30 replies to this topic

[xxeaglesfanxx]

How does everyone see the defense shaping up next year since we are supposed to be switching to a 3-4?

My guess is Fletcher Cox will move to DE because he is not big enough to be a NT in a 3-4, we draft or sign a big DT to play NT, move Brandon Graham or Trent Cole to OLB which worries me because I don't think either of them can cover, Kendricks moves to the inside along side Ryans which seems like another bad idea since Ryans was an outcast in Houston because he was better in a 4-3, and of course a complete overhaul to the secondary with maybe 1 returning starter if that.  We will probably draft a CB & S early in the draft and pickup another in free agency.

I have a feeling our defense is in for another long year but who knows maybe they will surprise us.

[ChimpKelly]

Need to wait and see what we get at safety before I judge. If we keep the crap we have now, our D will suck again.

[mike030270]

Too early to speculate anything. Although I'm trying to stay optimistic

[deevo82]

More 4-3 under than 3-4. Graham and Cole fit the predator role so we need a NT and SAM.

Odds are we will suck next year and it will take a couple of seasons to get better,

[Richie82]

I would really be surprised if they didn't draft an OLB with the first pick, AKA Dion Jordan. There is NO ONE on the team that would be able to fill that position. Putting Cole, Curry, and Graham in those positions is just asking them to do too much. I honestly think they should deal Cole, and Keep Graham and Curry. When they are in the nickle or the 4-3 under those guys could be the hand in the dirt types, but I don't really see anyone of them dropping in coverage.

[time2rock]

The overhaul of the defense is going to take more than one offseason.  I doubt they'll field a good defense in 2013.  Hopefully if they hit on the right draft picks and FA acquisitions over the next 2 years we start to see the makings of a decent unit in 2014.

[Baltus]

we have an incomplete picture, we don't know if there will be any trades or free agent signings, I think after the draft we will know the shape and some of the direction the team will go.  They might even end up trading a Cole and Graham and get more picks or other players.through trades and free agency or they might keep everybody...

[54lance]

xxeaglesfanxx, on 28 February 2013 - 03:27 PM, said:

How does everyone see the defense shaping up next year since we are supposed to be switching to a 3-4?

My guess is Fletcher Cox will move to DE because he is not big enough to be a NT in a 3-4, we draft or sign a big DT to play NT, move Brandon Graham or Trent Cole to OLB which worries me because I don't think either of them can cover, Kendricks moves to the inside along side Ryans which seems like another bad idea since Ryans was an outcast in Houston because he was better in a 4-3, and of course a complete overhaul to the secondary with maybe 1 returning starter if that.  We will probably draft a CB & S early in the draft and pickup another in free agency.

I have a feeling our defense is in for another long year but who knows maybe they will surprise us.

I echo all your concerns.  Kendricks on the inside is likely to get chewed up and spit out by guards and as you mentioned Ryans was let go because Philips didn't see him as a good fit for the ILB the Texans use.  NT is a big question although a lot of folks thind Star would fit that role.  I think he's better suited in the NFL for a 3 technique, but that's me.

All new CB's (or new to their place on the field) and at least 1 if not 2 new safeties makes the secondary a huge ? although that ? could be answered by things being better than the past 2 years.  That's more wish than certainty but if they are any worse we might as well play Div. II college ball.

I think the defense will struggle this year.  It will be a new system coupled with a lot of new faces in new places.  The best to hope for is seeing the defense coming together by week 6-8 and playing well together by the end of the season.  There are just a lot of moving parts to make mesh this year and shour of a stellar coaching staff and very good chemistry, this will be a year with some major defensive growing pains.

[Baltus]

54lance, on 28 February 2013 - 03:41 PM, said:

I echo all your concerns.  Kendricks on the inside is likely to get chewed up and spit out by guards and as you mentioned Ryans was let go because Philips didn't see him as a good fit for the ILB the Texans use.  NT is a big question although a lot of folks thind Star would fit that role.  I think he's better suited in the NFL for a 3 technique, but that's me.

All new CB's (or new to their place on the field) and at least 1 if not 2 new safeties makes the secondary a huge ? although that ? could be answered by things being better than the past 2 years.  That's more wish than certainty but if they are any worse we might as well play Div. II college ball.

I think the defense will struggle this year.  It will be a new system coupled with a lot of new faces in new places.  The best to hope for is seeing the defense coming together by week 6-8 and playing well together by the end of the season.  There are just a lot of moving parts to make mesh this year and shour of a stellar coaching staff and very good chemistry, this will be a year with some major defensive growing pains.

