The Philadelphia Eagles got here out in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams with a win, however the protection was a little bit of a combined bag. Holding the Rams to 23 factors and underneath 350 yards appears to be like nice, however if you dig in, this was an inconsistent efficiency. Let’s take a look at the nice and the dangerous! Beforehand: Eagles-Rams offense evaluate.
The primary clip highlights Zack Baun’s emergence as a celebrity. The Eagles dialed up “Wasp” with each edges dropping out and Jihaad Campbell blitzing the A-gap. That freed Baun to learn Stafford, and he learn him like a guide! Stafford stared down the route, and Baun broke immediately for the interception. This wasn’t a fluke. It’s what Baun has been doing for weeks. He’s a whole and utter celebrity and he’s superior to observe each single week.
The most important concern was the run protection. The Rams’ offensive line bullied the Eagles early on, and Jalen Carter struggled fairly a bit. He seemed gassed at occasions, sluggish off the ball, and was pushed backwards a number of occasions. Carter was not dangerous (he nonetheless had some unimaginable moments) however it appears clear to me that his conditioning is a matter proper now. Jordan Davis fought onerous inside and held his floor more often than not, however he couldn’t do it alone. Jihaad Campbell was hesitant in his run matches (which is a particular weak spot of his – he doesn’t belief his eyes but), and when your DTs aren’t holding floor and your linebacker isn’t flying downhill, you hand over chunk runs. This was not a one-off. The entire first half had too many snaps the place Carter gave little and Campbell froze relatively than get downhill shortly. It is a protection constructed round profitable the trenches, and so they misplaced that battle rather a lot on this one, on either side of the ball.
Setting the sting was one other main challenge. The Rams leaned closely on condensed splits and movement, utilizing Puka Nacua as a blocker. Nacua is unbelievable. The Eagles can line up in condensed all they need, however they’ll’t do that as a result of they don’t have a receiver like Nacua. On this play, Nacua sealed DeJean and Uche inside, and the sting disappeared. There have been some poor snaps at setting the sting, however that is what McVay does higher than nearly anybody. He makes use of receivers like fullbacks, and it does problem the protection in a number of other ways. You’ll be able to’t replicate that except you’ve gotten a receiver like Nacua, who blocks with the strategy of a decent finish. The protection wasn’t good right here, however typically you tip your cap to good design.
This was a very attention-grabbing play to take a look at. It seemed like OPI, however that was by no means going to be known as. It was attention-grabbing that the Eagles ended up with Reed Blankenship remoted on Adams (this occurred once more later – McVay clearly used the Eagles’ defensive guidelines in opposition to them). Quinyon Mitchell was caught between routes and I’m wondering if Quinyon may’ve gone off-script and doubled Adams, however the reality is that this was one other instance of intelligent design. Quinyon isn’t supposed to hold the vertical, however I feel Campbell already had the flat, so Quinyon may have carried Adams vertically. If the tip result’s your security matched up one-on-one within the pink zone with Davante Adams down the sector, mixed with an absence of strain, then the tip result’s solely going to be one factor.
Baun wasn’t excellent within the run recreation (he missed tackles and bought caught in site visitors a couple of occasions), however he nonetheless made extra ‘wow’ performs than any linebacker we’ve seen in Philly in ceaselessly. On this rep he triggered shortly and blew the play up. In comparison with Campbell, who seemed hesitant at occasions, Baun’s decisiveness stood out much more. Baun is the very best defensive participant on the sector for the Eagles each single week proper now.
Right here’s one other instance of the Eagles simply dropping the battle within the trenches. Carter will get nothing, Davis fought however couldn’t penetrate, and both Campbell or Baun appeared to overlook their run match. The end result was straightforward yardage. There have been lots of performs like this.
I don’t assume the safeties have been nice early on (they did get higher) in opposition to the run, as they have been a bit sluggish to set off downhill. This was possible because of being concerned about play motion. Mukuba finally got here downhill with actual urgency on this play and mixed with Adoree’ Jackson to make a robust sort out. However throughout the sport, the Rams’ movement and condensed splits stored the safeties tentative.
