Philly relies on depth to pressure QBs

PHILADELPHIA — Blitzing is more of an option than a necessity for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz always has preferred to let his front four generate pressure on quarterbacks, and he has a group of players who can do it. The Eagles have so much depth on their defensive line that they rotate seven players to keep them fresh for the fourth quarter.

It takes unselfish guys willing to put the team ahead of personal goals in order to make that happen harmoniously.

Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is one of the best in the NFL and he plays nearly the entire game. But ends Brandon Graham, Chris Long, Derek Barnett and Michael Bennett each played more than half the snaps in an 18-12 win against Atlanta in Week 1. The defense had four sacks and 26 pressures.

The Eagles will have a tough challenge Sunday at Tampa against an offense that racked up 529 total yards in a 48-40 win at New Orleans.

Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was sensational, throwing for 417 yards and four touchdowns, including scores of 58, 50 and 36 yards.

“I’m excited to play a team like that,” Long said. “You want to play a team that’s playing well because it’s a challenge.”

“Our front judges themselves on the entire group, not individual accomplishment,” Schwartz said. “You see that on the field. Fletch makes a sack and they’re all excited about it because they all played a part in it.

and do your job is the next one,” said McCain, who has started 20 games for the Dolphins in his four seasons. “As long as you’re on time and do your job, you’ll be in great shape.”

According to Stills, being a captain means you’re a gobetween for the coaches and the players.

According to Gase, he sought out vocal players when picking the 2018 captains.

“We’re looking for those guys that’ll step up when things get tough and things aren’t quite going the way [we expect],” Gase said. “Who’s going to step up, and who’s going to be a guy not only to play well but to be vocal as well?” So I think you need to have unselfish players. It just needs to be stressed.”

Schwartz doesn’t have to sell the players on a rotation.

“It’s good for not just one game, but over the course of the season,” he said. “I think our players recognize that. I think it also goes to another theme of what we’ve been talking about: You have to trust a guy that he can go in and make those plays. If you want to rotate players, you need to have players that can be on the field. We have trust in those players. They work hard together. They realize it’s about the group, it’s not about them individually. That’s where the production counts.”

When the Falcons had four cracks from the Eagles’ 10 and another from the 5 in the final minute of the game, Schwartz didn’t call

Since being signed this offseason to supplant Miami’s offensive line, Sitton immediately emerged as a leader.

Unfortunately for the Dolphins, his first season with the team is over.

Sitton tore his rotator cuff in his left shoulder and will require surgery to repair the tear, according to a league source. He was placed on injured reserve Friday.

“Any time you lose a guy that’s been all-in, it’s tough not only for the coaching staff, players, but everybody really involved in the organization,” Gase said of Sitton.

“He’s put so much into this year and so much into what we’re doing as a team, I probably feel worse for him than I do for us.”

The injury means Ted Larsen, who served as Miami’s starting left guard for the final eight games of 2018, will start at left guard as the Dolphins prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets on Sunday at 1 p.m. in MetLife Stadium.

Sitton, a four-time Pro one blitz. That’s quite unusual in that spot, but the line pressured Matt Ryan without needing help.

“We have good players at three levels of the defense. We can rush without blitzing,” Schwartz said.

“We were getting such good pressure that we didn’t need to blitz. When you can blitz on your own terms, you’re at an advantage.

“It’s frustrating if you’re not getting pressure and you have to blitz. It can put you in a bad spot.

“But that really hasn’t happened to us. I think probably the biggest thing is there was no panic in our players. They knew what to expect. They went out and did it.”

Schwartz called a blitz earlier in the game inside the red zone and it resulted in Ryan throwing an interception to Rasul Douglas.

Bowl pick and 11-year veteran after stops in Green Bay and Chicago, suffered the injury during Miami’s 27-20 win over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday.

He was perhaps the Dolphins’ top run-blocking offensive lineman and quickly became a leader on the offensive line, along with newcomer center Daniel Kilgore.

Gase now hopes Sitton, who has started in 138 of 148 games during his career, can lead from the sidelines.

“Josh is going to be around and try to help our guys when he’s available to do so,” Gase said. “He’s not going to go far. We still have him under contract for another year and we anticipate him coming back next year.

“We like the fact he’s going to be around.”

Sitton becomes the second Dolphins starter lost to a season-ending injury. The Dolphins lost starting tight end MarQueis Gray to an Achilles tendon injury during the first practice of the regular season.