This might be the first time that I can remember that the Eagles have actually made a trade at the deadline, and they made a move for a player that plays at a position of need right now. The Eagles traded rookie WR Daniel Gibson and a 2010 fifth round pick to the St. Louis Rams for linebacker Will Witherspoon. While Gibson had been a favorite for Eagles fans during the preseason, he had been on the inactive list for all five games so far this year, and more than likely wasn't going to see any playing time this season.
Witherspoon has been a solid player ever since he came into the league back in 2002. He started his career with the Carolina Panthers, then joined the Rams in 2007 as a free agent. He's recorded 100 or more tackles five times, and has a reputation as being one of the most durable players in the league. Of course, he left St. Louis' last game against Jacksonville with a knee injury, but I doubt it's that serious if the Eagles were willing to trade for him. More importantly, he's played both weakside and middle linebacker in the NFL, giving him versatility in a position where the Eagles are hurting this year.
I'm not going to sugarcoat how the linebackers have been playing this season for Philadelphia. Jeremiah Trotter hasn't exactly set the world on fire in the two games that he's played, and both he and Omar Gaither are complete liabilities when it comes to pass defense. For those of you that didn't get to see Oakland embarrass the Eagles on Sunday, Zach Miller was able to pick apart the Eagles in the middle of the field, which is the area where the linebackers are responsible for coverage. What the Eagles had out there wasn't working, and I'm impressed that they realized that there was a problem and are trying to fix it. Plus, Gaither sprained his foot on Sunday, and is questionable for the game Monday night against Washington.
Honestly, this is a very good deal for the Eagles. While they had to let a young, potentially talented wideout leave, they did so for a player that could be an instant upgrade at the linebacker position. He's coming from St. Louis, and their head coach, Steve Spagnuolo, worked for eight years under Jim Johnson here in Philadelphia, so he's going to have a basic idea of the system already. Whether or not he's able to contribute right away remains to be seen, but I have a feeling that he will, and this more than likely means the end of Trotter in an Eagles uniform once again. Right now, being able to cover tight ends is far more important than having a player on the team for sentimental reasons. For now though, well played, Eagles. Well played.
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