Eagles’ Blankenship ‘Lost Some Sleep’ Over Mistake vs. Giants

Blankenship did just fine relaying Patricia’s calls, despite feeling rushed at times because, as a safety, he doesn’t have just five yards to get in position like a linebacker does, but most times he needs time to get back 10 to 15 yards before he is in position. Then he needs time to see the formation to understand what might be coming his way.

“You’re trying to communicate to the front and everybody else, but you’re looking for that continual voice that’s going to be on the field,” said Patricia. “It can be a little difficult when guys are on and off the field. So, you try to manage that the best and the consistency Reed brought to it, he did really good job with it in the game. That’s not an easy thing to do but give him credit for that.”

Leave it to veteran defensive tackle Fletcher Cox to make the job just a bit easier for Blankenship.

“Fletch calmed me down,” said Blankenship. “It was good to have that positive feedback and let me know that it’s OK to just calm down and say the call, because there are times when I felt them break the huddle and I’m in mid-call and I gotta go.”

The green-dot helmet has been passed around like a hot potato this season for the Eagles.

Nakobe Dean started with it and was supposed to wear it all season, but he answered the bell for just five games after a pair of foot injuries sabotaged his season. It got passed around from there between Christian Elliss and Nick Morrow. Zach Cunningham may have even had a turn with it.

Elliss is now with the New England Patriots and, when Cunningham and Morrow were ruled out for last Monday’s game against the New York Giants, the Eagles were left with very few options.

Shaq Leonard had only been here a couple of weeks.

Ben VanSumeren was making his first career start.

So, the Eagles turned to second-year safety Reed Blankenship.

That the organization would turn to a former undrafted rookie free agent in just his first year as a full-time starter speaks volumes about how much they value Blankenship.

“It means a lot,” he said about the faith the organization has in him. “With new coaches and teammate-wise, they trust me. Personally, I try my best to earn a lot of people's trust. I try to be confident in my play style and in my calls.

“I want my voice to be the loudest on the field at the time. It says a lot when I do that and obviously, when I get the green dot, I don’t know, it’s kind of cool, honestly. If I have it again, I’ll enjoy it. I’ll take it and run with it.”