Philadelphia Eagles Defense Lacks Discipline
Nov 10, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Nate Allen (29) intercepts a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The defense has been an area of weakness for the Philadelphia Eagles for years. In former Eagles head coach Andy Reid’s final few years with the team, the defense was deficient of talent. Now, two years into head coach Chip Kelly’s tenure, the problem is no longer talent. The problem is now that Philadelphia Eagles defense lacks discipline.
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We should all be coming to accept the fact that the Eagles are going to give up lots of yards. With the speed of our offense, the defense is bound to see lots of playing time, and therefore, give up more yards than other teams. But what we should not have to accept are the big plays that this team gives up.
We’ve seen it all year. The defense has a few very good stops, then completely break down and allow a big play. In fact, the Eagles defense has been one of the worst in the league this year in giving up the big play. Whether it’s the safety biting on the play action run and getting beat deep or the corners getting caught with their eyes in the backfield on a quarterback scramble and letting their man get open, it needs to stop.
Eagles safety Nate Allen got beat deep against the Arizona Cardinals for a score with less than two minutes left in the game. That proved to be the key play that lost us the game. Sure, Cardinals wide receiver John Brown is fast, very fast. However, the safety’s job is to not get beat deep, it’s the first thing high school safeties learn. So why are we seeing a professional safety biting on the run and getting beat deep? Discipline.
This past weekend against the Seattle Seahawks, discipline played a huge role a number of times. At one point, oft-maligned Eagles cornerback Cary Williams, who had great coverage throughout the day, saw Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson scrambling out of the pocket. Rather than sticking with his man, Williams kept his eyes in the backfield while his receiver got wide open for a first down.
On Wilson’s touchdown run off of the read option run, it was Eagles linebacker Brandon Graham who just missed his assignment. Graham’s job as an outside linebacker was to keep contain, relying on the guys in the middle to stop Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch if Wilson handed the ball off. Instead, Graham bit to the inside, following Lynch. What happened next? Wilson pulled the ball and ran it into the end zone.
I am a firm believer in this team. I think the Eagles have the talent, even with the weak secondary, to get to the playoffs and perhaps even to the Super Bowl. The Eagles have a very fixable problem on the defensive side of the ball. If the players can stick to their assignments and not give up as many big plays as they have, this team, with its exceptional pass rush has a very good shot to go far into the playoffs.
Fly Eagles Fly.