Right here’s one other poor rep from Carter. I feel this can be a little little bit of lazy rep. I don’t assume he’s making an attempt to carry his hole, and he’s making an attempt to leap the hole as a result of I feel it’s nearly much less effort. Mixed with Baun’s missed sort out, it was one other straightforward achieve for the Rams. Carter seemed out of form too usually. I’m guessing the coaches are enjoying him lots to nearly play him into health. When he did make performs, he seemed like he did final 12 months. He’s nonetheless a supreme expertise, however conditioning and consistency are at present points for him.
Typically, it’s important to maintain your hand up and say truthful play to the offense. That is superior from the Rams. After repeatedly utilizing Nacua to seal edges on runs, the Rams confirmed the identical look, then used him as eye sweet and ran a intelligent choose to free the again. That’s simply intelligent sequencing. The Eagles’ offense runs condensed appears to be like, too, however the Rams use them purposefully. As compared, it feels just like the Eagles run them for the sake of operating them at occasions. McVay is without doubt one of the finest in soccer at manipulating defenders with small particulars, and the Eagles have been caught flat-footed at occasions.
As soon as once more, I believed Jordan Davis was wonderful. This Third-and-2 cease is a freakish play for a person his dimension. He chased Stafford to the sideline like a linebacker and compelled him out of bounds. All through the sport, he was holding doubles, consuming area, and making splash performs. For all of the complaints in regards to the run protection, Davis was the one fixed optimistic. He appears to be like like he’s going to have a giant 12 months.
Quinyon Mitchell deserves large credit score for his work in opposition to Davante Adams. Per Subsequent Gen Stats, Adams ran 22 routes in opposition to him and caught simply two balls for 12 yards. On this rep, Mitchell used a refined jersey tug, stayed in part all through the entire play, and made this a tricky completion. The Eagles gave him a tricky job by asking him to cowl Adams all through the sport, however Quinyon dealt with the job excellently. The Eagles have requested Quinyon to journey with receivers in 2/3 video games this 12 months, which is one thing he by no means needed to do final 12 months, and up to now, I feel he’s adjusted properly for essentially the most half. Jalyx Hunt helped by pressuring Stafford, however Mitchell was the man I wished to focus on right here.
Even together with his conditioning points, Carter made influence performs when it mattered. Right here, he and Davis mixed to stuff a 4th-and-1, displaying why operating into six-man Fangio fronts is a horrible concept. I don’t know why offenses hold doing it, however I hope they don’t cease! Davis was good all recreation, and when Carter joined him, the Rams’ operating recreation couldn’t get going. The irritating half is that you just solely bought flashes of Carter at that degree. If he performs like that constantly, the Eagles’ protection appears to be like utterly totally different. I’ve no doubts about him long-term in any respect. I simply hope we will see the actual Jalen Carter sooner relatively than later. You’ll be able to inform he’s nonetheless a freakish expertise.
The top of the sport was irritating, and I usually discover Fangio’s calls in huge moments on the finish of the sport a bit bizarre. Fangio leaned into Cowl 1 blitzes, and so they have been telegraphed fairly simply. Stafford knew precisely the place to go, and the Rams focused Jakorian Bennett time and again. Bennett held up (nearly), however he was fortunate to not get flagged. I feel on one other day, he may’ve been known as for DPI, and that may have possible price the Eagles the sport. I used to be a bit shocked that Fangio was keen to place Bennett in one-on-one conditions in opposition to Puka Nacua in high-leverage spots, contemplating he doesn’t assume he’s ok to start out at cornerback. The Eagles bought away with it, however it didn’t really feel like good protection. Nonetheless, I’ve to offer Bennett credit score for not letting the completions part him and persevering with to battle in opposition to Nucua.
The protection continues to be a piece in progress, with new elements and teething issues, however the expertise is apparent. If Carter will get in form and Fangio leans into what’s working, this unit nonetheless has the potential to get higher because the 12 months goes on.
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