The unknown linebacker who has a chance to stick

[time2rock]

The unknown linebacker who has a chance to stick

 

When training camp began, the candidates to play the SAM linebacker in Jonathan Gannon’s defense were Genard Avery, Joe Ostman, maybe Ryan Kerrigan and longshot 7^th-round rookie Patrick Johnson.

And now? 

Avery has practiced very little since suffering a groin injury back on Aug. 7. He returned briefly, got hurt again and hasn’t practiced since. So much for Avery.

Ostman was waived / injured Tuesday with a concussion. So much for Ostman. 

Kerrigan left practice with a thumb injury on Aug. 2 – the fifth day of practice - underwent surgery Aug. 10, and hasn’t practiced since. So much for Kerrigan.

Which leaves one guy. Five days before final cuts, Johnson is the last man standing.

The SAM in Gannon’s system is a hybrid off-ball linebacker and edge rusher, so it’s a position that requires a player who’s fast and athletic enough to drop back and cover backs and tight ends but also skilled and strong enough to rush the quarterback. 

Nobody really knows how much Gannon will use the SAM backer, but he talks about the position a lot and clearly values the versatility it requires to line up at SAM in his scheme.

"What we are asking them to do within our scheme is a little bit different,” Gannon said before practice Tuesday at the Jets' facility. "The MIKE and the WILL are mostly stacked and the SAM, sometimes he's stacked but sometimes he's on the ball. So it just presents a little bit different skill set for those three guys and what we are asking them to do.”

Johnson has flown under the radar during training camp, but with Avery and Kerrigan sidelined and Ostman waived injured, he’s in a position where he has a legitimate chance at a roster spot.

Johnson was a three-year starter at Tulane and piled up 34 tackles for loss, 21 sacks and 11 pass breakups over the last three seasons. Very good production. 

At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, he has the build for Gannon’s SAM, but it remains to be seen whether he can cover or get to the QB consistently enough to get on the field. And as a rookie 7^th-round pick he’s fighting an uphill roster battle.

Avery might have an edge over Johnson just because of what Howie Roseman spent on him.

The Eagles traded a 4^th-round pick to the Browns at the 2019 trade deadline, but the 26-year-old Avery has very little to show for parts of two seasons here. He started out camp as the favorite at SAM but wasn’t having a particularly good camp when he got hurt, and who knows when he’ll be healthy. 

It’s fair to wonder whether Roseman will keep Avery on the 53-man roster despite his injuries and lack of production simply because he spent a 4^th-round pick on him. 

As for Kerrigan, he isn’t going anywhere, but he hasn’t practiced in more than three weeks, and even the few days he did practice he wasn’t in the SAM mix, although he does have the tools to play there. 

Johnson has quietly had a good camp, especially the last couple weeks. The defensive coaches love his versatility, and he’s gotten reps at some point at all three linebacker spots, which speaks to his intelligence.  

He played 46 snaps on defense in the Steelers game and had six tackles and a tackle, then played 27 defensive snaps against the Patriots and had three tackles. He also played 25 special teams snaps in the first two preseason games. 

With the starters not expected to play much Friday against the Jets, look for Johnson to get a ton of playing time as he tries to build on his intriguing resume.

And with the other SAM candidates all likely out for Friday night, the stakes are very high for Johnson. With a good performance against the Jets, Johnson may be in line not just for a roster spot but for playing time once the regular season begins.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-roster-why-patrick-johnson-has-chance-make-53?utm_tags=sm_npd_rsn_phi_fb_mn&fbclid=IwAR0j6PONjJQq-hYv2XmoJ6OKQ6ssY70OXoFqcy4bmsXQTK4RU5NtwKACUCY

[time2rock]

Quote

It’s fair to wonder whether Roseman will keep Avery on the 53-man roster despite his injuries and lack of production simply because he spent a 4^th-round pick on him. 

Sure hope we aren't planning to hold on to lesser talent because Howie tries to save face because of the misuse of draft picks.  

[UK_EaglesFan89]

I have to say I hope Johnson makes the roster. I've read a few really positive reports on him during TC and I think long term he could force a role for himself on this roster. 

[time2rock]

54 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I have to say I hope Johnson makes the roster. I've read a few really positive reports on him during TC and I think long term he could force a role for himself on this roster. 

Tucker who has been covering the preseason games has been showering quite a bit of praise on him every week.  He is slotted at SAM … right now it seems to between him and Avery (who is missing time due to injury).  So I’d say his odds are pretty good that he makes it  

 

[SlimReaper4Six]

I really like his skill set, he still needs a lot of work getting acclimated to standing up and learning his depths on coverages but he has done well at everything he has been asked to do. I really think with a full off-season next year working on his explosiveness and being able to be fluid in his hips he could be a very good player, especially for a 7th rounder.   I have high hopes for him and I believe he will have 3-6 sacks this year and isn’t much of a liability in pass coverage. 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

9 hours ago, time2rock said:

Tucker who has been covering the preseason games has been showering quite a bit of praise on him every week.  He is slotted at SAM … right now it seems to between him and Avery (who is missing time due to injury).  So I’d say his odds are pretty good that he makes it  

 

You don't think there's a good chance that they actually have both on the roster? I know the SAM role in this scheme seems to be a slightly specialist thing but only having one is perhaps leaving us a little bit thin?

[time2rock]

4 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

You don't think there's a good chance that they actually have both on the roster? I know the SAM role in this scheme seems to be a slightly specialist thing but only having one is perhaps leaving us a little bit thin?

Sure I think there is a decent chance both make it.  I was responding only to Johnson’s chances.  The competition seemed to start with Avery, Ostman, and Johnson.  Ostman has since been released and Avery is missing time with injury too, so that should bode well for Johnson’s chances to stick regardless of what they do with Avery.  

[eglz1]

On 8/28/2021 at 8:10 AM, time2rock said:

Sure hope we aren't planning to hold on to lesser talent because Howie tries to save face because of the misuse of draft picks.  

I hope not either, but would you be surprised he does unless doing so is clearly indefensible?

[eggs]

That Avery trade was stupid at the time and stupid now - cost us a 4th for a longshot scrub. 

[Portyansky]

2 hours ago, eggs said:

That Avery trade was stupid at the time and stupid now - cost us a 4th for a longshot scrub. 

It wasn't a bad trade. It was a fair trade. It was for a 4th 2 years later. Tell me our 4th rnd picks that have contributed lately. We have seen flashes out of Avery when used right. JS just was too stubborn.

[20dawk4life]

Johnson looked great vs the Steelers. Hope he gets a chance to play. 

[PoconoDon]

On 8/28/2021 at 8:10 AM, time2rock said:

Sure hope we aren't planning to hold on to lesser talent because Howie tries to save face because of the misuse of draft picks.  

I'll see your hope and raise you a JJAW.

[time2rock]

7 hours ago, PoconoDon said:

I'll see your hope and raise you a JJAW.

Too soon to add Dillard to that list?  There were some reports stating he was the worst player overall in TC.  Yikes.