Jim Schwartz Brings Veteran Savvy To Philadelphia Eagles Defense

Love will keep us together

If the Eagles can get similar production from their defense, that will immediately take pressure off Doug Pederson to replicate offensive statistics that set the pace for the rest of the NFL.  Right now, the Eagles offense needs work.   With a stable of running backs,  some upside from tight ends, and a young receiving corps, the team is in desperate need of a quarterback and help on the offensive line.    But as far as this defense looks, if the team can retain free agents, they will be poised for a huge improvement. But how can the team hope to do that?

Well, adversity builds teamwork.  Few NFL defenses could have withstood the constant pressure of defending so many plays that are a by-product of a pressure offense.    The Eagles defense, while it surrendered points and yards, did not break their spirit.  In fact, the team showed remarkable resolve playing for three years in a system where they knew they would be defending more plays than any other team.    Defensively, talent is there.

But over a course of an NFL season, the burden of defending more than other teams wore the defense down.  Making a crucial third down stop seemed to become more and more of the norm, as the team accelerated its pace to embed what amounted to three more games worth of plays than other team defenses.    So why return?

Esprit de corps – a feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty shared by the members of a particular group.  This is a special group of players, a group of men who have born the load of an NFL season in overdrive.  Now, they stand at the cusp of something very good.  If money is the only incentive, it’s not a true loss to the team.  But if it’s something more, something about seeing something through, than it comes at a good time for this team.  Jim Schwartz is somebody the fans and the players can rally behind.

Next: Eagles Off-Season: 5 Must Have Free Agents

And so, this team is facing a burdensome task of moving forward with a new coaching staff at the helm.  This coaching staff has retained the quality coaches from the last regime and hired on what appears to be a special brand of coaching going forward.  This is a coaching staff who can get the most out of the young men on this defense.  This is a coaching staff who can restore the Eagles defense to the standard sought by every fan of Philadelphia.  Now they just have to go out and do it.