Bradley keys LB corps

Birds play host to Panthers tonight

Intelligencer Journal

Published: Aug 14, 2008
00:24 EST

Bethlehem

By JEFF YOUNG, Editor

Whether by Andy Reid's design, or just by the endless lineup shuffle that is part of the NFL these days, it's been a while since the Eagles had a linebacking crew with real identity.

Fans who remember the Dick Vermeil years will think fondly of Bill Bergey, Frank LeMaster and John Bunting, while those closer to the unfulfilled promise of the Buddy Ryan era can tell tales of Seth Joyner and Byron Evans. Yet other than Jeremiah Trotter, who actually had to leave town in a contract fight and return before cementing his legacy, Reid's defenses have almost installed a revolving door at linebacker.

James Darling. Barry Gardner. Carlos Emmons, who actually did stick around for a few years. Levon Kirkland. Mark Simoneau. Shawn Barber. Nate Wayne. Dhani Jones. … You get the idea.

But all of that may be about to change, thanks to three guys who are worth watching if you plan to take in tonight's preseason scrum with Carolina at Lincoln Financial Field (8 p.m., FOX).

They are Omar Gaither, Stewart Bradley and Chris Gocong, and they have a real chance to become a linebacking unit, in the truest sense of the word.

"It seemed like last year was more, 'Let's get these things done.' Now it's like, 'Let's make a big difference. Let's make these plays,' " said Gocong, the starting SAM (strongside) 'backer. "We definitely have the athleticism. We're big and powerful. So I'm looking forward to it."

Both Gocong and Gaither, who has moved from the middle to the WILL (weakside) spot to make room for Bradley, are third-year pros who've begun to make their marks. Gaither started all 16 games last year in the middle, after Trotter was let go in camp, and led the team in tackles, while Gocong started 12 after losing his entire rookie season to injury.

But the key to the future of this trio remaining as such is probably Bradley, a second-year pro out of Nebraska who's taking on a lot of responsibility with just one NFL start on his resume.

After spending most of his rookie season on special teams, Bradley started at New Orleans Dec. 23 and made a serious impact, with 10 tackles, a sack and an interception. He didn't start the season finale against Buffalo, but racked up another seven tackles in that game.

It was enough to convince the Eagles, and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson in particular, that they could move forward without veteran Takeo Spikes. So Gaither moved into Spikes' old role, leaving the middle for Bradley.

"I think it was really big for my confidence, and also big for the coaches' confidence in me, that I could be in a game when the playoffs were on the line and make some plays," Bradley said.

At 6-feet-4 and 255, Bradley also offers the kind of thump that made Trotter a Gang Green favorite.

"I think we saw a little bit last year," Johnson said of Bradley. "We hope it's a continuation. We saw that he's a guy who can run, he's a pretty good blitzer. Now we need to see if he can handle the defense as a MIKE (middle) linebacker in a crucial situation."

This season, the headset is no small part of that assignment. Defenses will have one player on the field with a built-in headset, similar to quarterbacks, in order to receive signals from the sideline.

Bradley is Johnson's choice for that role, with Gaither as the alternate.

"I think he likes it," Johnson said. "Again, I can change things at the last second, I can tell him personnel are coming onto the field, I can tell him down and distance. I think he likes it."

What Brian Dawkins, the Eagles' coach on the field, likes most about the Gocong-Bradley-Gaither trio is its mobility.

"The cats can move, every one of them," Dawkins said. "That's the first thing you see, is the speed and potential that way. And then, obviously, they're learning on the fly. They're going to make mistakes, but the potential for those guys to make plays totally outweighs any negative. That potential, it is there for them to be a really good linebacker corps."

Now, to reach the place where potential becomes reality. … There's no quicker road to identity than that.

"I couldn't tell you what everybody else's expectations were, but we wanted to be one of the best corps in the league last year," Bradley said. "I think that's a goal we have for ourselves this year. If you're not trying to be one of the best, you're in the wrong game."

E-mail: jyoung@lnpnews.com