Dial M for Multiple

[time2rock]

Dial M for Multiple

Posted: August 1st, 2022 | Author: Tommy Lawlor 

Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is highly regarded around the NFL. Midway through the 2021 season Eagles fans would have had a simple response to that.

Why?

Gannon got off to a bad, almost disastrous, start in his first stint as an NFL defensive coordinator. The team was 3-6 at midseason. Teams were averaging 24.2 points per game against the Eagles and the figure was only that low because of strong showings against the lowly Lions and Falcons (6 points by each of those opponents). Take those games away and teams were averaging just under 30 points a game.

Ugh.

And that’s not the worst part. The Eagles made it easy for them. Gannon didn’t blitz, played off-coverage and his safeties might as well have claimed residence in Delaware with how deep they played. It was pure torture.

The Chiefs and Chargers didn’t have to punt in their wins over the Eagles. The Raiders didn’t have to punt until the end of the third quarter. Getting stops should not be that hard. Opposing QBs were completing almost 80 percent of their passes against the Eagles. Buddy Ryan and Jim Johnson were rolling over in their graves. Play some press coverage. Call a blitz! Do something. Don’t just let teams march up and down the field with ease.

Thankfully Gannon listened to some of his critics, most notably head coach Nick Sirianni. Gannon got more aggressive and the defense suddenly played a lot better. It also helped that they played some bad QBs. The Eagles finished 18th in points allowed, 10th in yards allowed and were 25th in defensive DVOA. They were near the bottom of the league in sacks, takeaways and third down percentage. Other than that, things were great.

The goal this year is to get better and actually be able to shut down a good offense. Improved personnel will certainly help. Gannon also has to do his part, which means both being more aggressive and more creative.

Football schemes evolve over time. What worked in the past isn’t always ideal for right now. Back in the 1980’s, Buddy Ryan was the very definition of aggressive. He wanted to rush more than you could block. The 46 Defense took things to the next level because it also involved disguise. You weren’t always sure who was coming.

Offenses adjusted.

Jim Johnson came to Philly and brought the zone blitz. That meant blitzing, but also focusing on coverage so the back end of the defense wasn’t overly exposed. Jim was both aggressive and creative.

Offense adjusted.

Rex Ryan took over the Jets defense in 2009. He combined elements of The 46 and zone blitzing in his overload blitzes. In 2008 the Jets were 18th in points and 16th in yards allowed. In Rex’s first year, they were number one in both points and yards allowed. The link below doesn’t work, but the gif gives you an idea of what Rex was doing. Aggression and confusion.

Football has continued to change. Offenses throw more than ever. And they’re better at it than ever. There are RPOs. Trick plays. Lots of motion. No-huddle. Teams now go for it on fourth down on a regular basis.

NFL defenses have been stealing a lot of ideas from college. They see what Matt Campbell and his coaches do at Iowa State. They see what Dave Aranda does at Baylor. These ideas are now making their way into the NFL. Lots of 3-man fronts. Lots of dime looks. Using light boxes and focusing on the pass rather than the run.

Now let’s talk about the Eagles and what they’ll be doing this year.

Gannon is very close with Brandon Staley, who was the Rams DC in 2020 and the Chargers head coach last year. They have a lot of similar ideas and philosophies on how to run a defense.

Watch this for some ideas on what Staley did in 2020.

He had the league’s top defense that year. Things weren’t as good with the Chargers last year. They were 29th in points and 23rd in yards allowed. They were 26th in defensive DVOA. Scheme isn’t everything. You must have the right players. The Chargers could not stop the run. They gave up 174 or more rushing yards in seven games. That’s brutally bad. The Eagles only had one such game (vs the Chiefs).

The Eagles added players this offseason to make the defense more versatile and more explosive.

Haason Reddick can play DE and OLB. Genard Avery could also do both, but he did neither well. Reddick is an explosive pass rusher. When the Eagles just let him attack, he can be a true difference-maker. Reddick is athletic enough to to drop into coverage and be effective. This doesn’t mean he’ll be William Thomas or Seth Joyner. They were playmakers in space. Reddick is just dropping back to mix up looks and keep offenses honest. He’ll spend most of his time going after the QB.

Jordan Davis gives the Eagles a big, athletic DT who can do it all. In the 4-3, he can push the pocket and be disruptive. In 3-man looks, he can 2-gap, which allows Gannon to play with a light box. This is oversimplifying Davis, but you could write a thousand words just about him and what he’ll mean to this scheme.

