Eagles Defense Struggling To Replicate Successful Pass Rush

Howie Roseman follows a strict organizational philosophy. The Philadelphia Eagles win in the trenches, and a rotational pass rush that gives opposing quarterbacks nightmares is a key element of their dominance.

Brandon Graham made the biggest play in franchise history to stop Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII. The Eagles set a franchise record with 70 sacks in 2022. However, the defense has slipped to 12th in the NFL in sacks in 2023.

Why isn’t the pass rush generating enough pressure?

Andrew DiCecco spoke on The John Kincade Show about an embarrassing two-game stretch of losses against the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. He questioned the defensive line and their ability to disrupt the rhythm of opposing quarterbacks. 

The rotation of edge rushers isn’t a strength of the 2023 Eagles. Graham, Vinny Curry, Derek Barnett, and Chris Long carried the load in 2017. The Eagles set an NFL record in 2022 when four players reached 10 sacks. They’ve depended too heavily on Reddick and Sweat in 2023, however.

Sweat and Reddick each played over 80% of the defensive snaps in four consecutive games from Weeks 8-11. They both eclipsed 80 in an overtime win against the Buffalo Bills on November 26.

They rotated defensive tackles Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Milton Williams effectively by contrast. Why is it any different on the edge, a more integral source of pressure in the NFL?

The overreliance is an indicator of a lack of faith in 35-year-old Brandon Graham and underwhelming rookie Nolan Smith. Both players recorded a season-high in defensive snaps in Week 13 against the 49ers. They both eclipsed those season-highs once again against the Cowboys.

If the coaching staff didn’t trust them in a regular rotation before the Bills game, doesn’t the increased usage indicate a need for Reddick and Sweat to rest more than it indicates trust in the backups?

Graham recorded one tackle for loss (TFL) against the Cowboys. Smith chased Dak Prescott on a play that surprisingly didn’t count as a quarterback hurry. Neither player made a game-changing impact.

The Eagles rank 10th in the NFL in pressure rate, according to Pro Football Reference. In recent weeks, four of the best opposing quarterbacks in the NFL have found ways to escape pressure and make capable plays on the run. The quarterback pressures don’t matter if Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Brock Purdy, and Dak Prescott can still find holes in a weak secondary on plays when they’re not sacked.

DiCecco also pointed out to personnel problems, tackling issues, and a lack of communication in the secondary as roots for the defensive struggles. The Eagles defense has allowed an eye-popping -44.4 expected points added over a two-game stretch.

Watch the full interview below, and enjoy Andrew DiCecco on Mondays at 8 am.

A dark cloud hangs low over the city of Philadelphia today. Sports fans are walking with their heads hung low, bags under their eyes from staying up too late thinking about the loss. We're tired, and more importantly, we're disappointed. The Philadelphia Eagles lost their game.

So many things contributed to this devastating loss. It hurts to see such a good team get beaten. It hurts to watch another team celebrate in your stadium. At the moment, it seems nothing will make it better.

Here we are, just hours after the Eagles failed to get the win. Right now, we may all be feeling icky. But, you have to remember, it was just a game! You also have to remember that it could be worse (as a fanbase, we have experienced two crushing Super Bowl losses in recent history. Ouch). We've been through worse. It's disappointing, sure, but we've seen losses. We know what it's like. Remember, adversity makes good teams even better.

I'm not here to make promises for the future, nor am I here to explain away all that went wrong. I am here today, instead, to maybe help you out.

Exercise is always a good way to get any icky and unwanted emotions out. If the weather is okay, take the time to go out for a walk. Fresh air will always do you a world of good.

Try not to talk about the loss, of course. Or do, it may be cathartic to get it out. Being in the company of others helps you work out your emotions about the disappointing loss.

The 76ers season is going on. The Flyers have hit the ice. Express your fandom for another team! It's not the same, I know. And you may fear yet another disappointment. But it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. Sixers and Flyers play multiple games a week. Life goes on.

I personally shut the TV off as soon as the final second ticks off the clock. You don't want to see another team celebrate your team's loss, so don't. Avoid social media. There are far too many trolls who love to argue. Avoid national sports analysis TV shows. They're never on our side, anyway. Don't go looking for Eagles content on social media. Don't wallow in the bad vibes.

Make today your cheat day. Who cares? Food is yummy. Food makes things better. Fill that Eagles-loss-sized hole in your heart with a cheeseburger or some pasta. There's nothing wrong with treating yourself to something that makes you happy. Go ahead. Get the milkshake after dinner.

It's hard, right? But this is how we've felt before and will feel again. Losses happen! There will always be good times to balance out the bad. They have always happened and there are always more to come. They are a good team. We can't help but love them. They have amazing personalities and are dang good at what they do. Don't forget Super Bowl LII.