After the last couple of weeks it's pretty clear the defensive plan against the pass has been pretty bad. Seemed if the 4 man rush can't get there with regularity it leaves people wide open as it's pretty clear the secondary can't cover for very long.  Maybe more 5/6 men rushing more often than dropping so many into coverage which hasn't been all that productive may prevent the secondary from being exposed. Let them get the completion here or there. Dallas has CD lamb and a bunch of jags. Still CD was wide open all game. Glad they won but this secondary can't cover for any period of time. I love Brandon Graham but he can't pull a rabit out of the hat like that every game. Hopefully after the bye they will get up to the "standard". Jalen is balling and love his quote "It takes what it takes", hopefully the 2 weeks gets him healed. 

 

Exactly the point,  blitz more with extra rushers. They can't cover for very long, if at all in most cases.

Byard has been dissapointing, still early and I give howie credit for taking a swing but early returns are not positive. The personal foul was about the biggest thing that stands out from him. Hopefully he regains his form from a couple years ago. 
 

1 minute ago, GreenMachine said:

Exactly the point,  blitz more with extra rushers. They can't cover for very long, if at all in most cases. 

Well, I agree that I'd rather be aggressive and blitz more often than rely on coverage to come through in games where it just hasn't been good. It seems the Eagles are just working different guys in to see who comes out on top. Ricks made some plays earlier in the season and looked competent on the outside, but he has been a liability covering slot WRs the last 2 weeks. I understand that Lamb had a big game last year when Scott was the nickel, but Scott is still a better nickel than Ricks or Sydney Brown (currently). He should have played yesterday. 

I think with Cox, Davis and Carter banged up a bit and the secondary being banged up, the bye week comes at a great time in the schedule.

Getting as many guys healthy as possible, getting Byard more acclimated and Roby healthy, and giving Slay and Bradberry some rest, I think will go a long way to handing the next 4 tough games.

The defensive line will need to create pressure on Mahomes, Allen, Purdy and Prescott to take more pressure off the secondary.  But I also think Desai has to have better situational calls on obvious passing downs.

Im not sure what the answer is to be honest. 

We have one good cover CB and thats it. If the other team has multiple weapons they will always be able to exploit our D. 

Maybe what Desai is doing is the best we can do given the personnel. Maybe the analytics say blitzing is too risky unless you are super aggressive and completely surprise the other team. ie a corner blitz or something. 

Thats why good QBs and elite WRs are paid so much. You can try your best to stop them and they will still beat you.

1 hour ago, birdman#12 said:

I think with Cox, Davis and Carter banged up a bit and the secondary being banged up, the bye week comes at a great time in the schedule.

Getting as many guys healthy as possible, getting Byard more acclimated and Roby healthy, and giving Slay and Bradberry some rest, I think will go a long way to handing the next 4 tough games.

The defensive line will need to create pressure on Mahomes, Allen, Purdy and Prescott to take more pressure off the secondary.  But I also think Desai has to have better situational calls on obvious passing downs

Is it just me or does it seem like there are numerous downs where we are clearly rushing four with everyone else dropping into coverage without a hint that another defender or two may be rushing even if they ultimately drop into coverage. Particularly on third and long.

Hopefully we can stop having a LB cover a blocking RB on passing downs when the Slant goes right behind him everytime. This defensive philosophy is baffling. It’s literally "wait for the offense to make a mistake” instead of "force the offense to where we want them to go”

1 hour ago, GoEagles614 said:

Hopefully we can stop having a LB cover a blocking RB on passing downs when the Slant goes right behind him everytime. This defensive philosophy is baffling. It’s literally "wait for the offense to make a mistake” instead of "force the offense to where we want them to go”

Easier said than done when pretty much everybody is getting cooked. It's already BBQ chicken out there. Nah... keep doing what got them to 8-1 until they get some injured guys back and Byard assimilates. Then you can start doing some exotic schemes. I'll take giving up big yards and 3 instead of big plays and 6.

Entire secondary is as soft as it gets. Soft zone coverageall game every game. They don't press at the line and this gets compounded when the rush can't get pressure. Guys running wide open generally in the middle of the field pretty much all game every game. This is a scheme issue all day long.

I'm not impressed with either of our new coordinators. It seems like we are winning games in spite of their poor play calling and game planning. It seems like every week the team is trying to overcome the other team, their own turnovers and their own coordinators all at the same time.

We are 8 and 1 and in a great position regardless but I really hope we see some changes in several key areas.

