever reason) as a safety, didn’t make much sense to keep him around anymore.

by Qwest on Feb 7, 2011 1:06 PM EST up reply actions

t'eo

Wasn’t he originally drafted to be a 3rd down DT? One of those tweener guys who can get upfield on guards?

I’ll be interested to see his development. He was a project for sure, next season should be his unveiling.

2010-11 Predictions:

Kevin Kolb will go to the probowl and complete >65% of passes.

Jeremy Maclyn will have more receptions than Miles Austin & Steve Smith

Graham will have the starting LDE spot tied up by week 5, win ROTY, and have >10 Sacks

11-5 finish.

by corn on the kolb on Feb 6, 2011 9:21 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I vote No on Haynesworth

Dude is lazy…

Scrapple - It's not just for breakfast anymore...

by Philthy on Feb 6, 2011 2:58 PM EST reply actions

DT is the most important position on this defense

Bunkley would be a beast in a one gap system. Easpecially if the Eagles go get Haynesworth once he’s cut. The Eagles LB’s will benefit greatly from linemen actually having to account for the DT’s in the backfeild.

I would love to blow up Texas Stadium... With team still in it

by eaglelover1 on Feb 6, 2011 4:06 PM EST reply actions

Everyone is jumping up and down at the thought of this 1 gap system I’m wondering what going to happen when we can’t stop the power running game on first and second down.

by Phourth_Horseman on Feb 6, 2011 5:43 PM EST via mobile reply actions

How many teams...

…have a power running game that they employ on 1st and second downs? Falcons and Bucs for sure. Maybe the Ravens, Jags and Giants (all very iffy)…even if you include the zone blocking Texans and Redskins, you are still only up to 7 out of 32 NFL teams.

by Qwest on Feb 7, 2011 1:10 PM EST up reply actions