Big Challenge Awaits Asante Samuel (literally)

Really Lost One · Nov 8, 2008

There were 57 million reasons, each colored green, for Asante Samuel to sign a six-year contract with the Eagles after he apparently decided that playing in Super Bowls with the New England Patriots had become mundane.

There was at least one big reason the Eagles were willing to part with $57.1 million to sign the free-agent cornerback. He stands 6-foot-5. His name is Plaxico Burress. He plays for the New York Giants, and has this habit of causing a lot of heartbreak for the Eagles and their followers.

Burress and his storklike reach come to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday night for what could be a defining game for the Eagles, and Samuel will likely have the burden of trying to keep the temperamental receiver from doing his usual damage.

"I've played against him a couple of times since I've been in the league," Samuel said yesterday. "He presents a big challenge against whoever he's playing because, obviously, he's going to be probably two times bigger than anybody out there. He's explosive. He can run."

For Samuel, Burress might - or might not - conjure up memories of last season's Super Bowl, which the Giants won by stunning the Patriots. Samuel, as every New England fan bitterly recalls, could have sealed the deal for the Pats, but a sideline pass by Eli Manning skipped off his fingertips.

On the next play, David Tyree made his unforgettable clutching-the-ball-to-his-helmet catch of a desperation throw from Manning for a first down on the winning drive, which ended with Burress' touchdown reception with 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

"No, it didn't haunt me," Samuel said of his missed chance. "Like I always say, 'I'm a cornerback for a reason.' You've got to have a short memory. He caught the pass. We lost the Super Bowl. Life goes on."

Samuel made it clear that Burress hadn't been his responsibility in the Super Bowl. That job was left to Ellis Hobbs, with double-team help from a safety. But Burress is no stranger to Samuel, who played against him in an AFC championship game when Burress was a Steeler.

"So I'm kind of familiar with him," Samuel said.

The Eagles signed Samuel on the first day of free agency to fill their need for a playmaker on defense, and felt they could no longer trust Lito Sheppard to play a full season without missing games because of injuries. Samuel had 27 interceptions in 89 games during five seasons with New England. Five of them were in 14 postseason games. It's the resume of a playmaker.

So far, the expensive signing looks like a good move. Samuel has three interceptions, the most on the team, and still closes on the ball in a blink. That perception can change dramatically, though, if Burress torches the Eagles again.

"I feel like I'm here to make plays regardless of who I play against," Samuel said when asked if he believed he had been signed partly because of Burress. "I'm here to make plays and be a good cornerback for this team. They're not the only team we face twice a year, but it could be a part of the reason or it could be a lot of other reasons. I'm here to do a job, and I'm going to do it."

This season, Samuel has as many interceptions as Burress has touchdown catches, and at times Burress has been as much a bother to the Giants as to their opponents. He was suspended for not appearing for a Monday team meeting, and didn't start against Pittsburgh two weeks ago for another team-rule violation. His numbers are down - three touchdowns, 31 catches for 390 yards, and an average of 12.6 yards a catch.

But if Burress believes he can beef up his stats against the Eagles, he has good reason. In nine games against them, he has caught 40 balls for 707 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 17.7 yards a catch.

In 2006, Burress caught the winning touchdown pass against the Eagles in overtime. Last season, he caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in a 16-13 victory.

While watching Burress on tape, Samuel said, he thought Burress looked like the same player despite his feuds with management.

"A lot of teams have been double-teaming him with one guy underneath and another up top," Samuel said. "He's a big target, so they can throw to him in a lot of places. You've just got to be a ball hawk.

"But it looks like he hasn't changed to me except he's missed a couple games with whatever problems he's had over there, but I'm sure he'll be out there and ready to go. He's still going out and doing what he does."

Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said Burress' height made it so difficult for cornerbacks to cover him.

"I remember last year we had him doubled in the end zone and they threw the ball up, and we don't have that big of corners, so you have a guy that's 6-5 and he goes up and gets the football," Johnson said. "You have to take the big play away from him."

Samuel, who is 5-10, said there were ways to deal with Burress: Bang him around as he gets off the line of scrimmage; knock him off-balance to interrupt his route.

"And if you back off him, then play your technique and be aggressive to the ball," he said. "There are a lot of ways."

The Eagles will be happy if Samuel can find just one.
Click to expand...

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20081107_Tall_order_awaits_Birds__Samuel.html

Good read. Pretty much tells you how much Plax has owned us for the past couple of seasons. Until this season, none of our cornerbacks have had any success at stopping him. Hopefully tomorrow night will be different.

Log in or Sign up

Big Challenge Awaits Asante Samuel (literally)

Really Lost One Suspended

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Big Challenge Awaits Asante Samuel (literally)

Really Lost One Suspended

Share This Page

Useful Searches