Eagles' heralded cornerback threesome not living up to expectations

They were going to be Philadelphia's version of the Bermuda Triangle - where receivers and passes go to disappear.

Instead the Eagles' three superstar cornerbacks - Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - have been the ones lost at sea.

This nosedive, however, has happened in full view.

Each corner has clearly played at a level below the standard for which he has become known. The reasons for this are varied but stem ultimately from the team's gluttonous decision to sign Asomugha without a fool-proof plan for the future.

The result - at least through a 1-4 start - is a collection of miscast corners who are either playing out of their comfort zones or increasingly disinterested in a scheme that doesn't play to their strengths.

Enough games remain to make it work, however, especially if the Eagles win Sunday at Washington. But Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Juan Castillo are running short on time.

Asomugha made his bones in Oakland almost exclusively as a press-man corner. But when he came to the Eagles Castillo tried to turn him into Charles Woodson - lining him up everywhere and playing him in multiple defenses.

It's all football, and Asmougha should be able to adjust if he's as good a player as he has been touted to be. But to expect instant success in light of the radical changes was shortsighted.

And so the Eagles' $60 million investment has been labeled a disappointment.

Samuel's role isn't much different than it was during his first three seasons here. He's still on the left side. He's still mostly an off-corner. But the wide-nine scheme up front has cut down on his interception opportunities, and that's like taking meat away from a carnivore.

Because offenses are able to exploit the wide nine with screens, and take advantage of inadequate Eagles linebackers and safeties by often going to their running backs and tight ends, opposing quarterbacks haven't had much need to throw downfield. Samuel, as a result, has only one interception. Over his career, he's averaged a pick every 2.3 games.

Then there's Rodgers-Cromartie. You may be able to count on one hand the number of plays he has affected as the nickel cornerback. It's hard to completely blame him. He never played there until this season.

The same argument that has been used against Asomugha could be made in this case. Covering a receiver in the slot should hardly be different from covering one on the outside. But it is, and in some ways it's more difficult because you don't have a sideline as a border and you have more run-stopping responsibilities at nickel.

Rodgers-Cromartie has looked the most out of place, but all three have had embarrassing moments. A pass defense that was supposed to be among the Eagles' strengths has been inconsistent. While it is ranked seventh in the NFL in terms of yards allowed, it has allowed a second-worst-in-the-league 11 touchdown passes and a bottom-third-in-the-league 63.7 completion percentage.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. The three had eight Pro Bowl appearances among them. Surely, Castillo would find a way to harness that ability.

But, in truth, signing Asomugha two days after the Eagles had received Rodgers-Cromartie from Arizona in a trade made little sense if this team was to compete for a Super Bowl.

Rodgers-Cromartie and Samuel would have made a fine twosome, even if the former prefers to play man-to-man. The Eagles have had dissimilar corners before. And at nickel they still would have had the more-than-competent Joselio Hanson.

But they got greedy and impressed with their own wherewithal and pulled off the Asomugha coup. At that point they should have just dealt Samuel. The Eagles would have had Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie as their starting right and left corners - where they played previously - and two press-man corners.

But they kept all three when it became apparent no team was willing to part with first- and second-round picks for Samuel, and in doing so irritated the 30-year-old. Not only did the Eagles let it be known that they had received offers for Samuel, but when they decided not to deal him he essentially knew he was a lame duck.

Rodgers-Cromartie has one more year left on his rookie contract, while Samuel is still owed $19 million over two seasons after this year. It wouldn't be fair to claim that his substandard play was related, but it's reasonable to wonder.

More than likely it has more to do with the scheme or the team's plummet, because Samuel isn't the only one of the three to miss tackles and not hustle. All three have been spotted not giving full effort on certain plays, especially over the last few weeks.

It's like watching a sinking ship.