Jeff McLane Discusses What Fans Can Expect from New DC Sean Desai

The Eagles finally hired a defensive coordinator. Sean Desai is leaving Seattle, to take the job in Philly. He previously spent a year as the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. But after the Bears fired Matt Nagy, he was not retained and has been a defensive assistant for the Seattle Seahawks since. But what can Eagles fans expect from their new DC? Will it be more of the same from Desai that we got from Gannon? Or does Desai bring new wrinkles to the Vic Fangio style of defense? Jeff McLane joined The Anthony Gargano Show to discuss just that.

Here is what McLane’s thoughts were on the hire of Sean Desai…

"Yeah, I’ve heard some good things too… As Nick said himself, just a super high football IQ, very detailed, very good in terms of communicating his desires. Now, this may be troublesome for Eagles fans, but I mean his scheme isn’t very much different than (Gannon’s). When he was a defensive coordinator with the Bears two years ago, he blitzed at about similar rate to (Gannon). He’s going to play a lot of these coverages that you’re trying to entice teams to run the ball, and not give up the explosive play.

I would say that one thing that was a little different, I thought he had a little more exotic pass rushes. Whether it’s four standing up guys, or overloading, or just doing things a little different than I thought Jonathan Gannon did in that regard. But again, you know, it comes down to players. It comes down to executing. As you and I have talked about many times, Jonathan’s problem wasn’t really the scheme whether you hated it or loved it. The bigger problem I thought was just situationally in certain calls is when he just was not next level. And Desai may be that guy.”

https://975thefanatic.com/2023/03/01/jeff-mclane-discusses-what-fans-can-expect-from-new-dc-sean-desai/

Look if we aren't going to blitz more then please just play more press. Get our CBs up to the line more or at least closer to it and get a little more physical. Just be a more physical defense and not let a good QB pick you apart. 

Don't care if the team blitzes more or not.  Do care if the defense fails to make adjustments or is otherwise excessively vulnerable when it faces a good QB

11 hours ago, Procus said:

Don't care if the team blitzes more or not.  Do care if the defense fails to make adjustments or is otherwise excessively vulnerable when it faces a good QB

Yep.  And with regard to blitzing, it isn't as much about doing so more ... it is about being more creative and better disguising them such that they don't know where to expect the pressure to come from.   

There are situations here and there throughout a season or even a game, where bringing 6 or 7 while in man/press is an absolute must. Gannon was incapable of calling it whether disguised or not. He lacked the courage to meet that challenge when faced with it. That's what a play it safe coach does. Desai will hopefully have the courage to have his guys practice it, and make that call when necessary. Time will tell.

2 hours ago, PoconoDon said:

There are situations here and there throughout a season or even a game, where bringing 6 or 7 while in man/press is an absolute must. Gannon was incapable of calling it whether disguised or not. He lacked the courage to meet that challenge when faced with it. That's what a play it safe coach does. Desai will hopefully have the courage to have his guys practice it, and make that call when necessary. Time will tell.

100% facts. Worst I've seen was blitzing and still have your CBs play 7yds off. 

At a certain point it really doesn't matter what the DC is calling. There's no plays that call for the entire secondary to be on one side leaving the the whole other side open for walk in TDs. There's no calls that call for the D line to not get pressure or sacks. At the end of the day the players need to execute and make plays while minimizing mistakes. Coaches get way too much credit, and way too much blame IMO...

And I don’t give a — about any of it because I’m still bitter about the SB. I might never recover.