Over the weekend, Pro Football Focus released their look at cornerback tackling in 2011. I was prepared for the Eagles group to be subpar, after all, I did watch this team last year... but I didn't think it was quite this bad.
Asante Samuel is a familiar name amongst the worst tackling corners in the league, but amazingly, he was the best of the Eagles top trio this season... and that's not a compliment to Asante.
According to PFF, Samuel, Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie & Nnamdi Asomugha all finished in the bottom 11 in terms of tackling efficiency. They say that Eagles cornerbacks missed one fifth of the tackles they attempted last season.
Asante Samuel finished 11th from the bottom missing a tackle every 5.3 attempts. DRC was fourth from bottom missing a tackle every 4.6 attempts (although that includes only 7 misses). Finally, Nnamdi Asomugha was the second lowest in the league missing a tackle every 4.3 attempts.
Only the Redskins Kevin Barnes was worse.
Obviously that's an area that has to get better. However, it is worth noting that a poor tackling secondary isn't necessarily a death knell. The Green Bay Packers had three corners in the bottom 20 as well, including Charles Woodson, who is often lauded for his tackling and was in the role the Eagles supposedly wanted Nnamdi Asomugha to play at the start of last year.