Jim Schwartz To Blame For Defensive Failures
I know Jalen Mills has been everyone’s favorite whipping boy in the early stage of the season, but I think the real problem on the Eagles’ defense lies with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and some of the defensive playcalling that’s gone on.
Schwartz leans heavily on generating pressure with a four-man rush, and only uses blitzes sparingly. When the Eagles’ front four can’t get to the quarterback, this becomes a problem. Quarterbacks can sit back, wait for plays to develop, and pick a defense part under those circumstances.
The Eagles didn’t generate enough pressure on Marcus Mariota in critical moments of Sunday’s loss. On the fourth-down plays, Mariota had a clean pocket, no pressure, and was able to deliver cool and confident strikes.
I don’t know why, but Schwartz is just stubborn when it comes to sending additional pressure. This was a major reason why Tom Brady carved the Eagles’ defense up for over 500 yards in the Super Bowl. Brady hit on chunk play after chunk play over the course of the game, and the Eagles rarely sent anyone other than the defensive line after him.
Playing coverage didn’t work in that game, and Schwartz never adjusted. Fortunately, Nick Foles and the Eagles’ offense were more than up to the challenge on that day, and really masked an awful gameplan and poorly called game by Schwartz.
Jalen Mills, Corey Graham, and the other members of this defense have to step their individual games up, there’s no question about that. But Schwartz’s scheme and philosophy can really hurt this team in certain spots.
Quick Thoughts
Offense
- What’s wrong with the offensive line? Hard to say. I don’t think Jason Peters is done. More likely its just taking him some time to round in to form. Keep in mind he’s coming back from a season-ending injury, and didn’t play at all in the preseason. It’s very likely he’s still working his way into top form.
- No doubt that pass protection has got to get better. Allowing Carson Wentz to get hit as much as he has is just unacceptable.
- Another part of the protection issues is that the Eagles really miss Darren Sproles and Corey Clement in that role. Sproles and Clement are the team’s top pass protection backs, and forcing Wendell Smallwood into that role is just asking for trouble.
- Smallwood is terrible at pass protection. It’s part of the reason he was the odd man out of the running back rotation after the team traded for Jay Ajayi last year.
- I know he got a sack on Sunday, but I really haven’t been impressed with the output of Michael Bennett through four games.
- As much as the Eagles have struggled in the passing game, give them credit for continuing to play fantastic against the run. Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis just couldn’t get much going on the ground.
Nobody is wondering, as i am, where are the linebackers of late? What were witnessing are two different defenses at home and on the road, especially in the red zone. Schwartz allowed 3 consecutive 4th downs and a game winning TD. Obviously the pressure cosmetically vovers up some of the back end misery, but lets adjust to other teams personnel, and not have 4:3 guys streaking past guys.
I agree with you. I think Schwartz and his players have to take responsibility for this awful performance. He is too stubborn about relying on the pass rush and not blitzing. You have to mix it up, so the quarterback isn’t sure what he’s going to see. I know it’s not just one or two guys to blame, but the Eagles have only played four games and Jalen Mills has given up so many deep balls you can’t even count them. I think he would do great job at the safety position in place of Rodney McLeod.
Jim Schwartz was stubborn when he was the Lions head coach. He refused to adjust and make talent and scheme changes. This is what doomed him there. Schwartz is so reliant on his scheme he can’t/won’t adjust. Is he too afraid to try something different, is he not intelligent enough to adjust and be malleable?
The O Line..I think there is some wear and tear on the O line (age, physical fatigue)..I truly hope that Jordan Mailata will be able to take over for JP next year. I think we need to draft a new left guard and center high in the draft. I think it’s time to get some new blood on that o line, young, strong, athletic , smart and talented. Protecting Wentz in the future..the near future must be the focus next off season during the draft. Two O linemen out of the first three picks, and a D Tackle and a corner are musts with the first four picks. In the 2020 draft I’d then focus in on skill players linebacker and more corners. FLY EAGLES FLY