Professor

http://www.nj.com/columns/expresstim...l=2&thispage=2

Fierro: Eagles' defense to have a whole new look
Saturday, June 10, 206

Most seasons, the changes are so subtle, they're not noticed until well after they're implemented.

Not this year, though.

This year, the Philadelphia Eagles' defense is being radically altered -- from the front four, to the linebacking corps, to new defensive line coach Pete Jenkins, to new hand-fighting and pass-rushing techniques, to new schemes, to everything else defensive coordinator Jim Johnson can envision.

The desired effect is to get the unit back to the point where it can carry the team for long stretches, back to the dominant form it really hasn't enjoyed since 2002.

Now that opposing offenses, particularly those of their NFC East rivals, have figured out how to neutralize Johnson's pressure schemes, the time has come where minor tweaks are no longer in order. Yet, not one person who reports to work every day at the NovaCare Center believes the Eagles don't have the will or the personnel in place right now to make the defense whole again.

"(The personnel changes) are definitely going to help us out," middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said, "especially with the depth. Bringing the young guys in, the rookies, (free-agent defensive end Darren) Howard. He's a veteran guy, a leader and he's coming in and playing well.

"That's definitely going to save us a lot, going to make our secondary better, going to make our linebackers better and it's going to make the whole team better."

Added nickel cornerback Rod Hood: "I think it's going to be a heck of a defense. We've got some great young guys, we've got (free-agent) Ed Jasper coming in helping the defensive line, got Shawn Barber to help at linebacker. The secondary is kind of solid and we're just trying to get better.

"So I think it's going to be a great year for the defense. We just have to understand that we have to be aggressive, not make as many mistakes as we did last year on the blitzes and stuff and be more detail-oriented, and we'll be good."

Defensive end Jevon Kearse, who will play both sides for the first time since being acquired in 2004, has been raving from Day 1 of the first offseason minicamp about Jenkins and the new techniques he's brought with him after replacing the retired Tommy Brasher. Kearse is not alone, either.

There also will be at least one new starting linebacker and possibly two when the 2006 Eagles hit the field for the first time in Houston on Sept. 10. Still, all the personnel and technique upgrades won't be enough to carry them through if some changes aren't made with their blitz schemes.

"We're going to see what we do, blitz-wise," Johnson said, "but we know that teams know we blitz quite a bit and they do some things. But we have to counteract that, that's all."

Providing the Eagles can draw offenses out of the maximum-protection schemes that have become commonplace and generate the kinds of numbers mismatches that made their pass rush so electric in the first half of this decade, they believe the players are in place for a return to dominance.

"We've seen Howard play and we know he's a good pass rusher," Johnson said. "That is an upgrade right there. We think that Jevon is a guy who will still get double-digit sacks. He should and he knows that. I think he has the ability to do that.

"We have (defensive end Jerome) McDougle coming back and we have Juqua Thomas and Trent Cole. So, I see some good athletes. I see a lot of good quickness. We're just talking but they have to prove that on the field. But right now, we have enough good bodies out there. We look good in terms of depth. So there is no reason we should expect that we won't get back to pressuring the quarterback."

One thing that hasn't changed is their passion. They still enjoy getting out on the field and mixing it up. To Trotter, that's the most important requirement.

"We're just having fun," he said. "We understand how the season was last year and it's over with. We're talking about 2006, that's how I'm looking at it. We're going out to practice, work hard and have fun doing it.

"I believe if you have fun at what you do, you will be successful at it."

J-Unit

Franlkly, I think the Eagles defense is solid all around. Is Kearse going to play DE or LB?

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University of Tennessee Lady Vols 2007 National Champions

Professor

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/ne...06-670605.html

Howard hopes to improve pass rush

By REUBEN FRANK
phillyBurbs.com

PHILADELPHIA — Darren Howard listens intently as he's told about the Eagles' defensive ends in 2005.

Jevon Kearse, Ndukwe Kalu and Trent Cole combined for 14 1/2 sacks all year, and for the third straight season the Eagles didn't have a defensive end with eight or more sacks. They had an end with 8 1/2 more sacks 19 times in the previous 21 years.

“Fourteen-and-half sacks?” Howard mused. “We should have one guy with 14 or 15 sacks by himself.”

The Eagles last year recorded just 29 sacks, 18 fewer than 2004, sixth-fewest in the NFL, and their fewest since 1978 — before sacks were officially recorded by the NFL.

Enter Howard. In his sixth year with the Saints last fall, he recorded just 31/2 sacks but in four full seasons he's averaged 9.0 per year.

On paper, it's a terrific match. The Eagles needed a pass rusher. Howard needed a new team.

“It's refreshing, it's rejuvenating, it's something new,” Howard said. “That's what I needed. New locker room, new set of teammates, new organization, new coaches, new city. It just seems like a new start for me.”

Kalu started much of last year but managed just two sacks in his first season after knee surgery. Cole recorded 5.0 sacks and made every all-rookie team, but because of his slight build is still seen as mainly a situational third-down pass rusher.

Kearse has just 15 sacks in two seasons since signing a massive eight-year $62.6 million contract. The Eagles believe Howard's presence on the opposite side along with an upgraded tackle rotation led by Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley will mean a revived pass rush, an easier time for the defensive backs, and a tougher time for opposing quarterbacks, who threw 24 TD passes against the Birds last year.

“We had some trouble getting to the quarterback last year from what I've heard,” Howard said. “It's not that I'm a savior, I just want to come in and contribute. I don't care who gets the sacks, as long as somebody gets them. If I can rush the passer, it'll help the other guys get there. Looking at the guys we have, we should have 40 to 50 sacks as a group.

“Look at the teams that had two good ends — teams like the Giants, the Colts, Carolina. They all caused a lot of trouble for teams, and they all had good years. There's no reason we can't be one of those teams this year.”

The Eagles plan to use Howard at defensive tackle in nickel situations, and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said he's doing a good job learning both positions.

“He's a pro,” Johnson said. “He's been in this league for a while. He's got some good techniques. (New defensive line coach) Pete (Jenkins) has done a good job with him. He's very intelligent and he's picking up the scheme pretty good. He's picked it up quicker than I thought he would.”

“He's been there before. He's had double-digit sacks. He's played on some good defenses and he hasn't slacked off. As long as he's staying healthy, which he has been, he looks good.”

Howard had double-digit sacks in 2000 and again in 2004. The last Eagle with 10 or more sacks was Hugh Douglas back in 2002.

“I know I can rush the passer,” he said. “If I don't get double-digit sacks, I'm going to help someone else do it.”

MickeyG

i think the Eagles getting Howard was one of the most underrated pick-ups of the offseason.

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Manster

Howard is OK but I think he is over rated. Last year Dallas and the Saints were in trade talk about him and after reading everything I could on him I came away not wanting the guy. The DT spot I think will show the greatest improvement and will impove the defense more.

Professor

Im curious manster, what made you not want him, he has produced.

Manster

One of the main thing is that he but up good sack numbers on a Saints Dline that had some good players but they never but up good numbers against the run. At the time Dallas was a 4-3 defense and the Dline was to stop the run first then go after the QB. The first word I think of when I read about him was SOFT.

Professor

Im curious as to where you read that he was soft.

Manster

I did not read it that was just the impression I got from readong about him. He has speed and some good moves so he gets a lot of sack and QB pressure but they had to take him out on running players because he had a habit of running himself out of the play.

M-247gunner

My opinion is that with Howard in the line-up you can't double-team Kearse all day like last year. this will free up the rush.

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http://www.myspace.com/cadillacman64