Tag: Jim Schwartz

2020 NFL Combine: 10 DL for the Eagles to watch

2020 NFL Combine: 10 DL for the Eagles to watch

The 2020 NFL Combine will now feature the defensive players with workouts and position drills for defensive linemen and linebackers.

The Eagles have a need for depth on the defensive line, despite Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson all set to return as starters.

With Graham, Cox, and Jackson getting up there in age, it’ll be imperative for the Eagles to land some young talent along the defensive front.

Here are ten defensive linemen or edge rushers regardless of the position that the Eagles should watch at the NFL Combine on Saturday.

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1. Josh Uche | EDGE | Michigan

A standup linebacker for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines, Uche has the ability to be an every-down pass rusher in the NFL, who can also be versatile in a zone or man pass coverage.

With the Eagles looking to be innovative while getting younger and more versatile, Uche could be perfect against the grain option.

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Eagles can solve their CB problem by prying Darius Slay away from the Lions and signing him to a long-term deal

Eagles can solve the CB problem by acquiring Darius Slay from the Lions

The Philadelphia Eagles have a bevy of different positions to address this offseason, but the one consensus among experts and analysts is that changes need to come in the secondary, and in a huge way.

Both starting corners from the 2019 season, Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby are free agents, and although Mills could still return, the Eagles need an upgrade at the position.

Cowboys’ Byron Jones and the Broncos’ Chris Harris Jr. are among the top projected free-agent corners, but Howie Roseman could circle back to a player that he’s pursued for the past two years.

According to Adam Schefter, Detroit Lions star cornerback Darius Slay can be had for the right compensation.

Slay has been seething mad about the organization’s decision to trade team captain Quandre Diggs to the Seattle Seahawks and it sounds like both parties are looking for a fresh start.

Recently, ESPN’s Mike Clay suggested Slay to the Eagles in a deal that would send fourth-year cornerback Sidney Jones and a third-round pick to the Lions in exchange.

Slay wants out badly and the Eagles need him even worse.

Slay is a Pro-Bowler and All-Pro caliber cornerback who had only allowed 15 completions on 27 targets for just 189 yards and one touchdown through November and is still one of the best in the game at his position.

Slay leads NFL with 82 passes broken up since 2015 and is one of just 2 cornerbacks named to 3 straight Pro Bowls (Jalen Ramsey). Adding Slay to the Eagles secondary could finally allow players like Jalen Mills if re-signed, Avonte Maddox, Cre’Von LeBlanc and Rasul Douglas to flourish, without the pressure of assuming a shutdown role.

Slay is currently in the top-15 highest-paid cornerback in the NFL according to Over The Cap, and he’d come at a decent rate, of $10 million per season.

Slay is set to hit free agency following the 2020 season, and the Eagles could lock him up long term with the talented cornerback still only 29 years old.

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Making the case for why the Eagles should exercise Derek Barnett’s 5th-year option

The Philadelphia Eagles have some pressing needs on the roster, but one area that’s solid regardless of numbers is the defensive end position. Brandon Graham is aging but he’s still one of the NFL fiercest pass rushers and he’ll once again pair with …

The Philadelphia Eagles have some pressing needs on the roster, but one area that’s solid regardless of numbers is the defensive end position.

Brandon Graham is aging but he’s still one of the NFL fiercest pass rushers and he’ll once again pair with Derek Barnett. Injuries have limited the former first-round pick out of Tennessee to 35 games in three seasons, but when he’s in the lineup, he’s supremely effective.

Barnett had 6.5 sacks last season, not eye-opening numbers, but his 22 quarterback knockdowns suggest that he’s continuing to improve as an edge rusher.

The Eagles have until May 30 to pick up Barnett’s 5th-year option at around $9,451,000 or close to $10 million if the figure rises.

It should be a no-brainer, as the Eagles need to continue developing Barnett while holding onto his rights for an extra year. Barnett’s unlikely to regress and he seems to be just hitting his stride as a defensive end.

He plays hard every down, his plays can’t be measured in sacks, nor can his constant motor and dedication to the position.

Still, only 23 years old, Barnett has 14 career sacks despite only playing in 35 games and from an experience standpoint, you can make the case that the defensive end is just figuring out the game and will be the ultimate disruptor with more game experience.

With plenty of room to grow and no true replacement on the roster, the decision is obvious for the Eagles.

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3 takeaways from news that Marquand Manuel will coach the Eagles secondary

The Philadelphia Eagles have hired former NFL player and Falcons defensive coordinator, Marquand Manuel as the defensive backs coach.

The Philadelphia Eagles have made an impressive hire on Senior Bowl Saturday, agreeing to a deal with Marquand Manuel according to Jeremy Fowler.

Manuel was the architect of an improved Falcons defense and will be called upon to turn around an Eagles cornerback group that has struggled in coverage over the past two years.

