Eagles Talk: Should Ronald Darby be in starting lineup right away?
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby is set to return this Sunday. Does he deserve to be the starter right away?
It’s been awhile since Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby has seen the field. If you want to be exact, it has been ten weeks since Darby strapped on a helmet and some pads. The third-year veteran’s season was paused when he dislocated his ankle in the first half of week one. When he was being carted off for a non-contact injury, it sure seemed like Darby’s true Philadelphia stint would be put off for a season.
Fast forward to now and the Eagles are officially set to return from their bye week. As the Eagles have lost a few key players for the season over the last few weeks, they are set to gain one back this week. Darby’s last few weeks consisted of light practices and limitations. As the Eagles return from the bye week, Darby is set to be a full go at practice and expected to make his return against the Dallas Cowboys.
Things are going well…
When the Eagles traded for Darby, it was clear that he was coming to Philly to be the number one cornerback on the roster. This was at a time where Jalen Mills wasn’t trusted, Patrick Robinson was struggling and Rasul Douglas simply wasn’t ready. When Darby went down in week one, it seemed like the Eagles cornerbacks would be desperate without him. Looking at the 8-1 Eagles now, Darby is now a big addition rather than a savior.
For the first time in a long time, the Eagles have a cornerback competition. It was a position that was once a major concern when it came to talent and depth. Now the Eagles have a surplus of talent and depth at corner. Although this is a good problem to have, the Eagles need to figure out how to use Darby while things are still going pretty well in the defensive backfield.
Darby’s role…
You know the saying, if it’s not broke don’t fix it? Well, the Eagles may need to tweak things just a little bit. Although Mills, Robinson, and Douglas have been solid, the Eagles are low-key still struggling in defending the pass. They currently rank 26th in the NFL for passing yards allowed per game.
Even though the passing yards that they have allowed hasn’t changed anything in their record, Darby could be the addition that truly puts this defense over the top. The fact is, he has all the potential to be a shutdown corner in the NFL, and he has enough experience to be thrown right back into the fire.
Next: Predicting wins-losses after bye week
The defense should look a lot like how it looked in the first half of week one. Darby and Mills on the outside while Robinson continues to dominate in the slot. With Douglas suited up and ready to go this time around, the Eagles could form a dangerous rotation that could be a problem to opposing offenses. Darby should be the starter on Sunday, but don’t be surprised if the Eagles have a heavy rotation going on to keep Douglas involved.