Stay Or Go: Defense Part 1
Defensive Line
Jason Babin: What a year this guy had on paper. He sure did deliver a lot of sacks playing in the wide nine system of defense! Unfortunately he wasn’t as good against the run and it cost the Eagles linebackers to get exposed. Hopefully a new system will be in place and hopefully Babin will still be as effective of a player against the pass and improve his play against the run. Despite his deficiencies as a player, Babin is a “high motor guy” who does hustle to the ball carrier. STAY
Juqua Parker: After he decided to “jump”, I would have sent him packing right then and there. He would have found his own way home from Buffalo. This guy no longer serves a purpose on the Eagles other than to take up cap space. It’s time to replace him, and considering the fact Hunt outplayed him in the second half of the season it should only be a matter of time before Thomas/Parker gets his walking papers. GO
Trent Cole: Another solid year for Cole, but I wonder if all these years injury free might be starting to catch up with him. Still Cole is a great Defensive lineman and I see no reason why the Eagles don’t him back. STAY
Darryl Tapp: This guy looks the part, but unfortunately doesn’t play the role. People keep expecting Tapp to turn the corner (he always seems to in Camp and Preseason), but the guy never lives up to the potential. For anyone keeping score Chris Clemons has put up another double digit sack season GO
Brandon Graham: Lost two seasons to injuries and weight gain. The worst part is these were his first two seasons. Meanwhile Jason Pierre-Paul is making the Pro Bowl. He seems more and more like a bust every day. STAY (I would ship him out)
Phillip Hunt: The former CFL player came on late in the season and began to get a lot of quarterback pressure. I think he should stick around for another year or so to see what he’s got. STAY
Victor Abiamiri: Two things. First: Give up on this guy. Second: Stay away from lineman from Notre Dame. GO
Mike Patterson: The Eagles love him. The fans love him, but I don’t. In fact he might be the most overrated guy on this line. Granted he starts, but should he really? He doesn’t do much of anything well. He’s a subpar pass rusher and an average run defender at best. I would send him packing, but the Eagles wont, because they love him and his undersized body a lot. STAY (I SAY GO)
Cullen Jenkins: Boy did he start strong! He seemed like he was on his was to double digit sacks as a defensive tackle, but then he just fell off. Truth of the matter is Jenkins was a force in the middle and after the Seattle game he began to focus on playing the run more. If Antonio Dixon can come back healthy and dominant, the player who would benefit most would be Jenkins. STAY
Trevor Laws: Did he play for the Eagles this past season? GO
Derek Landri: He should have made the roster, but the Eagles cut him in preseason. I think he will find a way to stick around this time. STAY
Antonio Dixon: Anybody remember him? Unfortunately he suffered a season ending injury early in the season. Hopefully he will be able to come back healthy and be a force in the middle. Still the Eagles should consider bringing in another tackle via the draft of free agency. STAY
Jeff Owens: I can’t see this kid coming back and making an impact. GO
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The Defensive line showed great improvement in the pass rush, but they suffered terribly in the Wide 9 against the run. Perhaps when Dixon returns the line will improve against the run.
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GO:
Parker, Abiamiri, Owens, Laws, Tapp. One or two of these guys could see camp, but none of them (barring injury) is lkely to make the roster next year.
HOLD ON:
Babin. If he stays then we have to keep the Wide 9, meaning more Castillo, because Spags doesn't run the Wide 9 and will probably want to pick his own staff.
Brandon Graham. Has shown little but really hasn't played much. I think his future is tied to how Babin and Spags works out.
Patterson. I think the coaching staff likes him more than anyone else does. He does nothing that isn't highly replaceable by guys already on the roster.
STAY:
Cole. Fan favorite has always played too wide for my taste, but when he plays a decent gap, he defends the run as well as any DE on the team.
Hunt. Gives you speed on the edge but he needs to add mass to be more than just a 3rd and long pass rusher.
Jenkins. I BEGGED for a big strong DT for years. We finally get one and look at what he does. Put some size and strength next to him and you've got the makings of a nightmare.
