Vic Fangio brings a familiar style to the Philadelphia Eagles defense this season. With it, some players who struggled last year could be in line for improved marks in 2024.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense struggled mightily towards the end of the 2023 season compared to any other in the NFL.
The defensive coaching staff was completely reorganized as a result of the team losing six of their final seven games due to weak play calls, shoddy tackling, and a pass rush that was ineffective.
Now, the Eagles brought in Vic Fangio himself to construct this unit from the bottom up, rather than having a disciple teach the system. Fortunately for the former defensive guru of the 49ers and Bears, the team still has a ton of elite playmakers by 2024.
With the assistance of their new defensive coordinator, five players who didn’t perform well in the previous campaign could have a successful season in the upcoming campaign.
James Bradberry is the first guy who springs to mind when we consider specific Eagles players who had a significant decline from the Super Bowl squad in 2022.
Bradberry, an All-Pro who led the Eagles to victory in the league’s pass defense the year before, saw more targets in 2023 than any other Eagles corner. His difficulties are widely known; he was without a doubt the team’s poorest player.
That was when Dennard Wilson was fired and Sean Desai was the coach. Now, with the right coaching and a more advantageous plan, Bradberry might be able to return to his best form by 2022.
If Philly doesn’t let go of him first, that is.
Josh Sweat, DE
Josh Sweat increased his overall number of sacks in each of his first five seasons. That’s why his 2023 decline was so unexpected.
After an 11-sack Pro Bowl season, what happened in just six and a half years?
Although Sweat’s contract may be in doubt, the Eagles would be unwise to let go of a dynamic player who is 26 years old. He should be given the benefit of the doubt, at least until 2024, as he still has a lot left in the tank.
Dean LB Nakobe
Strong linebacker performance is essential for the Fangio quarters defense to function. Even though it’s unclear who will play alongside him, Nakobe Dean has to have a successful year in 2024.
Despite the setbacks he experienced in his first few years in the league due to injury, a strong defense should position him for success.
Recall that prior to the current campaign, he impressed in brief bursts of action during his rookie year. The previous defense team strayed from their core values, but the new DC will not allow that to happen.
Jordan Davis, DT
The Georgia run-stuffing powerhouse hasn’t lived up to the high expectations placed on him upon his selection in the first round of the 2022 draft.
Having said all of that, Fangio’s adept interior coaching should relieve some of Davis’s load as he now leads the tackle group in addition to helping linebackers perform better than they did the previous season.
Despite his modest sack totals, he still has a job that might be quite significant in 2024.