Future Still Bright for Philadelphia Eagles DB Eric Rowe

Fans were beginning to wonder why Eric Rowe couldn't get on the field for the Philadelphia Eagles. Their worst fears were only exacerbated Thursday when the rookie cornerback saw his most extensive action since Week 4.

Pressed into the lineup in place of an injured Nolan Carroll, Rowe found himself staring across from Detroit Lions wide receiver and five-time Pro Bowler Calvin Johnson. The matchup went pretty much the way everybody would expect. Johnson reeled in two of his three touchdowns with Rowe in coverage as the Eagles went down by a final score of 45-14.

Yet despite Rowe's tough outing and noticeable absence from the game plan, there's still hope for the second-round draft pick. And I don't write that merely from the standpoint of it being only one bad game for the rookie either—although that is true, too.

Rowe's lack of playing time this season is very easily explained.

GM	SNAPS	TGT	REC	YDS	TD
Wk 3 @ NYJ	15	3	1	12	0
Wk 4 v WAS	79	8	5	41	0
Wk 5 v NO	14	2	1	14	1
Wk 11 v TB	6	0	0	0	0
Wk 12 @ DET	52	10	7	86	2

Carroll, a sixth-year veteran, won the starting job over Rowe in training camp, which was not at all unthinkable—cornerback is not a position where rookies often come into the NFL and excel. Not only that, but up until recently, Carroll and Byron Maxwell were holding down the fort quite capably on the perimeters.

Still, there was a sense that it was telling Rowe wasn't even utilized in Philadelphia's nickel package. Instead of lining him up against slot receivers, the Eagles opted either to put Malcolm Jenkins there and replace him at safety with Chris Maragos or, as of late, use seventh-year veteran E.J. Biggers as the third corner.

What does it say about Rowe if unheralded reserves like Maragos and Biggers are better options?

The problem is that Rowe has precious little experience covering slot receivers. As the 23-year-old informed me one day during camp, he had never done it in four seasons at the University of Utah, and while the Eagles gave him a shot there this summer, he didn't take to it well.

The fact of the matter is not every corner has the skill set for the slot. As his NFL.com scouting report by Lance Zierlein notes, the 6'1", 205-pound Rowe "has change-of-direction issues in tight spaces." In other words, without the sideline to limit a receiver's options, he's vulnerable—particularly against the quick-twitch athletes that tend to dominate the slot position.

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

The Eagles made it perfectly clear they felt Rowe was their best option on the outside once Carroll went out. Stands to reason they simply don't like him in the slot.

It's probably worth pointing out there were some who felt Rowe was better suited to play safety than cornerback to begin with coming out of college, which is the position he held his first three years at Utah. While some may see that as reason for panic, it's actually a blessing in disguise.

Supposing for a moment Rowe doesn't pan out as an outside corner, the good news is he might not wind up a bust. The Eagles can always move him back to safety and try to salvage his career there. That may seem like a negative way of looking at things, but that versatility could prove very valuable.

It's possible the Eagles already missed an opportunity to have Rowe back there this season. Back in May, the roster looked loaded at corner but was extremely thin at safety, necessitating Walter Thurmond switch positions.

Instead of going back and forth between having either Maragos or Biggers on the field, Thurmond might be the nickel cornerback right now and Rowe could have been the full-time safety.

But that's beside the point.

YR	GMS	TKL	INT	PD
2011	13	69	1	10
2012	10	64	1	6
2013	12	69	1	7
2014	12	59	1	13

Rowe got torched on Thursday, but you know what? So would almost any rookie cornerback against Johnson. In fact, on both of those touchdowns, Rowe actually had good coverage—Johnson just happened to be one of the most physically gifted wideouts who ever played the game. It's no reason to panic about the kid's future.

For that matter, what kind of scheme sticks Rowe, in his first live action in months, across from Johnson without help? At the end of the day, the coaching staff has to take some of the blame for allowing a rookie corner to get targeted 10 times for seven completions and 86 yards, according to Pro Football Focus.

At the same time, fans and observers need to be patient with Rowe's development. Rookie corners almost always take their lumps, and he'll be no exception. There are going to be days like this, and there are going to be days like the one he had against the New York Jets in Week 3, when Rowe had two pass breakups and an interception.

The Eagles are getting embarrassed right now, and Rowe's absence and subsequent tough game are reasons to pile on. The reality is it's much too early to judge him, and there's plenty of reason to think he can help the defense in some way, shape or form down the line.