You Can’t Blame Sean Desai For Missed Tackles
Blaming coordinators is a Philly tradition like no other. Eagles fans haven’t been happy with a defensive coordinator since Jim Johnson tragically passed away. In some cases, fan complaints have been justified. Juan Castillo had no business being a defensive coordinator, but that is more Andy Reid’s fault than Juan’s. Jonathan Gannon was not good at his job, and we saw that any time they played a good QB. But not everything is the coordinator’s fault. And this year it feels like Sean Desai is getting blamed for something that is not his fault.
Missed Tackles
Giving up 42 points is awful. Even to an offense as good as the Niners. But how many of those TDs would have been short gains if the Eagles defenders just, you know, actually tackled the guy?
This one
Also this one
This one too
This wasn’t a TD, but it led to one later in the drive
And that is just the tip of the iceberg. All game long Eagles defenders were bouncing off of 49ers players. It was like watching a freshman football team that hasn’t learned proper tackle technique yet. That is on the players, not the coach. These are pro players, they don’t need to be taught how to tackle. There are plays where they could have had stops if they just wrapped up. Instead, they bounced off, and the Niners made big plays.
Sean Desai Has Done Lots of Good Stuff This Season
It is worth remembering that this Eagles’ defense kept the Chiefs and Dolphins in check. They also held the Cowboys to fewer points than most teams have. We can’t just rip Sean Desai when things go wrong, but then ignore the good things his defense has done this year. The truth is this defense is way less talented than last year’s team was. They are missing Avonte Maddox and TJ Edwards badly. The linebacker group, that was mediocre to begin with, is banged up badly.
Yesterday was bad. There is no way around that. But before you start calling for Sean Desai’s head, take a step back and look at the larger picture. His defense is banged up, and lacking talent across the middle of the field. They are coming off a game where the defense played 95 snaps. And the 49ers had a major rest advantage.
Do those things excuse giving up 42 points? No. The team needs to be better. But it is context we can’t ignore. And Sean Desai has done more than enough in other big games this year that he deserves some benefit of the doubt. This isn’t Jonathan Gannon whose defenses never stopped or beat a good QB. His defense has beaten Mahomes, Prescott, and Tua. And got some key stops when needed against Josh Allen. So maybe let’s not freak out about one awful game. Given the roster he has been given, this defense has performed well apart from the 49ers game.
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Philadelphia Eagles Projected 2023 Week 14 Starters
Jalen Hurts
Quarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020D'Andre Swift
Running Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)A.J. Brown
Wide Receiver, #11
Ole Miss
5th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Tennessee Titans (April 2022)DeVonta Smith
Wide Receiver, #6
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (10th overall) in 2021Quez Watkins
Wide Receiver, #16
Southern Miss
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (200th overall) in 2020Dallas Goedert
Tight End, #88
South Dakota St.
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (48th overall) in 2018Jordan Mailata
Left Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018Landon Dickerson
Left Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021Jason Kelce
Center, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011Cam Jurgens
Right Guard, #51
University of Nebraska
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (51st overall) in 2022Lane Johnson
Left Tackle, #69
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013Josh Sweat
Defensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018Fletcher Cox
Defensive Tackle, #91
Mississippi State
12th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (12th overall) in 2012Jordan Davis
Defensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022Haason Reddick
Edge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)Nicholas Morrow
Linebacker, #41
Greensville University
6th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2023)Shaquille Leonard
Linebacker, #50
South Carolina St.
6th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (December 2023)Darius Slay
Cornerback, #2
Mississippi State
11th NFL Season- Acquired in trade from Detroit Lions (March 2020)James Bradberry
Cornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)Bradley Roby
Cornerback, #33
Ohio State University
10th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (October 2023)Kevin Byard
Safety, #31
Middle Tennessee State
8th NFL Season, Acquired in trade from Tennessee Titans (October 2023)Reed Blankenship
Safety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)
