256 replies to this topic

[dmor]

I'm really disappointed with the team.  The defense has been an Achilles Heel of the team ever since JJ died.  Chip stated in an interview that "shutoutability" is a quality is looking for in an Eagles defense.

Exactly what has Davis done to warrant this job?  His track record is not one of mediocrity - it's considerably below average at the NFL level.

Sorry, but I think the team lost a lot of goodwill that was built up following the Chip Kelly hire.

[Hank_TheBody_Fraley]

You haven't noticed how they always seem to follow something good/potentially good up with something meh or downright awful?

[Uncle Russ]

I knew some on here would make a stupid thread like this.

Look what defense he had in San Fran http://www.pro-footb...2006_roster.htm. Aside from Manny Lawson, a bunch of scrubs.

Then in AZ the Offense was bad, and had 2 old LB's (Porter and Lenon) I really don't think it was his fault. http://www.pro-footb...2010_roster.htm

All I'm saying is don't judge him until the season is underway.

[mjkvol]

dmor, on 07 February 2013 - 11:53 AM, said:

Sorry, but I think the team lost a lot of goodwill that was built up following the Chip Kelly hire.

I don't know a lot about Davis, but they're flirting with losing a whole lot more goodwill if Vick is brought back, that's for sure.

I wanted Monachino, but again, I'm sure Chip knows a hell of a lot more about these guys.    Looks like we'll be a 3-4 defense.

[dnabbrules]

Gotta show Banner that Jeffy & Howie know more, OC & DC from Browns.  LOL .  Please tell me again why Lurie gets a free pass, he was the one who kept Reid here 5 or 6 years past his expiration date.  Gotta give Lurie credit, he morphed the Eagles into the Redskins.  Kelly is lookin more and more like Spurrier, can't wait until everyone justifies Dennis Dixon as the starting QB.  Reminds me of Shane Mattews and Danny Weurfel when Spurrier was in Washington.  lol

[DeathByEagle]

Untill its confirmed by the FO you still dont know. I smell smoke screen. We all though we were getting bradley and BAM Chip Kelly gets hired. Eagles are all about the surprise and smoke screen. This wouldnt surprise me here in this case either

[PhillyTC]

I'm sure he wasn't a premier candidate for them.  They had to hire somebody.  After this long of a search, it's clear they weren't going to get top tier talent.  I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, but won't have high expectations.

[dmor]

DeathByEagle, on 07 February 2013 - 12:06 PM, said:

Untill its confirmed by the FO you still dont know. I smell smoke screen. We all though we were getting bradley and BAM Chip Kelly gets hired. Eagles are all about the surprise and smoke screen. This wouldnt surprise me here in this case either

Really, why the pinned thread in TATE then?  Why the cover story on PE.com?  Yeah, it's a diversion, a smoke screen.  That's it!  Phew, was worried there for a moment.

[michaels maniacs]

stupidest hire ever
would rather have juan back
and dave dont spin this with lets give it time
weve heard that for 15 years now
this was a chance to make it right and it failed again

[CT Eagle]

"Do you think that we should look into the Browns coaching staff for a few diamonds in the rough"
"How about Shurmur and Davis ?"
"Howie, you and I are on the same wavelength"

this is the transcript of a conversation that happened in the twilight zone

[PhillyPhan13]

dmor, on 07 February 2013 - 12:11 PM, said:

Really, why the pinned thread in TATE then?  Why the cover story on PE.com?  Yeah, it's a diversion, a smoke screen.  That's it!  Phew, was worried there for a moment.

Not that I don't think Billy is going to be the DC, but the cover story on PE.com is just a piece about the Mosher article.  Not really a confirmation.

[MR-CYN]

Joe Banner sez lulz

[Randy Rampage]

At least Chip hired a defensive coach to be defensive coordinator, unlike Reid.

I think fans have a right to be skeptical, given the Eagles' lack of championship success over the last 53 years or so. I'm not totally in love with this move, but I'm willing give the new coaching staff a chance before I start crapping on them.

[CT Eagle]

We have the first legitimate patsy of the Kelly era !

