While some other NFL teams went out and made the normal blockbuster deals, the Philadelphia Eagles quietly and efficiently set out to improve their organization from a coaching, player and personnel standpoint.
Several big moves helped encompass this offseason, but we broke down the six best moves from the Eagles busy 2020 NFL offseason.
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1. Darius Slay arrives
Slay was impressive last year despite some down statistics on a bad team and yet his performance against some of the NFL’s best would be highlight-reel performances for some other cornerbacks.
Slay finally gives the Eagles an Alpha-cornerback who can mirror the opposing team’s top receiving weapon and a guy who can make a play with the game on the line.
Slay’s 85 forced incompletions since 2014 are the most in the NFL over that span as well.
2. Press Taylor Ascends up the coaching ranks
An innovative offensive mind, Taylor, enters his eighth season with the Eagles and was rewarded with the added title and responsibility of passing game coordinator during the 2020 offseason while continuing to serve as the team’s quarterbacks coach.
Still only 32 years old, Taylor has skyrocketed up the coaching ranks and Pederson risked losing his services if he didn’t promote him.
Wentz has played well under Taylor and the Eagles offense should take the next step from flow and precision standpoint with Press leading the passing game.
3. Game Wrecker from Pittsburgh helps extend Fletcher Cox’s career
Javon Hargrave wasn’t a household name upon arriving in Philadelphia via free agency but the game wrecking defensive tackle is set to break out in 2020 playing next to Fletcher Cox. Cox has battled nagging injuries late during both of the past two playoff runs but having Hargrave and Malik Jackson next to him should help keep the All-Pro fresh.
Hargrave is a pass rush dynamo and according to Pro Football Focus, he was the number four most productive pass-rushing defensive tackle in the NFL last season.
Last season in the Steelers 3-4 defense, Hargrave managed 373 pass-rush snaps to go along with 43 hurries and 49 total pressures.
4. Rich Scangarello unveils more play-action
One of the main reasons for Wentz and other Eagles’ excitement has centered around the addition of quarterback guru and offensive consultant, Rich Scangarello.
Scangarello, 48, spent two years as the quarterback’s coach under Kyle Shanahan with the San Francisco 49ers, and he was previously an offensive quality control coach for the Atlanta Falcons when Shanahan was the offensive coordinator.
Scangarello excels in the run game with pre-snap motion and misdirection that Shanahan’s 49ers team performs so well.
Scangarell played a key role in the maturation of rookie Drew Lock, who now looks like the Broncos signal-caller of the future.
5. Nickell Robey-Coleman adds swag to a once vulnerable group
One of the top slot cover guys in all of the NFL, Robey-Coleman and Cre’Von LeBlanc will ensure that the inside receivers for the opposing team struggle to produce against the Eagles.
Guys like Tyreek Hill, Adam Thielen, Keenan Allen, Julian Edelman, Cooper Kupp, and Larry Fitzgerald make a living at dominating mismatches in the slot against outmatched cornerbacks and safeties alike.
Robey-Coleman has been one of the league’s better slot defenders over the past two seasons and last season, Robey-Coleman allowed 32 catches on 52 targets for 272 yards, 144 yards after the catch, one touchdown, and an opponent passer rating of 80.1 — good for 13th among all CBs– and was sixth in yards per slot coverage snap (0.63), according to Pro Football Focus.
6. K’Von Wallace is Brian Dawkins 2.0
A 6-0, 210-pound Safety from Highland Springs, VA, Wallace is a presence that needs to be judge by more than just statistics. Malcolm Jenkins was a solid safety for the Eagles and an amazing leader but the Eagles have lacked a true bonafide presence at safety since Brian Dawkins moved on to the Broncos.
Enter another former Clemson safety who plays with a confidence and bravado similar to that of the Hall of Famer.
A three-year starter who played 59 games huge for the Tigers, Wallace won’t be fazed by the moment and his versatility could allow the Eagles to play him at safety, in the slot, and at linebacker, further making the Eagles even faster on defense.
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