Free agency has been kind to the Eagles secondary. Philadelphia finally has a lockdown cornerback in Darius Slay and today, it was reported that slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman is signing a one-year deal with the team. Wonderful. There's a common saying in life - 'if it's too good to be true, it usually is'.
The current depth chart looks a little like this:
CB1: Darius SlayCB2: Sidney Jones/Avonte Maddox (Gulag fight)CB3: Nickell Robey-Coleman/ Cre'Von LeBlanc (Gulag fight)CB4: Gulag losers who ragequit...or Trevor Williams? Or Rasul Douglas? Maybe another Gulag fight is needed.
The hurdles immediately become clear. The Eagles have solidified the secondary, there's no doubting that. But every action has a reaction and the butterfly effect here is going to push at least one corner out in the dark, while leaving others vulnerable to the cold. Did someone day trades?
On the outside looking in
Rasul Douglas is the first name to watch over the next few weeks. Entering his contract year, the West Virginia product has enjoyed some ball-hawking highs and some toasty lows with the Eagles. But if one thing is clear, it's that he's not the Jim Schwartz prototype DB.
Every other corner on the roster is 6’0 or below and outside of Darius Slay, all have slot experience or are better suited to a role inside. Douglas has a lengthy wingspan at 6’2 and is much more of a ballhawk than the firmer tacklers and quicker running mates around him.
I explored the idea of a potential Rasul Douglas trade recently after reports cited that he was being shopped around the league. I think it's likely the team do move on from him and Douglas deserves a shot to earn a starting role somewhere as opposed to being continuously chained down by the coaching staff who would rather sign players off the street than give him a shot (CC: Dexter McDougle).
https://phillysportsnetwork.com/2020/03/23/douglas-trade/
Even if the Eagles move on from Douglas, there are still other names now worth noting...
Sid the Kid
This game’s not for suckers,” Malcolm Jenkins said. “If you aren’t confident on the outside, then we can’t use you. Our defense is going to call for guys to be able to go outside and cover.”
That quote may define Jones' 2019 season. He was benched for four consecutive weeks after this post-game rant left the lungs of Jenkins, only to return in the clutch and make some of the biggest plays of the entire year.
Jones is a former second-round pick who has battled injury setback after injury setback, and had his mental toughness then questioned. Perhaps a change in DB coach will help him, but now in his contract year and likely facing Avonte Maddox for the CB2 job, the Eagles may be willing to cash in while they can or simply rotate him as needed.
Captain Cre'Von
In the space of a month back in 2018, LeBlanc went from a corner buried on the depth chart who was signed for depth purposes mid-season, to an Eagles hero.
LeBlanc finished the season with PFF grade of 72.3 and 32nd among cornerbacks. But a Lisfranc injury would rip the former Chicago Bear of a shot at earning a starting role, as well as half of his second season in midnight green. The-then 24-year-old was sent to IR, but notably given a contract extension, rewarding his stunning efforts from one season ago.
Captain Cre'Von returned in emphatic fashion and put up a truly stunning game in week 17, one where the Eagles simply had to win. His playoff performance wasn't excellent but Strap, who was rewarded with a new contract while injured, made his intentions clear.
The signing of Nickell Robey-Coleman does complicate matters in the slot...namely because every corner not named Rasul Douglas (yes, even Slay if he's traveling) has nickel experience. If NRC, who has played in every game except 1 of a possible 112 since entering the league in 2013, is gunning for the starting role, he'd better be ready to give it all he's got against LeBlanc, who won't let that role go without a fight.
Continued on the page below. (Scroll down for page 2)
Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
What about me!?
At the start of the offseason, the Eagles signed 26-year-old corner with 27 career starts under his belt on a very team-friendly contract and nobody batted an eye. That man is Trevor Williams.
The former Chargers CB ended the 2018 season on IR due to a knee sprain suffered in week 10, and was back on the injured list in week 2 of 2019 after suffering a quad strain. Not great.
But for those worrying about 'regressive play', our man Morgan Burkett cooked up a lovely three-course meal to tuck into.
https://phillysportsnetwork.com/2020/03/23/eagles-signing/
First off, he played across from Casey Hayward — one of the most formidable corners in the league. That means, by default, opponents would target Williams’ side of the field. He responded by allowing 38 receptions on only 52 targets on 201 routes defended. He also allowed only 3 touchdowns and had a burn rate of 0.0%. Yup, that’s right, in 201 routes defended, he was not burned once. On the year, he allowed an average target separation of only 0.68 yards. These numbers mean a lot more with the proper context. So, let’s put them beside Ronald Darby’s totals from last season, and his best statistical coverage season: 2018.
Trevor Williams (2018)
Ronald Darby (2019)
Ronald Darby (2018)
Passer Rating
122.7
126.4
88.1
Burn Rate
0.0%
4.0%
1.2%
Catch Rate
73.1%
69.3%
58.8%
Target Separation
0.68
0.83
0.82
TDs Allowed
3
7
4
Seemingly an immediate upgrade from 2019 Ronald Darby, Williams’ play almost rivals that of 2018 Darby. He isn’t as disruptive at the point of catch, but his coverage was as sticky as ever.
In his last fully healthy season, 2017, Williams finished the year ranked 10th at his position according to Pro Football Focus. He was the best corner in all of football on throws 2.6+ seconds after the snap — by a wide margin. He allowed a passer rating of 10.4 on those throws, Yes you read that correctly. For context, an incomplete pass would register a 39.6 rating.
Did someone say, uh, CB2?
Maybe if Sidney Jones does move on, this is the path the Eagles will take. Don't write off Williams just yet. If he can stay healthy, he'll factor into their plans.
What if Schwartz just throws the Kitchen sink?
Bigger picture thinking here:
The Eagles lose Malcolm Jenkins, who has been a remote-controlled missile in this defense under Jim Schwartz. It can't be a coincidence that every cornerback is suddenly short, stout and carries a label of 'versatile'. Even Rodney McLeod played in the box last year.
It's been so long since the Eagles had a true lockdown corner who could just shadow an X-receiver that maybe Schwartz simply wants enough variety to allow him that luxury. Stocking up on DB's who can play inside, outside, over the top (Maddox, Parks, Mills) and adding in firm tacklers like LeBlanc and Parks, allows Schwartz to essentially play a game of matchup-chess.
If Slay has to work the nickel in order to keep someone like Sterling Shepard quiet, then Maddox and Jones can lock down the outside that would, in theory, have easier matchups. If Slay is on Cooper but Zeke is on the field, Will Parks can play inside the Box while Mills and McLeod sit over the top.
Yes, there's a chance that the Eagles move on from a few of these corners, but there is enough talent and versatility to maybe, just maybe, finally fit into a scheme that has done nothing but exploit them up to this point. Maybe Slay is the missing piece.
Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
