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18	Februar 2019

The Eagles� defense left much to be desired against the Cowboys

in Week 10 Womens Corey Graham Jersey , and despite a few much-needed three-and-outs, there were some glaring issues. Sure, the cornerback position was thin to begin with, but once Ronald Darby went out with a torn ACL in the third quarter, things went from bad to bleak.Eagles fans have lined up with their tar and feathers, and are making a beeline for the team�s defensive coordinator. Jim Schwartz spoke to the media on Tuesday afternoon, and here�s what the DC had to say:On CB depth and future plansSchwartz opened by addressing the state of the cornerback position, and he noted not to get cliche, but �it is what it is�. He went on to say that they�ve got some guys who are hurt, some guys who are working hard to get back, and some young guys who need to fill in and make their way in the league. The DC also noted that they have guys who aren�t able to come back this season, like Ronald Darby and Rodney McLeod.He went on to say that their job as coaches is to put together the best plan for the group of guys that they do have and finding ways to be successful, noting that things might look different than they did when they were at 100% strength.Later on he was asked about Rasul Douglas and what the team needs from him in order to take on a bigger role in the defense and how he performed against the Cowboys. Schwartz said that Douglas played like a 27-20 loss on Sunday � he elaborated that that�s how the team played, how the defense played, and how Douglas as an individual played. He also said that would be the analysis for any of the guys who took snaps on defense on Sunday.�We all need to play better. We all need to play the pass better. We all need to tackle better.�Schwartz did however say that Douglas has a lot of pride and a lot of confidence, and he�ll bounce back.He also said there wasn�t too much to the rotation at safety between Tre Sullivan and Corey Graham. Schwartz explained that with Graham coming back from a hamstring injury, they didn�t want to overload him with too many snaps right in a row.Schwartz was later asked if they get Sidney Jones back this week, if they�d line him up in the nickel or on the outside, and the DC noted that they�ll cross that bridge when they come to it. They�ll have to see where he is in practice this week, but he does have experience in both.On failures against DallasHe was asked about the fourth-quarter scoring the past few weeks, and how they can prevent that late-game push. Schwartz pointed to so many of those being the results of a single play in a drive, and that they are typically things that they can stop but aren�t making the plays.Schwartz went on to say that some of these trends are just happen-stance � citing trends of giving up points in the first half during 2016, and being better at home vs. away � but that the overall trend of giving up points in the fourth quarter is that they need to find a way to finish.He also said they need to make the plays when they count, something they haven�t done this season, and that�s why they are 4-5. He continued that whether it�s against Carolina or last week against Dallas http://www.philadelphiaeaglesteamonlines.com/derek-barnett-jersey , the players need to make plays and finish strong.Schwartz also admitted that the Eagles defense wasn�t lined up and ready to go during Dallas� QB sneak on Sunday. He went on to say that they didn�t have proper coverage of the A and B gaps and there was some misalignment as well that gave them an easy score. That particular play was hard to swallow for the DC because it wasn�t due to being overpowered, but rather them just not being set � and it wasn�t a timing thing, he said they had plenty of time to make the call, but they weren�t able to get it all set.Later on, he said that he thought they had rushed really well on Sunday. Schwartz went on to say that there were a lot of blitzes in their gameplan that he later on ended up scratching because they didn�t make sense, and they needed more help in coverage.The defensive coordinator said he wasn�t as disappointed in the pass rush throughout the game as he was in the run defense. He elaborated that his issues weren�t just with the defensive line, but also with the linebackers and defensive backs, and the defensive coordinator and position coaches. If anything, the run defense was the most disappointing and the area where it probably most-looked like they were getting run over.A reporter then noted that �from my vantage point� the tackling hasn�t been as good this season, and Schwartz quipped, �you�ve got a pretty good vantage point�. And before the reporter could even get out the question about whether Schwartz agreed, the DC said �yes�.Schwartz went on to say that tackling is made up of a few different things, like playing fast and playing with confidence, so when they aren�t doing those things the tackling suffers. He went on to say that last year they probably missed the same number of tackles, but the difference is that they were flying around so fast and guys were covering each other up, that you were getting different results. He pointed out that he doesn�t just look at one-on-one matchups