Eagles Week 15 snap counts: A nightmarish loss in Seattle births questions about talent

The Eagles defense shook things up, but in the end, all that matters is the result.

Okay, let's get something straight. Matt Patricia and Sean Desai possess better defensive minds than most of us will ever have, but that doesn't mean we don't sometimes see things that they are missing? Why leave James Bradberry on an island to cover anyone?

Philly's defense looked a tad better on Monday Night Football, but is that simply a byproduct of playing a team that isn't as good as the last two they faced?

This Matt Patricia thing had better work because here are the cold hard facts. If it doesn't, there's really no way you can go back to Sean Desai and ask him to start calling plays again.

Here are the Week 15 defensive snap counts at every position (and a few theories about what the totals mean).

6. Defensive line

Defensive snap counts:
Josh Sweat - 46 snaps
Fletcher Cox - 44 snaps
Jalen Carter - 28 snaps
Jordan Davis - 25 snaps
Milton Williams - 21 snaps
Brandon Graham -18 snaps
Moro Ojomo - 6 snaps
Marlon Tuipulotu - 5 snaps

Here are two issues. Josh Sweat may be wearing down due to a heavy workload. Fletcher Cox and Jalen Carter were gassed after the first eight plays of Seattle's final offensive drive. Moro Ojomo and Milton Williams were on the field and failed to create any pressure to disrupt Drew Lock's final pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Here's where we see another issue. First, there's really no one to spell Sweat with unless we play Nolan Smith more. Second, at this point, this defensive line is what it is.

7. Linebacker

Defensive snap counts:
Nicholas Morrow - 61 snaps
Haason Reddick - 51 snaps
Shaquille Leonard - 28 snaps
Nolan Smith - 9 snaps
Patrick Johnson - 8 snaps

Okay, here's some harsh truth serum. Shaq Leonard might suck. NO for real. If he has anything left, it isn't much.

Nolan Smith, ready or not, has to get more playing time. It's not like the defense can actually get any worse if he's asked to play more.

8. Cornerback

Defensive snap counts:
James Bradberry - 59 snaps
Kelee Ringo - 32 snaps
Eli Ricks - 29 snaps
Bradley Roby - 29 snaps
Josh Jobe - 2 snaps

James Bradberry can't be left on an island. That just isn't who he is. That was demonstrated on Seattle's final drive. Why do you think he keeps drawing all of these flags for holding and pass interference?

Kelee Ringo played well in his first start. It may be time to let the young man spread his wings and grow. Philly won't do that. Bradberry makes too much money, but this cornerback room leaves much to be desired.

9. Safety

Defensive snap counts:
Reed Blankenship - 61 snaps
Kevin Byard - 61 snaps
Sydney Brown - 48 snaps

Reed Blankenship isn't the greatest cover guy. Then again, that's why he's a safety and not a cornerback. The Birds have something special in the former UDFA though.

Kevin Byard is better than most of what the Eagles have had in terms of options at the position. He just isn't the guy he was with the Tennessee Titans.

Sydney Brown is raw, but he's the young prodigy. With that being said, the count here makes sense. Don't look now, but the safety position might all of a sudden be one of the areas where we have the fewest questions.

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