James Bradberry to the slot?
Not so fast, according to Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai.
The Eagles opened some eyes in training camp when they started cross-training Bradberry, the lengthy second-team All-Pro outside cornerback, in the slot this summer.
Now that attrition has hit Philadelphia at the slot position, Desai has to come up with a plan, and while Bradberry might see the occasional rep inside don’t expect heavy lifting there from the savvy veteran.
“The one thing you talk about James, and really a lot of our -- especially our older guys that have played a lot of football -- is they're so smart,” Desai said. “They're so football savvy and football smart that some of those transitions for him as we were doing some of that stuff with him, became a little bit simpler for him because he understands the game and what we're trying to get done with some of these coverages and techniques.”
At the time a team source described the cross-training of Bradberry as matchup-based in case a larger receiver or flex tight end started giving the defense trouble from the slot.
With Avonte Maddox expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn pec and his original backup, Zech McPhearson, already lost in the preseason to a torn Achilles, any and all ideas are welcome at this stage.
While attrition is part of the NFL and there are always going to be season-altering injuries like the New York Jets losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers or Cleveland trying to overcome the loss of running back Nick Chubb, former Eagles coach and current Jacksonville mentor Doug Pederson was always most dismayed by multiple injuries at the same position.
In Philadelphia, it seems like you can scrap Bradberry to the slot as an out-of-the-box idea after losing the top two slot corners, however.
“I was really impressed with how he was taking on that role, and not really sacrificing his [outside] corner role, because that's his role,” Desai said. “He's our corner. But he was learning that, and I think it helps him and really everybody in terms of the way we teach it. Helps everybody learn all 11 [defenders] and why we're doing certain things from a coverage standpoint because we’re all 11 as one.”
The next man up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night is expected to be first-year option Mario Goodrich, who got his first taste of NFL action when Maddox exited in the second quarter of the 34-28 win over Minnesota last Thursday.
It was a mixed bag but Goodrich seemed to play better as he settled down a bit and even forced a fumble that was wiped out by an offsides call on defensive tackle Kentavius Street.
“He got thrown in the fire there, unexpectedly I'm sure for him,” Desai said of Goodrich. “But that's a great lesson for everybody to always be prepared, having that-next-man-up- mentality. I thought he got better as the game progressed. There were some motion things like that early that he kind of just had to feel and settle in there a little bit and gain some confidence.
“... Now it's time to take the next step and really trust in all of his training and techniques we're teaching him.”
The Eagles worked out veteran cornerback William Jackson III on Tuesday but did not immediately make a move, instead elevating punt returner Britain Covey to the 53-man roster to take the spot created by Maddox’s shift to injured reserve.
Last season when the Eagles suffered multiple injuries at defensive tackle, the team gave Marvin Wilson a tryout of sorts in Houston before pivoting and going outside the organization to sign veterans Lival Joseph and Ndamukong Suh.
The Eagles will look to move to 3-0 when they take on the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium on Monday night. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. ET.
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