Linebacker Stephen Tulloch knows football, and he knows the defense run by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. This shouldn’t be a surprise, as he followed Schwartz from the Tennessee Titans (2006-2008) to the Detroit Lions (2011-2013). Now, Tulloch is following Schwartz to Philadelphia, which will hopefully be his last and best stop of the bunch.
When the Philadelphia Eagles stepped onto the field for game one of the preseason, the defense had a very good game, holding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to three field goals and creating a host of turnovers, two of which were deep enough in Tampa Bay territory to convert into touchdowns. The result was a 17-9 victory.
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The second time the Philadelphia Eagles stepped onto the field, they yet again created a host of turnovers, some so well-timed they eliminated a touchdown opportunity from their opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Eagles won this game 17-0.
Unfortunately, their admirable preseason success has come at a cost; consider the career of rookie linebacker Joe Walker, whose ACL injury has taken him out of playing football for the season. In fact, the Eagles linebackers are not deep enough to manage many injuries at this point. Beyond the starting trio of Nigel Bradham, Mychal Kendricks and Jordan Hicks, Najee Goode is the only reserve on the roster with NFL experience.
The team needs a backup at linebacker with veteran experience. Tulloch brings that to the table. But he also brings an added bonus: He knows Schwartz’s defense better than any other player in the NFL. As such, he knows what to expect when things go well. He also knows what to expect when things go sour. Right now, he may be the only Eagle to understand that aspect of Schwartz’s defense. (Others will discover it as the season progresses.)
But how will this defense handle the inevitable bad game? While the preseason favors talent over scheme, it’s coaching that wins regular season games. Coaches take their pieces and game plan. At some point over their 16 regular season games, the Philadelphia Eagles will bite on the deception. Somewhere, some when, the defense will be outplayed in a game.
When that happens, they will truly need veteran leadership from a player who has been there under Jim Schwartz. They will need someone to teach the younger linebackers to keep their heads up, hit that much harder and give the city of Philadelphia something to cheer for and believe in.
Stephen Tulloch is more than just an aging guy to sit on the bench. He’s more than an insurance policy in case of further injury to the linebackers. He’s a gift to the fans of Philadelphia. Eagles fans need a player to hold accountable if the defense struggles in a game. Tulloch is that guy, and his signing was timed perfectly.
To hear more from Bret Stuter, follow him on Twitter at @milroyigglesfan.
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