Colts Jeff Saturday Says Howard Mudd Will Make An Immediate Impact On Eagles Offensive Line

by JasonB on Feb 9, 2011 11:50 AM EST in Philadelphia Eagles News

The Eagles made arguably their most important "free agent" signing of the year when they brought in legendary offensive line coach Howard Mudd. His task will be to rebuild last year's porous offensive line into something resembling the dominant pass protecting group he led in Indianapolis for ten years. One member of that group, Jeff Saturday, told CSNPhilly that he expects Mudd to succeed.

"...the year before Howard came to the Colts, it was a couple years before I got here, we gave up like 60 sacks (actually 62). And then his first year in Indianapolis, we gave up about 20 (22). I fully expect the same thing to happen with the Eagles this year. He’ll make an immediate impact on that line. He specializes in solving problems. That’s what he likes to do. Face a challenge and find a way to solve it. I guarantee you one thing – the Eagles won’t give 50 sacks next year."

The story is full of great stuff from Saturday on how Mudd runs his line and his practices. He credits Mudd for turning him from an NFL washout working at an electrical supply company, into a multiple time pro bowler.

"One thing I’ll tell you about Howard’s practices – everybody in the stadium and anywhere near the field will hear Howard Mudd," Saturday said. "His voice is distinctive, and there’s going to be some profanity. He’ll be driving his guys every minute to be the best they can be. One thing he can’t tolerate is a guy who’s not putting in the time or the effort. I know my career would never have been anything like the way it’s been if it hadn’t been for him. He’ll work ‘em hard, and rest assured, the Eagles will have a better offensive line next year because of Howard."

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Great to hear.

Kudos to Reid for focusing on the two most important weaknesses of last season (arguably). OL and DL. Now time to plug a few holes and way we go…

FLY #7 FLY !!!

by BWestFactor on Feb 9, 2011 11:53 AM EST reply actions

While the numbers speak for themselves...

I am curious, and frankly to lazy to look it up, but with Mudd’s arrival was their an influx of talent to the O-Line? Either via the draft or free agents? Or did he literally take the same unit that gave up 62 sacks and limited it to 22?

BOILER UP!! 2010-2011

"You can commit no mistake and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." - Jean-Luc Picard

by EREX21 on Feb 9, 2011 12:02 PM EST reply actions

Great question

Can he turn shit into gold, or will the Eagles need to acquire gold that just needs polishing…

FLY #7 FLY !!!

by BWestFactor on Feb 9, 2011 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

Basically the same

1997 colts line (left to right):
adam meadows (rook), doug widell, jay leeuwenburg, tarik glenn (rook), tony mandarich

1998 colts line (left to right):
tarik glenn, steve mckinney (rook), jay leeuwenburg, tony mandarich/larry moore (rook), adam meadows

by Jon_G on Feb 9, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

Thank you.

So basically, Mudd turned garbage into gold.

BOILER UP!! 2010-2011

"You can commit no mistake and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." - Jean-Luc Picard

by EREX21 on Feb 9, 2011 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

Well only one player was different

He just switched the others around…. a shit shuffler…

FLY #7 FLY !!!

by BWestFactor on Feb 9, 2011 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

There is something to say...

…for the progression of a player, especially an offensive lineman, from his first year to his second. Both Meadows and Glenn were rookies in 2007 with Meadows playing left tackle, the hardest OLine position. Shifting him to right tackle and giving him a year in the offense and a year of nutritional and professional coaching up, and he will get MUCH better. Think how bad Winston Justice looked at LT and how he’s been at least serviceable at RT. Tarik Glenn didn’t have to play LT until his second year, when he got some experience. So while he pretty much just shifted some people, which is to his credit, they also should get some credit too.

by Qwest on Feb 9, 2011 2:19 PM EST up reply actions

Also worth noting...

…is that 1998 was also Peyton Manning’s first year. He threw a ton of interceptions, but that is mainly because he had happy feet and wanted to avoid sacks. There is a HUGE difference between Jim Harbaugh and even a rookie Peyton Manning.

by Qwest on Feb 9, 2011 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

Saturday was working at a phone company the year before he went to the colts

Η κόλαση δεν έχει μυστικά
"Do you know where we are going?" she said.
"To solve the mystery of the eternal hereafter, I imagine," I replied.
-- _The Gods of Mars_
I cannot conceive of gods who would give a damn about humanity’s frothy carryings-on. I mean, logically, beings of that order just wouldn’t. But maybe there is a force for greater good, created by our unconscious minds conjoined, that becomes an independent power greater than the sum of its parts. Maybe, being a mind-thing, it is not time-bound. Maybe it can see everywhere and everywhen and move pawns so that what seems to be today’s victory becomes the cornerstone of tomorrow’s defeat.
-Glen Cook The Black Company

by Udalango on Feb 9, 2011 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

so what youre saying is...

We should start scouting at Verizon or AT&T?

FLY #7 FLY !!!

by BWestFactor on Feb 9, 2011 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly!

by Udalango on Feb 9, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

Tarik Glenn , Tony Ugoh, Mike Pollack

were 1st/2nd rders.

I think most of Colts’ OL were “projects”.

"What a gorgeous dog. What do you feed him?"

by waterfield on Feb 9, 2011 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

wondering...

Peters may be the most talented tackle the guy has had (i say may because i really dont know) lets see if he can take accomplished guys like peters and herremans and make them even better too.

He hit him in a bad spot... the hands.

by DaaaBirdsDaBirds on Feb 9, 2011 12:09 PM EST reply actions

Tarik Glenn

Was a pretty good left tackle for the Colts, but I agree that Peters has more to offer.

by mrb5091 on Feb 9, 2011 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

Todd and Jason obviously have room to grow

but those are the guys I’m least worried about.

I’d like to see what he can do with the likes of Cole, Dunlap, Justice, J Jackson, Gilles, Howard, Rookie(s) we draft, etc…

"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 9, 2011 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

The problem isn’t going to be the Left side, it’s not Vick’s blindside. Since Vick is left handed, his blindside is the right side of the OL.

by Phillyrampage on Feb 9, 2011 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

Who knows if Mudd won’t switch Justice and Peters, so Peters can protect Vick’s blindside? Seeing what he did with the Colts line from 1997 to 1998…

1997 colts line (left to right):
adam meadows (rook), doug widell, jay leeuwenburg, tarik glenn (rook), tony mandarich

1998 colts line (left to right):
tarik glenn, steve mckinney (rook), jay leeuwenburg, tony mandarich/larry moore (rook), adam meadows

by Guilhermeev on Feb 9, 2011 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

Sounds great and all but the fact is we run a completely different offense from Indianapolis. Our offense forces the QB to sit in the pocket for longer than many offenses, and Michael Vick isn’t exactly Peyton Manning when it comes to pocket awareness.

Another thing a lot of people don’t realize is that since Vick is a lefty, RT is as important as (if not more important than) LT now, and I’m not sure if Justice is cutting it at the moment. We’ll see what Mudd can do with him, though.

:3™

by yomjoseki on Feb 9, 2011 2:38 PM EST reply actions

As for what I meant about pocket awareness, look at how many sacks Indy gave up this year. 16. Sounds like a great number, right? Truth is, a lot of that credit goes to Manning. He was under fire all year (compared to most years). The Colts OL wasn’t as bad as Colts fans might have you believe, but they weren’t nearly as protective of Manning as they have been in the past.

:3™

by yomjoseki on Feb 9, 2011 2:41 PM EST up reply actions