Eagles Film Review: Depressing defense

Effectively, this Eagles-Giants sport wasn’t very enjoyable. This one goes to be a fast one, as a result of I solely watched the primary half, and I really feel like I’m simply repeating myself at this level. Sigh. (Beforehand: offense model.)

Protection

The Giants watched the Cardinals sport final week. Should you play 12 personnel in opposition to this Eagles’ group they typically go to a 5-man entrance. Then all it’s a must to do is movement a receiver throughout the formation to point out 2 receivers on one aspect, and you’re going to get one of many Eagles’ edge rushers to drop into protection. This can be a nice instance of the Giants’ offense utilizing the Eagles’ defensive guidelines in opposition to them.

My quite simple resolution to this: cease taking part in 5-man fronts. Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat can’t play in protection. Throw all of the 5-man entrance stuff out of the playbook for the remainder of the season. If Matt Patricia desires edge defenders who drop into protection, he wants to appreciate that he doesn’t have the personnel proper now. Cease doing it.

That is going to sound loopy however I preferred among the stuff the protection did within the 1st quarter. I believe this entrance 4 ought to play a whole lot of snaps collectively on early downs subsequent week, as a result of I believe it provides the Eagles the most effective probability proper now of stopping the run and sustaining their hole integrity.

I’m not solely positive who’s at fault right here (my guess is Avonte Maddox as a result of often in a strain state of affairs like this, you’d ask the Apex (slot) defender to take the #2 except he goes inside) however both means, it’s only a dangerous name. Josh Sweat can’t play in protection. If he’s within the sport, let him rush the quarterback, or simply don’t play him. This protection seems to be so misplaced proper now and it’s clear that the communication between the defenders is non-existent. The change to Patricia has clearly been a catastrophe, however I believe the worst a part of it’s that the gamers haven’t adjusted to the brand new terminology or fashion and they’re simply misplaced on the market. Even Matt Patricia isn’t this dangerous… I believe.

I believe Jalen Carter has regarded a bit fatigued over the second half of the season, and I might think about using him in apparent go speeding conditions solely to maintain him recent and let him assault like this.

I miss the Eagles being good in protection. I do know the protection sucked within the Tremendous Bowl, however this group was so good at zone match for many of the season. I miss these days, so this play was a pleasant throwback to that. Why can’t this group simply do that extra?

I believed Jordan Davis was excellent on this sport. I additionally thought most of his greatest snaps got here from a 4-man entrance. I’m hoping he’s feeling recent proper now, as a result of the Eagles are going to want him to be again to his greatest if they’ve any probability within the playoffs. I believe this may be my beginning defensive deal with duo in opposition to the Bucs on early downs.

I’ll by no means choose on people after I’m not sure, however I’m extraordinarily assured that it is a dangerous play by Maddox, who hasn’t regarded proper since returning. That is cowl 3 in opposition to a 3-level stretch play on third and 11. Maddox has to get depth, cease the throw to the intermediate route, after which come downhill to make the deal with when the ball is thrown to the brief route. You simply can’t get beat like this, particularly on third and 11. That is poor.

Talking of poor… anybody need to clarify this one to me within the feedback? Reed Blankenship is the 3-4 edge, defending each the RB/QB on the mesh level. He’s a security! What’s going on with this one? Defending the mesh level takes actual expertise, and a whole lot of reps in apply, so why does Patricia simply assume he can do that? I’m misplaced on this one.

You don’t want any evaluation from me right here. I don’t care who the defensive coordinator is, you possibly can’t win when the gamers deal with like this. There’s nothing that must be stated.

This can be a contender for worst defensive name I’ve seen. Simply assume for a minute… have you ever ever seen a play that appears like this? I don’t assume I’ve ever seen an edge defender and a linebacker, each frantically working 5 yards behind a working again on a wheel route. Ever. You simply don’t see this. It’s comical. I don’t know why Morrow is passing off the route however he’s not likely passing off the route anyway, as a result of he retains chasing Barkley. Is he simply yelling at Smith to assist him out as a result of he is aware of he’s screwed up? I’ve no clue. Nolan Smith has no probability right here in any respect. He has no momentum and can also be blocked off by the receivers. That is one other instance of the Giants motioning and getting the Eagles to drop an edge defender into protection. My goodness, this play is a catastrophe.

Enjoying field protection (4 over 3) and triangle protection (3 over 2) in opposition to empty is my private favourite defensive name. I adore it. The Eagles couldn’t play this 3 over 2 worse in the event that they tried. I do know that the defensive personnel has modified so much this 12 months, however how dangerous is the communication right here. Come on. It’s week 18! You simply don’t see stuff across the league this dangerous fairly often. I’ve obtained nothing extra to say, it’s simply dangerous.

Effectively, this was miserable. The Eagles have to get again to fundamentals and simply attempt to play some respectable protection in opposition to the Bucs. Please don’t make me watch a sport like this once more. The previous few weeks have been so dangerous on protection, it has to get higher… proper?