The Eagles’ defense is in a bad place, and it’s too soon to tell what kind of impact Shaq Leonard will have on the unit.
Philly has gotten picked apart by the 49ers’ and Cowboys’ offenses the last two weeks, surrendering 75 points across the two ugly losses. It’s not necessarily a talent issue, as Philly on a good day has a solid defense that can make life difficult on quality offenses, but the last two weeks have made abundantly clear they’re not without holes.
The addition of Leonard theoretically should provide a jolt to the defense. He’s had issues with his back in recent years, but at his best he was an All-Pro linebacker with the Colts – a level of play the Eagles would greatly benefit from.
Leonard signed with the Eagles last week, then played 14 snaps Sunday in their loss to the Cowboys.
“It was too small of a sampling, but certainly they’re going to need Leonard to play at the level he played at in Indianapolis if this defense is going to get better,” Ron Jaworski said Tuesday in his weekly appearance on the 94WIP Morning Show.
Jaworski said he doesn’t think Leonard will start in Monday's game against the Seahawks, but said it’ll be a “tough decision” for the Eagles. After Joe DeCamara responded that he thinks Leonard not starting will be a sign of what the team thinks of him, Jaworski pushed back.
“I wouldn’t go that far, it just takes time to assimilate,” he said. “You’re going from one organization to the next, six years to learn one system, turn it around in a short period of time to learn another system. …
“I think he’s a great player if he’s healthy. I said that last week when they acquired him, if he’s healthy we know what he can do. But the guy got two back surgeries in a year. I didn’t sense a decline in the small sampling (I watched), I didn’t sense a decline in his game, he seemed to be moving well. Who knows after the game how he’s feeling, the guy had two back surgeries in a year. How long will he hold up?”