Pass-rushing conversations often begin with sack totals. They usually end there too. The Philadelphia Eagles' coaching staff appears to be digging deeper.
Following Sunday's frustrating loss to the Los Angeles Rams, much of the fallout centered onanother late-game collapse, defensive breakdowns, and a pass rush that struggled to consistently affect Matthew Stafford. While statistics rarely tell the entire story, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio believes he knows where one of the biggest issues lies. He spoke with the media on Tuesday. When asked about the inconsistency of Philadelphia's pass rush, he pointed directly to an area that every defensive front must eventually conquer on its own. He believes the Eagles must win more consistently in one-on-one
matchups
He was asked why the Eagles have struggled to consistently finish plays up front. His answer was as straightforward as it always is.
"Yeah, we just haven't been consistently really good against one-on-ones. There's always going to be some chips that affect you, but when we are getting some one-on-ones, we're not getting it done on a consistent basis. We had some games that applied some pressure and did some good things against their backs and tight ends, but the normal down-to-down one-on-ones, we got to get better there."
That assessment cuts directly to the heart of Philadelphia's defensive struggles.
Offenses will always provide help. Tight ends chip. Running backs stay in protection. Coordinators design quick throws to neutralize pressure. Eventually, however, elite pass rushers must win isolated battles when opportunities arise. According to Fangio, the Eagles haven't done that consistently enough.
The issue affects more than just the sack totals
Fangio was later asked how an inconsistent pass rush changes the way he calls a game. Rather than offering a broad solution, he explained that every opponent requires a different approach. His answer highlighted the balancing act defensive coordinators face.
"It's game to game, depending upon the offense, the passing attack you're seeing. The other team's quarterback's ability, how he does versus pressure. It's week to week... One of the reasons we played so well the first ten series was — we weren't [blitzing] because that quarterback could feast on it."
As Fangio mentioned, the defense played well for ten defensive series. Then the game turned on two Rams' TD drives in the final two series. Fangio has never been a coach who blitzes just to create pressure. Against Los Angeles, he believed blitzing Stafford more frequently would have created bigger problems than it solved.
In other words, Fangio believes the answer isn't necessarily sending extra rushers. The answer is getting more production from the four players already attacking the quarterback.
Confidence remains despite the slow start
Despite the criticism surrounding Philadelphia's pass rush, Fangio made it clear he hasn't lost confidence in the players responsible for fixing it. When asked directly whether he believes the unit will improve, his response was immediate. When asked what gives him that confidence, Fangio pointed to several factors that don't always show up in the box score.
"I am. I am [confident]... I just believe in the guys. A lot of times too, we've lost two sacks the last two games due to penalties. Sometimes the ball's coming out quick. I know you guys have a love affair with the sack stat, but the ball's coming out quick a lot."
The Eagles have no shortage of talent along the defensive front. Jalen Carter remains one of the league's most disruptive interior defenders when healthy. Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Nolan Smith, Jonathan Greenard, and the rest of Philadelphia's front have all flashed at various points.
The challenge now is turning those flashes into consistent victories. Fangio's diagnosis was clear. The Eagles don't necessarily need more blitzes or a dramatic schematic overhaul. They simply need to start winning the one-on-one opportunities already available to them. Whether the Eagles can fix that issue may go a long way toward determining whether this recent two-game skid is a temporary stumble or the start of a much larger concern.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Vic Fangio pinpoints Eagles’ biggest pass-rushing problem
