In the midst of a star-studded defense with names like Dawkins, Spikes, and now traded Trotter, it’s been hard enough to make a name for yourself on Jim Johnson’s squad. With a vast array of blitzing and coverage patterns, it’s even harder to be a consistent play maker, as the emphasis is on a ferocious team defense. But, as noted before, some players with their name alone, bring a certain fear and swagger to a position. Opposing wide receivers are timid to run through the middle. Quarterbacks tuck the ball away and take the sack rather than trying to swerve in and out of oncoming traffic . Tailbacks make sure their blockers are ahead of them so they don’t get laid out. The bottom line is that this defense can play aggressive and intimidating football, and not everybody is up to speed to play with them. Especially after having an embarrassing year last season, allowing opposing offenses to run at will over all the field, they come into 2007 even hungrier for reaching that next step.

So, we flash to present day, and the Eagles are 0-1 in their new quest for the Lombardi trophy. We know that nobody on the offense shined in the dreary and forgettable opener in Green Bay, and the special teams made people across the Delaware Valley sick to their stomachs. But what of the hard nosed defense? Any stars in the making? There was a star alright, a player who made a key interception (which the offense did nothing with), who’s coverage was suffocating on the top receivers of the Packers, and looked like a genuine pro bowler. No, not Lito Sheppard. I’m talking about Sheldon Brown. You know, the guy who wears number 24? The guy we took in that same draft as Lito Sheppard? No? Nothing? Well, let me give you a few quick tidbits about this … Sheldon Brown nobody.

Brown has played in all 16 games in every year of his 6 year career. In his rookie season, in which he was primarily used as a special teamer, with limited time on the defense he collected 17 tackles, 4 pass deflections, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 2 interceptions. This was his rookie year, with Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor still playing full time, and Lito Sheppard was also playing for the corner back position, and all he did was get as many interceptions as Champ Bailey, and more tackles than Sheppard. Let’s fast forward to one of the Eagles NFC Championship game years: 2004. Brown racked up 89 tackles, 16 pass deflections, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 more interceptions. That’s more tackles than Sheppard or Bailey that year. And let’s not forget he was always covering an elite receiver, whether that’s the number 1 or 2 receiver, Brown shut them down.

The next year, Brown’s tackles declined slightly to the mid 60’s but his pass deflections went up and he scored twice on interception returns. Yea, a couple of pick 6’s are pretty nice. But all these stats haven’t meant a lot. While players like Lito Sheppard and Champ Bailey were living in the spotlight and spending time at the Pro Bowl, Brown was overlooked and unfairly so.

Take a look at this past weekend’s game versus Green Bay. His interception aside even, do you remember a huge play from a Packer receiver? The biggest game came from wide out Donald Driver, who finished with an underwhelming 6 catches for 66 yards, with close to nothing after the catch. Lito was out with an injury early in the game, so Sheldon was shoved into the spotlight in the Eagles secondary (something new for him). He finished with 7 tackles, the mentioned interception, and as you can see from the Packers whopping 16 points, unbelievable coverage.

People will always remember the hit Sheldon laid on Reggie Bush in the NFC Divisional playoff game last season. It was without much doubt, the hardest hit of the NFL year, and the clip was shown over and over on television programs and is watched over and over on the Internet by not just Eagles fans, but football fans. Forget about that hit, at least for a second. When you watch the Eagles play their next 15 games, watch the guy wearing number 24 with a clean slate of expectations. See who impresses you on our defense. Dawkins will have his hits, yes. Spikes will hopefully be an unbelievable force at linebacker, yes. But when receivers have small games for the opposition, check out who was covering them. You might be surprised. He was left out of the Pro Bowl unfairly a few times, but with more attention and his continuing consistently great defense, he’ll be a top corner in the league, just like his friend and counterpart Lito Sheppard.