Check out what Trotter says about McCoy. I did see him blow up a couple of plays in camp last year.
Anticipating The Fevered Pitch Of Play At LB
July 12, 2006
I remember sitting in the office of former head coach Ray Rhodes during draft weekend in 1998. Gathered were a handful of coaches and scouts and various other front-office bigwigs.
The mood was casual. Feet were kicked up on the desk and in the dungeon of Veterans Stadium, the topic was third-round draft pick Jeremiah Trotter.
The Eagles had just selected Trotter earlier in the evening, and Rhodes exclaimed with gusto how much he looked forward to seeing Trotter line up and "knock the snot out of people. He's a mean SOB, exactly the kind of guy you need to play that position."
So many seasons later, Trotter is still that way: Mean, physical, knocking the "snot" out of offensive linemen.
In reality, that's the way all of these Eagles linebackers have to be. It's a bounce-back season for this group, because other than Trotter's Pro Bowl performance last season, there wasn't much to brag about with this unit. Keith Adams struggled at the WILL position. Dhani Jones didn't make enough big plays at SAM.
Matt McCoy has to take his fine spring as a springboard for the season
There was Trotter, and there were concerns.
This year, well, the outlook is certainly fascinating. And it's vitally important that some youngsters come along and make this unit much better than it was a year ago.
Trotter remains the man in the middle and he's still at the top of his game, even with those bone-on-bone knees. Jones is in line to start on the strong side, too, but he's got competition and, yes, he knows he has to be better.
Second-year man Matt McCoy enters training camp atop the depth chart on the weak side, and after an impressive spring he has a great deal of confidence.
Are the Eagles good enough to be great at linebacker?
I don't know.
As with many positions on this team, the Eagles are relying on some youngsters to come through right off the top this season. McCoy, Greg Richmond, Dedrick Roper, Jason Short, Chris Gocong and Omar Gaither are some of the kids on the depth chart who will make this a better team if they step up in training camp and in the preseason.
Linebacker is an interesting position that requires a particular kind of player. A linebacker in this scheme must be intelligent and versatile, physical and athletic enough to cover in the passing game.
And, yes, there is a certain amount of craziness required. Gotta be a little bit nuts.
"I want a guy who will run through a wall with me," said Trotter, discussing why he's so high on McCoy after the second-year player's stellar spring. "I know Matt is that kind of guy and that's why I'm so excited about him."
The Eagles privately -- now it's public -- that they think the linebackers present as much depth and promise as any in the last few years, from top to bottom. They know Shawn Barber is here to compete with McCoy and to play in a major role in the nickel scheme and they know another veteran, Mark Simoneau, can play all three positions in a jack-of-all-trades role.
For this group to get to where Jim Johnson wants them to be, the kids have to come through. McCoy has to be the real deal. Gocong has to show he can help in some role and get on the field and run to the football. Richmond has to step in and shake off the rust. Short, playing more defensive end in the spring, must show he is more than a special-teams demon. Roper, who had a nice run last year, has to be physical.
You get the idea.
The kids have to come to play.
We all talk about the sexy positions on this team and get caught up in the how-will-they-get-it-done? questions. But linebacker has to be near the top of the line. The front seven on this defense has undergone a dramatic facelift, and should Darren Howard and Brodrick Bunkley live up to their billing, the linebackers will be a whole lot better, too.
When training camp opens, keep an eye on the 'backers. They're going to be coming in waves and their performance will be critical.
They have to be a little bit crazy in that summer heat. They have to be snot knockers to show they can keep pace with Trotter, the lead dog. Linebackers are front and center in this camp, even if not a whole lot of observers out there are paying a lot of attention.
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Anticipating The Fevered Pitch Of Play At LB
July 12, 2006
I remember sitting in the office of former head coach Ray Rhodes during draft weekend in 1998. Gathered were a handful of coaches and scouts and various other front-office bigwigs.
The mood was casual. Feet were kicked up on the desk and in the dungeon of Veterans Stadium, the topic was third-round draft pick Jeremiah Trotter.
The Eagles had just selected Trotter earlier in the evening, and Rhodes exclaimed with gusto how much he looked forward to seeing Trotter line up and "knock the snot out of people. He's a mean SOB, exactly the kind of guy you need to play that position."
So many seasons later, Trotter is still that way: Mean, physical, knocking the "snot" out of offensive linemen.
In reality, that's the way all of these Eagles linebackers have to be. It's a bounce-back season for this group, because other than Trotter's Pro Bowl performance last season, there wasn't much to brag about with this unit. Keith Adams struggled at the WILL position. Dhani Jones didn't make enough big plays at SAM.
Matt McCoy has to take his fine spring as a springboard for the season
There was Trotter, and there were concerns.
This year, well, the outlook is certainly fascinating. And it's vitally important that some youngsters come along and make this unit much better than it was a year ago.
Trotter remains the man in the middle and he's still at the top of his game, even with those bone-on-bone knees. Jones is in line to start on the strong side, too, but he's got competition and, yes, he knows he has to be better.
Second-year man Matt McCoy enters training camp atop the depth chart on the weak side, and after an impressive spring he has a great deal of confidence.
Are the Eagles good enough to be great at linebacker?
I don't know.
As with many positions on this team, the Eagles are relying on some youngsters to come through right off the top this season. McCoy, Greg Richmond, Dedrick Roper, Jason Short, Chris Gocong and Omar Gaither are some of the kids on the depth chart who will make this a better team if they step up in training camp and in the preseason.
Linebacker is an interesting position that requires a particular kind of player. A linebacker in this scheme must be intelligent and versatile, physical and athletic enough to cover in the passing game.
And, yes, there is a certain amount of craziness required. Gotta be a little bit nuts.
"I want a guy who will run through a wall with me," said Trotter, discussing why he's so high on McCoy after the second-year player's stellar spring. "I know Matt is that kind of guy and that's why I'm so excited about him."
The Eagles privately -- now it's public -- that they think the linebackers present as much depth and promise as any in the last few years, from top to bottom. They know Shawn Barber is here to compete with McCoy and to play in a major role in the nickel scheme and they know another veteran, Mark Simoneau, can play all three positions in a jack-of-all-trades role.
For this group to get to where Jim Johnson wants them to be, the kids have to come through. McCoy has to be the real deal. Gocong has to show he can help in some role and get on the field and run to the football. Richmond has to step in and shake off the rust. Short, playing more defensive end in the spring, must show he is more than a special-teams demon. Roper, who had a nice run last year, has to be physical.
You get the idea.
The kids have to come to play.
We all talk about the sexy positions on this team and get caught up in the how-will-they-get-it-done? questions. But linebacker has to be near the top of the line. The front seven on this defense has undergone a dramatic facelift, and should Darren Howard and Brodrick Bunkley live up to their billing, the linebackers will be a whole lot better, too.
When training camp opens, keep an eye on the 'backers. They're going to be coming in waves and their performance will be critical.
They have to be a little bit crazy in that summer heat. They have to be snot knockers to show they can keep pace with Trotter, the lead dog. Linebackers are front and center in this camp, even if not a whole lot of observers out there are paying a lot of attention.
Printer friendly
Email this story
Previous Articles
XML/Podcast
Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Employment Opportunities
Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Employment Opportunities