when evaluating tackles, but also assesses who is around to help in those situations as well.On (lack of) turnoversHe was asked what he attributes to the lack of forced turnovers this season, but Schwartz noted that while reporters were focused on turnovers, he was focused on stopping the run.Later on he emphasized that turnovers were one of his two most important stats, and did talk about Kamu�s change to have a pick-6 early in the game � despite him playing with a half cast. Schwartz pointed to that as an opportunity to really get the momentum on their side, and they weren�t able to make it happen.He went on to clarify that they can�t go hunting for those plays � when you do, you start looking bad in coverage and opening up gaps �, but that they need to make them when they present themselves.On Saints prepHe was asked how they plan to stop Drew Brees who has an incredibly low incompletion and sack rate this season. Schwartz noted that Brees is playing at an elite level right now, but that it�s also indicative of the way the NFL is trending.The DC went on to explain that when he was a kid, quarterbacks who made 50% of their passes and had an even touchdown to interception ratio were considered good. But he noted that Brees is part of the reason that the trend now considers a 70% completion rate successful.Schwartz went on to list all the attributes that make Brees an elite quarterback Womens Jake Elliott Jersey , and mentioned that he�s smart and still has decent mobility. He also pointed to the talent that he has around him, and noted that lost in the shuffle is that they are a great run offense too � and lauded the Saints offensive line and both of their rushers.He went on to say that it�s no wonder they are the No. 1 scoring offense in the league right now.On his play-calling evaluationsOne thing of note, Schwartz mentioned that he always watches the film back three times. The first time he evaluates the scheme, the second time he pays attention to individual players and how they play within the scheme, and then the third time he looks at each call and whether it was effective and whether there was a better option. How do you stop the league�s top scoring offense? Better yet, how do you do it on the road?And lastly, how do you do it with a decimated secondary? Those are the challenges facing the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles as they limp in to a crucial Week 11 matchup.While the Eagles� offense has struggled to get off the ground, the New Orleans Saints� offense has been a lightning bolt. They own the highest points per game total (36.7) and have averaged 42 points in the last three games. They�re even more dangerous at home (37.2) and they storm out of the gates with a league leading 19.4 points in the first half. That last number is only rising. In the last three games the Saints have averaged a gargantuan 29 first half points.The first step in stopping them is understanding what they do well, which is a tall task in itself because there�s a ton to digest. One area that boosts their scoring is their 5th ranked red zone offense. They�ve found pay-dirt on 73% of their trips inside the 20-yard line. That number reaches 86% in the last three weeks.For the Saints, their success obviously starts with future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees. Keeping the focus on the red zone, no quarterback with over 30 attempts has a better QB Rating (117.4). He�s 46/66 (69.7%) with 16 touchdowns and 0 interceptions when the field condenses.His main weapons are the supremely talented Michael Thomas and the swiss army knife Alvin Kamara. Those two lead the league in red zone targets with 18 and 21 respectively. Thomas has hauled in 15 of those targets with 6 touchdowns while Kamara has caught 16 passes, adding 3 touchdowns of his own. Kamara�s contributions on the ground have also been a boon. He�s toted the rock 38 times with 9 of those finding the end zone. Those numbers are second only to MVP candidate Todd Gurley.So the Saints have three elite red zone players operating at a high level, but wait, there�s more. Perhaps the biggest pain in the caboose for defensive coordinators this year has been game-planning for what the Saints do with their backup dual-threat quarterback Taysom Hill.Digging into what the Saints do well inside the 20, you have to start with Hill because he requires an entirely separate game-plan on his own.DUAL-THREAT TAYSOMThe variety in which the Saints deploy Taysom Hill makes him more than just a one-dimensional gimmick. He does just enough with his arm to be a threat and is a weapon with his legs out of read and sprint options. They won�t just line him up at quarterback, they�ll put him out wide as a receiver and in tight doubles as a blocker.It�s a nightmare for defensive coordinators. Not only do they have to prepare for an explosive, dynamic offense, but they must also spend a considerable amount of time game-planning for a back-up quarterback.It�s not like preparing for something like wildcat; as noted above there is a bevy of concepts to be aware of when Hill is on the field. Along with the typical option concepts, they�ll also run outside zone, power, etc etc. Each week they sprinkle in a new wrinkle and it�s been a productive component