Run Defense is Key to Success

I think more than any other area, the Eagles run defense will decide how successful they are this year.

Here's an interesting article by Dave Spadaro of PhiladelphiaEagles.com about Jim Johnson and the Eagles run defense .

The Eagles will run the football well if they choose to do so. If they run it well they will destroy teams on the ground and in the air. McNabb has an outstanding group of young recievers, who I think will turn heads this year. I've got a lot of confidence in the Eagles offense. But the defense I'm not as sure about. They will destroy teams on 3rd down with their coverage and pass rush but they'll struggle if they can't stop the run, so I consider the run defense, the key to their season.

Jim doesn't plan on making any major changes when it comes to stopping the run. He's going to rely on bigger, better players doing a better job of executing their defensive assignments in order to stop opposing running games. Jim plans on rotating his defensive linemen and he'd better follow through with it. The run defense went into the tank when Johnson stopped rotating his smallish defensive line. If the Eagles defensive line unit gets tired, they'll get destroyed because they're undersized. Andy needs to look over Jim's shoulder and make sure he rotates that line each and every game.
..Read More at GCobb.com>>

Rayburn Cut

Eagles release Rayburn

The Eagles released backup defensive tackle Sam Rayburn one day before the start of mini-camp, which begins Friday morning at the NovaCare Complex.

Signed as a rookie free agent in 2003, Rayburn recorded 101 tackles and nine sacks in a 52-game career slowed by injury and inconsistency.

The acquisition of free agent tackles Montae Reagor and Ian Scott in recent weeks paved the way for Rayburn's departure.

http://blog.nj.com/timesupdates/2007/05/eagles_release_rayburn_dawkins.html


Too bad for the Truck Driver. He did pretty well in 2004, and since then has really not produced enough. The Eagles DTs have taken a complete overhaul since 2004 now. Hollis Thomas, Corey Simon, Rayburn, and Darwin Walker are all gone. Looks like a good group with Bunkley, Patterson, Reagor, Ramsey, and Scott. Let's hope it is anyways.

Eagles Acquire Defensive Tackle Ian Scott

(AP) PHILADELPHIA Free agent defensive tackle Ian Scott signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, three months after starting in the Super Bowl for the Chicago Bears.Scott, a fourth-round pick by the Bears in 2003, recorded 41 tackles in 18 games last year, including the playoffs. In four seasons with the Bears, he had 155 tackles and two sacks.Scott is the second veteran defensive tackle signed by the Eagles this offseason. Former Indianapolis Colt Montae Reagor signed a three-year deal in March.