Defense
Defensive Line
Before I dive into the state of this line, let me just show you these two stats:
The pass rush of this team is absolutely relentless and elite. I shared my opinion on what my favorite move of the offseason was and it was hands down the resigning of Brandon Graham.
The loss of Michael Bennett (trade) and Chris Long (retirement) definitely hurts the production of the defensive ends, but the return of Derek Barnett, the signing of Vinny Curry, and the drafting of Shareef Miller will help offset that loss with Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat. I’m going to stop short of the elite category, but this is still a very strong group that will produce big time pressure and sacks. Expect the defensive end depth to be:
Right end: Barnett, Curry, Sweat
Left end: Graham, Miller
Verdict: Strong
The defensive tackle position is anchored by All-Pro Fletcher Cox. He had an absolutely dominate season last year:
95 pressures from the defensive tackle position. Only Aaron Donald has those type of numbers.
He was also the second best DT last season, according to PFF:
Joining Cox in the starting line up will be newcomer Malik Jackson. Jackson is two seasons removed from an eight-sack season and a Pro Bowl. Although last season was a down season, he finished the season playing all 16 games, making it 106 consecutive games played. Knowing that Cox and Jackson will be in the line up every game? Quarterbacks will be shaking.
Timmy Jernigan returns to keep his run-stuffing expertise in the line up, while newcomer Hassan Ridgeway has our own Liam Jenkins excited.
This line has the makings of an all-time great group. The defensive tackle position will definitely set the tone for the rest of the defense.
Left DT: Cox, Ridgeway, Hester
Right DT: Jackson, Jernigan, Hector
Verdict: Elite
Linebackers
Like the running back position, this group has undergone a complete transformation from that final playoff game, but maybe not complete 180 degrees. Let’s say 179 degrees.
That’s because mainstay Nigel Bradham is still leading the charge, a year after playing 88.54% of the snaps. In that playoff game, Bradham and now-Arizona Cardinal Jordan Hicks had nine tackles. The rest of the Eagles linebackers had a combined five.
With Hicks gone, it is now up to Kamu Grugier-Hill, Nate Gerry, Paul Worrilow, and newcomers LJ Fort and Zach Brown to improve the production from the linebackers.
Worrilow missed all of last season with the Eagles after tearing his ACL in the Eagles’ first practice of the year last May. He is only 29 and has a 143 tackle season on his resume. LJ Fort spent last season with the Steelers and was PFF’s 19th ranked linebacker out of 96. He will surely provide great depth on defense and on special teams.
I really beat the drum for a Zach Brown signing earlier in April, and I finally got my wish a few weeks ago after the Eagles signed him to a one year contract. He missed just four tackles last season on 95 attempts and was PFF’s third-best inside linebacker. He will surely provide above-average to strong production for the Eagles.
What was once an average group, has now the makings of a strong one. But I hold off on that judgment until they play an actual game.
SAM: Bradham, Fort
MIKE: Brown, Worrilow
WILL: Grugier-Hill, Gerry
*Note: The Eagles rarely play their base defense. So you’ll see the SAM and MIKE position as the only two LB on the field on most plays.
Verdict:Above-average
Secondary
With all the previous talk about the change from last year’s group to this year’s for the running backs and linebackers, the secondary has undergone a change as well. Just not the 180-degree flip.
They are returning 11 players who played a snap for them in 2018, either on defense or special teams, with three of them coming back from injury (Mills, McLeod, Darby).
The merry-go-round of players in the secondary due to injuries led to atrocious performances in the regular season, leading them to the 30th ranked pass defense in 2018.
While the corners struggled during the season, Avonte Maddox did his part and was the second best corner in the whole league during the season when targeted:
With gained experience, the young corners had a coming out party in the playoffs. (Captain) Cre’von LeBlanc was rated as the best corner in the playoffs in 2018:
Malcolm Jenkins will return (hopefully) to a much developed supporting cast and rejoin Rodney McLeod to form an extremely formidable secondary. This secondary joined with the linebackers and dominant defensive line has top five defense written all over it.
Right Corner: Darby, Douglas
Left Corner: Maddox, Mills
Slot: LeBlanc, Jones
Strong Safety: Jenkins, Sendejo
Free Safety: McLeod, Sullivan
Verdict: Strong
