Defense

TWO BIRDS IN THE BUSH?

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/03/05
Posted in: Defense, Players. 3 Comments

Image courtesy Buffalobills.com and ohio.com 5509px

JAIRUS just might end up a Bird after all.

Between Jairus Byrd already turning down an offer from Buffalo that would have made him the highest paid Safety in the league, as well as saying that he thinks the Eagles are headed in the right direction, as well as his collegiate connection with Chip Kelly; if Byrd doesn’t intend to come here, at worst he’s certainly putting a spotlight on Philly for other free agents to do so.

Which brings up an interesting scenario.

With the Browns not having tagged T.J. Ward, he’ll definitely hit the market this year. With the Browns also being a perennial shit team, Ward may just be looking to go somewhere he can enjoy some success for a change.

So what if we could get them both? Why not?

Cap space? We have it. About  24 million dollars worth of space in fact. That’s even counting the new deals for Kelce, Peters, Cooper and Maclin. So the rest is for what, rookies and FA players, right? This would be that, right?

So why not swing for the fences?

ARE YOU O-KKK WITH RILEY COOPER?

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/02/27
Posted in: Defense, Front Office (F.O.), Players. Tagged: , . 2 Comments

New York Jets v Philadelphia Eagles

WHILE I would have preferred Eric Decker, I guess I can live with the idea of Riley Cooper sticking around.

Hell, it’s not my money.

Besides if Jeremy Maclin (who is also close to re-signing) pulls up lame again, at the very least Cooper has shown he can man that spot. Provided Cooper can improve his game, he could possibly unseat even a healthy Maclin this year. We’ll see.

Word on the street, (and the internet) is that Jason Kelce is also close to an extension. I’m a little weirded out by the number of Reid-era players not only still here, but getting extensions to stay longer. Heck, half the talk has us keeping Michael Vick.

I’m hoping for more changes on the Defense this year at least. A lot has been made of how DC Bill Davis didn’t have enough of the right pieces last year, which was why his unit performed as schizophrenically as it did.

If we’re going to button up the the Offense before Free Agency starts, I’m really expecting something substantial to happen with this Defense in 2014.

WANT A SUPER BOWL? THEN FIRE BILL DAVIS.

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/02/20
Posted in: Coaching, Defense. 5 Comments

THE question of whether or not Chip Kelly’s system can work at the NFL level has been resoundingly answered.

So our Offense is not a problem.  Our Defense on the other hand is, which you saw clearly when we got man-handled by of all teams, the pass happy New Orleans Saints

Before I start in on the Defense, let’s talk about the guy who coaches it. I mean of course Bill Davis. Let’s start with the cold hard facts. Here is his resume as a DC.

In 2005 the 49ers ranked 30th in points allowed and 32nd in yards allowed.

Then in 2006 they were 32nd in points and 26th in yards.

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The Cardinals in 2009 ranked 14th in points, and 26th yards.

In 2010 they slipped to 30th in points and 29th in yards

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So far every defense he touches isn’t great in his first year, then does WORSE in his second year!

Last year WE were 3rd in turnovers, but 17th in points, and 29th in yards. The turnovers aren’t surprising as his teams tend to rack them up, but it always seems to be at the expense of giving up yards and points.

Davis has worked under Dom Capers, Bill Cowher, Vic Fangio, Dick LeBeau, Mike Nolan, Wade Phillips and Marvin Lewis during his coaching career. He has also helped guide seven players to the Pro Bowl: Keith Brooking, Darnell Dockett, Kevin Greene, Walt Harris, Lamar Lathon, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Adrian Wilson.

So why has he sucked so badly when he was the guy in charge? It’s not like he hasn’t had talented players, or an innovative brain trust around him. I just don’t get it!

Frankly, I don’t need to.

What I DO get, is that if we don’t recognize our mistake and correct it, it’s only going to keep hurting us. Possibly for years.