of the offense.Adding to their toolbox, last week against the Cincinnati Bengals the Saints threw in a jump pass at the goal line that should�ve been a score.The Saints have even thrown him a screen pass against the New York Giants. It didn�t work out and went for a loss of 4 yards, but you still have to be cognizant of it as a possibility.SKINNING THE BANJOIf you stifle the back-up quarterback (such an odd sentence), you still have to deal with the aforementioned Michael Thomas. The Saints will target him on isolation concepts with fades, slants Authentic Cameron Johnston Jersey , and comebacks and that in itself is tough enough to defend. Thomas is a top tier receiver and an exceptional route runner and expecting any corner to stick with him on an island is a lot to ask.The Saints don�t just relay on those isolation routes though as they do a wonderful job of scheming him open with route combinations. In Week 1, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were caught completely off-guard by a switch release concept that wreaked havoc on their coverage assignments.What makes this concept work is the intersecting releases. I�m making the educated guess that the Buccaneers defense is in �banjo coverage� based on their alignment. Typically it�s a man switch if the two highlighted defenders are staggered so as to avoid picking each other. Instead, they�re parallel. Regardless, they�re confounded by the action that unfolds before them.In banjo the outside corner Ryan Smith would have the receiver who ends up outside (the �1�). The inside defender, safety Justin Evans, would have the receiver who ends up inside (the �2). Watch how the Saints switch who is the �1� and who is the �2� twice in the same release.Toast. The widening and vertical action of Thomas mixed with the inside and shallow action of Ted Ginn make both Smith and Evans wrong. Smith ends up in no man�s land and Evans ends up chasing the flats. After the play you can see Smith communicating that he was expecting Evans to stick inside or something to that effect.I highlight this rep way back from Week 1 not because I expect to see this exact concept, although we may. I highlight this rep because the Buccaneers were dealing with a secondary that was (and still is) dealing with pre-snap communication errors and busts. With what�s happening in the Eagles secondary right now banking on pristine communication and sound execution on difficult switch releases is a bad bet.HE WASN�T READYWith everything the Eagles defense will have to process against the extensive Saints red zone offense, they�ll still have to be ready for the quick strike. I�ve charted 3 touchdowns for the Saints that have been the result of Brees receiving the snap as soon as he gets under center.They�ll also lull you to sleep with motion. In the play below, Kamara moves from left-to-right and takes an angle that would make you believe he�s going to settle into a running back alignment. The Minnesota Vikings are standing straight up, processing this action, and are caught flat-footed.The Eagles will have to be on their toes pre-snap. If Brees senses they�re taking too long to get aligned, he�ll rush to the line and fire off a quick hand-off. It�s worked for them all season.SAME STORY, DIFFERENT DAYOne concept that the Saints will dial up is something the Dallas Cowboys ran against the Eagles successfully last week. This hi-lo read will give Brees the option to throw the deep out/flag route that Allen Hurns runs below and they�ll use Kamara as a more integral part of the combination than Ezekiel Elliot is utilized. Still, it stresses the defense similarly.This is an ideal play-call against this type of defense. Here�s how Matt Bowen of NFL Matchup describes the Cover 3 �Cloud�:None of this happens.I�m hesitant to place blame on Ronald Darby for not getting a jam or protecting against the corner route with a flat route in front of him. Cloud doesn�t always require a re-route and Hurns� �nasty split� alignment may relieve him of this duty. Either way, Hurns gets a clean release and Corey Graham is late to get to the sideline.So how will the Saints use this and also add more danger the above concept? Easy. They have one of the most dangerous receiving backs in the game. Instead of using Kamara as a decoy to hold a flat defender, they�ll unless him in the open field with option routes.So you�ve seen this work against zone and above you see it create a rub against man coverage. This gives Kamara an advantage at the break-point and sets him up to dart outside for an easy pitch and catch touchdown.IN SUMMARYThe variety in which the Saints have approached their red zone snaps is truly something to behold. They can beat you in so many ways and have a bevy of different concepts, alignments, and personnel groupings on tape. All of that will have to be broken down, digested, and planned against.Beyond the defensive game-plan, Jim Schwartz will be tasked with coaching up a defensive unit that is on life support. If he�s forced into vanilla deployments due to a lack of chemistry and experience on the back end, the Eagles may find themselves in a boat race.The Eagles boast the 4th ranked red zone defense and have yet to allow over 30 points this season. That streak is in serious jeopardy.