Section 215
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Eagles All-22: The Development Of Byron Maxwell

By Tucker Bagley

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17 games is all it took for Byron Maxwell to transform himself from a sixth-round pick to coveted free-agent prize. When Chip Kelly gave Maxwell a six-year, $63 million dollar deal on the opening day of free agency, opinions were split. Some believed Maxwell would struggle when he wasn’t surrounded by three perennial All-Pro candidates while others expected him to develop into a top-tier defensive back capable of shutting down the NFL’s best wide receivers.

One game is all it took for people to write off Maxwell as a bust. After getting torched by Julio Jones –who may or may not be from this planet — on Monday Night Football, many people made up their mind and that was that. No second chances for a guy with a fat bank account and a coach whose personnel decisions make him a prime candidate to be the whipping boy for the old guard of the NFL.

So that is where we are at. Each week announcers will bring up the narrative of Maxwell’s struggles and how Kelly is incapable of being a good GM because he hands out too much cash to unproven players. Big headlines. Little factual support.

WEEK ONE STRUGGLES

Falcons head coach Dan Quinn knows Maxwell better than anybody, after coaching him in Seattle for the last two seasons. Just like his former teammate Richard Sherman, Maxwell does not have top-end speed and struggles keeping up with receivers down the field if he is unable to get a jam on the line of scrimmage.

On this play, Maxwell is matched on the line against Roddy White, who runs a deep crossing route. Despite his age, White is still a relatively fast receiver and is much faster than the majority of defensive backs. Because of Bill Davis‘ heavy usage of man coverage, White is able to out-run Maxwell and pick up big yardage. It is easy to blame Maxwell for giving up a big play someone as old and ineffective as White, but 99.9% of defensive coaches refuse to let their players play man to man on crossing routes, and you can just chalk this one up to Kyle Shanahan out-coaching Davis.

Here, Maxwell is playing bump and run with Jones on the outskirts of the red zone. Only issue is, he misses his jam. Jones easily outruns the off-balance corner and scores the touchdown. This play is just the result of poor technique from Maxwell, something that I’m sure was easily fixed in the first 15 minutes of film study Tuesday morning. Once again, a $63 million corner should not be making such simple mistakes, but the mistakes were not due to lack of talent or skill.

TURNING IT AROUND

The last few weeks has seen Maxwell turn things around and look more like a true shutdown corner, making plays on the ball and staying with receivers down the field.

In this play from week six, Maxwell is lined up across Reuben Randle with no safety help. Maxwell gets a good jam on the line and is able to crash down on the back-shoulder throw from Eli Manning to cause the incompletion.

The Panthers, like many other teams, used a lot of bunch formations to help free-up their smaller receivers and avoid press coverage. On this bunch set, Maxwell draws TE Greg Olsen who runs a simple out route, trying to use his big frame to box-out Maxwell and make the play by the sideline. However, Maxwell is quick enough to undercut the route and put himself in good position to make a play on the ball. 
On this last play, the Panthers are in a bunch formation and they try to run Corey “Don’t Call Me Philly Anymore” Brown on a drag route, giving him space to utilize his speed and out-run Maxwell. But, Maxwell recognizes the route early and takes a good angle, cutting off Brown after a pick up of just four yards.

By no means, has Maxwell turned into a true shutdown corner like Josh Norman or Derrelle Revis, but to say he has struggled and been a disappointment is lazy. In two weeks he may face Dez Bryant in his first game coming back from a broken foot, possibly his biggest test of the year. Maxwell should be able to use his length to contest deep balls, but his tackling has been suspect as of late, considering Bryant is the best receiver running after the catch, may be a cause for concern if the Cowboys decide to get Bryant some screens and short slants to help get him acclimated to Matt Cassell and the Cowboys offense.

Maybe $63 million was a bit too much for an above-average corner, but he is a true upgrade over both of the guys the Eagles had starting on the outside in Kelly’s first two years.

Next: Eagles Unable to Take Advantage of Turnovers

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