Great Defense
Posted: October 3rd, 2016 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 124 Comments »Jim Schwartz has the Eagles defense playing at a high level. They are #1 in scoring defense and 3rd in yards allowed. They haven’t allowed a passing TD all year and are on pace to have 53 sacks. This group could have an amazing season.
But they have a long way to go to compare to some previous great Eagles defenses. Back in 2008 the Eagles were Top 4 in yards and points allowed. That group was very balanced, finishing Top 4 against both the run and pass. They finished the season with 48 sacks and 21 FFs. They scored 5 TDs.
The 2002 Eagles were #2 in points allowed and #4 in yards allowed. They racked up 55 sacks. In 9 games that year, they limited opponents to 14 points or less. They finished 3rd in takeaways.
The gold standard is the 1991 defense that we affectionately call Gang Green. I just wrote a piece on them for PE.com. There are some really cool pictures in it so make sure to check that out.
I’ll never get tired of watching, reading or writing about Gang Green. So amazing.
What an incredible defense.
I don’t think the current group has the LBs or CBs to play at the 1991 level, but this group is really, really talented. And that all starts with Fletcher Cox. In the past 2 weeks, he dominated Kyle Long and David DeCastro. Those are Pro Bowl OGs. Cox dominated them.
@fcoxx_91 Fletcher Cox is a Full Grown Dawg! #CHIvsPHI #MSMade https://t.co/gYF5VRR5l2
— Coach Warren (@DemetricDWarren) September 20, 2016
Fletcher Cox working the bull rush on Kyle Long https://t.co/btiZnbY0Qs
— Greg Brookey (@bigbrook) September 20, 2016
Wow, just wow.
That's why you paid Fletcher Cox. https://t.co/sEZERNUzSq
— Stephen Lee [3-0] (@SteeMurda220) September 25, 2016
Cox generates tremendous power because of his combination of strength and speed. He just physically manhandles blockers.
The other great thing about those videos is that Cox isn’t alone. Other Eagles are collapsing the pocket and/or getting pressure. This DL is really good and they are a perfect fit for Schwartz’s Wide 9 attack.
This defense can actually get better.
Jordan Hicks is a player on the rise. He could develop into a Pro Bowl MLB. Nigel Bradham is playing really well right now. If one of them becomes a big time playmaker, watch out. Jalen Mills makes his share of rookie mistakes. At some point, they should start going away. If the corners start to get comfortable in this system and start jumping routes, watch out.
And I still think Mychal Kendricks will make some plays. He is very talented and is dying to make an impact. One of these weeks an opponent won’t go 3 WRs for most of the game and Kendricks will get a chance to show what he can do.
I’m excited to see what these guys can do from here on out. It feels so good to have a strong defense once again. Thank you Jim Schwartz. And Fletcher Cox. And Brandon Graham. And Jordan Hicks. And Maclolm Jenkins. And…ah you get the point.
*****
One negative note in regard to the defense.
Report: #Eagles LB Nigel Bradham arrested trying to bring loaded gun through security at Miami airport https://t.co/QtLqanb3Fy @matt_mullin pic.twitter.com/VwWdD0gbb0
— PhillyVoice (@thephillyvoice) October 3, 2016
Ugh. Why Nigel?
This doesn’t sound overly serious, but that’s 2 incidents in just 6 months as an Eagle. Not good. Bradham is having a terrific year on the field. Just needs to make some better decisions off it.
_
F IN NIGEL
WITKD CLASS DOOOOOOPE
He has a concealed carry permit. He just forgot it was in his bag, he put it through the X-Ray. How you forget you have a loaded gun I don’t know, but it wasn’t like he was trying to sneak it through.
In fact, I read that they would have let him go with just confiscating the gun, but he isn’t allowed to have the gun even with the CCP because he is on bond pending the case for beating up the towel boy. Sounds like it isn’t a big deal legally, probably just take care of it in the offseason.
I’m not excusing his stupidity – he is definitely stupid – just saying it’s probably no big deal for the Eagles.
At least you are somewhat reassuring. His issue to deal with, we just have to groan about it. but tyvm.
Hey, it was good enough for Barry Switzer, ought to be good enough for Nigel.
I liked that tribute to the 91 defense. I had an alarm clock with a cassette player in those days and I used to wake up to Berman’s NFL Primetime call of those 11 sacks against Dallas.