[mjkvol]

dnabbrules, on 07 February 2013 - 12:06 PM, said:

Gotta show Banner that Jeffy & Howie know more, OC & DC from Browns.  LOL .  Please tell me again why Lurie gets a free pass, he was the one who kept Reid here 5 or 6 years past his expiration date.  Gotta give Lurie credit, he morphed the Eagles into the Redskins.  Kelly is lookin more and more like Spurrier, can't wait until everyone justifies Dennis Dixon as the starting QB.  Reminds me of Shane Mattews and Danny Weurfel when Spurrier was in Washington.  lol

Good thing you're not jumping to conclusions quickly.      

1.  If Dixon is brought in, it's as a backup who can school guys here on Kelly's offense, not as the solution.      Bringing him in is a good move.

2.  The DC hire isn't official yet, and even if it is, it isn't as if there was a must-have candidate out there.

Of more concern to me is the Vick thing - I'm hoping they're just saying all the right things now, and will do the expedient thing.

[Randy Rampage]

An interesting article on Billy Davis and the Cardinals defense at the time:

http://m.chiefsplane...ad.php?t=204166

Do the Cardinals run a 3-4 or 4-3 defense? The answer is, well, yes.

By Eric Edholm
Jan. 30, 2009

TAMPA, Fla. - Cardinals LB coach Bill Davis leaned back in his seat, exhaled and tried to remember a conversation he had five years and two jobs ago.

"I have been so many places, you tend to forget what you did when and when things happened," Davis said "It all blends together."

Indeed. In 17 NFL seasons, Davis has worked for eight clubs and has run or been a part of just about every kind of defensive scheme there is. He has been around long enough to have seen the 3-4 defense go out of style and subsequently come back as, what Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians calls it, "the vogue defense right now," including his own team's superior unit.

But do the Cardinals run a 3-4 also? The answer might surprise you.

"Everybody puts us in that 3-4 category, but what we are is an 'under front, a 4-3 'under' defense, "Davis explains. "The 'under' is almost a 3-4. As 3-4 [defenses] go, it's not really what we do here."

An 'under' defense slants towards the tight end. Likewise, an 'over' front shifts away from the tight end. As he explains the workings of the Cardinal's defense, Davis starts talking, then does as any good coach or teacher would: He grabs a pen and paper. "Well,here, let me show you want i mean ..."

Pretty soon, he's scratching out the defensive scheme on a paper, the same one the Cardinals will use to try to stop the Steelers on Sunday. He also, for comparison, sketches out the traditional 3-4 defense and the 4-3 'even' front, both of what he has taught and coached in the NFL.

"When you're talking about the 3-4 team, you have the three D-lineman," Davis said. "Then you have [two] outside 'backers; then [the inside linebackers] bubble on the guards."

Bubbling, in the defensive terms, is to line up across from an uncovered offensive lineman. In the 3-4, it's the two offensive guards that most often don't have a defensive lineman in front of them. The defensive ends are lined up in a five-techniques, or on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackles. The nose tackle is head up across from the center.

Said Davis: "These guys [defensive linemen] are supposed to two-gap, and these outside [linebackers] are interchangeable rush-or-pass guys. And that's the dynamic of the 3-4."

But in the 4-3 'under' front, like the Cardinals use as their base defense which looks similar to the 3-4 to the naked eye, the biggest difference is in the outside linebackers. The strong-side linebacker is still outside the tightend. But the other outside guy - the Cardinals call this player their "Predator" - is almost always rushing the passer, although the Cards will occasionally drop him into covers to mix things up. Other differences: The nose tackle shades to the A-gap (in between the center and the guard) on the tightend side, and the end on that side moves between the tackle and tightend.

Davis explained that the 3-4 defense creates the most confusion for the offense in terms of which outside linebacker is doing what, and the standard 4-3 offers the least unpredictability. The Cardinals 4-3 'under' scheme is somewhere between the two in terms of causing the offense to guess who is rushing and who is dropping.

