Michael Bennett calls out NFC East quarterbacks, says Eagles could have one of the greatest defensive lines ever

Michael Bennett is one of the NFL’s most outspoken players, so it’s no surprise that he made some pretty interesting comments during his first press conference as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

One such comment came when he was asked about playing in the Wide 9 alignment that Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz prefers to deploy.

“Yeah, I think it’s attractive. I think in Seattle, it was a little bit more responsibility because we played a little bit different defense. Still played with great defensive linemen. Cliff Avril, one of the best players to ever play the game. I had so many great players around me who were some of the best players to ever play.

And so here, this defense is just another opportunity to line up on tight ends. And honestly, I don’t think there’s a tight end in the NFL that can block me.

So, I know Eli Manning is probably watching this and thinking like … yes, I’m coming. I know Dak [Prescott] is watching this like ‘Yeah, he’s coming.’ So yeah, I am, man. Alex Smith, he know he can’t run from me. I told him in the Pro Bowl.

So it’s definitely going to be a great season. It’s going to be fun to be out here and be able to chase quarterbacks.”

To recap: Bennett just individually called out every starting quarterback from the Eagles’ NFC East rivals in his first press confernece.

That’s awesome.

Another bold comment made by Bennett came when he was asked about how good the Eagles’ defensive line, which is stacked, can be.

“I think we could be one of the greatest. I think we can have one of the greatest defensive lines to ever play the game if we approach the game like every single way. Just go out there and just keeping doing what they doing and finding a way to add and keep showing how many great players [we have].

I think a great defensive line is about the rotation. It’s kind of like [the] Golden State [Warriors], you want to be able to have those guys who can come in and shoot and shoot and score every time.”

Some have already started to compare this to the “Dream Team” comments made by Vince Young.

My take? Chill out with that VY comparison. This Eagles defensive line DOES have the potentially to be legitimately great, as we profiled earlier today.

And remember when Doug Pederson got crap last July for comparing last season’s Eagles to a former Packers Super Bowl team? AND HOW HE WAS RIGHT? And how Alshon Jeffery guaranteed a Super Bowl win not once, but twice? AND HOW HE WAS RIGHT?

What Bennett is saying here is even less bold than those statements.

Look, you can feel free to rip Bennett’s comments if the Eagles defensive line doesn’t produce as expected. (And if it doesn’t, it certainly won’t be because he made a comment about it.)

Part of what made last year’s Eagles team so great was that they were fearless. Look no further than Pederson’s play-calling as a perfect example.

Bennett’s boldness fits that “new normal” attitude Pederson was talking about after the Eagles’ Super Bowl win. Of course, now he needs to back it up on the field. His career track record bodes well for him in that regard.

Some other highlights from Bennett’s presser include: