Licht and Bowles should have been paying close attention to last night’s domination. There are definitely valuable lessons to be gleaned from that game, especially as to unlocking defensive potential. While offenses often steal the spotlight during the regular season, it’s the defenses that make the crucial difference in the playoffs and Super Bowls. This year’s Bucs defense, talent-wise or scheme-wise, wasn’t ready to stand on the same stage as either Super Bowl defense.
The Eagles front office exemplifies a relentless pursuit of greatness, constantly enhancing their offensive and defensive lines, and never satisfied. They’re proactive in acquiring top-tier talent through all means… drafting young potential, acquiring free agents and trading for talent. Their defensive line is strong in the middle, but this year, it’s the edge strength that propelled them to success. They consistently rushed four players throughout the game and much of the season. The Edge players had Mahomes stepping up into the pocket all night and right into the arms of their talented interior. Licht needs to prioritize acquiring edge talent outside of the draft, as our track record in drafting this position has been dismal, and developing young edge players has been equally challenging. As I’ve emphasized over the past three years, edge players can significantly influence a team's fortunes. It’s time to stop treating this as a minor issue.
Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio has a penchant for blitzing. When asked about his reduced blitzing this year, he explained that his back seven isn’t quite ready for it and his front four didn’t need the help. If we provide Bowles with similar options, we can assess whether he can effectively leverage his strengths. In 2020, he had that capability, but he didn’t always capitalize on it, sometimes over-blitzing, which led to setbacks. It wasn’t until the playoffs that he allowed the defensive line to shine while enabling the back seven to read and react. I wholeheartedly support giving him the talent and opportunity to replicate Fangio’s approach: “coach to your talent, not your ego.”
Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio has a penchant for blitzing
Great post and agree with much of it, especially that it would be great if it started with the edge!
But I would have a slightly different take on Fangio because he is sort of anti-blitz, right? And his thing, especially last night, is ZONE coverage. 2 deep shell look that changes. Last night some of those sacks come because the Eagles have the short receivers covered up. I think the pick 6 is zone on a semi-roll out by Mahomes
The Bucs beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl rushing four. Many here attributed that to the Chiefs offensive line and specifically the play of the tackles? Isn't this game exactly the same? the TAKLES getting killed but Mahomes NOT escaping the pocket (like he usually does) and playing poorly? He played pretty well against us and escaped a bit
Interesting other potential lesson: The Eagles had LESS sacks this year than the Bucs, but their defense beats the Bucs defense in almost every other category, ESPECIALLY PASSING DEFENSE. One place where the Bucs standout is opposing offense time of running play. I think the Bucs defense "led" the league and right behind them is the Eagles. Teams tried to beat both teams with quick passing. It worked really well against the Bucs not so much against the Eagles, I guess
I wholeheartedly support giving him the talent and opportunity to replicate Fangio’s approach: “coach to your talent, not your ego.”
Also, notice the lack of CB's being 10 yards off of the LOS. Apparently, it makes it harder to complete passes when you have defenders closer the offensive players. Who knew?
I wholeheartedly support giving him the talent and opportunity to replicate Fangio’s approach: “coach to your talent, not your ego.”
Also, notice the lack of CB's being 10 yards off of the LOS. Apparently, it makes it harder to complete passes when you have defenders closer the offensive players. Who knew?
The pivotal play of the game is the Eagles pick 6. It happens with the Chiefs in OFF COVERAGE ("10 yard off of the LOS") zone.
lmao
I wholeheartedly support giving him the talent and opportunity to replicate Fangio’s approach: “coach to your talent, not your ego.”
Also, notice the lack of CB's being 10 yards off of the LOS. Apparently, it makes it harder to complete passes when you have defenders closer the offensive players. Who knew?
The pivotal play of the game is the Eagles pick 6. It happens with the Chiefs in OFF COVERAGE ("10 yard off of the LOS") zone.
lmao
Cooper Dejean is three yards off of the LOS, closer to the LOS than the off-the-ball LB's, on his interception. Nor are they in zone, as Quinyon Mitchell followed his man (Hopkins - who was the intended receiver) from the right side of the defense to left side of the defense. That isn't zone coverage.
You aren't good at this. At all. Which is why your dumbass called the HC/DC Todd "Cover Zero" Bowles last offseason, when you had no idea how much zone the team was playing. Go back to string posting at the kiddie table, gas bag. The big boys are talking ball.
"lmao"
Cooper Dejean is three yards off of the LOS, closer to the LOS than the off-the-ball LB's
he is the only one of the CBs and what does he do from their Biggs? Who is his "man?" that he is covering when he makes the INT?
By the way, didnt you once post as a CRITICISM of Bowles that the defense ran a bunch of Cover 3? Do the Eagles use Cover 3?
Quinyon Mitchell followed his man (Hopkins - who was the intended receiver) from the right side of the defense to left side of the defense. That isn't zone coverage.
