Even before he got the job as the Eagles’ inside linebackers coach, Rick Minter knew of DeMeco Ryans.
In the past three months, though, he’s discovered that everything he’d heard was spot-on.
“He is the leader of our group,” Minter said. “He’s the elder statesman, the older player. Fortunately, when your older player is a producer, and he’s one of your very best people in the room, it really is a very good situation.”
Today, we examine how the Eagles’ inside linebackers stack up.
DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks should hold down the starting jobs. But there are certainly depth spots up for grabs.
How does DeMeco Ryans fit in a 3-4? What was the issue with him in Houston? And will he be an every-down player going forward? We go to the All-22 for some answers.
DeMeco Ryans on Thursday was asked about the perception that he is not as effective in a 3-4 scheme as he is in a 4-3. The veteran linebacker cut in before the reporter had time to finish the question.
“Perception,” Ryans said with emphasis, followed by a laugh.
“It was a big perception that DeMeco doesn’t fit the 3-4. Whatever. I played in that defense. I played with the Texans in the 3-4 defense when we were the No. 1, No. 2 defense in the league. So if I didn’t fit in there, we wouldn’t have been that highly ranked.”
As recently as last offseason, it looked like the assets acquired in the Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb trades would play a major role in re-shaping the Eagles’ defense.
But looking ahead to 2013, that probably won’t end up being the case.
The Eagles’ primary objective in free agency will be to target young talent at need positions.
But there’s a secondary factor at work too: building the kind of culture that Chip Kelly is looking to establish.
“You’re never trying to use the word rebuilding,” Howie Roseman told Birds 24/7 on Wednesday. “That equates to the fact that we’re not trying to win every year. And we’re always trying to win. We want to build it the right way. We want to do the right things so that we can compete for a long time.
“On that same token… there are certain players that no matter what the age is, they set the right example, they do the right thing. As you’re building a culture, they help carry that culture forward. That’s important stuff.”
Will the Eagles run a pure 3-4? How will they adapt to offenses that are evolving? And why did Chip Kelly hire so many defensive assistants from the college ranks? Here are three leftovers, pertaining to the Eagles’ defense.
Using some All-22 shots, we dive into scheme possibilities for new Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis. Which pieces on the current roster fit the plan going forward?
Any time the talk of the Eagles potentially switching to 3-4 defense is brought up, the conversation generally hits a snag when you get to DeMeco Ryans.
The 27-year-old middle linebacker was shipped to Philadelphia from Houston with the label, “Can’t Play In A 3-4″ written in big letters across the packaging.
Ryans says it was false advertising.
From draft positioning to Brandon Graham’s performance, here are 15 things to know about the Eagles’ Week 16 matchup against the Redskins.
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Sheil Kapadia has been writing about the Eagles since 2008. His previous Philly.com blog, Moving the Chains, was named one of the best in the state by the Associated Press. Sheil's main joys in life are family, football and finding good parking spots.
Tim McManus is a bulldog reporter with a nose for news and story angles that will get people talking. He'll talk about it himself on 97.5 The Fanatic, where he serves as a host and Eagles beat reporter. Tim, an award-winning journalist, will be with the team around the clock.
