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What makes Eagles’ secondary truly remarkable originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Their coverage has been impeccable. Their playmaking has been otherworldly. Their communication has been flawless.
They’re one of the best secondaries in the NFL and they’ve been together all of five weeks.
It was during the bye week that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio replaced Avonte Maddox with rookie Cooper DeJean, giving the Eagles the final piece in a revamped defensive backfield.
“Definitely feels like more than five weeks,” DeJean said at his locker Tuesday. “It feels like it’s been a couple years.”
The Eagles ranked 31st in the NFL in pass defense last year and 29th in opposing passer rating. They allowed 35 touchdown passes, 2nd-most in the league, and had just nine interceptions, 26th-fewest.
Say good-bye to Kevin Byard, Bradley Roby and Justin Evans, among others, and welcome DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell, Isaiah Rodgers and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
Just like that, everything changed.
Nine games into the 2024 season, the Eagles are 2nd in passing yards allowed, 4th in opposing passer rating and tied for 4th with just eight passing touchdowns allowed – just one during the five-game winning streak.
They’re allowing 5.0 yards per pass play, their lowest figure since 1991 and more than a yard below last year.
Almost overnight, the Eagles have gone from one of the worst pass defenses to one of the best. And they’ve done it with defensive backs who weren’t here last year playing 1,452 snaps.
It’s really not supposed to happen this fast.
Only Reed Blankenship and Darius Slay are back from last year’s main rotation, and even Slay has been on and off the field lately, replaced by Rodgers.
“Vic has everybody on the same page of what’s required, what’s expected, how he wants things to play versus different looks,” Nick Sirianni said. “I think that’s such a big part. Obviously, we’re talented there. We have talented players. The addition of the new guys we…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/makes-eagles-secondary-truly-remarkable-035805754.html
Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia
Publish date : 2024-11-13 03:58:05
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