DeMeco Ryans came to the Eagles to be a three-down linebacker, but he's not complaining because one of those downs has been taken away from him. Coach Andy Reid confirmed on Friday that Ryans will be replaced in the nickel defense by Jamar Chaney, who will team with rookie Mychal Kendricks and veteran Akeem Jordan in obvious passing downs. And even though Reid wouldn't say why he made the move, it's assumed it's because Chaney is better in pass coverage. Naturally, Ryans wasn't happy with the move, but he wasn't about to rock the Eagles' boat just a few days before the season opener, either. “I'm fine with it,'' he said. “Coaches get paid to make those kinds of decisions and they made it. I've rotated before, so it's not new to me and it's not hard. It was just a coach's decision who they're going to go with.†Reid stressed the flexibility of his linebacker corps and said everyone on it will get a chance to contribute, and his players said they're used to being moved around to different positions and different situations. “It's like second nature to us,'' Jordan said. “We have a lot of guys with lot of versatility and that's a good thing to have over the course of a long season.†Source: CBS Sports
I bet as the season goes on and he proves he's healthy he'll get more plays on defense. The kids a stud and Andy Reid just doesn't want him to get hurt/knows where his strengths are. I'm completely fine with it.
He certainly was not impressive in the preseason. I wasn't putting much stock in that, until they announced this decision.
He got better with every game. But mike didn't have to be a problem in recent years. When Chaney saw consistent time there, he did well. I never understood why they didn't leave the kid there and let him grow. Gave Casey freaking Matthews the nod at the start of last season. Dipcraps. I agree that Ryans will likely gain the 3 down role as time goes on.
I hope you guys are right. Chaney is certainly better in coverage, but I was hoping we would have an every down defensive leader in Ryans.
Sounds like the Eagles are learning what the Texans already knew. Ryans wasn't an every-down LB for some time now.
So much for this. He played on 3rd downs and played well. Sure it was just one game and the Browns didn't really have good threats over the middle, but it was nice to see good LB play with him and Kendricks.
Dude played phenomenal. Made a statement that game. If DRC hadn't stuck to his man like glue ALL GAME, I would've said he was the best defender on the field.
