Jump to content

Eagles’ fixation on 12 personnel might be a problem without solution


UK_EaglesFan89
 Share

Recommended Posts

Eagles’ fixation on 12 personnel might be a problem without solution

The Eagles have arguably the best tight end duo in the NFL so it’s no surprise they have been working hard to get Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert on the field together.

But two games into the 2020 season, the Eagles are using their two-tight end package at an absurd rate … even for them.

And to make matters worse, it’s not really working. At least not yet.

The Eagles led the NFL in 12 personnel usage (1 running back, 2 tight ends, 2 receivers) last season at 52 percent. Two games into the 2020 season, the Eagles have been in 12 personnel for 74 percent (!!!) of their offensive plays, according to Sharp Football.

On Sunday, they were in 12 personnel for 56 of 69 (81 percent) of their offensive plays.

"We are comfortable in 12 personnel,” head coach Doug Pederson said. "We feel like we have some matchup advantages with our tight ends in situations like that.

"But I think coming out of 12 personnel, I think you got to use it more — you know, obviously the running game can be a big part of that with the 12 personnel. Play-action passes which we alluded to.

"There are some things we can do to get a little bit more production out of that personnel group. It helps you to maybe maximize the protection a little bit to allow the ball to go down the field. So there are some opportunities there that we can take a look at.”

To put that 74 percent figure into perspective, the next closest team in 12 personnel usage is Arizona. The Cardinals are lining up in 12 personnel on just 33 percent of their plays. And league-wide, even including the Eagles’ absurdly high number, the average is 19 percent. The Eagles have run more plays out of 12 than the next two teams combined.

Here are the top five teams in 12 personnel usage so far this season:

Eagles: 74 percent 

Cardinals: 33 percent

Seahawks: 30 percent 

Buccaneers: 30 percent 

Browns: 29 percent

The NFL in 2020 is about speed. It’s why literally every other team in the league has spent more time in 11 personnel (1 running back, 1 tight end, 3 receivers) than any other grouping this season.

So the Eagles are bucking the trend, which wouldn’t be a problem … if it was working.

But through two games, the Eagles are averaging 6.3 yards per passing attempt out of 12 personnel and 4.2 yards per carry. Those figures are down from last year, when they averaged 6.7 and 4.4 And remember, after last year, the Eagles decided they needed to become a more explosive offense and tried to add speed. Traditionally, 12 personnel lends itself to slower, more methodical drives.

The real question is this: Can the Eagles’ offense be explosive from 12 personnel?

Goedert certainly thinks so. But it’s worth noting that he’s the one who benefits most from this Eagles trend.

"Going back to Week 1, I think we had quite a few explosive plays from 12 personnel,” Goedert said. "But like I said, last week, we kind of knew it was gonna be like that where they're going to filter everything into the middle. They weren’t gonna give up the big plays.

"But yeah, there's gonna be opportunities for big explosive plays whether we can get the play action going, [DeSean Jackson] can take a big play or (John) Hightower, we can get J.J. (Arcega-Whiteside) started rolling. But just everybody has to be better."

Maybe he’s right. Maybe there’s not a causation here. It’s very possible the Eagles’ offensive isn’t ineffective because they’re using 12 personnel so much. Maybe 12 personnel has been ineffective because the entire offense is out of sorts. It’s not like they’ve been any better in 11 personnel — in fact, they’ve had a similar level of success and failure. And it’s not like all the offense’s problems will go away if they take Goedert off the field and put Greg Ward Jr. out there more.

The Eagles think — and rightly so — that Goedert is one of their best skill players so they’re going to play him.

