Bennie Logan Looks To Improve On Strong Rookie Season
By Joseph Santoliquito
Philadelphia, PA (CBS) — He made an impact. There was no doubt about that. Once the Eagles inserted Bennie Logan in at nose guard, the team's overall defense improved, sured up by the quick, explosive third-round draft pick out of LSU.
Though Logan and his defensive line mates, Fletcher Cox and Cedric Thornton, didn't necessarily close strong, pushed around a little in the Eagles 26-24 last-second loss to the New Orleans Saints in the wildcard round of the playoffs on Saturday, they have something to build towards.
The TLC line are young, and only going to get better—after making huge strides this year.
With Logan at the hub, the Eagles went 7-1 during the regular season. The 6-foot-2, 310-pound Logan did a great job of keeping interior linemen off of Eagle inside linebackers Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans. He was a difference maker.
"Overall, I think I had a pretty good year my first year, but I know what I have to do to get better," said Logan, who played around 305-307 pounds this season. "What really helped us is the team started to play together more and everyone began understanding their responsibilities. That's what turned this year around. We stayed in the scheme of the defense.
"I know I have a lot of improvement to make. This offseason, I have to work on my pass rush. That has to get better. My main thing is continuing to work to get better, work on the slide protection, get more vertical up field. Things like that."
Logan said he felt good playing between 305-307. He did admit he has to work more in his core strength and upper body strength.
"You know, I can't say it's my job next year, I can't get complacent, I have to continue to work to make myself better," Logan said. "I have to be better than I was this year, and that means getting more pressure on the quarterback. That's my main thing, working on that pass rush and training on rushing the passer."
Logan plans on sharing time between working out here and his home in Louisiana. Much time will be committed to hand and footwork.
"I have to polish my technique and I have to get stronger, I need to strengthen my lower and upper body," Logan said. "I need to raise my level and I plan to do that. I have to focus to be stronger, especially at the point of attack."
Joseph Santoliquito is a contributing sports blogger for CBS Philly.
