In professional sports, even the most elite athletes have occasional bad days.
In Week 2, both Philadelphia Eagles safeties had a rough day, hitting serious snags after a strong Week 1 performance in the team's 24-20 road win in Tennessee.
But let's pump the brakes on suddenly casting aside both Marcus Epps and Andrew Mukuba as starters. Both had efficient training camps, and in the team's Week 1 home opener, the pair stepped up all afternoon.
There is still hope for Eagles' starting safeties in Marcus Epps and Andrew Mukuba
Yes, the encore to that promising first week fell flat in Music City, as the Birds' safeties suffered miscues on multiple plays. Epps was left in the dust by Tennessee wideout Elic Ayomanor on a big third-and-13 sequence that spelled a costly 28-yard completion. He was also victimized by a hard-charging Tyree Spears, who eluded the veteran safety for a massive 27-yard carry on a third-and-22.
Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounded the status of second-year man Andrew Mukuba, who was nursing a knee injury during the week leading up to the Titans game. Mukuba was targeted once and gained nine yards. Like Epps, he also missed three tackles. Overall, the new starting tandem at safety had a bad showing in a sloppy performance, as their six missed tackles accounted for half of the defense's 12.
But two things should be considered when a rush to bench one - or both of them - is considered.
First, they should have time to acclimate and truly gel as a pairing. Last season, Epps, of course, played alongside Reed Blankenship in place of an injured Mukuba. With his own injury woes last season, Mukuba is still getting fully acclimated to starting duties now that he's back. We're just two games into this new tandem back there in the Birds' secondary, a fair runway to really test how effective they can be in the first month of the season. Again, Week 1 was a world of difference. Let's let this thing marinate a bit longer.
The second reason they shouldn't rush to break up the pair is that, for now, this remains the best available pairing. While general manager Howie Roseman did make some noise by adding veteran Kenny Moore to the mix, one shouldn't expect the new addition to appear in the lineup right away.
Sure, Moore has an impressive resume, but he's also another defensive back who has played the overwhelming majority of his NFL career at corner - just like current top backup Michael Carter II. Expecting Moore to come in suddenly, grasp the defensive playbook, and mesh seamlessly is a massive stretch. A nine-year veteran cornerback arriving and suddenly being thrust into starting safety duties for a team with strong Super Bowl aspirations?
Let's slow down on that idea.
Perhaps Carter gets more snaps (only three in Week 2) against Chicago this coming week, as Fangio could elect to mix him in to see whether he is the answer over Mukuba or Epps. Moore might eventually be up to speed and earn significant snaps for this defense.
But just two weeks in, and after a very solid first week together, the best play for now is to give this starting duo more time together. If the results don't improve after four games or so? Then make a change or two.
Read more: Eagles' Jake Elliott put together a vintage performance that proves he's back
For now, Mukuba and Epps have earned the right to bounce back from a rough Week 2. It happens to the best of them. Let's not play musical chairs with safety just yet.
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