Defense: Assigning blame

by theguyotc on Oct 3, 2011 11:44 PM EDT

Who is to blame for the poor performance of the defense?

Clearly, the consensus answer is Juan Castillo, with Andy Reid taking quite a bit of heat as well. I can't definitively refute that, but I'm not sure any fan can. We just don't have enough inside information. All we can do is attempt to interpret what we see on TV and what the numbers say happened.

Going into the season, it became clear that the focus of the defense was going to be the pass. The method of stopping teams from passing would be to change the philosophy of the defensive line to be more aggressive and invest in pass rushers and cornerbacks. While the safety position was addressed with two 2nd round picks in the past 2 years, you generally don't expect first or second year players to be high-level starters (unless they were taken in the 1st round). The linebackers and safeties were clearly an afterthought.

Attempting to assign blame is a massive task that I don't have the patience to address fully. Instead, I'm going to look at how my understanding of the new philosophy compares to what has been happening on the field.

To start, I looked at touchdowns scored on the defense. The Eagles D has allowed 13 TDs in 4 games. 3 were runs, the remaining 10 passes. Bad passing defense, right? Not so fast. Look at who is catching those TDs:

1 to a fullback
2 to running backs
3 to tight ends
4 to WRs.

Only 4 of 10 TDs went to WRs and presumably against CBs. Looking at the 4 WR TDs:

2yd completion to Roddy White in the back of the end zone, Kurt Coleman is the nearest defender.
74yd to Victor Cruz. Blitz, so Coleman had the coverage. Makes two bad tackles in a row.
28yd to Victor Cruz. Cruz fights for the ball despite tight coverage by Nnamdi Asomugha and Jarrad Page.
30yd to Josh Morgan. Blitz. Closest defender to the catch was Brian Rolle, with Nate Allen and Asante Samuel in the area.

In only one of the four TDs to a WR the Eagles have allowed was a CB the closest defender, and the video shows Cruz made a good catch in double coverage. While it's possible, even likely, that the receiving or rushing TDs could be blamed on a CB in ways I didn't see, it seems pretty clear that generally the CBs haven't been the problem.

But wait, you say, aren't WRs enabling them to drive downfield, gaining lots of yardage? Not really. Only 2 players have gone over 100 yards receiving against the Eagles: Tony Gonzalez (TE) and Victor Cruz (WR), and Cruz had 74 of his 110 come from one play against a safety who apparently forgot how to tackle. Guys like Roddy White, Julio Jones, Hakeem Nicks, and Michael Crabtree averaged 3.25 catches for 36.25 yards and 1 TD to share amongst them. In fact, only 3 WRs have gone over 50 yards receiving in four games.

Between those numbers and the fact that the Eagles are tied for first in sacks, it seems like the defense is working in the areas they focused on. I can't see how you look anywhere but the LBs and S when blame is assigned. I don't know if the problem is the new philosophy, coaching, schemes, playcalling, talent, inexperience, motivation, or unimpressive splash page cartoons. You can certainly blame someone for not addressing those positions in the draft or free agency. You can definitely blame coaching for the 4th quarter collapses.

And yet, whatever the reason, it's hard for me to ignore the evidence indicating that 2 of the 4 (5?) positions and 5 of the 11 players on defense are just not getting it done.

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Comments

Well said

One thing, the numbers for the avg. yards/TD for opposing WR’s must be a flawed because team have realized that to beat our D you have to pound us on the ground. If we had a better defense that could stop the run, I’m sure we’d be attacked more through the air. Still wouldn’t change it significantly, and I agree that our CB’s have not been a problem at all.

by KevinEagles on Oct 4, 2011 12:09 AM EDT reply actions

The Morgan td was definitely on Asante

He was looking in the backfield when Morgan slanted to the inside, leaving morgan so wide open that it appeared as if Asante wasn’t responsible for him, but he was. To cap it off, Asante made almost no effort to tackle him around the 5 yard line.

But really good FP. I think the reason that RBs and TEs are scoring TDs is because opposing OCs are specifically attacking our LBs and Ss.

by The Reddgie on Oct 4, 2011 12:22 AM EDT reply actions

Accepting that..