Dixon. Remember him? You bet I do! He's the reason the run defense stiffened after Brodrick Bunkley's injury two years ago. Line this guy up next to Jenkins and turn him lose as an "A" gap bull rusher. Who do you ask the Center to help with, Jenkins or Dixon? Do you see it? In my opinion Dixon is jet fuel to a D-line that accomplished this year on gasoline. Running Backs who stay in to block now have to focus picking up in the middle, leaving the edges exposed to one-on-ones. Go ahead and smile you know you wanna.
Landri. This guy gets so much penetration his nickname should be Ron Jeremy. He's as disruptive as a chimp high on cocaine in a library. He's a keeper. -
There's no doubt Dixon was the reason (and Bunkley's spotty play) the Eagles decided to trade him away. Pairing him with Jenkins should make for a disruptive middle upfront as long as Dixon comes back healthy. I liked Landri in pre-season and I couldn't figure out how he got cut and Parker stayed. I hope they don't even put Abiamiri on the field. He's likely to get injured again! I think with or without the Wide 9 the Eagles have players on this line capable of getting to the quarterback.
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Stay: Patterson,Dixon, Landri,Laws,Jenkins, Babin, Cole, Graham
Maybe stay: Tapp
Go: Hunt, Abiamiri,Owens -
I disagree with you on Hunt. I think he has a future in the league. Once he got a chance to play he looked superior to Tapp as a pass rusher. The only thing Tapp has going for him is his versatility.
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Abiramiri needs to go. Too much time/energy wasted on this guy. He is McDougle part 2. Hunt played well when given a chance so I think he stays. Tapp was also a good role player so I'd hate to see him leave. Laws played O.K. at times but is on the bubble with Landri playing as well as he did. Patterson is having BRAIN SURGERY, so you have to be careful about which DT's you are thinking of cutting.
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People like Tapp, but he didn't do enough this year for me to be all that impressed. He got good time in Washburn's system and he only came up with 2 1/2 sacks. I just think the Eagles could do better at the position than him. For the time he was given this year, he should have at least gotten 5-7 sacks.
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i think it seems everyone agrees on who stays and goes, which is amazing we are all on the same page well for the most part. On Babin i do not think he is only good in the wide 9. last year when he was in tenn. espn or nfl network had a report on his career and it pointed out how he was used in Houston, Philly, and i think Atlanta and in every city he was used like we used chris gocong. every team wanted him to play a LB/DE with more focus on coverage cause they said he was too small to be a DE. then he goes to the titans and washburn turns him loose. he said in the report he always wanted to play with his hand down its how he likes to play n feels most comfortable, so with the right coaching i think he can play the run well. i remember the first time he was here he was stopping the run when he came in on coles side and then they put him in coverage and it was dooms day next think i know hes in a blue jersey. i think spags can help with that. babin is a good player just miss used and set up for failure vs the run it is up to the DC if they go to the wide 9 on the line and for what plays. i think Spags will help the dline alot just dont know or think he will be here.
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I agree with you. Babin is a guy who I think will succeed if a new defensive coordinator is brought in and even if that person decides not to use the Wide 9.f by some chance the Eagles chose not to make a change at coordinator, then they must make a change at linebacker. The Wide 9 and the Tampa 2 does not fit their personnel.
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You think Tapp should go? I have to disagree with that. He didn't get alot of pressure on the qb but he was, i my opinion, the best run defender on the line. I noticed that eventually he started only playing on run downs, which does diminish his value but he was so effective against the run that Iwould keep him around. Its Graham that should go. He has no place in the defense anymore.
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I think Graham has the physical tools to dominate. If he flops this year cut him loose. I agree w/u on Tapp. He is versatile.
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Graham was drafted high for a reason. Andy's early round draft picks on the line must be cursed. None of them pan out to be much or the flash greatness momentarily and then fail miserably. And that goes for both offensive and defensive linemen chosen by Reid.
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I think Tapp should go, because he is never going to reach the potential he was drafted to reach. For what he brings to the table, the Eagles could bring in a younger, cheaper player to do the same thing. I think it would be a waste to bring this guy back. I think he should go to camp and fight for a spot, but he certainly isn't replaceable. Considering Clemons is killing it over in Seattle I feel Tapp has not lived up to the hype.
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