Philadelphia Eagles: Is Matt Burke closer to Jim Johnson or Jim Washburn?

What should Philadelphia Eagles fans expect out of Matt Burke’s guys in 2020?

With all of the attention surrounding injuries over the course of Philadelphia Eagles camp thus far, it’s easy to forget about the other things, like how much these coaches have had to pour into so many new players and the transitions that some of the news faces on Doug Pederson‘s staff have had to make.

Guys are moving themselves and their families. They’re acclimating themselves to a new city, and of course, they’re doing all that they can to stay safe during a global health crisis.

In three of Doug Pederson’s first four seasons as Philly’s head coach, he’s had a different defensive line coach. After two seasons with Chris Wilson in 2017 and 2018, Phillip Daniels filled that role in 2019. In 2020, we’ll have to get to know someone else. This time it’s Matt Burke.

With over 22 years of coaching experience in his back pocket at the collegiate and professional level, he begins his 23rd as not only this team’s defensive line coach but also as their defensive run game coordinator. The question is what are we to expect?

Can Philadelphia Eagles fans expect an approach that’s more similar to Jim Johnson’s or Jim Washburn’s?

If you’re like most Eagles fans, it’s safe to assume that the majority of your focus shifts to the ‘Birds’ on game days, so it’s easy to have missed what he’s done prior to this point. He’s an interesting conversation piece though.

While holding down the role of assistant head coach at Harvard (yes, that Harvard), Burke got a call from Jim Schwartz, who was the Tennesse Titans’ defensive coordinator at the time. Burke landed the role of administrative assistant from 2004 to 2005 before being promoted to defensive quality control coach in 2006. When Schwartz landed the head coaching job with the Detroit Lions, Burke followed him to become his linebackers coach.

A brief stint with the Cincinnati Bengals followed. Burke then found himself on the Miami Dolphins coaching staff, first as their linebackers coach in 2016 (the same time Doug came to Philly), then as Miami’s defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2018.

When Brian Flores was hired as the Dolphins’ next coach, Burke wasn’t retained. Philadelphia brought him in as a defensive special assistant, where he was reunited with Schwartz, so if we’re asking if he’s more like the late, great Jim Johnson or Philly’s former defensive line coach Jim Washburn aka ‘Wash’, we’d have to say that he’s neither. He may actually be more like Coach Schwartz, and that could be a lot of the reason why he’s here. They’ve got eight seasons of experience in working together.

Here’s something interesting if you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

While Johnson’s scheme was predicated on blitzing, Schwartz prefers to create pressure primarily with his front four and blitz in special situations (or when he’s desperate). By that thought, you can see a little of ‘Wash’ as both Schwartz and Burke have used, and some might say perfected, the ‘Wide-9’ technique that Washburn made famous. That will be Burke’s job, getting his guys ready and, again, making sure the ‘Birds’ aren’t gashed in the running game.

He’s a former defensive coordinator and in Miami, you could see a little of Schwartz’s fingerprints, but with a group that includes Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Malik Jackson, Vinny Curry, and Josh Sweat, among others, Burke’s job might be one that isn’t as stressful as some of the other jobs that new coaches on new teams are facing in 2020. Buckle up if you’re an Eagles fan. This defensive line could be very special, and Burke could be a big reason for why that’s the case.