Lineup changes aren’t out of the question for Birds
For the first time since the Super Bowl the Eagles aren’t ruling out lineup changes to address inadequacies on both sides of the football.
With practices closed to the media for all but a few moments of the warmups, the substantive changes won’t be apparent until the Eagles entertain the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday.
That said, it’s hard to believe Doug Pederson and his staff will stand pat in the face of a 2-2 Eagles start.
“We have to be careful that we are not just on a whim swapping people out,” Doug Pederson said at his news conference Monday. “If you start doing that it starts moving other people around as well. We’re going to take these next couple of
days and really evaluate everybody, evaluate us as coaches, too. If there’s a change to be made, we’ll make it. If not, then we’ll leave it alone. At the same time, we can also coach a little bit better and get our guys prepared in a situation to play.”
The Eagles’ problems are more than the home and away statistical differences apologists sing about.
The Eagles (2-2) have given up fewer points at the Linc. They’ve also been more productive offensively on the road than at home.
Defensively, cornerback Jalen Mills always seems to be in the frame when the opposition completes a deep ball. Or drops a deep one, as was the case Sunday. Mills’ susceptibility to the double-moves of receivers has been a chronic issue. Now, the veteran is giving so much cushion it looks like he’s playing an old school prevent type of defense.
“I don’t necessarily think they are attacking him as much as they may be attacking the defense,” Pederson said. “The fact that we have given up a few big plays, I think four yesterday again. And it’s something again I address each week as we have got to eliminate the penalties, the turnovers and the big plays.”
Pederson did point the finger at Mills in the respect that pro football teams subscribe to the run it until they stop it philosophy.
“If we are studying tape and we notice the defense is suspect to the deep pass, or a play action pass or something, then we’re going to try to do it,” Pederson said. “We did it on the first play of the game and it was something that we had seen and we just missed by about six inches on the play. So, until we can address it and fix it and get better at it and practice, as you guys know, teams will continue to do it. It’s like if a team can’t stop the run, keep running. And that’s just where we are right now.”
With Sydney Jones playing
in the slot, moving him outside where Mills is would switch two positions, which Pederson isn’t a fan of. However, Jones is faster than Mills and has more upside being out on the coverage island. Mills played slot during training camp, although he’s not real fond of the position.
Rookie Avonte Maddox (5-9, 180) has played slot although with his size and 4.39 speed in the 40yard dash, he would seem better suited to play the free safety slot opening left by the injured Rodney McLeod. Maddox, playing safety, intercepted his first NFL pass Sunday. Maddox could well take the starting job of Corey Graham, the 33-year-old veteran coming off his worst game with the Eagles.
Elsewhere on defense, the Eagles could help themselves this week against the Minnesota Vikings by bumping tackle Haloti Ngata right out of the lineup and moving end Michael Bennett inside. Okay against the Titans, Ngata might as well be scratched this week.
If the Eagles are looking to upgrade the offensive side of the ball, they could do a lot worse than replacing Jason Peters. The 36-year-old veteran has really showed his age the past two games, and it’s hurt the Eagles in pass protection and run support. The obvious one-forone swap there would be Halapoulivaati Vaitai at left tackle.
The Eagles are hopeful that running back Corey Clement and his ailing quadriceps will be healthy enough to return this week.
“We as a team, offense, defense, special teams, need to be more efficient,” Pederson said. “And so, again, it is not just a kneejerk reaction but these conversations do go on.”
••• The Eagles are 3-point favorites over the Vikings this Sunday at the Linc (4:25 p.m.).
The Vikings (1-2-1) have been all over the map in this, their first season with Kirk Cousins at quarterback.
Calling the plays for Cousins, who inked a fully guaranteed threeyear, $90 million contract to quarterback Skol Nation, is former Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, who quarterbacked Radnor High.
The Vikings are missing standout defensive linemen Eversen Griffin, who reportedly is receiving therapy for a mental health condition.
Cousins has completed 69.3 percent of his attempts for 1,387 yards, 10 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 103.6 passer rating.
The Vikings have three accomplished receivers in Adam Thielen (40 catches, 473 yards, two TDs), Stefon Diggs (27-311, three TDs) and Kyle Rudolph (18-188, two TDs). Laquon Treadwell is another deep threat while Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray are the running backs.
The offensive line is average, though, and that’s where the Eagles could attack.
••• Eagles veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins on Monday received the key to the City of Camden for his community efforts to support youth and the underserved through his foundation.
“Earlier this year during The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation ‘Get Ready Fest’ here in Camden we were inspired by the people of this city,” Jenkins said. “And once again I find myself reminded by Mayor Moran, City Council, elected officials, Pastor John O. Parker, and the entire city to try and always lead by example.”