It was cool how the images moved around. Nice presentation.
[…] Tommy Lawlor Jim Schwartz has the Eagles defense playing at a high level. They are #1 in scoring defense and 3rd […]
Kendricks is probably wondering if he needs to get arrested to get some playing time.
He would likely misread the flight schedule.
How do we fit giants into basements?
“They haven’t allowed a rushing TD all year”
This actually isn’t true. They’ve actually allowed two (one to Cleveland, one to Chicago). I’m guessing Tommy meant that they haven’t allowed a passing touchdown.
Yep. Got my stats confused. Fixed the post.
I find it disappointing Captain Mutterlan and Major Wright haven’t played in the same secondary.
I’m glad no Eagle has a mouth piece with teeth painted on it. I think none do.
Vikings shoulda put ginas away long ago. Playing it safe on O reminds me of Chip.
There is one element to that scramble-pass-to-Sproles-TD we’ve seen a gazillion times (never gets old somehow), that bears serious notice.
That play came at a pivotal point in the game. Let me refresh your memory. Eagles up 13-3 and receiving ball to start half. Game was still close. Felt close – Tommy mentions it above. Many of us, myself included, were just waiting for the Steelers to get their s%## together and mount the inevitable comeback. Steelers certainly must have had in mind coming out of the tunnel for the 2nd half, get a stop and get the ball back to our offense. Let Big Ben & company get us right back in the game.
KO is a touchback, first & 10 from 25. Smallwood runs for no gain then Wentz completes to JMatt for 7 yards, setting up 3rd and 3. Jason Peters (finally) gets called for a false start. 3rd and 8, aka 3rd and long. Stop the rookie, stop the Eagles here and Big Ben should have decent field position. Steelers must have sensed a shot at turning things around right there.
They get pressure on Wentz, he scrambles, not enough space to run for a 1st….
…but then boom, LB comes off Sproles and the rookie makes them pay like a 12-year veteran. Beautiful touch for 1st down but, even better, the throw allows his dynamic RB to catch it in stride and head upfield with momentum. TD Eagles. Game goes from a potential nailbiter to a potential blow out (which was happily fulfilled 🙂 on that one play.
The element I want to emphasize is that our rookie QB made a critical play at a critical juncture. That play changed the entire complexion of the game. Pivotal.
Go Eagles.
One note on the Peters false start, since it was also mentioned in the game review: this wasn’t an example of the refs flagging him for trying to get into position a beat early. He was called for trying coming out of his stance in an attempt to draw a neutral zone infraction call. It’s worked for him before, but the refs didn’t go for it this time.
yea, i remember that. i thought he was way too late to react to the defender. by the time JP moved, it was either too late, or the defender was already back on his side of the field. false start for sure.
Cuz the motion was way on the other end of the line iirc lol
Thats awesome. TYVM. love soaking in that play.
The patience and touch were the most impressive things on that play.
I’m high on Wentz and hope to never come down lol
when he ran towards the line but then stopped 2 feet from what I remember as the blue TV line, and just turned and kept on that side, well that was impressive. I felt a lot of relief as I was still terrified up to that point.
Call him Mr. Pivotal.
LOL who else made out like a bandit tonight? Why oh why Vegas would you think the Giants are only a 3.5 pt dog in MINNESOTA. Are you crazy?
….
Literally made no sense to give the Giants just 3.5 measly points playing one of the top defenses in the league. Easy money.
Kinda like giving Lions 2.5
Hmmm, that’s a weird line. Usually you get 3 for being the home team. Does that line worry you? Or, more aptly, how should I view that line?
it’s at Detroit. Still seems low to me, but away game etc. I’ll be in vegas and could bet but will be playing golf.
different teams get different home lines now. Eagles get like 1.5 where Seattle get 4
I’m planning on winning some money.
Lots of Giants fans betting on their own team
Vikings winning 12-13 games this year. Defense is insane. Bradford kinda perfect non-franchise qb for them since he won’t turn ball over and thats all the need with that D
I think we can shut down their O better that they can shut down ours
Yup, I think our OL will be slightly better than theirs too. Not feeling great about our WRs vs their CBs though.
Feeling pretty good about our TEs, though.
