All-22: The Good And Bad Of the Eagles’ Defense

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And here’s the player-by-player breakdown after having reviewed the All-22.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Fletcher Cox – Monster game. His 13 tackles (team stats) were a career high and the most of any Eagles defensive lineman in the last two years. Cox changed direction and tackled Lynch after a 5-yard gain in the first. He pressured Wilson out of the pocket on the next play. Cox and Cedric Thornton brought Lynch down for no gain in the first. Great play against the run, tackling Lynch for no gain later in the drive. Couldn’t get off his block on the 3rd-and-15 draw that gained 21 in the first. Tackled Lynch after a 2-yard run in the first. Tackled Lynch after a 3-yard gain in the second. Blew up the next play, a 2-yard run. Drove center back and tackled Robert Turbin for a loss in the second. Great job staying square and tackling Lynch after a 3-yard run in the third. Was unblocked on the back side in the third and dropped Lynch for no gain. Dropped Lynch after a 3-yard run in the fourth. Dropped Michael after a 2-yard run in the fourth. He’s playing at a Pro Bowl level.

Bennie Logan – Active game with three tackles and two hurries. Logan and Kendricks chased Wilson out of the pocket in the first and forced a throw-away. He helped bring Lynch down after a 2-yard run in the first. Disrupted a Lynch run that gained no yards in the second. Good rush in the third, forcing Wilson to flip it to Lynch for 1 yard.

Cedric Thornton – Consistent as always. Thornton had six tackles and a hurry. He and Cox brought Lynch down for no gain in the first. Thornton hit Wilson in the first and helped force an incompletion. Diagnosed the play and dropped Turbin for a loss in the first. Good game.

Vinny Curry – Had a chance at a sack after Wilson slipped Kendricks’ tackle in the first, but couldn’t finish. Beat the right tackle for a sack late in the second. Dropped Lynch for a 2-yard loss in the third. Has been a big part of the pass-rush all year.

Beau Allen – He and Thornton collided and went to the ground on Christine Michael’s 7-yard run in the second. Got in on a tackle of Lynch after a 2-yard run in the second.

Brandon Bair – Pressured Wilson in the first, but he escaped and found a receiver for a first down. Stopped Lynch after a 2-yard run in the first.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

Connor Barwin – Another really good game. Barwin finished with 12 tackles, tying the most he’s had in any game as an Eagle. He also got credit for a sack and has 13.5 on the season. Barwin was in pass-rush mode and couldn’t get off his block on Lynch’s draw that gained 21 on 3rd-and-15 in the first. Didn’t have the initial pressure, but got credit for the sack in the first. Tackled Turbin after a 5-yard gain in the first. Great job chasing Wilson down and tackling him short of the first down to force a punt in the first. Dragged Wilson down from behind in the first, but the Eagles were called for holding in the secondary. Stuck with the TE on a wheel route that was incomplete in the first. Got sucked up on play-action on a 15-yard completion. Tackled Lynch after a 2-yard run in the second. Hit Wilson and forced an incompletion late in the first half. Tackled Lynch in the flat after a 1-yard completion in the third.

Trent Cole – He was very active (11 tackles) but had some ups and downs. Cole dropped into coverage and lost track of Paul Richardson as Wilson improvised on a 7-yard completion in the first. Disrupted a Lynch run that went for no gain in the first. He played the zone read poorly on Wilson’s 26-yard touchdown. The Eagles had seen that look before, and he should have been in position to account for Wilson. Disrupted a run play that gained 3 in the second. Tackled Lynch after a 2-yard run on the next play. Called for offsides in the second on third down, giving Seattle a first. Dropped Lynch for no gain on the next play. Assisted on a Lynch tackle after a 2-yard gain in the second. Got duped on the 12-yard Wilson run in the third. Seattle tried the same bootleg later in the quarter, and he stopped it for no gain. Learned on the zone read too and dropped Wilson for a loss of 5 in the fourth.

Brandon Graham – He continues to make plays whenever he’s on the field. Graham used a great spin move on third down in the first, pressuring Wilson out of the pocket. Missed the tackle, but helped slow down an end around in the first. He and Kendricks chased Wilson and left Baldwin open for a 25-yard gain on a first-quarter play. Came on a stunt and forced a throw-away late in the first.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

Mychal Kendricks – He had a season-high 16 tackles and played great. Kendricks tackled Jermaine Kearse after a 6-yard gain in the first. Spied Wilson, nearly had a sack in the first, but couldn’t finish. On the next drive, chased Wilson out of the pocket and forced him to throw the ball away. He and Barwin chased Wilson down and tackled him short of the sticks to force a punt in the first. Was in on a tackle after a 2-yard Lynch run. Slipped past the TE and tackled Lynch for no gain in the first. He dropped Wilson for a 2-yard loss on a zone read keep. Spied Wlson and forced an intentional grounding on third down in the second. Tackled Turbin after a 4-yard run in the second. Spied Wilson and forced a throw-away in the second. Tackled Lynch after a 1-yard completion in the third. Forced the Lynch fumble in the fourth to momentarily give the Eagles life. Got blocked on Michael’s 8-yard run on the final drive.

Casey Matthews – He was active (11 tackles), but had ups and downs. Late to plaster onto Turbin as Wilson improvised and found him for a 14-yard pickup in the first. Helped bring Lynch down after a 2-yard run in the second. He and Kendricks tackled Lynch after a 1-yard completion. Combined with Cox to drop Lynch after a 3-yard gain in the fourth. Got blocked badly on the 11-yard run on the final drive.

CORNERBACKS

Cary Williams – He gave up quite a few big plays earlier in the season, but that hasn’t happened recently. Good coverage on an incompletion down the sideline on third down in the third. Failed to get his hands on the WR and gave up a 19-yard completion in the third. Other than that, I didn’t see him give up a completion.

Bradley Fletcher – He played well too. Tough call on the 44-yard pass interference penalty in the third. Could have gone either way. Baldwin said afterwards that he was just trying to initiate contact, and it worked. Nice play on a deep ball down the sideline in the third. Don’t recall him giving up any other completions in man coverage.

Brandon Boykin – Only played 19 snaps. Davis decided to go base vs. 11 personnel. That might have been a mistake. Boykin was called for defensive holding on third down in the first, giving the Seahawks a first down. He got beaten for 20 yards on 3rd-and-13 late in the first half. Seattle ended up getting a field goal on the drive.

Nolan Carroll II – The Eagles played all base and dime. Carroll was on the field for 19 snaps. I don’t think he gave up a completion.

SAFETIES

Malcolm Jenkins – He had a tough game. Got sucked up on play-action on a 15-yard completion in the first. Good coverage on a third-down incompletion in the second. The Eagles stayed in base on 2nd-and-10 against 11 personnel. Jenkins got matched up with Baldwin and gave up a 20-yard completion down the seam. Gave up a 9-yard completion late in the first half that shortened Seattle’s FG try. Beaten one-on-one on the Baldwin 23-yard TD in the third. Got matched up in the slot again in the third and was beaten for a 20-yard completion. Tackled the TE after a 1-yard completion in the flat in the third. Jenkins read Wilson, broke on a pass and was in position for a pick-six in the fourth, but couldn’t hang on. Taken out by the fullback on Michael’s 8-yard run in the fourth.

Nate Allen – Not a great game. Failed to plaster on 3rd-and-15 late in the first half and gave up a 20-yard completion. Was responsible for Lynch on the throwback TD in the third.