Eagles-Commanders Film Review: Vic Fangio’s defense is young, aggressive, and talented

Ooh, child, this Philadelphia Eagles efense is nice. It’s cool watching a Vic Fangio protection ball out. This protection is younger, aggressive, and proficient. This efficiency in opposition to the Washington Commanders was a enjoyable one.

(Beforehand: Eagles-Commanders offensive movie evaluate.)

Protection

In the beginning of the 12 months, I bear in mind the Eagles couldn’t cease groups having success when utilizing bunches. In certainly one of these articles, I sarcastically wrote that Fangio ought to begin utilizing the ‘field’ name the place you employ 4 defenders to distribute the opposing three receivers. I wrote this sarcastically as a result of I discovered in regards to the ‘field’ name from studying articles on Fangio’s protection! It seems the Eagles’ protection was gradual at the beginning as a result of Fangio was taking his time and giving his gamers time to be taught the intricacies of the protection. It appears like a Fangio protection now. Look how good the communication and route distribution is.

Zack Baun isn’t unhealthy both, is he? That is good protection from a linebacker. He reads the quarterback’s eyes and makes a unbelievable play on the ball. Pay the person.

Reed Blankenship additionally performs this very well, and he’s unbelievable being the ‘Trix’ security (which means he’s away from the passing energy, which has three receivers, so he appears that approach moderately than the aspect he’s lined up on), and he might have damaged this play up anyway.

The one concern I noticed from the protection this week was protecting the flats. This makes me appear to be an fool as a result of I raised it as a energy final week! It does present you the way week-to-week the NFL is. The Eagles had bother when Washington was in 21 personnel and used movement and play-action, so I’m not too apprehensive, as not many groups run 21 personnel so much, nevertheless it’s one thing to be careful for.

Prior to now month, I’ve solely posted superb performs by Zack Baun. So, I believed I would come with a missed deal with. To show he’s human. If his agent reads this, I hope he realizes that Baun’s play is now assured to say no, and he ought to instantly signal the Eagles contract provide. It’s the perfect for everybody.

Nakobe Dean is taking part in so effectively for the time being. That is one other ‘field’ name the place the Eagles play 4-over-3 to the bunch aspect and distribute the routes evenly. Jayden Daniels refuses the checkdown and hopes he can beat Dean in area. I don’t assume there are numerous linebackers that Daniels doesn’t imagine he can beat one-on-one in area. Nakobe Dean makes a unbelievable play and forces the punt. This can be a difficult play for a linebacker to make in area and it highlights how effectively Dean is taking part in proper now.

Washington left their guards one-on-one with Jalen Carter rather a lot, and to be sincere, I believed Sam Cosmi really did a great job in opposition to him. Nonetheless, taking part in effectively in opposition to Jalen Carter doesn’t imply you shut him out. I’m unsure any guard within the league can cease Carter from making performs. He made a handful of freakishly athletic performs on this recreation, and I used to be glad that the printed saved highlighting him as a result of he deserves nationwide recognition. The man goes to be an entire celebrity. I’ve been saying it since I scouted him pre-draft!

Typically, I believe analysts like myself can get a bit obsessive about the X&Os and the finer particulars. It’s enjoyable to be taught in regards to the scheme. Nevertheless it’s essential to not neglect that the fundamentals are all the time probably the most important a part of profitable soccer video games. I don’t care how good your defensive coordinator is and the way good the scheme is. If the gamers should not giving 100% effort and rallying to the soccer on each play, then you definately gained’t be a high protection. Excessive-level effort issues vastly. Now, effort and training are intrinsically linked. As a result of gamers will give effort after they know it’ll result in rewards. Proper now, this protection is taking part in powerful. It’s apparent that they belief the scheme and know it’s working. That is such a wonderful play to see. This was not the one play I noticed rallying to the soccer. Try Jalen Carter above on play 4. Nolan Smith made one other play out in area on a display screen cross. This protection is taking part in quick and aggressive. I adore it.