Remember most likely LJ is getting suspended, so Barbre is moving to RT and Wiz is coming in at LG. Two different position changes on an OL going against a really tough defense is not usually a recipe for success.
Thankfully there’s a couple games against okay defenses to work out the kinks before the Minny game.
Homegrown talent hitting their prime. Kendricks, Barr, Rhodes, Smith, Joseph, Griffen, and Hunter are a hell of a core.
Randy Moss just said some variation of y’all eight times in one question.
Wordsmith.
Looking back at the box scores of that 1991 season… it was really that Jim McMahon couldn’t stay healthy enough that prevented the playoff appearance. He was more than capable of filling the Trent Dilfer role, but the QBs beyond him were utterly horrid.
Cunningham was injured four passes into the season, lost for the year — that was the big problem. McMahon relieved him and went 3-1 in the first four games, losing to the Cardinals in the second game.
McMahon was injured early in the fifth game, giving way to the comedic play of Brad Goebel and Pat Ryan. In that and the following two games, the Eagles scored a total of 19 points, with 0 TD passes and 10 INT. They fell to 3-4 on the season while McMahon was out.
McMahon did return vs the 49ers, but even while holding them to 85 yards passing (that is Steve Young’s 49ers), and McMahon did throw 1 TD pass, they couldn’t score beyond that, and lost, falling to 3-5.
After that, with McMahon, the Eagles rang up six straight wins to go to 9-5, and were on the verge of salvaging the season. But, McMahon got injured again in the last of those six games, with Jeff Kemp pulling out the win.
In the next critical game vs the Cowboys Kemp threw 1 TD but two picks, and the Eagles lost, sealing the season. Kemp did win the last game against the 14-1 Redskins, who did play some of their starters, but they were out of the playoffs by then (Cowboys were 11-5 so we really had to beat them in game 15).
McMahon basically finished 8-2 on the year, with one early loss and one against the 49ers. Just 12 TD vs 11 INT, but he was plenty good enough to win with that defense. Jeff Kemp, who they picked up towards the end of the season, had 5 TD and 5 INT while going 2-1 — they may have been OK with him even, though he lost in that critical game vs Dallas. Brad Goebel and Pat Ryan combined for 0 TD and 10 INT and that is probably where the season was truly lost — the 3rd and 4th string QBs were horrid, and the Eagles lost 3 straight games because of it. 49ers also missed the playoffs at 10-6; Redskins went on to win the Super Bowl.
It was unimaginably horrible to begin the year with Super Bowl hopes, only to watch disaster happen. And then watch the Redskins win the Super Bowl, while attending college in Redskin country.
Ugh. That’s a year I’d like to have back.
Could you imagine if it was Kotite who was a super bowl coach?
yep I was there in C’ville with you. Tough times.
I remember watching that team and being happy every time the Eagles had to punt. One, because we got to watch the defense attack the other team, and also because it meant the offense hadn’t turned the ball over!
That Monday night game against the Oilers might have been my favorite game ever.
“They brought the house and we brought the pain.”
I had been following them a couple of years before that, but that year was when I started to realize what it mean to be an Eagles fan.
That season was brutal. They would have been an all time great NFL team with Cunningham there for 16 games and would have been the Super Bowl Champs with McMahon there for all 16 games.
Hopefully they’ve told Wentz about this history and that’s what made him stop doing his best Cam Newton impersonation.
I skimmed through this article, but lol. Did I miss something???
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/10/03/whos-the-team-to-beat-in-the-nfc/
Not a honorable mention about the Eagles. I guess no news is good news.
Tommy nice article on the best defense ever.
In other NFC East news, I think OBJ has officially lost his mind…
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2016/10/giants_wr_odell_beckham_its_all_against_me.html#
A little TO in that guy. A competitor who wants to win, probably just upset he’s on a shitty team.
Don’t forget the crazy part.
The GM had a ten minute conversation with him prior to the interview. Sounds to me like he got the message that he needs to stop being a fucking child and control his emotions better, but took the obligatory ego massaging these conversations always have to heart even more. Right over the head.
Then again, not sure what you expect to get with post game interviews like this.
Guy seems to really feed off everyone supposedly being against him. Kind of like some Eagles fans!