It’s not like it’s the first time Asante has ever done that. That’s a part of who he is. There was a LB and S in the area whose job it was to clean up, and they didn’t do it.

But I’d be willing to swap the Cruz on Nnamdi TD for the Morgan on Asante one. You still wind up with 1TD (maybe 1.5) by WRs on CBs.

They’ve been attacking the LBs for years. Usually there was more success by WRs to go with it though.

BTW- Thanks.

by theguyotc on Oct 4, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I know it is give and take with Asante, but that play is him at his absolute worst

We need to do a better job with pass defense. I think more man to man, press coverage will play to the strengths of our current players better than the zone coverages.

by The Reddgie on Oct 4, 2011 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Video of the Asante non-tackle:

Link

Scroll to 2:05 + play

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by PhiladelphiaEagles on Oct 4, 2011 3:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Put a funny looking outfit on him

and a red blanket in his hands and he would have looked exactly like a Matador

by The Reddgie on Oct 4, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Jaiquawn Jarrett is going to get the start

I’ve been as frustrated as everyone else the last couple weeks. After watching Page get beat time and time again I’ve been praying that he gets replaced with anyone, but especially with Jarrett. I’d rather see someone with some upside, who was known for big hits in college possibly bring a spark to this defense. Now I’m not on twitter so I don’t know if this is necessarily his latest tweet but it looks like Jarrett may be getting the nod.

“The Grind to succeed in the league just began!! Safety for the Philadelphia Eagles!! "
http://twitter.com/#!/jaiquawnjarrett

by tdsmar05 on Oct 4, 2011 1:29 AM EDT reply actions

Blame starts with Reid. Always has but it was shrouded by green tinted glasses of the fans.

For one you can just look at the past few drafts. Thats a huge indication of poor scouting & developmental coaching right there. You can see the results of that on the field ( or off for that matter ) right now.

Then you look at the offensive playcalling. How many years has this been a issue with the pass rush rations and inconsistency? Now marty is there to take the fall because he is the OC even though it is Reids gameplan.

Then you look at the coaching changes. They did a great job on position coaches but at the same time he absolutely failed with the DC hiring.

He has been so bass ackwards over the years it is not even funny. Always been 2 steps forward, 3 steps back.

by Easedel on Oct 4, 2011 3:53 AM EDT reply actions

if we had drafted jimmy smith...

And got nnamdi we could play man press coverage all day, take the 2 best recievers out of the game and let the safetys and LBs put 8 in the box to stop run, and double the tight end etc… But drafting someone to warm the bench for the starters was more important

by con-vick on Oct 4, 2011 9:15 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Smith isn’t even starting in Baltimore (I think…)

"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."
-Brian Dawkins

Nnamdi, Asante, DRC; The Three Graces...charm, beauty, and creativity... Unfortunately their graces are wasted because of one Juan Castillo.

***OFFICIALLY ON THE FIRE ANDY REID BANDWAGON***

by immynimmy on Oct 4, 2011 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

i think he's been hurt

by con-vick on Oct 4, 2011 10:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

yup

"When life hands you lemons, make a profit." - Chet Cashley

"Float like a Butterfly, sting like a Bee; Make sure you got the ball in your hands, or else you won’t get a TD." - Joe Theismann

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by Ralf E Chubbs on Oct 4, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

i think you missed the entire point of this post.

by jho on Oct 4, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I liked this post

Different approach to the same shit everyone’s talking about.

"When life hands you lemons, make a profit." - Chet Cashley

"Float like a Butterfly, sting like a Bee; Make sure you got the ball in your hands, or else you won’t get a TD." - Joe Theismann

Follow @Ralf_E_Chubbs

by Ralf E Chubbs on Oct 4, 2011 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks, that's what I was going for

by theguyotc on Oct 4, 2011 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Great Post

3rd from last rushing defense.

Its a shame these forums have too many "cheerleaders" and people who get most of their LOL "football knowledge" from the talking heads in the media, and not from individual study. How I wish there were more people with actual football acumen that can forward the conversation and advance the sport...

by Coach n um on Oct 4, 2011 5:37 PM EDT reply actions