I have concerns as well, the D will not be great next year and we can only hope it will be average, but we have to wait and see what scheme they run, Kendricks  played ILB in college so he knows the position and it really depends how they use him and as for Ryans, the Eagles will not have the same scheme as Phillips is doing in Houston so it is not a fair comparison.

But even with all the issues and new players, the D will be better than last year.  The biggest problem last year was not personnel, it was the rift and friction between coaches and the changes mid season.

[BtotheH]

I am not expecting big things but considering how bad we were last year, we cannot do much worse. With the draft and FA I expect to get a little better by the time the first game rolls around but other than that none of us know until we plays some games.

Switching to the under 4-3 or hybrid 3-4, whatever they name it.....I think is a good decision. I know some hated it because of personnel but given the fact that we changed the head coach, when else time would be a better time to switch defensive schemes than when we change HC and position coaches? I would rather do it this year and start our build, of course our build will lead into next year but that is how it works when you switch. Changing a defense does not happen over night or in one offseason.

My main people to watch this season on defense will be Boykin, Ryans, Cole and Graham. Boykin was named our best corner as a rookie and I hope he gets better, there were times when he screwed up but thats what rooks do. There is some evidence that Ryans struggled in a 3-4 scheme, he may have been the odd man out in Houston at the time but it does bother me that he himself even said he likes the 4-3 better. Cole has some more to prove with the season he had and with him getting older. It will be interesting to see how he does in this new defense, he may be on par or he could very well flunk and get outplayed by a back-up by mid-season. Graham has been the lime of the spotlight since the last few games of 2012 and especially now since were changing defenses. No doubt he looked good with his hand in the ground but just like Trent Cole, only younger, it will be interesting to see how Graham does.

Overall my main concern is fixing this secondary. Some of the teams we face each year throw the ball 35+ times a game and those games your corners and safeties need to show up and be sharp. It looks as if were going to potentially have 4 new faces in the secondary this year....I'm down. We have watched this secondary underperform for a while now and it's time for a change.

[getch]

I am looking for a change of attitude on defense. If they can tackle, create turnovers and hustle to the ball, they should be able to keep the games within reach of the offense. They may not have the ideal players for the scheme for a couple of years but I don't necessarily think that means the D will be bad.

[GroundAttack]

Too early to tell. Recently with the release of Jenkins and Patterson, I have no clue what to expect.

[Bdawk330]

“You can’t design a defense to stop me”

[igglesphan]

New coaches, new players, new scheme.  It's a crapshoot.

[wussbasket]

i think the defense will look like 11 guys on the field trying to stop the other team from scoring.

[Utebird]

i think when one goes back and looks at the percentages that davis OLB dropped into coverage one can piece to gether a bit of who fits where, the predator in davis defense which would be the weakside OLB rarley dropped into coverage, the stats showed it was somewhere around 10 % if that high, where as the SAM dropped about 30% so that would be worrisome for cole or graham curry hunt, kendricks played SAM last year and played on the strong side in a 3-4 in college but he really isnt stout enough to set the edge and his height isnt ideal which would probably leave him inside, i think two players in the draft that would be ideal for the SAM position in Davis defense are ezekial Ansah of BYU and dion jordan, Jordan would be a better fit at SAM than Ansah as Dion is said to be one of the better cover backers in the draft, which would be ideal, Ansah played Weakside DE at BYU in a 3-4 with his hand in the dirt, but he showed his athleticism at the combine and did really well in the LB drills and showed he could cover, both have great length and freakish athletic ability and could play either OLB position. bot also have concerns, Dion jordan is going to have shoulder surgery, not good for a LB that uses his shoulders to tackle, Ansah is super raw, he only started playing football in 2010.

on the inside i dont know, personally i may be one of those left that still think chaney has any upside, he played his best ball as a rookie when the DTs in front of him were two gapping and keeping him clean he was able to use his best asset his speed to get sideline to side line and chase down ball carriers, in davis defense the NT and depending on the alignment the DE will two gap and try and keep the ILBs clean so they can flow to the ball. i think chaney can be effective behind a DL that is keeping him clean. i like ryans but i dont think he really likes the 3-4 and apparently one of the better d-coordinators in the league didnt think he was a good fit there either, id try to trade him though his salary is a bit high for most takers or id just cut him and his high salary and start kendricks and chaney on the inside.

having said that the only other question for the front 7 is NT, does dixon play Nose or do they draft one?

