Nnamdi Asomugha & Co. to Philadelphia Eagles Puts Focus on Eagles Young Safeties

The addition of Nnamdi Asomugha wasn't going to turn just any old defense into an elite unit.

It is true that Asomugha is a blessing to any defensive coordinator in the league, regardless of scheme. The reason is that Asomugha's ability to shut down receivers gives the coaches more flexibility as far as play calling.

However, what Asomugha also does is cover up any of the weaknesses in the secondary around him. With Asomugha on the field, defensive coordinators can blitz more or double up on other areas of the field.

However, this doesn't mean that any player with a helmet and shoulder pads can line up and make an elite secondary.

Playing across from Asomugha means that you will be heavily involved in the game. Just look at Stanford Routt, Asomugha's former partner of crime with the Oakland Raiders. Routt was targeted on over 18 percent of the snaps when he was on the field.

Despite this added exposure, Routt still managed to finish sixth overall in the league in catches allowed per target according to the same article. Routt flourished and was rewarded with a huge contract from the Raiders after last season.

This area shouldn't be a concern for Asomugha's new team in Philadelphia, as the Eagles have acquired Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from the Cardinals to go along with Asante Samuel.

Rodgers-Cromartie is a top 20 corner in the league while Samuel is arguably in the top five. Either player starting across from Asomugha should flourish in the spotlight, especially Samuel considering he was very highly ranked according to the statisticians at Profootballfocus.com.

Teams previously avoided Samuel but now will be forced to throw his direction at some stage during football games.

Rodgers-Cromartie may be picked on, but he is a talented young corner with turnover ability now that he is playing on a much improved defense. The Cardinals lacked a reliable pass rush last season and Cromartie could excel given the Eagles acquisitions of Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins to aid Trent Cole and Brandon Graham.

This shifts the focus to the remaining pieces of the Eagles' secondary. The linebacking corp will also be a point of contention, but the starters there remain unclear at the time of this writing.

The Eagles are likely going to be starting two very young (but more importantly very inexperienced) safeties. The pair of former second round picks—Nate Allen in the 2010 draft and Jaiquawn Jarett in 2011—may be talented, but their inexperience could cost the Eagles in what is a vital position in today's NFL.

Allen was impressive during his rookie campaign before landing on IR, but he had the veteran Quintin Mikell to guide him throughout. Mikell left through free agency to sign with the St. Louis Rams, which makes Allen the tutor for Jarett now.

Of course, Marlin Jackson's recovery from a torn achilles could allow him to step in and start for the team, but his health remains a question mark. Jackson has yet to even appear for the Eagles and has a bit of a reputation for being frail.

There is no doubt that the Eagles' safeties are in a great position as far as the defense around them goes. Playing with an almost perfect cornerback group and a flurry of specialist pass rushers should make their lives easier.

However, being vaunted to the spotlight on a team with Miami Heat-like expectations could tamper with the composure of youth.

The safety position in the NFL has evolved over the years and is crucial to any defense. As the league has become more reliant on passing offenses, matchups have become vital to any offensive game-plan.

For Jarett especially, it is going to be a baptism of fire should he be the team's starter. Obviously, like all rookies, he is already at a disadvantage joining the team so late in the offseason, but there will be no time for him to adjust to the league.

Jarett will be thrust onto a team expecting to win instantly before he has even learned the complexities of his playbook or adjusted to the speed of the league. Without a veteran presence guiding him, he could become the Philadelphia Eagles' hamartia.

Talent-wise, both players project as quality starters. However, there experience is valuable in the NFL, especially at the back end of your defense, where one mistake more often than not results in six points.

Eagles fans can rave about their quality additions during free agency, but football remains a team sport. You'll find that in team sports, more often than not championship teams get contributions from everyone on the team.

The contributions of Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarett could be most crucial.

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I also write for Irish Central and Fantasy Football Life.