2020
Kenny Moore
80 tackles, 13 PD, 1 INT 73/101, 72.3%, 846 yards, 97.2 rating, 5 TD, 2 sacks
Would you be surprised to see Kenny Moore thriving again? As a former UDFA, Moore continued to shine, racking up a stunning 13 passes defensed. He saw almost double the targets he did in 2019 but his completion percentage given up went up just 3%, which is absolutely absurd.
Moore had arguably his most complete campaign yet in 2020 and it’s hard not to look at the drafting of Zech McPhearson and see if Jonathan Gannon is trying to bring his own version in Philadelphia as another feisty corner who plays beyond his frame and can contribute in numerous facets.
Xavier Rhodes
12 PD, 2 INT, 42 tackles, 42/81, 51.9%, 563 yards, 5 TD, 84.5 Rating, 8.7 MTKL%
One of the big narratives of last season was the resurrection of Xavier Rhodes. After reuniting with Jonathan Gannon in Indy having played under him during his stint with the Vikings, Rhodes flourished and proved that all comments surrounding a potential drop off in play were simply mythical.
Rhodes was back to his shutdown best last season. No longer having to live on his own island while receivers licked their lips at an opportunity to beat a flailing great, he had a lot less responsibility and was able to have a greater impact as a result. Maybe he did lose some of that speed and burst that once made him so dominant, but Indy’s system acted as a safe haven that allowed his ballhawking tendencies and strong football IQ to still thrive.
T.J Carrie
32 tackles, 8 PD, 2 INT, 23/40, 57.5% completion percentage, 309 yards
Carrie is coming off of a one-year prove-it deal with the Colts worth $1M and he more than lived up to the minimal price tag. While only playing in 38% of snaps, Carrie’s impact was a visible one and he also played a huge role on special teams. He proved he could play both inside and outside, making noise at both spots and acting as valuable insurance for Rock Ya-Sin, who struggled to find consistency.
Rock Ya-Sin
45 tackles, 1 INT, 45/67, 67.2%, 594 yards, 2 TD, 98.7 rating, 6.3 MTKL%
Ya-Sin’s second campaign in the NFL was a bumpy one at best. He gave up some silly penalties in some big-time spots. This wasn’t new, he gave up five penalties alone to the Broncos in the Courtland Sutton masterclass, but it became an Achilles heel in 2020. It’s a shame, because there were some really impressive moments on tape, but they were often overshadowed by some sloppy footwork at the line that resulted in getting very handsy.
Overall
There were no glaring ‘failures’ under Jonathan Gannon. Kenny Moore broke out as one of the best nickel corners in the league and even in down-years for others, there were still plenty of bright spots. What Chris Ballard did really well was blend a veteran presence with the youth infusion in order to give his corners some support. The Eagles have that in Darius Slay, it’s just a case of who’s going to be his running-mate on the outside.
Jonathan Gannon loves his versatile corners. T.J Carrie was just as much an insurance policy for ‘RYS’ as he was a backup slot option. You only have to look at Moore’s development as someone used in blitz packages to see that it’s something he clearly prioritizes.
The New Eagles DC also wasn’t afraid to throw his young corners to the wolves. Quincy Wilson and Rock Ya-Sin were both given opportunities to start very early on in their careers. This means that not only will we probably see a healthy dose of Zech McPhearson in 2021, but that it wouldn’t be overly surprising if the Eagles do want to ride guys like Michael Jacquet for a while knowing the cream of the CB prospect crop is coming in the 2022 NFL Draft, where they hold a trio of first-round picks.
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
