Sure, this is not the way that Nnamdi Asomugha envisioned the first six games of his Eagles' career playing out when he chose to make his home in Philadelphia over the summer. Asomugha, who had endured losing season after losing season with the Oakland Raiders, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in large part because of the franchise's winning tradition under Andy Reid. Yet, the Eagles enter their bye week with a 2-4 record, last place in the NFC East. But because the Eagles are coming off a division-win against the Washington Redskins, Asomugha, like his Eagles teammates, believes the second half of the season will be much more of what he expected.
"The fact that we got the win before the bye is good because now we can put some wins together," Asomugha said. "I think for a young team and a new team, getting that win is a good spark. It's what you need and hopefully it helps more people believe what we can do and we can move forward."
For Asomugha, the first six weeks of the season, and the training camp and preseason that preceeded them, have been a learning experience. The All-Pro cornerback has needed to transition to a new scheme, new coaches and new teammates.
"I think with each game I'm getting more and more comfortable in what we're doing," Asomugha said. "I think everybody on defense is collectively getting much more comfortable with each other. It's tough to just come in and think that it's going to work out perfectly when you don't even know the guy that's playing to the left of you. The fact that we've played a few games has helped us."
Asomugha has been utilized in several roles for the Eagles through six weeks. He's played in the slot, occasionally at free safety and, of course, his customary right cornerback position - though he hasn't moved around quite as much the last two weeks. But while Asomugha is known for his white-on-rice coverage abilities, his most memorable play of the first six games came on a bone-crushing tackle.
Early in last Sunday's 20-13 win over the Redskins, quarterback Rex Grossman threw the ball in the flat to tight end Chris Cooley on a 3rd-and-2. Asomugha, holding near the line of scrimmage from his right cornerback spot, flew up and delivered a picture-perfect thudding tackle of Cooley, knocking him out of the game in the process.
"I didn't feel it really," Asomugha said. "That's what they say when you get a big hit, sometimes you feel it sometimes you don't."
Asomugha added that the bye is coming at a good time for an Eagles team that expects to get Pro Bowlers Trent Cole and Jason Peters back soon.
"It's good that we can get a couple days just to relax and get our bodies fresh and everything and get back and ready to play," he said. "Things are coming together."
