Two preseason games and two wins for the Philadelphia Eagles. While preseason wins don’t matter much, the performances of the team have been inspiring, Particularly, the Eagles defense, who struggled heavily last year, is starting to take shape into a dangerous unit. Just a month ago, there were many questions about the 2024 Eagles’ defense. After a horrible year in 2023, many positions were up for grabs this offseason. Nobody was sure who would start and what the defense would look like. However, as things have cleared up through the preseason, fans have more and more reasons to be excited for the regular season.
Vic Fangio is Close to Finding the Starting Lineup
The first big addition the Eagles made to their defense in the offseason was longtime defensive coach Vic Fangio. The Eagles valued his experience and resume and put a lot of trust in him to find the right players for his scheme. On top of that, the Eagles were able to bring in several new faces on the defense, giving him options. Now, it seems like Fangio and the Eagles’ vision of a defense is starting to form among the competition.
Eagles rookie Quinyon Mitchell seemed like he was destined for a starting role ever since his performance against the Baltimore Ravens in the first preseason game. His athleticism and anticipation will likely make him the week one starter as the slot cornerback, while Darius Slay and Isiah Rodgers start on the outside.
Young cornerbacks like Kelee Ringo and Cooper DeJean provide depth for an Eagles defensive back room that will need it. Darius Slay turns 34 this season and Chauncey Garder-Johnson has missed some time in training camp with a shoulder injury. The depth for the Eagles in the secondary will be massive in putting together consistent performances throughout the season.
The Eagles Defense Will be Defined by the Front Seven
One of the other disappointing position groups of 2023 was the Eagles linebackers. They never found their footing in the Eagles defense in 2023 and struggled to capitalize on the Eagles dominant defensive front. The good news is the Eagles defensive line looks as dominant as ever. In a joint practice with the New England Patriots, it’s reported that the Eagles racked up 14 sacks in just over 40 passing plays. The loss of Haason Reddick doesn’t seem like it will cause a big drop-off if any for the Eagles defense.
Yet, the question will be if the Eagles linebackers can capitalize on the destruction the defensive line can cause. Against the Patriots in the second preseason game, Four of the five highest-graded players on the Eagles’ defense were linebackers per PFF. Nakobe Dean, Zack Baun, Devin White, and Ben VanSumeren were the standout linebackers. Baun and White are the linebackers that are presumed to start the season. However, the performances of Nakobe Dean and Eagles rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. could give the Eagles something to think about.
While the Eagles secondary should be revamped and excited, the superpower of the Eagles defense is their defensive line. And so they will also need their linebackers to capitalize off the attention and chaos the defensive line creates. The secondary could end up being great, but against the top quarterbacks and teams in the league, the front seven will be the difference maker.
A Few Things to Still Look Out For
In the third preseason game, the Eagles will host the Minnesota Vikings. Don’t expect to see a ton of starters, but it will still be a good showcase for the young defensive on the Eagles. It will also be a chance to see the depth the Eagles have across the board, especially the edge rushers. However, there’s a lot to be excited about with the Eagles’ defense in 2024. A new-look defense inspired by a veteran NFL coach should make a newly revamped defense much sounder and stouter. Add in the explosive Eagles offense, and it’s looking like the Eagles can have a major rebound in 2024.
Main Image: Bill Streicher – USA Today Sports
