On the play of S Quintin Demps and S Sean Jones: "I've seen a lot of good things, especially from Quintin. He's definitely stepping into some big shoes and he's excited for that role. He's been playing fast and he's been playing aggressive. None of us are perfect, we've all made mistakes and he's working through those things and he's getting better each day. Sean Jones is the same way. He's a big body. He's been proven to make plays in this league, so we know what he can do. It's just going to take time for him to get more comfortable in the system and then he'll be fine."
On whether the team will employee a defensive package with three safeties on the field: "I don't really know at this time. At this time we don't really have that going on, but we know what Sean can do, we know what Quintin can do and I know I can do, so I'm excited. If we can get all three of us on the field at the same time, that's a good thing too. At this point right now we don't have any packages like that, but you never know."
On whether the team has used three-safety packages before: "Yeah, it's been done in the past and it more than likely will be done in the future."
On the depth of talent in the Eagles secondary and whether it's the deepest group he's been a part of: "I would say so. It's funny because we have a lot of young guys, but if you look up and down the board we have a lot of guys that can make plays and we have a lot of speed. It's just a matter of how we come together, how we gel. We could be as good as we want to be but it's all on paper, it's all potential. It depends on how much we work and how well we gel together. I think that we can do some good things but it's still early."
On whether it is common in the NFL to have a position by committee, like the Eagles have at middle linebacker with LB Joe Mays and LB Omar Gaither: "I think in our system and in our scheme it's not uncommon. We've had that situation in the past, we were blessed with (LB) Stew (Bradley). He was able to play three downs and he was able to do things that in the past we wouldn't be able to do. I think that the way we are looking at it right now is that this isn't uncharted territory for us. We've done it before, so we know and we have a lot of confidence in (LB) Joe (Mays). If he needs to be out there on third down we'll be fine with that. At the same time, I think we are trying to get (LB) Omar (Gaither) some reps and get him in there too. I think we are fine either way and we'll go from there."
On defending against the Wildcat package when the player taking the snap has the ability to throw as well as run: "It's tough, especially when you have team that executes it well. Some teams you might have a guy back there and he might be a threat, but if they are not executing well or you can tell what they are going to do then it's not a big deal. I think I know where you are going with this. With the situation that we have here, as long as we can execute it well it can be dangerous for a lot of people."
On whether the defense is focusing on the run if the player taking the snap is not a quarterback: "More than likely you are always thinking, in my opinion, make them throw the ball. I want to see you throw the ball before I let you run all over me, so we are going to stop the run first. If you can throw it then you say, 'okay he can throw it too' and we'll go from there. Having (QB) Michael (Vick) on our team, that obviously adds another threat because he can throw and he can run."
On whether the defense is leaning downhill and anticipating the run when facing the Wildcat: "Exactly, we are keying more heavily on the run."
On whether he remembers when CB Asante Samuel started to become more of a vocal presence on the field in practice: "He's always been vocal. As soon as he got here he's been a guy that you can here him across the field."
On whether Samuel changed and became more vocal after his first few months in Philadelphia: "I think he was, it think it was probably that he was more learning then. I think now that he knows the defense – obviously now he's a lot more vocal than before. He's learning the defense and he's more comfortable with us, with his team, the coaches and the scheme and all that stuff. He's definitely coming into his own with that."
On whether there is an on-field result if a guy can be more of himself: "Absolutely and that's one thing we try to do here is and (head) coach (Andy Reid) always says, 'let your personality show.' If you're a guy that likes to talk trash, go out there and talk trash. If you're a guy that's quiet and doesn't really have to say much then do that, as long as you're not affecting other people. I think it's definitely helping (Asante), he loves talking trash and it gives us energy, so we welcome it."
On whether a guy like Samuel changes the perception of the team because he is vocal on the field: "I think in the NFL you always have to stay changing. Obviously, each year you have to be changing up your schemes, changing up all different types of things. I think that what coach (has said) over the years is the more comfortable you are the better you will play. If that means talking trash then do that. Maybe coach Reid learned that over the years that now we play better that way. I think that could be where that is coming from."
On LB Moise Fokou: "He's a good player. He's a big guy, a big body, strong guy and he's a guy that in this league and especially in the NFC East, if you have a guy that can – we have good tight ends in this league and if you have a guy that can ping pong those tight ends a little bit, help the safeties out and play physical like that, that is always an added bonus. I think that's one of the better things that he's done right off the bat. Obviously he's still learning the system but he's not scared to contact, be physical, he's got good hands, he's got good length on his arms. That's one thing I've noticed from him."
On whether the team has a traditional strong and free safety or if the two positions are interchangeable in this system: "That's kind of a yes and no question. We do have a strong safety and a free (safety), and for the most part we have different responsibilities. That being said, if there is a time when we need to switch responsibilities, it's not a problem. That's one thing we've come to over the last few years with me and Dawk (S Brian Dawkins) playing, and now me and Quintin, is that we became more interchangeable. Back in the past when we had (S) Mike Lewis and Dawk, it was one way and the other way. Now it's a little more interchangeable, but we still have a strong safety and a free safety with different responsibilities."
On whether he finds himself feeling or sensing Dawkins on the field because they played together for so long: "Any time someone has been a part of your life for a long time you always think about them and think about the stuff that they would have done. There are a lot of times, especially when I'm watching film where I'm like, 'okay what would Dawk do?' It's kind of crazy to say that but it's true. You sit back and you look and you think about – he's one of the best to ever play the game, so obviously you have to think that if you want to be like him you have to think in his mindset. To this day I still think, in some areas, what would he be doing?"
