Eagles-Commanders Film Review: Analyzing the weirdest defensive performance

This was the weirdest defensive efficiency I’ve ever tried to investigate. What protection provides up 5 passing touchdowns and has 5 turnovers? It’s unprecedented. I’ll do my finest to investigate this one, nevertheless it was a bizarre recreation.

Protection

Just like the offense, the Eagles’ protection got here out flying on this one. The primary few drives have been nearly as good because it will get. I assumed Fangio was in his bag early on, and he was getting a bunch of free rushers and dashing up Jayden Daniels’ course of, who appeared uncomfortable. This was an amazing 5-man rush, giving Nolan Smith lots of house to work with. He makes the Washington deal with look foolish by beating him with velocity and athleticism. Take a look at Jalen Carter transferring the guard to the appropriate to create lots of room for Nolan Smith, too. The Eagles’ protection was lights out early on.

Jordan Davis didn’t play a lot as a consequence of an harm, however he had some excellent reps in run protection early on. Washington gave up working on the Eagles and resorted to throwing it almost each time as a result of the run protection was so good. That is certainly one of Jordan Davis’ finest reps of his profession. Washington desires to run it on 4th and 1, and Davis blows by way of the double groups and hits the working again within the backfield. That is an impressive rep. Josh Sweat does properly, too, as he comes crashing down shortly however retains his physique place sq., so Jayden Daniels isn’t certain if he’s coming down or taking part in the quarterback. If Sweat was too aggressive, Daniels would have saved this and picked up the first himself.

Jalen Carter is getting into that famous person stage the place he makes a ridiculous play each week. That is absurd. It was cool to see him level out the pulling guard pre-snap, and he has clearly been working laborious within the movie room. Nonetheless, recognizing the pulling guard is one factor. However having the athleticism to fly previous the middle and punch the soccer out is absurd. What a second season he’s having.

This wasn’t distant from being a pick-6. Right here’s one other instance of Fangio profitable. The Eagles ship 4, however Washington expects strain from the other facet. Washington slides safety to the appropriate, and the Eagles get a free rusher from the opposite facet. Fangio is the grasp at sending 4 rushers however getting a free rusher. That is excellent. The Eagles’ protection was dominating early on.

After the Kenny Pickett interception, the Eagles’ protection got here crashing all the way down to earth. I moaned in regards to the refs final week, so I can’t be bothered to do it once more this week, however the Washington’ offense was given a lifeline by a brief discipline and a ridiculous penalty on Milton Williams (that was not a penalty).

Nonetheless, the difficulty with the Eagles’ protection this week was their route distribution of their zone match coverages. Everyone knows by now that Fangio runs lots of zone match. Its capacity to distribute routes and talk successfully makes this protection so particular. One of many the reason why many Fangio disciples wrestle is as a result of this type of protection is tough to run. It’s laborious to execute and requires all defenders in protection to be on the identical web page. Sadly, they weren’t this week. Right here’s an amazing instance. I can’t make certain with out being within the defensive room, however I’m fairly certain that C.J. Gardner-Johnson is at fault right here. He bites on the flat route, and the receiver faking to dam initially confuses him.

It’s price stating that the Eagles’ protection is kind of predictable with its move coverages. This isn’t a flaw. If the Eagles talk and distribute routes successfully, it will probably virtually be inconceivable to beat. Nonetheless, Washington deserves lots of credit score for working a variety of totally different ideas that examined the Eagles’ route distribution. They didn’t make it straightforward on the Eagles’ protection this week.

What number of groups have two defensive tackles nearly as good as Jalen Carter and Milton Williams? I can’t think about the Eagles can afford to maintain Williams subsequent yr, and I’m going to be unhappy watching him ball out for an additional crew. He’s exceptionally proficient, and it is a hell of a play. I assumed he had an amazing recreation.

The Eagles’ protection had some issues with their route distribution on this one, however in addition they simply made some extremely dumb errors. Quinyon Mitchell has had a unbelievable rookie season, however that is tough. I’ve acquired no concept what he’s doing right here. The Eagles convey 5, and it really works as they get a free rusher. I suppose Quinyon expects a put up or an intermediate route as a result of he leaves the vertical route huge open. Earlier on, on the identical drive, Darius Slay was additionally overwhelmed deep. This Eagles’ protection doesn’t often surrender large performs, so it’s bizarre to see the 2 finest cornerbacks surrender large performs on the identical drive. Let’s hope it is a one-off.