I will let you try to figure that one out for yourself . .
https://www.readoptional.com/p/the-book-of-fangio-part-i-the-philosophy
I will not hold out hope though because . . .you already know you're wrong. This is the giveaway
You aren't good at this
Fangio = good play caller with better talent
Bowels = lost play caller with less talent
Eagles have drafted well over the last few years
2024 - Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper Dejean in the first two rounds -CBs
2023 - Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith first rounds - DL and OLB
2022 - DT Jordan Davis, C Cam Jurgens, and LB Nakobe Dean first 3 rounds
2021 - WR Devonta Smith, OG Landon Dickerson, DL Milton Williams
they really focused on defense and building the trenches
the Bucs that same time period
2024 - C Braham Barton, DB Tykee Smith, WR Jalen McMillian, RB Bucky Irving. Missed on Chris Braswell edge. That hurts. Too early too tell really but just early indiciations good draft
2023 - DL Calijah Kancey, OG Cody Mauch, Edge Yaya Diaby - not a bad group but not as impactful as we'd like 2 years in
2022 - DE Logan Hall, T Luke Goedeke, RB Rachaad White, TE Cade Otton, CB Zyon McCollum. Luke looking good and Zyon proved servicable but the rest are JAGs. Maybe Otton is something but ehh
2021 - brutal - JTR, Trask, Hainsey, and Darden
Bucs were brutally bad in 2021 draft, and 2023 and 2024 are open years with 2022 looking like a bag of mixed results.
That 2021 draft will haunt us. Licht high on his own supply.
He's been decent/good lately tho and prior to 2021 he landed 2 potential HOFers so some passes are in order
Eagles have drafted well over the last few years
2024 - Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper Dejean in the first two rounds -CBs
2023 - Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith first rounds - DL and OLB
2022 - DT Jordan Davis, C Cam Jurgens, and LB Nakobe Dean first 3 rounds
2021 - WR Devonta Smith, OG Landon Dickerson, DL Milton Williams
they really focused on defense and building the trenches
the Bucs that same time period
2024 - C Braham Barton, DB Tykee Smith, WR Jalen McMillian, RB Bucky Irving. Missed on Chris Braswell edge. That hurts. Too early too tell really but just early indiciations good draft
2023 - DL Calijah Kancey, OG Cody Mauch, Edge Yaya Diaby - not a bad group but not as impactful as we'd like 2 years in
2022 - DE Logan Hall, T Luke Goedeke, RB Rachaad White, TE Cade Otton, CB Zyon McCollum. Luke looking good and Zyon proved servicable but the rest are JAGs. Maybe Otton is something but ehh
2021 - brutal - JTR, Trask, Hainsey, and Darden
Bucs were brutally bad in 2021 draft, and 2023 and 2024 are open years with 2022 looking like a bag of mixed results.
Agreed with most, but I'll wait and see on Braswell.
Nolan Smith was bad last year- looked good this year. McDonald for the Jets could barely sniff the field last year and had a great year.
Not saying he'll be good or great but, will wait and see.
Fangio = good play caller with better talent
Bowels = lost play caller with less talent
I could probably go through that SB game and find the same plays called by both teams in the same situation. And with many playoff teams you could find similar style blitzes in the same situations.
So, pick whatever word you want to characterize Bowles skill as a play caller ("good" or "bad") the thing that everyone seems to ignore is that play-calling is DRIVEN BY THE TALENT OF THE AVAILABLE PLAYERS, with the word "available" being the key point.
Here's one easy proof:
Take a look at this quote from LICHT in a breakdown by JOSH QUEIPO:
"“Well, we experienced a lot of injuries last year on defense,” Licht said. “ . . And that really altered the way [defensive coordinator] Todd [Bowles] and the game plans had to be, playing with a lot of different players at corner."
HERE'S THE FUNNY PART . . . . That quote is about the 2021 season.
Josh Q goes on . ..
"In 2020, the team had its’ starting five on the field for all but two games. During that season, the Bucs’ coverage scheme was in single-high coverage 51 percent of the time, with two-high looks 45 percent of the time. Bowles’ base coverage is Cover 3, and in 2020 he ran that coverage 31 percent of the time. Meanwhile, Bowles ran some form of man coverage 28 percent of the time."
And then compares it to 2021:
"when Bowles had his No. 1 cornerback, Carlton Davis, he stuck to his 2020 strategy almost to a ‘T’. Bowles executed similar game plans when he had Jamel Dean in the lineup. With Sean Murphy-Bunting, Bowles leaned into his single-high, Cover 3 tendencies even more. And that’s where the crux of Todd Bowles’ defense seemed to lie last year. With Murphy-Bunting. Let’s look at the defense’s coverage splits with SMB and without."
with SMB: 58% single high, 39% two high
without SMB: 47% single high. 47% two high
"Last year the team transitioned away from Ross Cockrell in the slot after SMB went down and moved toward Mike Edwards. With that transition came a seeming need to move away from Todd Bowles’ preferred coverage looks."
THE KEY WORD THERE IS "NEED," RIGHT?
POINT:
posters can say all they want that injuries do not matter or every team has injuries, but when you have a razor thin starting day defense (traded Davis leaving Dean, Dean injured = Hayes) get banged up. .. only a crazy coach would continue running the same coverage he ran with the talent.
Now, remove 3 or 4 more players, INCLUDING AWJ.
And make LVD 35.
That was the Bucs of 2024
2021 - brutal - JTR, Trask, Hainsey, and Darden
Bucs were brutally bad in 2021 draft
Fire has the best description for this draft:
That 2021 draft will haunt us. Licht high on his own supply.
Here's the thing though . . in 2024 you NEED that draft, just look at the Eagles, especially in the Super Bowl:
2021 - WR Devonta Smith, OG Landon Dickerson, DL Milton Williams
Smith scored a TD
Dickerson is a three time PB player
Williams had a strip sack
According to NFL Insiders
The Eagles were the first team in the SB era to have the #1 overall defense AND the #1 RB.
add to that the second best turnover margin and you have an unbeatable team.
