Skip to content
Eagles

Davis: More linebackers means more packages

One of the major questions about how the Eagles' 2015 defense fits together has to do with juggling DeMeco Ryans, Kiko Alonso and Mychal Kendricks at inside linebacker. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis said he'll find ways to use all three.

    by Les Bowen
    Published 

Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis is reluctant to claim huge improvement for his beleaguered unit, despite major offseason upgrades. Davis, speaking to reporters Wednesday for the first time since the end of the 2014 season, said he and his players have a lot of work ahead.

"On Sundays really is when you can tell," Davis said, when asked if this is the best group "on paper" he has had to work with. "I can't answer that intelligently. I can say I like the way the group's working. I can say I like the way the growth's happening, the depth of understanding we have right now, but until we hit Sundays, I don't know where we are. That first game is the starting point."

Davis and running backs coach Duce Staley were the focal points yesterday as the Eagles allowed reporters a rare (but NFL-mandated) opportunity to talk with both the coordinators and the position coaches. Davis runs the defense the Eagles have spent much of their offseason trying to improve. Staley is the only African-American coach on the staff who actually presides over a position group, as former teammate and Eagles coaching colleague Tra Thomas pointed out after Thomas' coaching contract wasn't renewed. Staley also was close to running back LeSean McCoy, who accused Eagles coach Chip Kelly of getting rid of all of his good black players this offseason, after McCoy was traded to Buffalo for linebacker Kiko Alonso. Staley spoke minutes after McCoy threatened to end a news conference in Buffalo when reporters asked him about his Kelly comments, even when he said he was only answering questions about the Bills.

"Chip is not a racist," Staley said. "Chip and I work very well together. Everyone has their own opinion. I'm not here to talk about Tra, or what McCoy said." Staley asked reporters "not to take something that's a chapter and make it into a book."

Davis, meanwhile, said he isn't close to sorting out exactly how he will handle having three starting-quality inside linebackers for two spots, but he said the glut "expands our ability to play with more packages."
Davis also said veteran corner Walter Thurmond, whom the Eagles are trying at safety, "has a great feel for the game ... He sees the field, he understands the game, he takes great angles, and we're excited about experimenting with him back there ... He really seems comfortable back there."
Asked about Nolan Carroll seeming to have the lead to start at corner opposite free agency signee Byron Maxwell, Davis said: "It's all competition. Nolan's having a great camp. (Brandon Boykin) is doing well. Young guys are getting up to speed. We're real excited about the competition in the secondary."
Davis said his three rookie corners, who are thought to have safety skills, will all work exclusively at corner in the short run.
Davis said that despite Kelly's well-publicized specifications at the corner position -- he wants the outside guys to be tall with long arms -- Boykin, 5-10, 185, can win a starting spot.
"If you're good enough, you're big enough. If you're good enough, you're fast enough," Davis said. "Do we look for and bring in taller corners? Yeah. But it really doesn't mean Boykin is at a disadvantage. I love 'Boyk.' Boyk's one of my favorite guys out there. He does a great job in the nickel, he's competing out there at (outside) corner, he's doing a great job, he's having a great offseason. The best man'll win out there, and if Boyk's the best man, he's got it."
Right now, Carroll is outside on the first team, with Boykin on the second team and in his usual nickel role.
    LB
    Les Bowen
Join The Conversation
Community Guidelines