Fangio’s disciples have a little bit of a repute for being a bit passive on essential downs. Fangio was something however passive on this recreation. He was aggressive with blitzes and man protection on third downs. He would stack the field in brief yardage. It gained’t all the time work, however seeing a protection that wasn’t predictable was good. He used some distinctive appears, such because the one beneath, to attempt to confuse Jayden Daniels. This can be an odd remark, however I don’t assume the Eagles’ protection was ‘nearly as good’ because it regarded stay. On the all22, it was evident that guys have been open at occasions. However Daniels didn’t know what he was . He was confused on quite a lot of performs and missed open receivers. That factors to the defensive coordinator doing a great job mixing up his appears.

My favourite a part of the sport plan was how aggressive Fangio was in brief yardage. He didn’t need to surrender straightforward first downs and got here out with this aggressive entrance in short-yardage conditions. This defensive entrance should weigh so much. Brandon Graham continues to be such a flexible defensive lineman. He appears like he might play as a defensive deal with at occasions. He’s so stout within the run recreation. He’s the one Eagles’ defensive lineman who can line up as an EDGE after which kick inside as a defensive deal with whereas Baun takes his place at EDGE. This offers the Eagles quite a lot of versatility and unpredictability pre-snap. BG perhaps 36, however the Eagles do not need one other defensive lineman like him. We’re going to miss him when he goes.

Nolan Smith is creating properly as this season progresses. He’s nonetheless a significantly better run defender than a cross rusher, and he doesn’t persistently affect the quarterback, however he’s making splash performs such because the one beneath. As a lot as I want to see constant strain from him, contemplating the place he was a cross rusher final season, I’m completely pleased with the occasional splash play from him. His athleticism in area and aggressiveness in opposition to the run makes him a really useful EDGE rusher. He may not be good and nonetheless has so much he might enhance on, however he’s had a great 2nd season.

The very best sequence of the sport was the turnover on downs the Eagles brought on. Hardly ever, a great NFL offense can’t convert from 2nd and 1, however the Eagles defended that yard like the sport trusted it. What I appreciated about this sequence was that each play concerned somebody totally different and a unique look from Fangio. It wasn’t only one participant making the identical play each time. The primary one was all about Jalen Carter. This one-arm membership transfer is so troublesome to cease, and he creates havoc with it each week. Even when a defensive lineman makes a play within the backfield, he’ll want assist from different defenders to cease the again from falling ahead for one yard. He received assist right here from Nakobe Dean.

Jordan Davis deserves probably the most credit score for the cease on third and 1. He does a unbelievable job blowing up this run, however similar to on 2nd and 1, he can’t do it alone. Baun and BG do a extremely good job cleansing up and stopping the operating again from falling ahead.

The ultimate cease on 4th and 1 was only a ridiculous play from Baun. I didn’t understand stay that he was lined up at EDGE and needed to tackle a pulling guard. With the ability to tackle a pulling lineman in area, get off that block, and nonetheless make the deal with for loss is outrageous. He’s so good. I joke about it each week, however the Eagles actually do have to signal him.

I can’t consider many Eagles’ defenses over the previous few years who would have made a cease on 2nd and 1, third and 1, and 4th and 1. That’s spectacular stuff, particularly as brief yardage will not be one thing we affiliate with Fangio’s protection!

I really feel like Reed Blankenship is probably the most underrated Eagles’ defender. He’s hardly ever spoken about, however he hardly ever has a nasty recreation. How usually do you watch a recreation and see Blankenship make many errors? He simply goes beneath the radar. It’s somewhat stunning as a result of his ball expertise are excellent.

This can be a high-quality interception. Jayden Daniels reads this appropriately and expects Blankenship to take the publish route which would depart the intermediate route open. Techincally, Blankenship most likely ought to take the publish route. However he reads Daniels’ eyes and is aware of he isn’t going to throw the publish route, so he jumps in entrance of the intermediate route. That is superior. I believe it additionally reveals Blankenship’s belief in Quinyon Mitchell, as he has religion that he might cowl the publish route whether it is thrown.

This was a great efficiency in opposition to a great offense. Sean McVay’s Rams will carry a really totally different problem, so I’m excited to see this protection go to work as soon as once more.

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