 

Davis can 1-gap or 2-gap. He can play NT or DT. And he’s got the potential to be great at all of it. He’ll create favorable matchups for the linemen around him. He’ll protect the LBs behind him. Davis will let the safeties play pass-first and not have to load up the box.

Kyzir White comes to Philly to add speed and experience to the LB unit. He is physical enough to play MLB and athletic enough to play WLB. He can play downhill or go sideline-to-sideline. White had a sack in practice the other day, showing his burst and playmaking ability.

Nakobe Dean is another playmaking LB. If the Eagles want to go light at LB, they can play White and Dean together. That would give them a pair of guys who can run and make plays.

James Bradberry gives Gannon a playmaking zone corner to add to the mix. Bradberry has at least three INTs in each of the past three seasons. He has averaged 16 passes defensed over that same span. The Eagles didn’t have anyone with more than nine PDs last year. Simply put, Bradberry makes plays on the ball.

Jaquiski Tartt is a big, veteran safety who can move around and do different things. The Eagles can use a 3-safety look with him, Marcus Epps and Anthony Harris. Tartt can play in the box or back deep.

Kyron Johnson will likely be a backup to Reddick, if he’s able to make the team. Johnson is a disruptive pass-rusher with an explosive first step. He’s got to show he can be a complete LB and adjust to NFL competition. Johnson lit up the Senior Bowl so going against good competition brought out the best in him last year.

Not all help will be brand new.

Brandon Graham is back from his injury. He can be used in a variety of ways. He’s done it all in his long NFL career.

Milton Williams is a gifted athlete who can play DE or DT. He flashed as a rookie and should be better this year.

Davion Taylor is having a good camp so far. He is another speedy LB who has shown some playmaking potential.

Teams will know the Eagles want to be situational so they’ll mix in no-huddle at times to dictate who the Eagles have on the field. This is where versatility is so crucial. Gannon isn’t limited by who is on the field. He can still be creative. Obviously he wants certain players in certain looks, but he’s got enough skilled guys that he can still mix up his calls.

Gannon now has a good combination of talent, versatility and depth to work with. He must show that he can get this group of players to play consistently well and shut down good offenses. We’re going to find out just how good of a coach Gannon truly is.

http://igglesblitz.com/2022/08/dial-m-for-multiple/

[PoconoDon]

Gannon will have to demonstrate a consistently more aggressive approach to calling his defense for me to have confidence in him as a fan. He played it way too safe last year and I can only hope that it was personnel driving that and not his nature. Personnel shouldn't be an issue this year so, we'll see if he goes soft when the pressure is on or if he attacks. I hope he attacks.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

I have to say I'm not excited and nervous about the defense this year. 

On the one hand they've got a lot more fire power and talent on defense. Davis I think is going to bring a lot and they've added a player who can get to the QB in Reddick. We also now have talent at LB and a duo in Slay and Bradberry who could be one of the top CB pairings. 

But on the other hand we didn't see a lot from Gannon last year. And yes some of that was down to a lack of talent but he wasn't aggressive and he didn't do enough to throw different things at QBs. He was too passive and was found out time and time again. So whilst he's highly regarded he's got a lot to prove. And there's also a little concern about how the players can adapt to multiple fronts and looks. 

[time2rock]

6 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I have to say I'm not excited and nervous about the defense this year. 

On the one hand they've got a lot more fire power and talent on defense. Davis I think is going to bring a lot and they've added a player who can get to the QB in Reddick. We also now have talent at LB and a duo in Slay and Bradberry who could be one of the top CB pairings. 

But on the other hand we didn't see a lot from Gannon last year. And yes some of that was down to a lack of talent but he wasn't aggressive and he didn't do enough to throw different things at QBs. He was too passive and was found out time and time again. So whilst he's highly regarded he's got a lot to prove. And there's also a little concern about how the players can adapt to multiple fronts and looks. 

He seemed to get a bit more aggressive later in the season (after Sirianni reportedly had a talk with him).  He is just another one that was on a major learning curve last year along with Sirianni, Hurts, etc.  With all of them, let's see if they put together a better start to the season based on what they learned last year.  I have no expectations ... good or bad.  Pretty much just in wait-and-see mode.

[Procus]

Gannon will be the beneficiary of the significant upgrade in talent on the defensive side of the ball this year.  The defense should be a lot better if for no other reason that the personnel is better.  But in the NFL, Gannon will get the credit and will use this to get a head coaching job somewhere.  My guess is that after Gannon leaves, the Eagles will find their next Jim Schwartz to head of the defense.  Maybe Vic Fangio who was spotted in TC recently?

[matchew88]

Good article. A 3-4 defense with Davis doubled and 4 linebackers would be stout.