FanPost

No Need to Worry About the Eagles D, Every Little Thing is Gonna Be Alright


During every NFL preseason you always have two types of fans. Those who over analyze the games, where they will either boast early super bowl predictions or have panic attacks at how bad their team may be this season depending on the teams performance. Then you have the fans who underestimate the preseason games. They will tell you "Oh it doesn't matter it's just preseason" or they will use the excuse that the players are not giving it a 100% because they do not want to chance getting hurt or they feel they have a roster spot locked up. Of course you will always have the fans who blame it on mostly back ups playing pointing out the obvious. The truth is when it comes to preseason it's a little bit of both. Preseason can be a great indicator at how your team may perform during the regular season but it also is a trial period where yes some players are not giving their all and most starters are not playing. Besides the third preseason game, usually most time is given to the players fighting for roster spots or fighting for positioning on the depth chart. Lastly, preseason is a chance for coaches to try out many different things, or a time for coaches to hide many things as well, that they are waiting to only to bring out during the regular season when it counts.

If you are a Philadelphia Eagles fan your most likely feeling one of two ways right now. After the first two preseason games your (A.) concerned about the wide receivers health, the decision to depart with DeSean Jackson and most of all the defense which was shredded apart by both Tom Brady and Jay Cutler. Or maybe your (B.) the second type of fan who thinks "Oh well it's only preseason", and your waiting until after Sunday, September 7th against Jacksonville to determine how you may feel about your Philadelphia Eagles and the upcoming 2014 season. Where if your like me, you feel will be a quality win because "In Chip Kelly we trust."

For those who are concerned about the Eagles defense I am here to tell you why you should not be concerned and how the Eagles defense will do quite well over the course of an entire season. After watching the first two preseason games I can understand the anxiety that can come from watching the Eagles defense. The starters were man handled by both the Bears and Patriots. The defense could never get off the field on third down, they missed tackles like a high school football team, barely generated any pressure on the quarterback, and besides Cary Williams interception return for a touchdown, the defense has not generated many turnovers unlike last season. Right now this sounds like a train wreck and a recipe for disaster. A sign that we may be in for a season of shootouts like Chip Kelly's past Oregon Duck teams but again I'm hear to tell you not to be concerned.

First and foremost the whole starting group has not been out there together this preseason. Bennie Logan has been hurt, Nolan Carroll the newly acquired free agent cornerback from the Miami Dolphins has not played a preseason game yet, and Cary Williams is now nursing a hamstring injury, Malcom Jenkins the starting safety signed out of New Orleans is still learning the system and acclimating to game situations. I believe he can be a solid player in the Eagles defense but for some players it takes a couple games to figure things out. A lot of new faces such as rookies have taken some snaps as starters with the first team unit this preseason. Beau Allen the seventh round nose tackle drafted out of Wisconsin and the first round pick, the outside linebacker Marcus Smith out of Louisville have both seen time with both the first and second team. To me it looks like Chip is seeing what he has got with these guys to determine if they can contribute as starters right away and if they are good enough, it is going to take take some time to build chemistry, especially with Beau Allen along the defensive line.

Coaching is another factor and this is where I think the innovative Chip Kelly has an effect and will make a difference during the regular season. During this preseason I am sure defensive coordinator Billy Davis has tested out some things and formations to see how they play out. If it did not work I am sure he will not try it again or it will be worked on more in practice to make sure it will be executed and properly communicated next time during a game. One thing the Eagles did last season was show improvement as the season went on and I expect the same thing this season. One thing that is not a secret, is that Chip Kelly can be secretive, we are all waiting and anticipating to see how he is going to utilize specialist Darren Sproles and LeSean McCoy at the same time. He will not show it during the preseason. He doesn't like to give away much and I'm sure Billy Davis is the same way with the defense.

Chip Kelly is strict on fundamentals. One thing the Eagles have done well this preseason is special teams. They returned a kick return for a touchdown against the bears and blocked a punt Friday night against the Patriots. Chip loves to preach and practice special teams and fundamentals, so I am sure tackling will be a point of emphasis the upcoming practices and will continue to improve. Last year the Eagles had problems with poor tackling in the beginning of the season and that was greatly improved by the end of the year. I expect the same in 2014.

Another thing is being the beginning of the season Chip Kelly and Bill Davis do not have as much tape to prepare for some of the teams. One reason the Eagles defense improved last year during the second half of the season was Kelly and Davis had more tape on teams and they could do a lot better job of practicing, scheming up game plans in order to get their players in the right place at the right time. One thing Chip Kelly and Billy Davis do unlike Andy Reid is come up with solid game plans and utilize their use of in game management well.

Last but not least, as we all know by now, Chip Kelly is big into sport science. Last season due to his sports science beliefs, the Philadelphia Eagles suffered barely any injuries and as other teams were wearing down and losing some key people like the Green Bay Packers did with Aaron Rodgers, the Eagles continued to get stronger. Some of this had to do with good luck and I don't expect the exact same results this season. Quite a few players are nursing injuries right now but almost all these players would be playing if it was the regular season for none of the injuries do not seem to be too severe, but I would still expect the Eagles players to get stronger as the season goes on. The sports science seems to work and the players seem to believe that too as they all have bought in to it.

The first two preseason games have not been pretty. The next two may not be either. But do not over analyze, sleep well at night, because I am telling you the defense will be just fine. Now as for Jeremy Maclin being able to stay healthy for an entire season, well that may be a different story.