The Eagles introduced in a brand new DC this offseason, hiring Sean Desai, who spoke to reporters for the primary time on Thursday. He opened by thanking the Eagles — Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, and Nick Sirianni — for bringing him into the group, and in addition thanked the Bears and Seahawks for giving him his first NFL alternatives.
“It’s an emotional type of homecoming for me to return again to Philadelphia. There’s a variety of pleasure that we take on this metropolis.”
Desai talked about how he and his spouse went to highschool in Philly, and his teaching profession began at Temple as a Grad Assistant.
“We don’t take this calmly. We’re actually humbled to be on this position, actually proud to be on this position, and actually excited to symbolize this metropolis. And actually, pour again into this metropolis, the best way the town kinda poured into me and my household arising as I used to be youthful.”
The DC later talked about how he’s lived in main cities alongside the east coast, within the midwest, and pacific northwest, however is aware of that Philly is totally different. The grit, and having to earn it every single day, being tough-minded, are all issues that attracted him to the town.
Right here’s what else the defensive coordinator needed to say:
On the interview course of
Desai stated that it was a whirlwind of a course of, particularly with the Eagles season going so lengthy. He did have another interviews, however the Eagles course of was essentially the most thorough one he’s ever been part of. He stated it was a credit score to the group in ensuring they aren’t bringing anybody into this tradition that doesn’t match.it.
“I recognize the thoroughness and the element, as a result of that’s the type of some issues I pleasure myself on — in being up-front, being detailed, being thorough. And so, that was an actual good connection we constructed from the start and I loved going by their course of.”
He went on to say that being detailed means not leaving any stone unturned, and it’s getting ready themselves, the coaches and the gamers. If there’s one element improper or misplaced that’s a mirrored image of Desai, and he owns that and takes a variety of pleasure in that. If he’s ready, it provides the coaches and gamers an opportunity to be ready, and if he’s not, then it’s a trickle down impact.
On his defensive philosophy
“It’s one thing that we wish to construct collectively. I don’t assume it’s one thing that I can impart on anyone and say, ‘That is the all-inclusive strategy to play protection.’
The one factor that we’ve agreed on — we’ve talked about as a workers, and actually a bunch — is, there’s a sure mentality that we wish to replicate and I actually consider within the metropolis’s groups gotta replicate the town. And we’ve obtained some grit, we’ve obtained some toughness, we wish to have the ability to impose our will, we’re not going to take actually something from anyone, and we wish to be sure that folks really feel it.
We wish to have the ability to run, we wish to have the ability to hit, and we wish to play good. And I believe that’s a mirrored image of who we’re, clearly as a Philadelphia Eagles protection, a mirrored image of, actually, the historical past of the Philadelphia Eagles protection, and reflection of this metropolis. And that’s what we wish to be. We wish to be an encompassing a part of that.”
At a group assembly final week, Desai requested the group in the event that they knew what the phrase “palpable” meant. He defined that it’s a sense, and that’s what they need.
“We wish to have the ability to be felt — whether or not you’re watching us on TV, whether or not you’re within the stadium, and clearly on the sphere. We wish to be sure that folks really feel this Philadelphia Eagles protection.”
On the Eagles’ defensive commonplace
Desai later talked about how he plans to construct off the success the protection had final yr, and he was certain to present credit score to the historic season the protection had, but additionally acknowledged that it resets each offseason. Yearly is a brand new chapter, and previous predictors doesn’t imply future success, in order that they must take the mindset to rebuild from the muse. They must re-establish the methods and particulars to get gamers again within the place to have related success.
“Clearly, the muse right here was superior final yr. We gotta give credit score — the muse for the Philadelphia Eagles protection has been superior for a very long time.”
He quoted Sirianni and famous that the usual is the usual, and there’s little question a regular in Philly that’s been set that they should rise to. Desai doesn’t take without any consideration having guys like Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox who helped set that commonplace 10-14 years in the past, and have made certain that it’s been maintained all through the years. The DC goes to verify they honor these guys and the usual.
Different notables
Desai and Nick Sirianni agree on the significance of competing, and that features competing on a regular basis no matter what the perceived depth could also be at any place.
The DC stated he’s “not silly or egotistical sufficient” to assume that he’s arrived at this new place all by himself. He credited all of the coaches he labored with and who gave him alternatives alongside the best way.
Desai stated that giving totally different appears is de facto necessary, so they are going to be doing fairly a little bit of disguises as they’ll deploy on protection. They must affect the quarterback each bodily and mentally, and they should do each to be efficient, and disguises are aside of that.