Now, you can certainly question how the Eagles built their offense. In a league that values speed now more than ever, two of the Eagles’ best skill players are tight ends. But that’s not likely to change this season. So the best thing they can do is try to make their 12 personnel package work a little better.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-fixation-12-personnel-might-be-problem-without-solution

Problem is... They don't have much choice. They don't have the WRs plus Ertz and Goedert are two of Wentz more trusted receivers. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Eagles’ fixation on 12 personnel might be a problem without solution

 

 

Wow, 74% for us when the next highest team is at just 33%. That's an absolutely mind-blowing disparity. I mean, obviously we're stronger at TE than WR, but still, that's nuts. I know some people hate the idea, but this, and his desire for a new contract, is why I'm absolutely on board for trading Ertz for draft picks.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Problem is they have no bigger, physical receivers outside of Alshon who still hasn’t played yet. If the options are 12 personnel or more JJAW... well the answer is obvious. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, jsdarkstar said:

Problem is the Oline is falling apart and the need two tight ends to help block.

The OL wasn't the issue against the Rams. The problem was Wentz. He was trying to force things, not reading defenses and not identifying the right option. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

The OL wasn't the issue against the Rams. The problem was Wentz. He was trying to force things, not reading defenses and not identifying the right option. 

Not to mention air mailing it 5 yards over guys heads or throwing it behind them.

2 TE or 3 WR doesn't matter if the QB isn't delivering the ball where it needs to go and accurately.

If Wentz fixes his problems, the offense will be fine.

If he doesn't, the offense is going to suck no matter the personnel.

If Wentz is making good decisions and throwing accurately the 12-personnel stat is just an interesting stat... trying to read it into it that the offense is failing because it's running 12 too much when the two best receivers are TEs is just dumb (and the author did hedge that)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Ross said:

If Wentz fixes his problems, the offense will be fine.

If he doesn't, the offense is going to suck no matter the personnel.

My issue at this point? Wentz will correct his issues for a period of time. And then he'll go back to sloppy mechanics for a period of time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ideally with 12 one is hoping to get a defense to go with a heavier front and try and create mismatches by getting a LB matched up on Ertz or goedert. 

Teams have been staying in nickel though because Ertz can't run block well enough to force a defense to defend the run with a LB and they just stay in nickel and it's worked.

If eagles could run effectively out of twelve they'd force defenses to play more honest.

Going back to 2017 not only did they play more 11 than 12 with Agholor being the slot but they ran the ball more effectively as well. And even when they were in 12 alot of times celek was blocking then releasing on short stuff and he was a great run blocker as well. 

If defenses are going to stay in nickel against 12 then the O needs to make them pay in the run game and when they creep up to stop the run you throw it over the top. Works in tennessee.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, Utebird said:

Ideally with 12 one is hoping to get a defense to go with a heavier front and try and create mismatches by getting a LB matched up on Ertz or goedert. 

Teams have been staying in nickel though because Ertz can't run block well enough to force a defense to defend the run with a LB and they just stay in nickel and it's worked.

If eagles could run effectively out of twelve they'd force defenses to play more honest.

Going back to 2017 not only did they play more 11 than 12 with Agholor being the slot but they ran the ball more effectively as well. And even when they were in 12 alot of times celek was blocking then releasing on short stuff and he was a great run blocker as well. 

If defenses are going to stay in nickel against 12 then the O needs to make them pay in the run game and when they creep up to stop the run you throw it over the top. Works in tennessee.

 

We are in complete agreement on 12 personnel.

The problem with 12 personnel is Ertz.  He's a slot WR when Goedert is on the field.  It's not that the Eagles need to make them pay in the run game...Ertz needs to make them pay in the run game.  But the Eagles aren't going to bring Ertz in over the tackle, make him put a hand in the dirt, and let him blow up a DB or help the OL blow up a DL when there are 5 DB's on the field.  

Sure, Sanders is effective and their run game is intermittently effective, but it's not a mismatch, not by a long shot.  

The nickel is the look our 12 personnel got all last year and will continue to get all this year.  

The irony is that Ertz's stats would be a lot better if he could just fein an attempt at blocking because he'd find himself covered by a LB more often. 

Ertz is such a WR at this point that I'm beginning to question if we should actually say that we are a 12 personnel team.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...