The Eagles have started three different linebacker combinations in 2011, but it looks like they might have found the right one as they enjoy the end of the bye week and look ahead to the final 10 games of the regular season.
With Jamar Chaney at the middle linebacker position, rookie Brian Rolle on the weak side and Moise Fokou at the strongside spot, this trio bridges the prolific pass rush from the front four and the talented secondary.
In their win over the Redskins prior to the bye week, Washington was held to a season-low 42 yards on the ground. Entering the game, the Eagles had allowed at least 100 yards rushing in every contest and gave up at least 138 yards in all but one other game.
The Eagles made slight adjustments going into the game and one of them was by placing the linebackers closer to the line of scrimmage (3 to 4 yards off instead of 6 to 7 yards). Chaney and Rolle also played physical, downhill football attacking the gaps and not allowing the Redskins to find creases with their zone-blocking scheme. Chaney did his best job of the season getting off blocks and Rolle flied around the ball.
Chaney and Rolle also play in the team's subpackages. Fokou plays in the base defense and has played in roughly a quarter of the snaps in the past two contests. Fokou's long arms and big hands are an asset in the run defense as they allow him to get off blocks.
The Eagles opened the season with another rookie in the lineup in Casey Matthews, who started as the middle linebacker. Chaney was on the strong side where defensive coordinator Juan Castillo wanted to see him work in space and thought he would be at his best against offensive tackles who would come free with the defensive linemen playing the wide nine technique.
Chaney was moved to the middle for the Week 3 contest against the Giants and Matthews was moved to the weak side with Fokou going back to the strong side. After Matthews gave up a costly touchdown, the Eagles went to Rolle in Week 4.
Despite the defense's struggles in the run game, teammates expressed confidence in the linebackers claiming the shortened offseason and new scheme slowed down the jelling process. The linebackers also got some help against Washington from the defensive tackles.
In a defensive alignment scheme designed to attack, the defensive tackles can slow or alter the run game before it gets to the linebackers. Mike Patterson has played his best ball of the season in the past two weeks and the addition (or re-signing) or Derek Landri has been a pleasant surprise. Even Cullen Jenkins worked with defensive line guru Jim Washburn to change his alignment on certain downs to better help the run defense.
The one area where the linebackers can still improve is in the pass game, especially against tight ends. The Eagles have been very good against wide receivers this season, but tight ends and running backs have been an issue. Now, the linebackers did a better job against the screen in the Redskins game, which was an issue the previous week in Buffalo. However, Redskins tight end Fred Davis did have six catches for 95 yards. Not all of them are the linebackers' responsibility, but in the latter part of the season the Eagles will see Dallas' Jason Witten and the Patriots' duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez among others.
It may have taken some time, but the linebackers' stock is on the upswing which will go a long way in determining how good this defense can become in 2011.
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