Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cary Williams has suggested that his new teammates need to toughen up in order to be feared by other teams in the NFL.

The Eagles, who were brushed aside by the New England Patriots in their first pre-season game, must become tenacious if they are to succeed in 2013.

"I feel like we've got to establish a toughness, a tenacity, a hard-nosed defense, something that's to be feared when it comes out there each and every week," The Inquirer quotes Williams as saying.

"I think [former Eagle] Brian Dawkins alluded to it a couple of times when I spoke to him, he's talking about 'bring that fear back here.'

"Right now, I don't know if there's anybody out there in the league who fears this defence, especially after last week."

Williams made 67 tackles with eight assists last season for the Baltimore Ravens.