The Eagles have agreed to a one-year deal with cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, adding to their depth and options in the secondary. Our Eagles writers weigh in on Robey-Coleman and analyze what the move means for the defense.
Sheil Kapadia: I look forward to the debut performance of “Darius Slay and the Hybrids” in Week 1 of the 2020 season. Robey-Coleman continues the Eagles’ offseason theme of adding versatile defensive backs. He was the Rams’ slot corner last season, playing 64 percent of their defensive snaps, but they released him to clear cap space. Robey-Coleman is a seven-year veteran who’s missed just one game in his career, and he’s played between 53 percent and 64 percent of his team’s defensive snaps every season.
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There is now no team in the NFL better equipped to handle an all-slot receiver offense than the Eagles. In addition to Robey-Coleman, they have Cre’Von LeBlanc and Avonte Maddox. They signed Will Parks, who can play safety or nickel. Indications are Jalen Mills may get a chance to play a hybrid role, which could involve some nickel. And don’t forget Sidney Jones is still on the roster. I’m old enough to remember when he was thought to be the favorite as the first-team nickel. (Not sure if I executed that joke correctly. Young people, feel free to mock/correct me.)
It seems Jim Schwartz is looking for a bunch of hybrid defensive backs so he can adjust his personnel packages based on the opponent. Either Mills or Parks appears poised to replace Malcolm Jenkins at safety. Maddox is probably the favorite to start on the outside opposite Slay. And now the Eagles have LeBlanc and Robey-Coleman as options at nickel.
As a rookie with the Bills, Robey-Coleman had three sacks and six quarterback hits. It’s possible Schwartz is intrigued by his theoretical ability to do more than just play slot corner.
Grade (on a scale of kids songs being played in your quarantined house): “Into the Unknown.” The Eagles secondary will go into next season with at least three new players (Slay, Parks and Robey-Coleman). Mills will likely be learning a new position, and Jenkins is gone. I don’t know how Schwartz plans on using all of his new pieces, but something tells me there could be some serious scheme changes in store.
Bo Wulf: Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: A slot corner named Nickell is worthy of celebration no matter the cost or role. And NRC gets bonus points for his existence triggering Saints fans because he committed the uncalled pass interference in the NFC Championship Game two years ago that led to a poorly thought-out rule change.
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Assuming the acquisition cost is low, this is a worthwhile addition. We should know by now to view a secondary beyond the projected starters. Injuries and/or regression will hit, so the more capable bodies you have on the backend the better. Robey-Coleman has a history as a good slot corner and he’s young enough (28).
The only nit I have to pick is that it’s a little too convenient the two players imported into the secondary thus far both previously played for Schwartz. That doesn’t mean they’re not good; it just signals a bit of a lack of creativity. Coaches have always overvalued familiarity, and it should be the front office’s job to ward against that. But this is a low-end signing, so I won’t complain too much. The details of Slay’s contract make the trade for him less disastrous in my view, though the Eagles still surrendered a third- and fifth-round pick for a two-year solution. And you still can’t identify a player in the secondary who definitely figures to be part of the Eagles’ long-term plans, but it’s also football and few non-quarterbacks fit that description.
It’s curious that Maddox seems penciled into the outside corner job opposite Slay. His best football came as a free safety during his rookie season, and he has not fared well on the outside. It’s also fair to point out that, three years later, the Eagles’ second- and third-round picks in the 2017 draft, Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas, both appear to be wholly out of the picture. But good for the Eagles in recognizing the importance of not compounding those mistakes.
Grade: “Where You Are” from “Moana.” This song is affectionately referred to as “Coconuts” by my 2-year-old son. He’s been listening to it for two years now, so it’s an easy solution when searching for something familiar. And this sounds a lot like Schwartz’s inner monologue:
The village may think I’m crazy
Or say that I drift too far
But once you know what you like, well
There you are
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Zach Berman: There are two ways to assess this move: what the Eagles are adding and what the signing suggests.
Let’s start with the first part. Robey-Coleman is a solid nickel cornerback — experienced, productive, still only 28. He’s familiar with Schwartz, having started a career-high seven games when Schwartz was Buffalo’s defensive coordinator in 2014. He can cover and has been used as a blitzer. He’s played at least 53 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in every season of his career. The Eagles can feel comfortable lining up Robey-Coleman in the slot. It’s akin to having Jason Avant as the slot receiver a decade ago. You know he’ll do the job. He won’t be spectacular and there’s a ceiling, but he’ll be productive.
Big picture, it’s interesting that the latest addition to the secondary is a slot cornerback. I would have expected someone who could play on the outside. You can make the joke that they’re loaded up on slots, although it suggests to me that they’re looking at Maddox on the outside opposite Slay. The Eagles can have Robey-Coleman and LeBlanc compete for work in the slot, with Parks and Mills also able to help inside if needed. Maddox, their top slot option last season, would be in line to compete with Jones and Douglas, barring a trade, for the job on the outside. Maddox has been a wild card, with reasonable debate about whether he should play on the outside, in the slot or as a deep safety. This move makes me think the Eagles have plans to look at him on the outside. There’s a lot of flexibility in the secondary, too, with Mills capable of playing cornerback. Versatility is good, although who are the best five? That’s a harder question to answer, and it’s probably a more important one.
Grade: “The Wheels on the Bus.” It’s reliable, it’s been around long enough that the kid knew it at a young age, and it still has staying power. It can be replaced by another song that becomes more popular and you might not miss it, although you can always find use for it. But if this is the song you have at the top of the rotation, it’s going to be a long day.
(Top photo: Harry How / Getty Images)