The only player in the 4-3 'under' who is left uncovered is the "Mike," or the middle linebacker. In the Cardinals' scheme, that's usually Gerald Hayes. "That's my thumper, more of a thick guy," Davis said, circling the capital M on his piece of paper. "In the 'over' front, when i was in Atlanta [2001 to 2003], we put Keith Brooking - we were actually playing an even scheme, too - but we stacked Keith right behind the three [technique] and he got to run and make players and use his athleticism, and he made his first Pro Bowl playing behind the three."

But in this scheme Hayes, listed at 249 pounds ("or a little less than that," he admits with a wink and smile), is the only uncovered linebacker. That means he often will be taking on 300-pound guards head on. On Sunday, it could be Steeler ORG Darnell Stapleton and his 305 pounds that will meet Hayes more than once. "You don't think about," Hayes says, "you just do it. You can't worry about taking those guys on. It comes with the territory."

Antonio Smith and Darnell Dockett are the ends in this system, backed up by rookies Kenny Iwabema and Calais Campbell. Bryan Robinson and Gabe Watson are the nose tackles. Chike Okeafor is the primary strong-side linebacker, now that Clark Haggans is out with and injury.

Karlos Dansby is the weak-side linebacker. The way the defense is set up, he has a nice protective shield to keep potential blockers at bay. "what we've done with Karlos is put him behind a three-technique, so basically - we call these anchor points - he's got a wall in front of him," Davis said. "So he can run and use his athleticism. The center can't get him because the nose is on him. The guard can't get him because the end is on him. And the tackle can't get him because the predator is on him. So this is your athlete that can run, go cover ground and make plays.

Th "Predator" position is manned by Bertrand Berry and Travis LaBoy, assuming LaBoy is healthy enough to play Sunder. Both guys really are defensive ends by trade, but Davis considers them his guys.

"At the end of the day, I have these guys [the "Predators"] in my meeting room, so that puts us closer to this scheme [4-3 under]," he said. "And i put them in a two-point stance. This is the key right there: This guy right here [the three-technique weak side end] almost makes us have to rush the passer. As soon as you move him inside [from a five-technique], his responsibility in this is to play this very same gap."

Davis has coached this scheme with the Giants and 49ers, but this is the first time in a while one of his defenses has used it as the base grouping. He has picked up pieces of different schemes from a bunch of different schools around the league and likes the flexibility of what he and the other defenses have discover in the 4-3 'under' formation.

"The [Bill] Belichicks, [Dom] Capers, the [Bill] Parcells, that whole group ... they play the 'under' front most of the time, but they move to it," Davis said. "So are we a 3-4? Almost."

It just depends on how you look at it. Or under it.

[Randy Rampage]

http://www.phillymag...ow-billy-davis/

Get To Know New Eagles Defensive Coordinator Billy Davis

Posted by Sheil Kapadia on February 7, 2013 at 12:24 pm | 0 Comments
1
The Eagles have finally found their defensive coordinator: Cleveland Browns linebackers coach Billy Davis.

Davis has four years of coordinator experience in the NFL and 20 years of pro coaching experience. Prior to joining Cleveland’s staff in 2011, Davis served as the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator in 2009 and 2010. He was Arizona’s linebackers coach the previous two seasons and was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 2005 and 2006.
Here’s Davis’ full resume
Cleveland Browns (Linebackers coach, 2011)
Arizona Cardinals (Defensive coordinator, 2009-2010)
Arizona Cardinals (Linebackers coach, 2007-2008)
San Francisco 49ers (Defensive coordinator, 2005-2006)
New York Giants (Linebackers coach, 2004)
Atlanta Falcons (Linebackers coach, 2001-2003)
Green Bay Packers (Defensive assistant/defensive line coach, 2000)
Cleveland Browns (Defensive quality control coach, 1999)
Carolina Panthers (Outside linebackers coach, 1995-1998)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Defensive quality control coach, 1992-1994)
The obvious question here is: 3-4 or 4-3? The Browns ran a 4-3 with Davis as the linebackers coach last year. But when he was last defensive coordinator (in Arizona), the Cardinals ran a hybrid. In a useful article unearthed by Derek from IgglesBlog.com, Davis went into detail, explaining his scheme:

But in the 4-3 ‘under’ front, like the Cardinals use as their base defense which looks similar to the 3-4 to the naked eye, the biggest difference is in the outside linebackers. The strong-side linebacker is still outside the tight end. But the other outside guy – the Cardinals call this player their “Predator” – is almost always rushing the passer, although the Cards will occasionally drop him into covers to mix things up. Other differences: The nose tackle shades to the A-gap (in between the center and the guard) on the tight end side, and the end on that side moves between the tackle and tight end.
Davis explained that the 3-4 defense creates the most confusion for the offense in terms of which outside linebacker is doing what, and the standard 4-3 offers the least unpredictability. The Cardinals 4-3 ‘under’ scheme is somewhere between the two in terms of causing the offense to guess who is rushing and who is dropping.

And here’s another helpful article where Davis talks about his scheme.
It’s evident his experience in multiple schemes helped Davis land his first defensive coordinator job.
“It was very important to find somebody that had experience in the 4-3 and the 3-4,” 49ers coach Mike Nolan told the AP back in 2005 when he hired Davis. “I didn’t want to get someone just to come in with their own set of goods, whether it fit our players or not. … Billy is a great teacher. I’ve watched Billy for a long time as a position coach. He’s got great energy.”
Here’s how Davis’ defenses fared during his four years as a coordinator:
Scoring Defense DVOA (Football Outsiders) Yards Per Game 2010 Cardinals 20th 25th 29th 2009 Cardinals T-14th 11th 20th 2006 49ers 32nd 29th 26th 2005 49ers 30th 31st 32nd
If you’re looking for something encouraging there, well, chances are you’re not going to find it. Davis’ defenses were flat-out terrible in three of his four seasons as defensive coordinator.
Then again, it’s important to remember that there are other factors like talent and injuries to consider. As others have pointed out, Jim Johnson was a defensive coordinator with the Colts for two seasons (1996-97) prior to joining the Eagles, and those units ranked 18th and 26th, respectively, in scoring defense. Johnson came here and of course became a legend.
Either way, it’s certainly fair to question what took the Eagles this long to hire Davis. In other words, was he a backup plan? I’m sure Chip Kelly will field a few of those questions when he introduces Davis.
As for coaching influences, Davis worked under Wade Phillips (defensive coordinator) in Atlanta. He was on a staff with Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers and 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in Carolina. And he was a defensive quality control coach for D LeBeau in Pittsburgh.
Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
Become a fan of Birds 24/7 on Facebo

[CT Eagle]

mjkvol, on 07 February 2013 - 12:36 PM, said:

Good thing you're not jumping to conclusions quickly.   

1.  If Dixon is brought in, it's as a backup who can school guys here on Kelly's offense, not as the solution.   Bringing him in is a good move.

2.  The DC hire isn't official yet, and even if it is, it isn't as if there was a must-have candidate out there.

Of more concern to me is the Vick thing - I'm hoping they're just saying all the right things now, and will do the expedient thing.

Dixon last played for Kelly 6 years ago and hasn't done anything in the NFL.  If Kelly's scheme still resembles the 07 Oregon Ducks, I am very scared !

There may not be a must have DC candidate, but the Davis hire is deflating after weeks of waiting.  Clearly Davis wasn't there first second or even third choice.

[KOJO]

I just totally blew off in TATE so I don't have a lot left for here. But I'll say this again. The excitement I had about this team just went right down the toilet with this. The defense was going to be an absolutely crucial piece of the puzzle here, & they picked literally THE WORST GUY on the planet to run it. Could not have made a worse choice. Really.

So pissed right now. Just when I was getting excited again.

[KOJO]

Uncle Russ, on 07 February 2013 - 12:01 PM, said:

All I'm saying is don't judge him until the season is underway.

People said that same s*** when they hired Juan. This guy has had literally one of the worst 2 or 3 defenses in the NFL multiple times. Yeah, I think I'll judge him right now thank you.

[dnabbrules]

mjkvol, on 07 February 2013 - 12:36 PM, said:

Good thing you're not jumping to conclusions quickly.   

1.  If Dixon is brought in, it's as a backup who can school guys here on Kelly's offense, not as the solution.   Bringing him in is a good move.