With changes coming on the backend of the Eagles defense, here are four takeaways from Manuel’s hiring.

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1. Eagles defensive backs will improve immediately

Manuel, 40, has a track record of success and experience that dates back to his playing days at Florida. He played 8 seasons in the NFL and coached up the Seahawks defense when they were considered the best in the NFL. While in Atlanta, Manuel was credited with the improvement in Keanu Neals play overall improvement of the Falcons secondary.

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Eagles to hire Marquand Manuel as DB coach

Marquand Manuel to be hired as Eagles defensive backs coach

The Philadelphia Eagles finally have some traction on one of their coaching vacancies, as Jeremy Fowler is reporting that Marquand Manuel will be named defensive backs coach.

Manuel formally coached in Seattle when the Legion of Boom was wrecking shop around the league and played for Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in Detroit.

Manuel Replaces Cory Undlin, who is now the Lions defensive coordinator, and he’ll be tasked with improving an Eagles secondary that has come under fire over the past two seasons.

Eagles ‘considering’ hiring a familiar name for new defensive line coach

Philadelphia Eagles ‘considering’ internal promotion at defensive line coach

The Philadelphia Eagles once again need a defensive line coach and the organization won’t have to look far to find an internal candidate.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, special assistant Matt Burke is a name that could replace Phillip Daniels as a defensive line coach.

Burke, 43, joined the Eagles before the 2019 season as a defensive special assistant under Jim Schwartz, and his relationship with the Eagles defensive coordinator goes all the way back to 2004 with the Titans.

Eagles DT Malik Jackson ‘super motivated’ to make his return

Eagles defensive tackle Malik Jackson ‘super motivated’ to make his return

The Philadelphia Eagles have the cap space to make some big moves in free agency, but targeting an impact defensive tackle doesn’t necessarily have to be on the agenda thanks to Malik Jackson.

Jackson missed all of the 2019 NFL season after he suffered a foot injury against the Washington Redskins and was forced to have surgery. Howie Roseman signed Jackson to a three-year deal in hopes of pairing the talented defensive tackle with Fletcher Cox.

Now with Jackson nearing full health, the Eagles star told the team’s official website that he’s “super motivated” to return to form.

“The first two weeks were the hardest, but then you kind of take a breath and understand that it’s OK, it happens, and I can come back from it. It’s not career-ending. It’s OK,” Jackson said.

Before the freak injury in the Eagles season opener, Jackson went eight years without missing a game.

Prior to the 2019 season, Jackson played in every game dating back to 2012, his rookie season. Even then, he only missed two games.

Jackson went on to say that he loves the city and if he can return to form and pair with Fletcher Cox, the Eagles will once again have the potential to wreak havoc on opposing offenses up the middle.

Lions to hire Eagles DB coach Cory Undlin as defensive coordinator

Cory Undlin hired as Lions defensive coordinator

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The Detroit Lions and head coach Matt Patricia have a new defensive coordinator, hiring defensive backs coach, Cory Undlin away from the Eagles according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

Undlin and Lions head coach Matt Patricia started their NFL careers out together as coaching assistants with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots in 2004.

Undlin was hired by former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly in 2015 and then retained by current head coach, Doug Pederson.

Undlin being such a hot coach name may cause confusion for some Eagles fans who may correlate the team’s cornerback play with his coaching.

Undlin gets credit for helping the Eagles secondary overcome some serious and significant injuries over the past two seasons.

Jim Schwartz expected to remain Eagles DC after Browns agree to deal with Kevin Stefanski

The Cleveland Browns will hire Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski as head coach

It appears Jim Schwartz will be returning to Philadelphia as the Eagles defensive coordinator, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com is reporting that the Browns are set to name Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski head coach.

Schwartz interviewed with the Browns on Wednesday and Eagles head coach Doug Pederson confirmed that he would return to the Birds if he didn’t secure the Cleveland job.

The Browns are set to interview Eagles VP of football operations, Andrew Berry for thei vacant GM position.

Doug Pederson says Jim Schwartz will return as Eagles DC if he doesn’t land Browns job

Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz not a finalist for Browns head coaching job

The Philadelphia Eagles are shaking up their coaching staff, firing offensive coordinator Mike Groh and wide receivers coach, Carson Walch. Most of the rumblings about the Birds coaching staff has centered on the future of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

Schwartz interviewed for the Browns job on Wednesday and on Friday, Doug Pederson told 94WIP that he’ll remain the Eagles defensive coordinator unless he lands the gig in Cleveland.

Pederson’s announcement comes on the heels of a report from Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, who confirmed that the Eagles defensive coordinator was not a finalist for the job.

The Browns are likely to choose from the Patriots’ Josh McDaniels, Minnesota’s Kevin Stefanski, and Buffalo’s Brian Daboll.

All three are offensive coordinators and would be needed for the reclamation project that is Baker Mayfield.