Encouraging Signs on Defense

I think we all could agree that -- other than the slightly increased risk of injury and/or burnout for the players and coaches involved -- it would be much better for everyone if we could just go ahead and get training camp started right now.

Heck, they could do rotating training camps and show 'em on the NFL Network.  I actually wasted some of my Memorial Day yesterday watching "NFL Follies" hosted by Nick Bakay.  You think I wouldn't watch a live look-in from Cardinals mini-camp? 

"Coming up next on the Network, it's big dudes stretching as a bunch of pasty old white dudes yell at them to stay hydrated."

Unfortunately, because the NFL Network doesn't understand what it's audience really wants, we're left with the tea leaves stage of the offseason.  We can't actually watch anything, so we just need to read everything we can and see what we can sort of pick up.

The long weekend had a few encouraging signs for the Eagles defense, so let's take a look at them:

Jim Johnson Revisits His Defense
With a revamped defensive staff, Johnson spent the off-season breaking his whole defense down and rethinking some things.  "It was great for us and I think he enjoyed it," Harbaugh said. "He went back and went through the whole package with a fine-tooth comb - the details, the history of it, why you make this adjustment or that adjustment. It was a great learning experience."

Now I'm already on record saying that I don't think the biggest problem with the Eagles defense the last few years has been Jim Johnson.  I still think it's the talent.  But I'm glad to see JJ doing a full self-scout, just to see if there are areas that have gotten a little stale or predictable.  Maybe the old dog will have a few new tricks up his sleeve next year.

Chris Gocong Looks Like a Starter
"Chris is ahead of the other guys because he's been around, and he looks good," Johnson said. "This has been a great camp for him. No question about it that Chris Gocong is the guy right now, and he's handling it like he's the guy. He's not making any mistakes, and he's playing good..."

The last time the Eagles had such a young and inexperienced competition at a linebacker position during training camp was back in 1999 when rookie second-round pick Barry Gardner battled a third-round pick from the year before for the starting middle linebacker job. The third-round pick - Jeremiah Trotter - won the competition even though he went in as the underdog.

"I do remember it was a good competition, and I always felt Trotter was going to be the guy because he was such an athletic linebacker," Johnson said. "That's the thing you see with Chris because he's such a good athlete playing linebacker, and Trotter was, too. Bradley is a pretty good athlete, too, but I do remember Trotter was an exceptional athlete for a guy that size."

My emphasis added.  I've never seen Stewart Bradley, this year's second-round linebacker draftee, take a snap, so I have no idea how well he plays.  Gocong's pretty much in the same situation, with the difference being that he was a phenomenal athlete in college who pretty much destroyed Division 1-AA competition.  Everyone not from Nebraska has to be rooting for Gocong to win the job, because the more guys you can get on the field who present physical mismatches, the better you're going to be.  Sometimes it doesn't all come down to technique.

LaJuan Ramsey Gets BIG
Ramsey attended a "Get Big" program at his alma mater, USC. Ramsey spent two months there and, combined with his interest in increasing from the 285 pounds he played at last year, put on enough weight to check in here at 305 pounds.

"It was a lot of lifting, a lot of working out," said Ramsey. "At USC, I did a lot of power work concentrating on more reps and more weight. I did a lot of upper body and leg lifts, too. I did a lot of Olympic training, too, with power cleans and hang snatches all that kind of lifting.

"It has paid off. I'm a lot stronger. I feel great. The coaches say I look the same and that I'm moving out there, so I feel good about where I am."

Of course, a lot is still riding on the 2006 #1 pick, Brodrick Bunkley, but this is just one more sign that last year's position of weakness might be this year's position of strength.  Ramsey played well early last year before getting buried on the bench in one of those Eagles moves that just don't really make sense at the time.  Were they trying to showcase Sam Rayburn?  Did Ramsey do something wrong in the locker room?  We'll just never know.

IF Ramsey can play at 300 pounds and keep the burst he had before, the Eagles could be looking at one very fine defensive tackle rotation, with Patterson and Bunk starting, and Ramsey, Reagor and Scott rotating in to keep everyone fresh.