2.  The DC hire isn't official yet, and even if it is, it isn't as if there was a must-have candidate out there.

Of more concern to me is the Vick thing - I'm hoping they're just saying all the right things now, and will do the expedient thing.

Yup commence justification.  You had no faith and total disdain for Reid,  I feel the same way about the guy who kept him as HC for way way too long and now we know why, Jeffrey has no clue.

[KOJO]

mjkvol, on 07 February 2013 - 12:02 PM, said:

I don't know a lot about Davis, but they're flirting with losing a whole lot more goodwill if Vick is brought back, that's for sure.

Really starting to be scared that may be next. If it is I will absolutely lose it.

[ndirish5567]

I can say it wasn't the most exciting response when I said, "Didn't know he was still coaching since he was with Arizona".

That kind of spells it out.

Oh well. There's always the Phillies. Wait, no there isn't.

[mjkvol]

CT Eagle, on 07 February 2013 - 12:46 PM, said:

Dixon last played for Kelly 6 years ago and hasn't done anything in the NFL.  If Kelly's scheme still resembles the 07 Oregon Ducks, I am very scared !

There may not be a must have DC candidate, but the Davis hire is deflating after weeks of waiting.  Clearly Davis wasn't there first second or even third choice.

Dixon is a guy being brought in for depth and as a guy who knows the basics of Kelly's system - I read nothing into that.

No doubt the Davis hire is deflating, but I really know little about him other than he's a 3-4 guy who has coached under some of the best 3-4 DC's in the league, and had a few unmemorable seasons as DC of mostly bad teams.       I actually wanted Monachino for no other reason than him being on that staff and coaching those LB's.

I've just waited too long to become engaged in this thing again to flush it before the first damn draft and OTA's.

[ndirish5567]

KOJO, on 07 February 2013 - 12:59 PM, said:

Really starting to be scared that may be next. If it is I will absolutely lose it.

If Vick stays I won't watch a game. That's fact.

No way they keep him.

Can honestly say for the first time in my life, I'd skip Sundays. I'd rather watch a Detmer.

[mjkvol]

dnabbrules, on 07 February 2013 - 12:58 PM, said:

Yup commence justification.  You had no faith and total disdain for Reid,  I feel the same way about the guy who kept him as HC for way way too long and now we know why, Jeffrey has no clue.

You may or may not be right, but to quote myself from 2 minutes ago:

I've just waited too long to become engaged in this thing again to flush it before the first damn draft and OTA's.

[KOJO]

Randy Rampage, on 07 February 2013 - 12:45 PM, said:

If you’re looking for something encouraging here, well, chances are you’re not going to find it. Davis’ defenses were flat-out terrible in three of his four seasons as defensive coordinator.

/thread

[mjkvol]

KOJO, on 07 February 2013 - 12:59 PM, said:

Really starting to be scared that may be next. If it is I will absolutely lose it.

Keeping Vick would be a major warning sign that they actually believe this can be a one year turnaround, which means we're in for many more years of mediocrity.    I'm so hoping it is just a smokescreen.

[KOJO]

mjkvol, on 07 February 2013 - 01:05 PM, said:

Keeping Vick would be a major warning sign that they actually believe this can be a one year turnaround, which means we're in for many more years of mediocrity.    I'm so hoping it is just a smokescreen.

I hope so too, my friend. But with what just happened here today I wouldn't put anything past them.

[mjkvol]

KOJO, on 07 February 2013 - 12:56 PM, said:

I just totally blew off in TATE so I don't have a lot left for here. But I'll say this again. The excitement I had about this team just went right down the toilet with this. The defense was going to be an absolutely crucial piece of the puzzle here, & they picked literally THE WORST GUY on the planet to run it. Could not have made a worse choice. Really.

So pissed right now. Just when I was getting excited again.

It's hardly something to get excited over, but if they had passed on a sure-fire great candidate, I might feel the same as you.       Who was so great that we let get away?

I'll admit that it definitely appears that they ended up not with their first choice.     I'm thinking it must have been Donatell.       What a d-bag Harbaugh is, blocking him from interviewing two years straight, huh?