Should we start a pool for the ensuing fine? I’ll start things at $10k.
opponents seem to have figured out that extra hits get into his mind and takes him out of his game
What an undignified loser.
Ok, kinda off topic, but not really, celek>Ertz, I love ertz, but you gotta stay on the field, celek just quietly delivers when he gets the ball thrown his way, seems to be a better runner after the catch, ertz seems to go down easily
First of all, you can’t really criticize a player for a broken bone. That’s a freak accident and doesn’t imply that he’s soft or injury prone.
Secondly, Ertz is by far a better receiver than Celek. I love Celek too, and I love when he gets those wide open looks and rambles awkwardly down the field, but Ertz is a polished receiver. The catch he made against Cleveland is probably better than any catch Celek has made in his career.
To be fair, Celek made some incredible grabs in his prime. He and Avant had always vied for most reliable hands on the team. Whereas Ertz has been suspect in the hands department (on routine catches like everyone else on the team not named Celek).
But agreed, Ertz is hands down the guy we want on the field at this stage in Celek’s career.
i like ertz, but when is he gonna break out, celek is reliable
Go looks at his stats by year on PFR. He’s arguably broken out every year he’s played. As Chip Kelly’s offense got worse, he got better.
Wow, just read that the Colts will be the first ever NFL team to come home from a London game and not have the next week as a bye. NFL is using them as the guinea pig for a team being there permanently, they will be surveying the whole organization of how the team responds. Just another step to having a London team.
Colts coach is history anyway.
Really has nothing to do with my post, but I agree.
Sorry, I was thinking that you can’t blame the London trip for this team’s bad season.
He got a four-year extension in January. They’re stuck with him.
I can’t wait. I’ve been to London once and I’d LOVE to go there to root on an Eagles win.
Yes, I totally agree, love London and would love to go watch the Birds over there. And check out a coupla footy games as well.
I’m with Mike on this one. Extended weekend in London with an Eagles game at Wembley? Sign me up.
That’s good because they suck. So when they lose this week to the Bears (arguably one of the bottom 10 teams), we can put this idea of putting a team there to rest. If anything they should put a development league over there.
this past weekend we were able to objectively and seriously root for Chip Kelly’s team and then we were rooting for Sammy the next day.
Sam looked good in that offense, Chips offense looked ok with those guys until Gabbert had to go deep. Kapernick makes that throw no problem.
Actually totally agree, and I don’t like Kaep (the football player in this context not the protester). But he can make the big the big plays that offense desperately needs. I think Chip needs to focus on getting the best version of Kaep on the field, and that will get his run game going. Preferring the type of QB that Gabbert is over Kaep is the concentrated essence of Chip Kelly.
Isn’t Kap injured?
Maybe he is, I didn’t know. I thought Gabbert won the QB battle in the off-season though.
Not injured, but probably not game-ready. He’s lost a lot of weight.
Bingo!
a recovering Kaep isn’t better than what they have and might get him re-injured.
I think Chip’s only hope in the NFL is having a QB who’s a serious threat on the read option and a threat to run on just about any play. I actually think this is pretty clear. I have no clue if this would actually work or keep his QB upright long enough to make it through a season, but I’d sure like to see it. C”mon, Chip, entertain us! You owe us that at least.
I don’t get that sentiment, Gabbert has a better arm than Kaepernick.
really?
I thought kap had a pretty good arm.
Kaep has had arm and shoulder problems lately. That’s why he ended up on the bench.
“Kapernick makes that throw no problem.”
Arm wise, yes. But he would have made a dozen other worse throws than Gabbert and run himself out of big pass plays another half dozen times. Kaep’s days as a legit NFL QB are done.
But it’s not like Gabbert would be making those “big pass plays,” so…
Eagles connections in the “Quick Reads” article:
1. Big Ben with the top performance this week.
2. Sam Bradford at #3 (sounds like they’re tailoring the offense to his skills)
3. Dak Prescott at #6 (the nightmare continues)
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/quick-reads/2016/week-4-quick-reads
finally people can get over the giants.
we will have to deal with the cowboys, and they will be dealt with.
I think I will be rooting for the Giants now because I know they are garbage and aren’t going anywhere, but I don’t want them to get a high draft pick.
They’ll take a bust no matter where they pick.
