Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Dominant Defense?

Posted May 3rd, 2026 | 1 Comment »

The Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2024 in large part due to a dominant defense that was first in the league in yards allowed and second in points allowed. The defense was erratic early in 2025, but came alive after the Jaelan Phillips trade. That unit finished fifth in the league in points allowed.

The outlook for 2026 is good, very good. You can make an argument that the Eagles have the best trio of corners in the league (Mitchell, DeJean, Woolen). You can make an argument they have the best trio of DTs in the league (Carter, Davis, Ojomo). They have a good set of pass rushers (Greenard, Smith, Hunt, Ebiketie). The LBs are very talented and good playmakers (Baun, Campbell). The weak spot is safety, where Drew Mukuba and Marcus Epps are the projected starters.

I don’t see safety as a weak spot so much as just unproven. We haven’t seen Mukuba and Epps play much together. Mukuba is the cover guy and playmaker. Epps is the hitter and tackler. Both know the system and should work well together. Vic Fangio isn’t going to put out safeties that he’s not comfortable with. He wanted Mukuba in the draft and has said good things about Epps. Trust Vic.

There shouldn’t be a slow start on defense this year. Campbell and Mukuba are in Year 2 so they should be more comfortable and effective. One of the keys will be keeping Jalen Carter healthy. He only played in 11 games last year and was limited in others due to a nagging shoulder injury. If he gets back to his healthy 2024 form, look out. He’ll likely be fired up in hopes of getting a contract extension. Smith was hampered by an injury last year and that limited his effectiveness. He should be good this time around.

The Eagles have good depth. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka gives them a big edge to compete for a spot. Rookie Keyshawn James-Newby is undersized, but explosive. One of them should make the team. Ty Robinson is a player the team is high on. He needs to take a step forward this year to be more disruptive when he’s on the field. Byron Young needs to work on his run defense, especially anchoring against double teams. Jeremiah Trotter Jr gives the team a good #3 LB. Michael Carter can play nickel or safety. Jonathan Jones is a veteran DB who can play nickel or outside. Mac McWilliams is in Year 2 and needs to show good progress.

Cole Wisniewski can push for a starting spot or be good depth. Check out this quote in regard to scheme fit in Fangio’s system.

“He’s one of the godfathers of the two-high and shell system, and I’ve played in the shell system for my entire college career…

“Looking forward to the next level, I thought ‘Vic Fangio’s system would be a really good system for me’… and so being able to come to the source is awesome.”

Thank you to Jimmy Bama for getting that quote. Doesn’t sound like a typical rookie. Wisniewski is older and that maturity shows. He will do everything he can to get on the field and find a role for this team.

It feels like Howie has given Fangio all the right pieces. Maybe they decide to add a veteran safety. Maybe they decide to add a veteran DT to the mix for depth. But the players in place now can be one of the best defenses in the league. They have the right combination of experience, talent and returning players. The key to good defense is for all 11 guys to be on the same page. Woolen and Greenard are the only new guys to the scheme. Greenard will fit in easily because of his role. Woolen has to learn how the Eagles like to cover schematically. The good news is that he’s got the speed to make up for some of the mistakes he’ll make.

I’m excited to see this group in action. They could be special.

*****

One of the things that helped the 2024 defense to play at such a high level was the Eagles offense. They were able to sustain drives and keep the defense off the field. Obviously that wasn’t the case last year and it put added pressure on the defense.

If the OL is healthy this season, the offense should do a better job of sustaining drives. That means more rest for the defense. That means more time with the coaches to make adjustments. Let’s hope the offense is greatly improved so it will benefit the defense…and be much less painful for us to watch.

_

Rookie Camp Opens

Posted May 2nd, 2026 | 1 Comment »

Eagles rookies got on the field on Friday. They are prospects no more. They are Eagles. You had the draft picks, 8 officially signed UDFAs and a bunch of tryout invitees. These are very basic practices so don’t expect too much.

Makai Lemon got a lot of attention since he was the star of the team’s draft class.

You see quickness, great body control and natural hands. We saw all of that on his college tape, but it is always reassuring to see it from the player once he’s in your uniform and on your practice field. You can see a real difference in him and the guys after him. Lemon makes it look natural, almost easy. That’s what you want from a first round pick. If things are forced, stiff or almost mechanical, that’s not going to work in the NFL.

***

Jimmy Bama put up his practice notes. I’m glad he covered Eli Stowers and his blocking. Here are some quotes from the rookie TE.

“I think that moving from quarterback and getting into blocking is just new. It’s really new, because quarterbacks are never asked to block. It’s something that’s new and you just have to learn the technique. That wasn’t necessarily a hurdle, but just the thing that you have to learn the most. You really have to get your technique down, and a lot of it is reps so you get the muscle memory.

“The other side of it is just the will to want to block, and I have that and I want to be the best blocker that I can be. And from that point it’s just learning my techniques and really practicing it.”

There is no disputing that his in-line blocking was bad. That doesn’t mean he can’t develop that skill in the NFL. One of the things that gives me hope is that Stowers is tough with the ball in his hands. He doesn’t avoid contact. He will go through a tackler to try to get more yards, especially if he’s anywhere close to the end zone. That toughness can be tapped into to help him become an effective blocker.

The real key to blocking is desire. Puka Nacua is a good blocker because he’s tough and battles. Grant Calcaterra struggles most of the time and his body language tells you he doesn’t want to do it. If you embrace blocking, you can improve. Stowers is addressing the issue and knows eyes are on him. Hopefully that motivates him to really work on it.

He did show good effort at times in college. There is something to work with.

***

The UDFAs are:

DB Kapena Gushiken
S Tucker Large
LB Deontae Lawson
S Maximus Pulley
OG Jaeden Roberts
LS Rocco Underwood
ED Joshua Weru
TE Dae’Quan Wright

I wrote notes on these players in a previous post.

***

There were some veterans free agents brought in for a look.

OG Michael Jordan – 6-6, 312 – He’s got 49 career starts. Started 9 games for Tampa last year. If the Eagles want a veteran backup on the inside, he would make some sense.

ED Isaiah Thomas – 6-5, 272 – Has good size, but minimal experience. He’s only played in 12 games and was out of the league last year. One career sack. I did like him coming out of college.

RB Elijah Mitchell – 5-10, 200 – Played well for the Niners in the past. Has 1,523 career rushing yards. Averages 4.7 ypc. Was with KC last year, but barely played. Eagles might want someone to help eat up reps in TC.

RB Khalil Herbert – 5-9, 212 – Has 1, 957 career rushing yards. Averages 4.7 ypc. Another solid vet who could make sense for depth this summer. Was with the Jets last year.

***

Here are a couple of quick videos from beat reporters. They focused on DT Uar Bernard.

This dude is one heck of an athlete. I sure hope they can tap into his potential.

***

Here is a random nugget.

He’s still getting traded, but there isn’t animosity between him and the team.

***

This is the first camp without Jeff Stoutland since the Andy Reid era. That means new drills and new ways of doing things.

Kuper knows the new scheme well and is a good fit from that perspective. Now we have to find out what kind of teacher he is. Nick Sirianni didn’t make this hire lightly. He knows having a good OL coach is critical to having a good OL. Kuper has good players to work with so he should deliver good results. He’ll definitely be under the microscope this season.

_