Philadelphia Eagles - NFL Season Information, Trivia and History

2011-12 NFL Season

There is major change coming to Philadelphia. Defensive Coordinator Shawn McDermott as well as Defensive Line Coach Rory Segrest were fired and replaced by Juan Castillo and Jim Washburn respectively. There is also talk of the Eagles pursuing former Giants Wide out Plaxico Burress. When CEO Jeffrey Lurie was asked about Plax, he acknowledged that it is a possibility but that he would undergo the same scrutiny that QB Michael Vick went through upon his arrival to Philadelphia. "It would be similar," Lurie admitted. "Any player, if there's issues off the field, we have to ascertain... are they going to represent the Eagles and the community that we serve? Are they going to be part of events like this? (The team was building a community playground) Michael has shown this. If a player is not willing to be part of the culture we have, then I don't think it's a good fit."

In the draft, the Eagles helped to strengthen different facets of the team. Their first round (23rd overall) selection was Baylor Guard Danny Watkins who became the oldest first-round selection (at age 26) since 1980. Watkins was also drafted by both the CFL and NFL in the first round, another first since former LA Rams Guard Mike Schad was taken in the first round. Some of the other picks included Temple Safety Jaiquawn Jarrett (2nd round, 54th overall), Utah St. CB Curtis Marsh (3rd round, 90th overall), Oregon LB Casey Matthews (4th round, 116th overall) who is the son of Clay Matthews Jr who had a 19 year career in the NFL. He is also the grandson of Clay Sr. who was drafted by the LA Rams in 1949. He is also the nephew of Hall of Fame player Bruce Matthews. His cousin Kevin plays center for the Tennessee Titans and his younger brother Kyle was a walk-on at USC. Asked about the constant references to his family, Matthews said "I'm my own player and I'm my own man," he said. "Obviously, what they've done motivates me. But I'm trying to reach a level they haven't reached. I know it's going to take a lot of work, but that's my goal. Again, I'm my own player and I'm just looking forward to not just being 'Clay's little brother.' I think my instincts are better than his. He's more of an explosive athlete. That's what it takes to be an outside 'backer. Being an inside 'backer, you have to get people lined up and they have a lot of instincts."

Outlook: The team’s new defensive coordinator has not coached on that side of the ball in over 20 years and this may be a problem for a defense that imploded at the end of the 2010 season. If the lockout drags on into the team’s training camp time, it will be hard for the defense to adjust to their new scheme. Likewise, if Vick and his receivers don’t get in some timing practice, things could begin very slowly for the Eagles. Let’s hope that the lockout ends very soon.

Philadelphia Eagles Archives

In the past three seasons the Philadelphia Eagles have won the NFC East divisional title and in the last two seasons they earned themselves a bye in the first round of the playoffs. In those three seasons the team has made it to the NFC championship and lost each one of the three losing to the eventual winner of the Super Bowl once. Last year Eagles fans saw their team open up the season with a 2-3 record after a heartbreaking 23-21 loss to their divisional rival the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles then reeled off nine straight wins on their way to their third straight divisional crown and a first round bye in the playoffs. The Green Bay Packers won their first round game and the chance to play the Eagles in Philly. The game came down to the last drive with the Eagles trailing 17-14. The Packers had pushed the Eagles back to 4th and 26 and the Eagles were able to make the improbable conversion off a 28 catch by wide receiver Freddie Mitchell. David Akers nailed a 37 yard field goal to send the game into overtime where the Akers kicked another field goal to win the game. The conference championship pitted the Eagles against the Carolina Panthers who had a suffocating defense. The Eagles weren’t able to get anything going and fell in an ugly game 14-3.

In the off-season the Philadelphia front office had a great deal of decisions to make because they needed another playmaker on offense and at least one more on defense. They got both of them in wide receiver Terrell Owens and defensive end Jevon Kearse. The team also lost three of the lynch pins of their defense in linebacker Carlos Emmons and cornerbacks Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor.

In the draft the Eagles needed to fill holes on the offensive line and get some more depth at cornerback. The team was able to do both by drafting Arkansas offensive tackle Shawn Andrews and UCLA cornerback Matt Ware. The team also drafted offensive guards Tray Darilek and Thomas Tapeh from UTEP and Ohio State. To get some more depth in the secondary the Eagles picked up South Florida safety J.R. Reed and Colorado State cornerback Dexter Wynn.

The head coach Andy Reid is a product of the Bill Walsh West Coast offense that takes advantage of short accurate passes and the motor of the offense is a smart mobile quarterback; enter Donavon McNabb. McNabb is a perfect fit for this offense and has displayed many times over that he is the heart and soul of this franchise. He hadn’t had much help in the past but with the acquisition of Owens and the strong running of tailback Brian Westbrook the Eagles should be running on all cylinders.

Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is a firm believer in the blitz. He blitzes linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks from every different angle and in every different combination imaginable. If he could blitz the water boys he probably would. When a team prepares against the Eagles defense they have be pick up the blitz and their quarterback has to be ready to spend some time on his back. All-Pro free safety Brian Dawkins is the main guy on Philly defense. He is one of the few safeties in the league that can blitz, cover slot receivers and make big plays whenever he is near the ball. The defensive line will be the strength for the Eagles D this year. They showcase defensive tackles Corey Simon and Darwin Walker and defensive ends N.D. Kalu and Jevon Kearse. Johnson is just hoping that young cornerbacks Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard will be able to handle starting on a regular basis well enough to keep them from being a liability.