Philadelphia dialed up more pressure and natural pass rush one week after the team opened the season by losing a 17-point lead against the Lions, allowing 35 points, 386 yards, and 181 rushing yards in a season-opening win.
That Week 1 performance made for a long week of NFL experts and pundits questioning whether defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon was the right man for the job.
“I think we’re winning at a high rate. I think if we keep winning at a high rate, the production will come. You saw a couple sacks, the strip sack by [Fletcher Cox], [Josh Sweat] ended the game. A couple of those picks were four-men rushes. Some guys won if they hit the quarterback. So, I like where we’re at right now and that’s another part of our game, just like every part, that we’re always going to try and continually improve on and make better.”
On Thursday, Gannon talked more about his thought process on blitzing and pressuring the opposing quarterbacks.
More Gannon on blitzing: "A lot of times those calls are up in a game, but they don't come to fruition, so to speak. …Some of those pressures were called, they executed them, and the rush got there and we held up in coverage."
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) September 23, 2022
During Philadelphia’s 24-7 win over Minnesota on Monday night, the Birds allowed 264 yards, limiting star receiver Justin Jefferson to 48 yards and holding three-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook to 17 rushing yards on six carries.
Gannon says the pass rush is winning at a high rate, and if that keeps happening, the production will come.
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