Tag Archives: red zone defense

Report: Eagles Not Crazy about Asomugha

It has been a forgone conclusion among many who follow the Eagles that the team will make a run at soon to be free agent Nnamdi Asomugha.

Not so fast, says Clark Judge of CBSSports.com

Many fans are hoping the Eagles make a run at free agent Nnamdi Asomugha

A source close to the team tells Judge that the team is not crazy about Asomugha’s ability to only play the right corner position, and that he is primarily a “press corner” style player.

The anticipated price tag attached to Asomugha has the Eagles shying away, says the source. In addition, the fact the pro-bowl corner is 30 years old does not help.

If the sources close to Judge are correct, it gives Eagles fans a little preview of the new Juan Castillo defense.  Asomugha is one of the best press corners in the game, and if that does not interest the Eagles, it means they will continue to play the “Asante Samuel” style of defense on opposing wide outs.

The problem is, there is only one Asante Samuel on the Eagles roster.

Players like Dmitri Patterson, Joselio Hanson and Trevard Lindley struggles last season playing so far off their opponent. Ask Eagle fans how many times a corner back lined up 5 yards off his man in the redzone. That style of play had a lot to do with the Eagle red zone defense being  historically bad.

Juan Castillo told the media at his press conference a few months back that he was going to play an attack style defense. But if the report is true, that is going to be hard to do with mediocre corners playing 5 yards off on each play.