Tag: Matt Burke

Eagles to hire Auburn defensive line coach Tracy Rocker to the same position

Eagles to hire Auburn defensive line coach Tracy Rocker to the same position

The Eagles are set to add a former SEC star to their coaching staff, as Pete Thamel is reporting that Tracy Rocker will leave Auburn to join Jonathan Gannon’s staff as defensive line coach.

The move would signal the Eagles parting ways with Matt Burke.

Rocker spent the 2020 season at South Carolina after two seasons (2018-19) at Tennessee.

Rocker has also coached at Georgia (2014-16), Auburn (2009-10), Ole Miss (2008), Arkansas (2003-07), Cincinnati (2002), and Troy State (1997-01). In addition, he spent three seasons with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans (2011-13).

A two-time All-American, Rocker was the first SEC player to earn both the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award. He was named SEC Player of the Year following his senior season in 1988.

Rocker was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

[listicle id=646163]

[lawrence-related id=646259,646250,646248,646246,646239]

10 candidates to replace Jim Schwartz as Eagles defensive coordinator

Adam Zimmer and Dan Campbell are among 10 candidates to replace Jim Schwartz as Eagles defensive coordinator

The coaching carousel in Philadelphia is underway, as defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, made the stunning move to not renew his contract or seek a new deal.

Philadelphia won the only Super Bowl in franchise history with Schwartz as defensive coordinator and his units twice finished in the top 5 in DVOA and never finished below No. 17.

The Eagles ranked ninth in scoring defense during his tenure and despite some ugly performances, he’s respected around the league.

With Schwartz set to sail off into the sunset, here are 10 candidates to replace him.

Former Eagles DE Connor Barwin coached the defensive line with some staff members out due to COVID-19 caution

Jay Glazer reported that former Eagles star and current front office executive Connor Barwin coached the defensive line this week with staff members out

The Philadelphia Eagles had a familiar face back at the NovaCare Complex but in a different role as Connor Barwin came down from the executive’s office to coach the defensive line as the Birds entire group was out due to COVID-19 protocols per Jay Glazer.

Jeremiah Washburn was ruled out from assisting as a coach after he tested positive for COVID-19 and that meant the entire defensive line coach staff were forced to quarantine as a protocol as well.

Glazer just reported that Eagles defensive line coach Matt Burke and asst defensive line coach Nate Ollie are at MetLife Stadium today and will be coaching in the game.

Barwin’s official title is special assistant to the general manager.

Under GM Howie Roseman, Barwin will aid the personnel staff in scouting talent. During the season, Barwin will focus on player development, specifically with rookies and undrafted players joining the Eagles roster.

[listicle id=643188]

[lawrence-related id=643414,643404,643371]

2020 NFL Combine: 10 DL for the Eagles to watch

2020 NFL Combine: 10 DL for the Eagles to watch

The 2020 NFL Combine will now feature the defensive players with workouts and position drills for defensive linemen and linebackers.

The Eagles have a need for depth on the defensive line, despite Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson all set to return as starters.

With Graham, Cox, and Jackson getting up there in age, it’ll be imperative for the Eagles to land some young talent along the defensive front.

Here are ten defensive linemen or edge rushers regardless of the position that the Eagles should watch at the NFL Combine on Saturday.

***

1. Josh Uche | EDGE | Michigan

A standup linebacker for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines, Uche has the ability to be an every-down pass rusher in the NFL, who can also be versatile in a zone or man pass coverage.

With the Eagles looking to be innovative while getting younger and more versatile, Uche could be perfect against the grain option.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10

Doug Pederson opens up on the process of reorganizing the Eagles coaching staff

Doug Pederson opens up about the Eagles new coaching hires

It took more time than fans and analysts would have liked, but Doug Pederson and the Philadelphia Eagles retooled their coaching staff and the head guy in charge believes he did a solid job.

Shortly before departing for Indianapolis and the NFL Scouting Combine, Pederson sat down with Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro for a discussion on coaching changes, Nigel Bradham’s departure and the most pressing needs for his team going forward.

Pederson was honest in admitting that he was patient with his hires, but he believes the due diligence will pay off in the results.

“I wanted to spend (time) and do my due diligence with this next round of hires and felt like I did a really good job. Obviously, we’ll see once we get back out on the football field, but I’m excited for the guys.”

Pederson harped on and highlighted the additions of Marquand Manuel (Db coach), Matt Burke (DL coach), Jeremiah Washburn (director of player personnel/senior defensive assistant) Andrew Breiner (pass game analyst), Rich Scangarello (senior offensive assistant) and Press Taylor’s promotion to the passing game coordinator.

He admitted that offensively, it’ll be a collaborative offense from a game-planning standpoint, with Taylor having more of his “fingerprints” on a weekly basis.

All in all, the moves were solid and the coaching additions should benefit Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense the most.

Former Dolphins assistant lands new gig with Philadelphia Eagles

Former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Matt Burke has landed a new gig with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Quick! Who ran the worst run Miami Dolphins defense of this millennium?

If your answer was anyone other than former defensive coordinator Matt Burke, we’d kindly ask you to reconsider your vote. The history books will tell you that the 2019 Miami Dolphins gave up more points than any other team in franchise history — but remember that the Dolphins spotted teams 92 points in the first two games of the season. In the grand scheme of things, Miami’s defensive play was much more respectable late in the season (and really anything after September).

But Matt Burke’s defenses? They gave up 826 points in 32 games between the 2017 and 2018 seasons (an average of 25.8 points per game) and check in third and sixth on the Dolphins’ all-time points allowed list for a single season. It was bad. Burke’s 2017 defense managed just 9 interceptions on the season and the defense tallied 30 sacks on the year (but 10.5 of those came from Cameron Wake and no other defender had more than 4.5). Fast forward to 2018 and Miami’s interceptions more than doubled (to 21) and yet the somehow managed to concede an additional 40 points on the season.

Burke’s defenses didn’t adjust, didn’t use subpackages effectively and struggled to create favorable mismatches throughout his tenure. It was bad all around.

But now Burke will get a chance to redeem himself — not as a defensive coordinator but as the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive run game coordinator and defensive line coach. It was announced yesterday that Burke was given the new titles by the Eagles team.

We wish him the best of luck in his new gig — and hope he’s learned valuable lessons from his time in South Florida that will allow him to more effectively coach going forward.

[vertical-gallery id=420233]

Eagles ‘considering’ hiring a familiar name for new defensive line coach

Philadelphia Eagles ‘considering’ internal promotion at defensive line coach

The Philadelphia Eagles once again need a defensive line coach and the organization won’t have to look far to find an internal candidate.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, special assistant Matt Burke is a name that could replace Phillip Daniels as a defensive line coach.

Burke, 43, joined the Eagles before the 2019 season as a defensive special assistant under Jim Schwartz, and his relationship with the Eagles defensive coordinator goes all the way back to 2004 with the Titans.