Eagles: Don’t doubt Eric Rowe just yet
Development is one of the most crucial aspects of football. It shouldn’t be taken lightly with any young player, regardless of the position. Philadelphia Eagles 2015 2nd round pick Eric Rowe is no different. Many have questioned why the team has regulated the rising defensive back to second team duties. It’s easier to breakdown than you’d think.
Doubting Eric Rowe is a mistake
Eric Rowe had a very strong ending to his rookie season, which showed a ton of promise. Rowe started the final five games of the 2015 season. He was targeted 35 times, allowing 16 completions (45% completion percentage), 196 receiving yards allowed, and zero touchdowns. Stellar numbers for a rookie forced into the starting lineup, due to Nolan Carroll’s season ending ankle injury.
A lot of football fans aren’t very aware of how well Rowe finished the season. Many remember him being just abused by Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions, during the thanksgiving massacre in Detroit. Rowe was quickly asked to hop of the bench and go against the future hall of fame wide receiver man to man, without any safety help over the top. Former defensive coordinator Billy Davis didn’t do Rowe any favors in that game, but it helped Rowe experience his welcome to the NFL moment.
As we pointed back, Rowe bounced back strongly the next five games, and showed he has a bright future. At least, that’s what we are led to believe. Fans and beat writers are now pointing out that Rowe not getting first-team reps in the team’s OTA’s, or minicamp practices, is alarming. It’s not very alarming at all, it’s time to pump the brakes on this overreaction.
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One thing to notice about the Eagles new coaching staff, is how much they value the developmental process with young players. None of us have gotten a first hand experience of how they’ve successfully developed a player obviously. But their overall approach with development seems fully drawn out and smart. Carson Wentz for example isn’t expected to play at all this season. Of course, that could easily change barring injuries and bad quarterback play, but as of right now Wentz is redshirting his rookie season.
Doug Pederson believes that’ll put Wentz in the best situation to be successful. Same thing with the team’s 3rd round selection Isaac Seumalo. He’s in the left guard competition still, but Pederson has tabbed veteran Allen Barbre as the starter already, which should at least continue into the preseason at least. If Barbre starts week one, that doesn’t necessarily mean the team doesn’t believe Seumalo is ready, but they want to bring him along gradually, as they do with Wentz.
Eric Rowe does apply to this as well. Just because this coaching staff didn’t invest a 2nd round pick into him, doesn’t quite mean they don’t see a future with him. Remember, Rowe is only going into his third season playing cornerback. He was a safety his first three years at Utah, before transitioning to cornerback his senior season. He’s only in his second season in the NFL, but is already learning a new defensive system.
Rowe as acknowledged the transition from a 3-4 defense into new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s 4-3 ‘wide nine’ alignment, won’t be a huge difference for the defensive backs. But that still isn’t making the coaching staff rush his development. The team invested in Schwartz’s former defensive back pupils Leodis McKelvin and Ron Brooks this offseason. Neither are long-term solutions at cornerback, even with McKelvin poised to replace ex-cornerback Byron Maxwell this season, but they offer immediate impact while knowing the defense.
The Eagles retained defensive back coach Cory Undlin from Chip Kelly’s former staff. That was huge for Rowe’s development. The position coach himself believes in Rowe’s future and potential.
Undlin told phillymag.com’s writer Tim McManus this last offseason:
“I strongly believe the kid can be a top-level corner in this league. That’s it,” Undlin said. “Mental. The guy is smart, the guy’s got some length, he’s got good change of direction, he’s got everything — obviously we took him in the second round — he’s got all the attributes that you would like to hope would make him a good corner in this league,” he said.
The main concern fans have is Rowe taking the second-team reps, which is understandable. Rowe is clearly an outside caliber cornerback. If he starts for the Eagles at any point, it’ll be on the outside. He’s mainly competing with Leodis McKelvin and Nolan Carroll for one of those two outside spots. Eagles 7th round pick Jalen Mills is turning heads in camp and could also compete for one of those outside spots, but he’ll mainly be competing for the slot cornerback duties. Blake Countess, Jaylen Watkins, Ron Brooks, JaCorey Shepherd and Aaron Grymes, are all competing for playing time as well.
Eric Rowe arguably has the highest ceiling of any cornerback on the Eagles roster. As we pointed out earlier, he’s only going into his third year playing cornerback, and going into his second season already in a new defense. Rushing Rowe with all these changes could be bad for his development. The Eagles have a coaching staff that has already proven to take development very seriously. Don’t be alarmed with Rowe taking these second-team reps. Don’t panic if he’s not a starter for the Eagles once the season begins as well. The coaching staff is bringing him along gradually, in hopes he reaches his full potential. It’s a smart play and hopefully it pays off…
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