Eagles Film Analysis: All-22 defense takeaways from the Patriots game

Final yr I broke Eagles video games down into passing and operating, however I had some feedback asking me to take a look at the sport chronologically so you possibly can see how the sport flows. I’ll undergo the sport and provides feedback on gamers and scheme all through. Please keep in mind that it’s Week 1, and I don’t suppose we have to panic! I can solely touch upon what I see. The offensive model might be learn right here.

Protection

Total, this was an enchanting defensive recreation to interrupt down. There was a whole lot of great things for the Eagles coaches to study from, each good and unhealthy. The large constructive for me was the defensive position’s play (particularly from gentle bins) and the way properly they performed the run. I feel all 4 of the defensive tackles (Jalen Carter, Milton Williams, Jordan Davis, and Fletcher Cox) performed rather well. It was on present on the first defensive snap the place Milton Williams fought by means of a double crew with a view to make the sort out. I noticed a whole lot of feedback in regards to the lack of 5-man fronts, however I feel a few of this was game-specific. The Eagles had a whole lot of 5-man fronts on 1st down on the primary few drives, however with the sport going 16-0 early, I feel it could have altered the plan barely.

Zach Cunningham had a tough, tough recreation. I’ll get into him later, however let’s simply admire Jalen Carter on this rep. He was an absolute stud. I do know the Patriots had a poor offensive line, however this man goes to be elite. Carter, Davis, and Williams (in addition to my man Moro Ojomo) are going to be an excellent defensive position over the following few years.

Right here is the play that arguably received the Eagles the sport. It’s a mistake by the offense, moderately than ‘good protection’ but it surely’s nonetheless cool to see the all22 and the protection the Eagles are taking part in on third and 5. The Eagles are in a type of cowl 3 zone match (you coaches on the market would possibly name this cowl 9 I feel – however I’ll simply follow cowl 3 match) and Slay does a implausible job ignoring the vertical route and preserving his eyes on the quarterback. Sure, he will get fortunate, however he additionally deserves credit score for the return and for preserving his eyes on the quarterback.

I really like Reed Blankenship man. I simply suppose he’s so good already. Total, the Eagles have been much more a number of this yr on third down than final yr. That doesn’t essentially imply it’s an excellent factor, but it surely’s simply an statement. There was much more single-high, extra man protection, and a few disguised blitzes. Each third down appeared one thing completely different. It is a nice rep by Blankenship right here who reads the crossing route completely and the stress will get dwelling to Mac Jones.

Talking of a extra a number of protection… the Eagles ran a few these disguised blitzes that I simply didn’t get, to be trustworthy. Blankenship is blitzing from so deep, that it feels so unlikely he’s ever going to get dwelling. This appears like a really low likelihood of working. Fortunately, Slay performs this fantastically and it’s a extremely athletic play. I assumed Slay moved extraordinarily properly and regardless of giving up the landing, which was unhealthy, I feel he regarded so fluid and clean on the market.

Talking of issues for the coaches to work on, coping with bunch formations shall be high of the checklist. I’m all for blitzing and taking part in some man protection on third down, however you want to have a name towards a bunch formation like this as a result of that is simply method, method too simple for an offense on third and lengthy.

I don’t need it to really feel like I’m simply choosing on Cunningham, but it surely simply felt like he had a whole lot of questionable performs. The Patriots focused him quite a bit from empty formations, and while I do not anticipate him to have the ability to cowl a large receiver one-on-one, he ought to not less than know he has inside assist and never simply inside this route. It’s simply fairly poor, to be trustworthy.

Nevertheless, Cunningham wasn’t the one unhealthy play on Sunday. Justin Evans simply didn’t look superb. I’ve no clue what’s taking place right here. If somebody can clarify to me why the single-high security is shading to the lone receiver facet (remember the Patriots don’t have Ja’Marr Chase and Darius Slay is our greatest cornerback) moderately than shade to the facet with 3 large receivers, then I’d love to listen to why. James Bradberry clearly thinks there’s a deep security in the course of the sphere which impacts how he performs it. I think about Evans will play Thursday night time because it’s a brief turnaround and Blankenship could also be out, however he must be higher.

The Eagles are going to overlook Nakobe Dean and I assumed he had a reasonably good recreation general, particularly towards the run, however this additionally wasn’t his most interesting second in protection. The Patriots actually did goal that brief middle-of-the-field space. Anyway, let’s simply neglect all these issues exist for a second, and watch Jalen Carter…

I’ve moaned somewhat bit on this one (and I’m not completed but, sorry) however I simply can’t clarify how a lot I really like watching Reed Blankenship. I simply suppose he’s superior. What does he not do properly? He’s simply so enjoyable to look at and this protection goes to badly miss him if he’s out Thursday.

I don’t have the rest to say about Cunningham, sorry. I simply wished to publish this as a result of I feel Maddox’s response tells a narrative.

One other participant I feel could be a possible star is Milton Williams. He performed quite a bit, and he regarded superior. That is an absurd rush. For a defensive sort out to bend the sting and hit the quarterback as exhausting as he does right here, is fairly insane. He simply explodes across the edge and the velocity he hits Jones with is scary.

The ultimate one is a bit random. Terrell Edmunds barely performed, however when he did he gave up an apparent throw to the flat. It appears like cowl 3 and he simply doesn’t know his project. I favored Edmunds’ Steelers movie and I used to be shocked he didn’t begin over Evans, however this can be a bit regarding. This appears like a reasonably simple learn too. You possibly can inform by Slay’s response that Edmunds has screwed up, which isn’t an awesome signal contemplating he barely performed in any respect.

Different random ideas…

Among the Eagles’ run protection was actually, actually good. I’ve questioned Jordan Davis over the summer time, however he confirmed up huge time on this recreation. This can be his finest recreation as a professional and he was implausible towards the run. I actually loved the defensive position on this recreation. I didn’t point out Josh Sweat or Haason Reddick, however they have been additionally good.
Brandon Graham had a hilarious rush from a linebacker place the place he practically killed Mac Jones, who began crying for a flag in fact.
I feel being extra a number of on protection, could make the Eagles worse within the brief time period, however I feel it’s price it in the long term. The Eagles’ protection was just too predictable final yr and survived as a result of they have been so, so gifted. They only received’t have that degree of expertise once more and must do some various things schematically.
With Blankenship and Dean out Thursday night time, this could possibly be a tough one on protection. Buckle up.