Playoffs are different.  A team can not play great and still win in the regular season, but games like our last vs Dallas will be losses in the playoffs.  We can't cover on D so it is necessary to blitz some.  And we need to press on the line.  Knock WRs off their routes, disrupt timing and give the D line another second or two to get to the QB. Hard to believe we can bring in a dozen CBs over the past couple seasons and have virtually no one step up to play well.  Brown and Ricks gave up receptions on EVERY throw to their man and they are our two best young CB/slot defenders.  You get your CBs in the 1st 2 rounds and we have to take one with one of our 1st 2 picks in April, our 1st or New Orlean's 2nd.  The other pick will be a DE.  Our DC has coached better than our OC but both need to tweak what they are doing.  We need to press and blitz more on D

10 hours ago, judunno said:

Easier said than done when pretty much everybody is getting cooked. It's already BBQ chicken out there. Nah... keep doing what got them to 8-1 until they get some injured guys back and Byard assimilates. Then you can start doing some exotic schemes. I'll take giving up big yards and 3 instead of big plays and 6.

Disagree. We need to get off the field on 3rd and medium/long. Having someone step up like they’re defending the pass, allows easy pitch and catch slants to the middle of the field. They’re 8-1 in spite of the pass defense no because of it. They gave up 180 yards in the 4th yesterday and got LUCKY Dak stepped out & the TE knee was down in inch away from the TD. 
 

They need to tighten up their scheme on key downs, not let everyone run free. I highly doubt all of these players are this atrocious, has to be the scheme. 

Hopefully the Eagles will get back some secondary help in Roby and Evans. Evans can officially be reactivated for the Eagles/Chiefs game. It’s been so long since he was out there, but when he last played he was actually doing good. His issue has always been staying healthy though. 

1 hour ago, GoEagles614 said:

Disagree. We need to get off the field on 3rd and medium/long. Having someone step up like they’re defending the pass, allows easy pitch and catch slants to the middle of the field. They’re 8-1 in spite of the pass defense no because of it. They gave up 180 yards in the 4th yesterday and got LUCKY Dak stepped out & the TE knee was down in inch away from the TD. 
 

They need to tighten up their scheme on key downs, not let everyone run free. I highly doubt all of these players are this atrocious, has to be the scheme. 

It is the scheme. Has been for years now. That's the philosophy... bend but don't break. Get home with 4 rushers. But first and foremost don't give up the big play TDs. They are not going to take many risks with rookies and new pieces in the secondary. As they get experience, get healthier, and gel more I expect them to tighten up a bit but not a ton as that's not what a Fangio defense does.

I doubt much will change from what we've seen.  It is Sirianni's philosophy to "limit explosive plays"...he has stated that's what he wants from his DC.  It makes me wonder if Desai is somewhat handcuffed from making any changes of significance.  Blitzing more can lead to explosive plays.

Please remind me why we wanted Bradberry back? He's been getting burnt all season, and looks like he should be playing safety. He's too slow for corner imo, and never turns his head around.

The plan was "supposed to be" Slay and Bradberry as solid returning veterans, Maddox (injury prone, need to move on) in the slot and some depth added.  At safety they relied on a 2nd year UDFA who looked good opposite CJG but was put next to bum Edmunds.  Now they're relying on Byard bringing veteran presence, so far he hasn't been an upgrade.

Part of it is health.  Part of it is Slay and Bradberry need to look in the mirror and get their games back on track.  Part of it is Desai decision making.  

And a big part is definitely pass rush.  That has improved in the 2nd half of games.  They finished with 5 sacks on Sunday.  Reddick turns it on in spots.  They need the D line to be healthy.  All 4 of their best DTs have been hurt at different times.  The bye is desperately needed for health before the upcoming gauntlet of games.

Desai needs to be studying and adjusting during the bye as well.  Siri needs to be in both coordinators faces holding them accountable and to fix the problems they've had.

We need to rush 5 guys more than we do.  I'm not saying all the time, but we need to increase it pretty significantly.  

5 hours ago, judunno said:

It is the scheme. Has been for years now. That's the philosophy... bend but don't break. Get home with 4 rushers. But first and foremost don't give up the big play TDs. They are not going to take many risks with rookies and new pieces in the secondary. As they get experience, get healthier, and gel more I expect them to tighten up a bit but not a ton as that's not what a Fangio defense does.

Okay, you can bend without having your linebacker mirror a RB who’s sitting in the backfield, when he could be dropping backwards into space on 3rd and medium/long. That’s an anti-risk lmao. 
 