[skipsharp]

wussbasket, on 28 February 2013 - 05:58 PM, said:

i think the defense will look like 11 guys on the field trying to stop the other team from scoring.

This would be an improvement.

[FanSinceWayBack]

Over/Under 16th ranked  Overall Defense

Ill say over - 19th

[Fingolfin]

Not a big fan of their decision to go 3-4, creates way too many needs when there's already problems heading into this year beforehand.

When they were under the 4-3 their needs were OT, Safety, and Cornerbacks. Now with a 3-4 you can add to our list of needs a true nose tackle and another ILB to play next to Ryans. I just don't buy Roseman's comment on Dixon qualifying as a NT and think it was more lip service so they don't tip off to other teams that they're seriously considering Star Lotuleilei (before his heart condition was revealed). On top of that, Trent Cole gets lost in the shuffle because I don't believe for one second he can drop into coverage effectively at his age. I really think they should have waited a year before they made this switch.

[BirdGang45]

FanSinceWayBack, on 28 February 2013 - 06:35 PM, said:

Over/Under 16th ranked  Overall Defense

Ill say over - 19th

As long as we are hitting hard tackling soundly and playing with some heart...ill take a 19th ranked defense.

[lb7]

xxeaglesfanxx, on 28 February 2013 - 03:27 PM, said:

How does everyone see the defense shaping up next year since we are supposed to be switching to a 3-4?

My guess is Fletcher Cox will move to DE because he is not big enough to be a NT in a 3-4, we draft or sign a big DT to play NT, move Brandon Graham or Trent Cole to OLB which worries me because I don't think either of them can cover, Kendricks moves to the inside along side Ryans which seems like another bad idea since Ryans was an outcast in Houston because he was better in a 4-3, and of course a complete overhaul to the secondary with maybe 1 returning starter if that.  We will probably draft a CB & S early in the draft and pickup another in free agency.

I have a feeling our defense is in for another long year but who knows maybe they will surprise us.

Living near DC, I can tell you that it took them a good 2 years to play at a respectable level when they switched. It takes time to get the right personnel in the right positions. I would expect the same with the Eagles as the switch happens.

[heavywchamp]

Utebird, on 28 February 2013 - 06:26 PM, said:

i think when one goes back and looks at the percentages that davis OLB dropped into coverage one can piece to gether a bit of who fits where, the predator in davis defense which would be the weakside OLB rarley dropped into coverage, the stats showed it was somewhere around 10 % if that high, where as the SAM dropped about 30% so that would be worrisome for cole or graham curry hunt, kendricks played SAM last year and played on the strong side in a 3-4 in college but he really isnt stout enough to set the edge and his height isnt ideal which would probably leave him inside, i think two players in the draft that would be ideal for the SAM position in Davis defense are ezekial Ansah of BYU and dion jordan, Jordan would be a better fit at SAM than Ansah as Dion is said to be one of the better cover backers in the draft, which would be ideal, Ansah played Weakside DE at BYU in a 3-4 with his hand in the dirt, but he showed his athleticism at the combine and did really well in the LB drills and showed he could cover, both have great length and freakish athletic ability and could play either OLB position. bot also have concerns, Dion jordan is going to have shoulder surgery, not good for a LB that uses his shoulders to tackle, Ansah is super raw, he only started playing football in 2010.

on the inside i dont know, personally i may be one of those left that still think chaney has any upside, he played his best ball as a rookie when the DTs in front of him were two gapping and keeping him clean he was able to use his best asset his speed to get sideline to side line and chase down ball carriers, in davis defense the NT and depending on the alignment the DE will two gap and try and keep the ILBs clean so they can flow to the ball. i think chaney can be effective behind a DL that is keeping him clean. i like ryans but i dont think he really likes the 3-4 and apparently one of the better d-coordinators in the league didnt think he was a good fit there either, id try to trade him though his salary is a bit high for most takers or id just cut him and his high salary and start kendricks and chaney on the inside.

having said that the only other question for the front 7 is NT, does dixon play Nose or do they draft one?

I'm thinking they will make a move to get another second somehow and get Jessie Williams.

[EagleDomination]

xxeaglesfanxx, on 28 February 2013 - 03:27 PM, said:

How does everyone see the defense shaping up next year since we are supposed to be switching to a 3-4?