Re Bradford: Turner is probably the best OC Bradford has ever worked with or may ever work with. Also, the Vikings have a real ground game and their defense is so good. All of this lets Bradford play “within himself.” It’s a playoff formula for sure, especially if they keep home field advantage deep into the playoffs.
The one thing I don’t think we’ve seen Bradford do yet on MIN (or anywhere with regularity) is just take over a game and will the team to win–make everybody around him better. This is just about the exact same conversation we’re having right now with Wentz, which is telling given the relative experience of these QBs.
The Vikings have the 31st offense in the NFL…
…and dead last in rushing yards at a paltry 64.2 yards per game.
Umm the first game he played?
Viking’s OL sucks, generally their skill players aren’t good either, especially without AP. Norv isn’t doing anything especially dramatic – bradford is still picking up the scheme – it’s only been 3 weeks.
Bradford isn’t doing anything spectacular, game managing the vikings 3 wins.
I wouldn’t call him a game manager when they cannot run the ball at all.
When an O-line is dominating its a thing of beauty. 5 guys in synchronization with the simple mindset “you shall not pass”.
Every clip here looked like chaos. I have a feeling if you clipped a random play from any game this season it probably looks like chaos too.
I thought it’s the D-line who says “you shall not pass,” or run either.
Touche!
I’m not sure who would play Gandalf on our D line, but Vlad Ducasse would make an excellent Balrog on the O-line.
Apparently OBJ “just isn’t having fun anymore”. What a pathetic whiner.
Funny, Josh Norman is the one that has shown how to take him out of the game.
Ironically, I don’t think Josh Norman really devised a clever plan. I think he is just an asshole and pisses people off and everyone noticed, hey, that worked!
I love when a good player on another team gives us a reason to be glad we didn’t get him…
If he isn’t having fun now, just wait until he has to break in a rookie QB. Eli can’t have too many years left.
who in the wide world of sports would have fun playing for Giants anyway?
Danny Watkins feels his pain.
Looks like we will have Lane for Detroit.
Was today the last day to decide before it affects Sunday?
Nevermind. From LJ’s lawyer:
https://twitter.com/Jeff_McLane/status/783443023594217472
Was just going to post that haha
Interesting if true. I wondered if they’d want to leave Peters/Barbre/Kelce/Brooks in place and just switch out one person. Though, this is a national reporter, and looking now to see if anyone local has picked this up.
https://twitter.com/Edwerderespn/status/783305849125101568
Nice!
*raises fist, stern look on face*
HPV.
We’d better get to work…
*There is no getting around HPV.
*HPV will effect 10 out of 10 LDEs this year alone.
*Lane wasn’t careful, and now we have HPV.
There is a vaccine now…
Which would have been a fine idea in the offseason, but it is too late for vaccines now. Besides, taking drugs to strengthen the body’s defenses is what got us into this mess.
I heard it on local radio, but they were just parroting this tweet.
More interesting stuff from Twitter. I wonder who is going to get popped for this.
https://twitter.com/JasonLaCanfora/status/783380732538478592
Just read in Les Bowens column that the arbitor must uphold or vacate the LJ suspension, he cannot reduce it. Didn’t know that and it stinks because I can’t see them vacating it – could have easily seen a reduction.
agree – sucks that it’s so all or nothing.
How does this make sense? I feel like many suspensions in the last year and a half or so have been reduced, like Bell’s for instance.
I didn’t link cuz I don’t like les and didn’t want to give him clicks but he goes into that and uses Bell as an example. Basically you can make a deal with the league before you go to the arbitor, which is what Bell did, but if you go to the arbitor there can’t be a reduction.
Makes you wonder whether the league wouldn’t deal, or if Lane’s camp really thinks they have a case to get it overturned and didn’t want to settle.
Let’s hope it’s the latter, but I doubt it.
Looking it up, it looks like the Greg Hardy one (10 games to 4) went to an arbiter, though. Maybe it has something to do with being in the drug program vs. not, but this seems like an inconsistent rule.
Agree – first I had heard of that rule – sounds wrong and I wouldn’t put it past Les to be wrong, but I would think he would research that before posting it.
I thought the Hardy reduction was a misreporting.
Tommy and Tum Tum are probably going nuts – Trumbo just hit a bomb.
Whiskey sour, oysters on the half shell, trumbomb. Im a happy man
New thread is up.