It’s not risky to have more players defending the first down instead of one constantly being taken out of the coverage for no reason. It’s why we keep getting smashed on slants, and in bunch. Our LBer goes forward to defend a pass instead of backwards, leaves an empty space mid-field. If they’re gonna throw it to the back, then have the team rally to the tackle. You can’t take the middle of the field defender out of that area in a cover 4 scheme. I can’t imagine running a cover 4 scheme and making that scheme’s biggest weakness even weaker over and over. If you’re not going to do that, then you need one of the safeties to run a third and have the other come down to play shallower like a faux cover 3. 
 

Has nothing to do with injuries, literally bad play design/concept. 

19 minutes ago, GoEagles614 said:

Okay, you can bend without having your linebacker mirror a RB who’s sitting in the backfield, when he could be dropping backwards into space on 3rd and medium/long. That’s an anti-risk lmao. 
 

It’s not risky to have more players defending the first down instead of one constantly being taken out of the coverage for no reason. It’s why we keep getting smashed on slants, and in bunch. Our LBer goes forward to defend a pass instead of backwards, leaves an empty space mid-field. If they’re gonna throw it to the back, then have the team rally to the tackle. You can’t take the middle of the field defender out of that area in a cover 4 scheme. I can’t imagine running a cover 4 scheme and making that scheme’s biggest weakness even weaker over and over. If you’re not going to do that, then you need one of the safeties to run a third and have the other come down to play shallower like a faux cover 3. 
 

Has nothing to do with injuries, literally bad play design/concept. 

Yeah but the RBs and TEs aren't who are constantly killing the defense. The CBs and Safeties are getting murdered out there.

https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/sean-desai-we-want-people-to-feel-this-eagles-defensehttps://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/sean-desai-we-want-people-to-feel-this-eagles-defense Sean Desai: 'We want people to feel this Eagles defense'

Love the quote. He just forgot to tell us the part where this Eagles defense was going to feel like this.

 

These guys just play soft. It's the scheme.

1 hour ago, EagleFan85 said:

https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/sean-desai-we-want-people-to-feel-this-eagles-defensehttps://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/sean-desai-we-want-people-to-feel-this-eagles-defense Sean Desai: 'We want people to feel this Eagles defense'

Love the quote. He just forgot to tell us the part where this Eagles defense was going to feel like this.

 

These guys just play soft. It's the scheme.

Ask Dak if they play soft lol. Almost sent that man to the upper room.

1 minute ago, judunno said:

Ask Dak if they play soft lol. Almost sent that man to the upper room.

In a previous post somewhere I suggested that was the play of the night by the Defense.

Our defenseive players are not soft. They are not geared towards playing soft coverages. Our scheme is soft. We get gashed often with chunk yardage. Anytime a QB extends a play it's basically a first down catch for someone.

That's my issue literally. This defense should not be soft. I honestly don't get it. They have come up with some huge plays too. Like BG chasing down Dak to force him out. That was huge.

But overall we let teams hang around far too frequently. This has also been exasperated by the offense doing stupid ISH and forcing unnecessary defensive snaps multiple times this season.

5 minutes ago, EagleFan85 said:

In a previous post somewhere I suggested that was the play of the night by the Defense.

Our defenseive players are not soft. They are not geared towards playing soft coverages. Our scheme is soft. We get gashed often with chunk yardage. Anytime a QB extends a play it's basically a first down catch for someone.

That's my issue literally. This defense should not be soft. I honestly don't get it. They have come up with some huge plays too. Like BG chasing down Dak to force him out. That was huge.

But overall we let teams hang around far too frequently. This has also been exasperated by the offense doing stupid ISH and forcing unnecessary defensive snaps multiple times this season.

I'm going to give them benefit of the doubt with the new pieces and rookies playing in the secondary. They look lost at times and a lot of that is experience related and the new guys adjusting to the scheme. I get why they were conservative the first 1/2 of the season. They got the results they wanted in the win column. The only loss that they took wasn't because of the defense either. Even marginal improvement will make this defense formidable. I think they will improve as they get some guys back healthy and they play together more as the year progresses. They're already at the bottom... too much talent and pride on that side of the ball to stay there all season IMO.

2 hours ago, judunno said:

Yeah but the RBs and TEs aren't who are constantly killing the defense. The CBs and Safeties are getting murdered out there.

Exactly. So why are we forcing a linebacker to play shallow on deep playing downs in the event that a RB leaks out on a delay, rather than him dropping into coverage to muddy up the middle crossing passing lanes?