Eagles Passing Defense Grades: Not So Hot ... Yet

The Philadelphia Eagles were the No. 1 team against the pass last year, but has gotten off to a slow start in trying to reach that bar again this season - why?

PHILADELPHIA – The pass defense isn’t what it was last year. Not yet anyway.

Both quarterbacks the Philadelphia Eagles have gone up against in the season’s first two games have thrown for more than 300 yards. Last year, the Eagles’ pass defense ended the season ranked first in the NFL, allowing just 179 yards per game.

The good news is, there is plenty of time to improve.

“There are some things that we know that we have to get cleaned up with techniques and fundamentals that we have to emphasize better and differently from my end as the coordinator,” said Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai. “Then we keep mixing things up with coverages and keep putting our guys in better positions on situational plays to make plays.

“Then when we have opportunities to get eyes on a quarterback, our eyes on a check-down or a ball carrier, we go and make them feel the presence of a bunch of guys coming to break on that ball and tackling.”

Justin Evans (left) and Mario Goodrich / USA Today

So far, there have been too many breakdowns in the pass defense, such as the 62-yard touchdown throw to Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison and the 10-yard touchdown to a wide-open K.J. Osborn.

Baker Mayfield may not be the best quarterback to get better against. He has altered the preseason perception of Tampa as a potential division bottom feeder to a team that is very much a threat to win the wide-open NFC South.

The Bucs QB has gotten off to a quick start. He is completing 69 percent of his throws with three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 104.4, which is the fifth-highest in the league so far.

The Eagles’ secondary is also a revolving door to date due to injury, with Josh Jobe filling in last Thursday night for concussed James Bradberry, and, now, Mario Goodrich is expected to be the next up to handle slot reps after the Eagles lost starter Avonte Maddox to a torn pec, nearly a month after losing his backup, Zech McPhearson, to a blown out Achilles.

“I've played him a couple times now in the last few years,” Desai said about Mayfield. “He is such a daring, courageous guy. He is aggressive with his mindset and how he wants to push the ball downfield, and he's operating at an efficient rate to complete some of those passes downfield. He has some really good skill players to target downfield.”

The pass rush, as it usually is, will be vital to helping the pass defense.

The Eagles have just four sacks in two games, but that is a bit misleading. It is doing a very good job of pressuring quarterbacks. Josh Sweat alone had five such QB hurries against the Vikings.

And the D-line is doing a strong job against the run.

Tied for 16th overall in the league last year, the Eagles currently sit as the second-best run-stopping unit in the league. Again, it’s early, though there is plenty to like about the job it is doing.

Jordan Davis has, so far, shown a quantum leap in his play as rookie to second-year player both against the run and in the pass rush, where he has 1.5 sacks to tie for the team lead with Sweat.

Asked his thoughts on Davis as a pass rusher, Desai said: “I don't know if that's a fair question for me, because from the off-season I told you guys what I've seen of him. My experience of him has been that he has it in him to be this explosive, physical, knock-back type of player and disrupt games. And he's done that.”

Jalen Carter has also shown that he could be a solid candidate to become the Eagles’ first Rookie of the Year candidate.

Perhaps the most unsung part of the defensive front has been third-year defensive tackle Milton Williams. He has played 41 percent of the defensive snaps so far and has five tackles and three quarterback hits.

“He has been a critical asset to that front is his physicalness and consistency,” said Desai. “He strikes at the point of attack and he's sound with his technique and fundamentals.

“He's been a guy that we've grown up in here, where he stays physical and he's got versatility, can play a lot of those inside positions for us, and you've seen that in the first couple weeks. I think he provides a good balance and a good toughness and adds a level of toughness to that room.”