First there were Quintin Mikell and Sean Jones in Sean McDermott's Jim Johnson-cloned defense. Then there were Mikell and Nate Allen. Then Allen and Kurt Coleman for two years behind the "wide nine." Then Allen and Patrick Chung in Bill Davis' completely new scheme. And then Allen and Malcolm Jenkins last year.
Interspersed as starters in that six-year span have been Macho Harris, Colt Anderson, Jarrad Page, Jaiquawn Jarrett, David Sims and Earl Wolff.
It's been seven years since the Eagles and Brian Dawkins parted ways, and for the first time since his departure, the team has two more than competent safeties and a scheme that matches their skill sets.