Rodney McLeod’s return to the Eagles is helping Jim Schwartz sleep better at night
The strong safety's return will have a soothing effect on the defensive huddle, which can often be chaotic.
/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-pmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/RMZOCZMUX5ATXCS3DNJKNMWPXY.JPG)
Remember that play in overtime last year at Dallas when the ball bounced off Eagles cornerback Rasul Douglas to Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper for the winning touchdown?
Safety Rodney McLeod was on injured reserve at the time and not at AT&T stadium that night. Still, he and Douglas have talked about it and the veteran safety’s message resonated with Douglas. The message was simple: Forget about it.
“He knows as a DB who’s been playing in the league for [eight] years that everybody is going to get a ball caught over their head,” said Douglas, who is entering his third season. “Ain’t no DB who’s ever played NOT get beat. He’s been there before. Let it go. Move on to the next play.”
» READ MORE: Observations of Rodney McLeod, Corey Clement from Thursday’s game
McLeod, a starter on the Super Bowl team two years ago, was limited to just three games last year because of a torn MCL. He saw his first action of this preseason on Thursday night and will be back in the starting lineup in Week 1 against the Redskins.
Like somebody who just found his cell phone after leaving it in an Uber, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is relieved.
“He’s one of those guys that everybody knows it’s going to be OK when he’s in there,” Schwartz explained. “He’s stone-cold with his communication, always in the right spot to do his job. Those guys are valuable. Not everybody has to be rah-rah. Not that Rodney doesn’t play with a lot of fire. He does. But when he’s back there, his corners, his nickels, his linebackers all get a nice sense of calm because he’s such a good communicator.”
McLeod was not available during Monday’s open locker room period, but strong safety Malcolm Jenkins echoed Schwartz.
“Communicating usually brings that sense that everybody knows what they are doing. Everybody is settled down,” Jenkins said. “When you have guys that don’t talk and don’t communicate that’s when you have busted coverages and confusion.”
Remember that last play against the Falcons in the playoffs two years ago when Jalen Mills broke up a pass to Julio Jones to send the Eagles to the NFC Championship game? McLeod warned Mills the play was coming based on film study of the Falcons’ formation.
» FROM THE ARCHIVES: Inside the final play on Julio Jones two years ago
“When you have somebody that steadies up that communication,” Jenkins said, “it can have a calming effect to the defense.”