Andy Reid Talks Linebackers

Andy Reid held his usual Friday press conference today and linebackers were the main topic of conversation. Now, Andy Reid might not be foremost expert on linebackers... but he's the only guy we've got that can answer these questions about this group.

First, he talked about Casey Matthews earning a role in the nickel defense.

"Well, we've got a few different personnel groups; we're going to try to utilize everybody, really. Casey's earned the right to get back in there. He's done well when given the opportunity on short yardage/goal line, he's done well on the scout team and his reps, he's done well in the classroom. Like some of the other guys that took a step back to take a step forward, that's what we're doing with Casey."

As for how he feels about the linebacking group at this point?

"Well, I think they're getting better, they're just a young group. We're young at safety, we're young at linebacker. Zero excuse on that, that's not what that is, that's reality, so the thing you do is you try to get better as a player every week. I appreciate their effort and their study habits, the things their doing, so they've done that, and they'll all have an opportunity to play and contribute."

He refused to talk about whether bringing in a veteran would have been a good idea and he mentioned that the linebackers were doing a better job in pass coverage. But as for the tackling?

"Well, you look back at the last game they had the tackle there that was a mess, that was not a good play right there. But, other than that you look at the big third-down stop that [LB Jamar] Chaney had and that was a great play. There's been some good ones too. That one there, that you pointed out [a missed tackle from Chaney], that was a bad one."