This Eagles position group has been the most disappointing

[time2rock]

This Eagles position group has been the most disappointing

 

 

 

Reuben Frank

EAGLES INSIDER

They were built to dominate. Built to wreck stuff. Built to put this football team on their back and carry it as far as possible.

As the Eagles got set to begin the 2021 season, it was natural to think the defensive line was the strength of the team. Loaded with first-round picks, Pro Bowlers and huge contracts, this was the elite veteran nucleus on a team loaded with youth and question marks just about everywhere else.

Hasn’t worked out that way. Not even close.

The Eagles’ vaunted defensive line has been the most disappointing position group on the team.

By far.

They haven’t dominated. They haven’t wrecked anything. And to say they’ve underachieved would be putting it mildly.

The Eagles are paying their defensive linemen $58.8 million this year, second-most of any NFL team.

What are they getting for that investment? 

Mediocrity.

Fletcher Cox missed the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2014 and although he’s been better the last few weeks, it’s been a disappointing season for the all-time Eagle. Derek Barnett, the 14th pick in the 2017 draft, regressed from mediocre to non-existent, and was one of only two defensive ends in the NFL to start at least 15 games and record two or fewer sacks (along with seven penalties). Josh Sweat got a huge contract, started weak and finished strong, but still only ranked 36th in the NFL in sacks. Javon Hargrave started strong and finished weak. Ryan Kerrigan? Yikes.

Not one of these guys played better than average start to finish. Not one. The most consistent lineman of the bunch might have been rookie defensive tackle Milton Williams, who gradually earned himself more and more playing time as the year went on.

Obviously, the Eagles tremendously missed Brandon Graham, their best pass rusher and one of their true team leaders. But the Eagles have allocated a tremendous amount of resources to the D-line just because it is one of the most important position groups in the modern NFL. And this group let the Eagles down week after week.

Derek Carr, Tom Brady, Jimmy Garappolo, Justin Herbert, Teddy Bridgewater, Pat Mahomes, Trevor Siemian, Mike Glennon, Daniel Jones, Zach Wilson and Garrett Gilbert combined to throw 376 passes against the Eagles this year.

They were sacked a combined eight times.

The Eagles recorded 29 sacks this year, second-fewest in the NFL and fewest by the Eagles since sacks became an official stat in 1982. And 10 of those 29 were in two games. A lack of pressure means quarterbacks can stand in the pocket and pick you apart, which helps explain why the Eagles also recorded just 12 interceptions and 16 takeaways.

On a positive note, the Eagles were very good against the run this year -- ninth overall but seventh before the meaningless finale vs. the Cowboys.

But we all know that the single biggest priority in the NFL these days is generating pressure on the quarterback. If you can’t make a quarterback uncomfortable and make him move his feet and force him to make throws he doesn’t want to make, you’re doomed.

Which is why an NFL-record nine QBs this year -- really, every established QB they faced other than Matt Ryan and Teddy Bridgewater -- completed at least 73 percent of their passes against the Eagles.

Which brings us to Brady.

If you can’t pressure him, you have no shot. You will lose.

The Buccaneers allowed an NFL-low 21 sacks this year. When Brady was sacked two or fewer times, the Bucs were 12-1.

This is a terrifying matchup.

One of the least productive defensive lines in the NFL. Against one of the best offensive lines. Protecting the greatest football player in history.

Now, the Eagles can beat the Bucs. They can.

But to have any chance, this defensive line is going to have to do one thing it hasn’t done all year.

Live up to expectations.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-position-group-has-been-most-disappointing

[UK_EaglesFan89]

Time for that DL to step up and come up big. If they can dominant on Sunday then they have a great chance to limit the Bucs offense. This is the time for Cox to show he's still a top player. For Hargrave to prove he's the future and for Sweat to show up and show he's ready for this. 

[NCTANK]

8 minutes ago, CouchKing said:

Look at the jockey going to the whip on the home stretch

someone sure as hell needs to 

[PoconoDon]

The mediocre performances by the D-line all year is unfortunately, their best. The expectation of them constantly pressuring a QB is a fantasy. If it were real, we'd see it week in and week out. We don't, and it's clearly because they can't do it. 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

4 hours ago, PoconoDon said:

The mediocre performances by the D-line all year is unfortunately, their best. The expectation of them constantly pressuring a QB is a fantasy. If it were real, we'd see it week in and week out. We don't, and it's clearly because they can't do it. 

And that's got to change on Sunday if they are going to have any chance. They have to get pressure and sacks.

[eggs]

Let's see if they benefit from resting last week.  You would think it would especially help veterans like Cox and Hargraves.

[time2rock]

6 hours ago, PoconoDon said:

The mediocre performances by the D-line all year is unfortunately, their best. The expectation of them constantly pressuring a QB is a fantasy. If it were real, we'd see it week in and week out. We don't, and it's clearly because they can't do it. 

Have to wonder if it is personnel or scheme related.  Whatever it is, enhancing the pass rush needs to be the top priority this upcoming offseason, whether that means tweaking the scheme or what I think is more likely, adding the right players to fit the scheme.  Armed with 3 1st rd picks I'd say >90% chance we take a DE with one (and somewhat likely we take 2 by the end of day 2).  

[UK_EaglesFan89]

17 minutes ago, time2rock said:

Have to wonder if it is personnel or scheme related.  Whatever it is, enhancing the pass rush needs to be the top priority this upcoming offseason, whether that means tweaking the scheme or what I think is more likely, adding the right players to fit the scheme.  Armed with 3 1st rd picks I'd say >90% chance we take a DE with one (and somewhat likely we take 2 by the end of day 2).  

I mean it's hard to gauge isn't it. Cox is an ageing player so you'd expect some form of decline. And to be fair Cox has been more of a factor the last few weeks. Sweat has gotten stronger as the year has progressed and Barnett has been what he's been since he was drafted... A bit of a disappointment. 

[birdman#12]

Expectations and reality were drastically different this year.  Kerrigan and Barnett are a waste of roster spots. With Kerrigan, they were hoping for that one last year of contribution but they really got nothing from the guy.  Barnett just never developed.....he was probably at his peak when he was drafted...again, when they picked up his option year, they were hoping to see that potential finally come out......no reason to even consider resigning him.

I know Cox was frustrated with the scheme and I doubt he was the only one.  But Hargrave has been good, but has drawn more double teams now and Sweat has picked it up.  If they're to have any chance in the playoffs, the Dline has to be a lot better than they have.   I think Milton Williams will be playing more......they guy is impressive.

[rrfierce]

Do we not think that it’s the scheme and not the players that are producing the mediocrity ?

[LacesOut]

I think the scheme stinks AND the players are just not that good. It's another area that has holes to fill on this team.

[weko]

2nd least sacks in the league against the weakest schedule in the nfl and some of the worst qbs indicates the problem is worse than we think

[UK_EaglesFan89]

1 hour ago, weko said:

2nd least sacks in the league against the weakest schedule in the nfl and some of the worst qbs indicates the problem is worse than we think

Completely agree. But is it the players or the scheme?