Eagles Question Marks: Part II

Ok, I realize I skipped a week, but let's get back to some unanswered questions currently facing the Eagles as they head into 2007. I was planning on talking about how we are in the midst of a dead period of Philly sports as we're still a month away from Eagles training camp, the Flyers and Sixers drafts have past and the Phils are about to fade out of contention yet again, but I realize that it pretty freakin' boring, so 'll do what every Philly sports outlet does at this time of the year...turn to the Birds

After last year's defensive struggles from about week 7 through the playoff loss in N'Awlins, it became quite evident that the linebackers were flat out just not stout enough to stop the run. So, the question becomes.......

HAVE THE EAGLES' CHANGES AT LB IMPROVED THEIR RUN DEFENSE?

I think we can answer this question with an emphatic YES! Just the fact that Dhani Jones, his bow ties, and air banjo have left town would suffice for me, but the Birds added former Pro Bowler, Takeo Spikes, at the WILL LB spot (who should be a major improvement - if healthy- over last year's starters) and will have Chris Gocong, Stewart Bradley and Tank Daniels competing at the SAM Spot. If you watched the Birds the last couple years, there is no way any of these guys can be worse than the non-existent Bow Tie Man. Obviously, the new starters at both outside spots will be key to this year's run defense. However, since the new starters are much bigger and more aggressive players than their predecessors, I would be shocked if the Bird are not stronger at both outside line backer spots than they were last year.

Plus, the plan is currently to spell Jeremiah Trotter early and often at MLB with last year's WILL starter, Omar Gaither, to keep Trot fresh for when things matter most. Unlike most people, I have not given up totally on Matt McCoy. Most people forget that he was effective early in the year when he was still fresh. If he is kept to limited snaps this year, he has the opportunity to be effective in limited playing time.

Of course, most of the defense's success against the run will be dictated by the play of the d-line, which is another topic for another day. However, I believe this group of linebackers will not compound the problems and be totally nonexistent against the run the way last year's group was.

So there you have it. I'm very bullish on this group to be much better than last year's crew.