Second-year Eagles playing on defense that can be key contributors
With so many great players and coaches to learn from, the ceiling is high for Tarron Jackson, Milton Williams, and Marlon Tuipulotu.
The heart of every great defense is a respectable pass rush. Once this season wraps, the discussions about whether or not Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, and Javon Hargrave will return are certain to begin (if they haven’t been extended already), but the Eagles have some youngsters that they can rely on moving forward, one of which being Tarron Jackson.
Having played at a non-Power Five school (Coastal Carolina), there was some mystery surrounding this young man when he joined the nest. He responded by tallying 18 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble while playing 23 percent of the snaps as a rookie. He could excel in year two thanks to more familiarity with the system.
. Milton Williams, defensive tackle. 93. player. 54. .
Milton Williams was another of the mysteries on the Eagles’ 2021 roster at the dawn of last season. He was a third-round selection, but like Jackson, he was also a product of a non-Power Five school’s football program (Louisiana Tech). He proved to have just as much potential as any Big Ten star, tallying 30 total tackles, two sacks, and two pass breakups.
He can play both inside and outside. It should be fun to see what he does for an encore in what most believe will be an extended role.
. Marlon Tuipulotu, defensive tackle. 95. player. 54. .
It isn’t often that teams carry five defensive tackles on their 53-man roster. Four is often the more optimal route, but with Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave both being in contract seasons, it seems like a bad idea to move on from Marlon Tuipulotu after one, especially when he’s performed at a respectable level and shown improvement this spring and summer.
He racked fice tackles as a rookie, but he only appeared in five games. He should see a slightly increased role in year two, especially when Philly runs more four-man fronts.