I spoke earlier about Jalen Carter being that form of expertise that has a particular play each week. Zack Baun can be in that class. He’s a famous person. He was in every single place on this recreation, and this turnover got here at a significant level. He’s one of many NFL’s finest linebackers, and we have to notice that he will probably be paid like one this low season.

This was the worst play of the sport for the Eagles’ protection. The Eagles possible win in the event that they get off the sphere on 4th and 11. The Eagles by no means spy opposing quarterbacks, however I don’t thoughts as a result of they often play zone matches, so that they have eyes on the quarterback. The frenzy lane integrity isn’t good right here, nevertheless it’s additionally 4th and 11, so the defensive position would argue that they shouldn’t fear in regards to the quarterback scrambling an excessive amount of. The Eagles have 3 defenders in entrance of the primary down marker, however Tristin McCollum takes a horrible angle, takes our Zack Baun, and permits Daniels to choose up the first down. That is brutal. No matter your ideas on whether or not CJGJ deserved to be kicked out of the sport, there isn’t any doubt that the Eagles missed him.

Personally, I believe it’s ridiculous to kick a defensive participant out for one thing he’s stated. Nonetheless, he wanted to cease speaking as soon as CJGJ had already acquired the first penalty. He let the crew down.

That is one more instance of Washington testing the Eagle’s route distribution and the Eagle’s protection not being adequate. The Eagles are 4 over 3, however Washington runs one other actually intelligent route idea to check the defensive match guidelines. I’m fairly certain that McCollum is at fault right here. Nonetheless, it’s not adequate simply to discredit this as a result of it’s backup making the error. Firstly, the opposite guys within the secondary have been all starters. Secondly, a particularly reasonable criticism of Fangio’s protection is that it’s not straightforward to run with backups. I’m unsure McCollum is able to play on this protection, and if a security is injured within the playoffs, I’m questioning if the crew wants to take a look at different gamers to come back in somewhat than McCollum.

What can I say about this one? It’s an entire catastrophe. The one constructive I’ve about this one is that; hopefully, it’s a type of errors that occurs as soon as in a season after which by no means occurs once more. When you make errors like this within the playoffs, then you definitely don’t need to win.

Say no matter you need in regards to the Eagles’ protection on this one, however they need to have gained the sport with this interception. Darius Slay had some poor moments, however I assumed he was excellent for a lot of the recreation. It is a nice move breakup, and Reed Blankenship does properly to react shortly. This could have ended issues.

I don’t suppose Fangio known as a nasty recreation in any respect, and I blame the gamers for making errors somewhat than the performs that have been known as. Regardless of this, I didn’t like the ultimate drive of the sport. I do know Washington began with good discipline place, however the Eagles performed smooth protection and made it too straightforward for Washington to march down the sphere so simply. I selected this play as an excellent instance to spotlight my level. That is third and 1. The Eagles’ run protection is sweet sufficient to cease Washington from getting a 1st down. Nonetheless, the Eagles play a really gentle field and quit the first down. I might have preferred to see some extra aggression on the ultimate drive.

Right here is the ultimate play. Firstly, Washington’s idea is unbelievable. Washington is aware of that the Eagles are going to be 3 over 2 and so they run an amazing idea to check the Eagles match zone guidelines. Ideally, Baun ought to have something inside, Blankenship ought to take something Vertical, and Cooper DeJean ought to take something outdoors. Washington switches the receivers on the line of scrimmage, which will get a receiver on Baun. Washington runs a vertical route mixed with a deep by which is a superb name. DeJean has outdoors leverage, so he’ll wrestle to cowl the deep in. Subsequently, each Blankenship and Baun get distracted and attempt to assist out on the deep in. Daniels reads this completely, acknowledges that nobody is protecting the vertical, and throws a dart. I don’t understand how the Eagles coach this, however I would love Baun to take the vertical route and Blankenship to drive down on the deep in.

Credit score Washington for a unbelievable play name. If groups will problem Fangio’s match zone protection guidelines as often as Washington did this week, I ponder if Fangio will begin working some extra man protection in these conditions to be much less predictable. I might have preferred some extra cover-1 man with a robber to present Washington one thing new to organize for.

Properly, what a disappointing Sunday. Fortunately, I don’t suppose this one issues an excessive amount of, because the Eagles have been prone to find yourself the #2 seed regardless. However I can’t lie; I used to be very aggravated watching this one stay. This one damage. I need a rematch within the playoffs on the Linc.

Thanks for all the sort phrases this yr. Merry Christmas, and Go Birds!

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