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On Tuesday we started a series of approval polls to mark this moment in Eagles franchise history, September 2016, when franchise confidence may be at its highest mark in years. We asked you yesterday what you thought of Doug Pederson; at midnight last night, his approval was hovering around 98 percent. The day before, Howie Roseman’s approval sat at 96 percent, and on Tuesday, Jeffrey Lurie came in around 98 percent.
Today, we take our fourth stab out of four at trying to see what Eagles fans think of the people making the big decisions for the Eagles right now.
The hiring of Jim Schwartz, the team’s defensive coordinator, was the offseason move Eagles fans seemed to be most united behind. The team’s head coach, Doug Pederson, drew a 46 percent confidence rating in his first poll back in May; in the same week, Howie Roseman drew a 74 percent approval rating in being placed back in charge of personnel as general manager. Schwartz? 93 percent, sight unseen.
He was bringing with him, of course, plenty of pedigree. His stint as head coach of the Detroit Lions didn’t necessarily work out, but his time as the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator re-awakened the league to the degree Schwartz’s defensive genius. With the Bills, Schwartz’s unit ended the season first in the NFL in sacks, fourth in points and yards allowed per game (18.1 and 312.2, respectively), and third in takeaways (30). Not too shabby.
While he spent a year off in between his gig with the Bills and his new gig with the Birds, most fans didn’t seem concerned about the gap. Schwartz clearly understood defense.
And now, with the in-their-prime, contract-controlled talent the Eagles have on the defensive side of the ball — hello Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Rodney McLeod, et. al — Schwartz has turned the green and white into a feared defensive unit once again.
Through three weeks, the Eagles rank...
- 1st in points allowed
- 1st in passing TDs allowed
- 2nd in rushing yards allowed
- 4th in yards allowed
- 7th in turnovers forced
There are 13 weeks left, but it’s been a good start.
Are you confident in Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles? Vote now in the poll below and leave your thoughts in the comments.