My guess is Fletcher Cox will move to DE because he is not big enough to be a NT in a 3-4, we draft or sign a big DT to play NT, move Brandon Graham or Trent Cole to OLB which worries me because I don't think either of them can cover, Kendricks moves to the inside along side Ryans which seems like another bad idea since Ryans was an outcast in Houston because he was better in a 4-3, and of course a complete overhaul to the secondary with maybe 1 returning starter if that.  We will probably draft a CB & S early in the draft and pickup another in free agency.

I have a feeling our defense is in for another long year but who knows maybe they will surprise us.

I dont think he was an "outcast", he didnt play bad. But remember he was coming back from the achilles injury too. And on top of that, Cushing was playing very good in Ryans' absence.

[wildturtle]

FA hasn't even started yet players are still getting cut and caps are still getting adjusted

[DoctorWhom]

FanSinceWayBack, on 28 February 2013 - 06:35 PM, said:

Over/Under 16th ranked  Overall Defense

Ill say over - 19th

Are we talking Yards per game or Points per game? ? ?

[James40]

Giving up alot of passing yards can mean your team has the lead late in 3rd quarters, into the 4th. Prevent defense comes in and the passing yards go up.

The Eagles gave up a franchise worst 33 TDs last year, while only getting 16 turnovers, which tied them for last with KC, the Jags weren't much better. Its not a coincidence that all three teams were garbage last year. The Eagles winning 4 games last year by 6 points is a miracle, they probably should of been 2-14.

The Bears got 44 Turnovers last year, while they finished 10-6 it didn't get them in the playoffs but the offense should of been much better, Lovie got canned so even the FO knew that.  

I think you can get away with giving up some yards passing and rushing if you can get turnovers and that what this aggressive style of defense should do, it better cause if the Eagles can't at least get 20 turnovers next year its going to be a long season.

[ggs5008]

Cox Dixon    Thorton

Jordan   Ryans   Kendricks   Graham/Curry


I think the front 7 will look like this.

[BtotheH]

ggs5008, on 01 March 2013 - 10:30 AM, said:

Cox Dixon Thorton

Jordan   Ryans   Kendricks   Graham/Curry


I think the front 7 will look like this.

Jordan being the only addition? I highly doubt that......we will add another lineman via free agency to compete with Dixon or Thorton. Also I see us drafting another lineman.

I see it being:

Lineman - Cox, Dixon, Thorton, FA, Draft Pick

LB's - Graham, Ryans, Kendriks, Draft Pick, Curry, Cole

[MrPhilPhil]

I kind of hope we stay in a 4-3 even if it's just for 2013.  I don't want to throw out Cole and Curry for nothing, considering we need to replace so many other positions on defense as it is.  I do like Dion Jordan but it might be better to replace positions we are absolutely terrible at.  Figure out what we have after the secondary is better go from there in 2014.

[CalgaryFan77]

xxeaglesfanxx, on 28 February 2013 - 03:27 PM, said:

How does everyone see the defense shaping up next year since we are supposed to be switching to a 3-4?

My guess is Fletcher Cox will move to DE because he is not big enough to be a NT in a 3-4, we draft or sign a big DT to play NT, move Brandon Graham or Trent Cole to OLB which worries me because I don't think either of them can cover, Kendricks moves to the inside along side Ryans which seems like another bad idea since Ryans was an outcast in Houston because he was better in a 4-3, and of course a complete overhaul to the secondary with maybe 1 returning starter if that.  We will probably draft a CB & S early in the draft and pickup another in free agency.

I have a feeling our defense is in for another long year but who knows maybe they will surprise us.

From what I've read Ryans was actually pretty good in the 3-4 once he was recovered from his injury.  But in a 3-4 there are two different roles & he was better suited for role Cushing was already in.  They also couldn't afford that much money at ILB.

In the 4-3 under sort of defense that the Eagles are expected to run one of the OLB will rush about 90+% of the time, actually most teams running a 3-4 have someone rushing that much.  That is fine for Graham/Cole.  The other position will have to drop back a little bit more (sounds like about a third of the time.) It's likely we'll have to bring in someone new for that.

I felt the same way you did a couple of weeks ago, but really the defense needed a major overhaul regardless of scheme.  It may be a long season, but it wouldn't have been much better staying at a 4-3.  The big hope is that Kelly can turn our offence into the dynamic attack that it should be.

But still the NFL is a passing league, and teams spend about half the time in the nickel anyway.  There will be lots of opportunities for both Graham & Cole to get on the field to pass rush.