How Vic Fangio will overhaul Eagles defense, but it won’t be the way fans expect

PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles have run a Vic Fangio-type of defense ever since Nick Sirianni became the head coach in 2021.

The difference is that the Eagles finally have Fangio to run it − as opposed to disciples in Jonathan Gannon in 2021 and 2022, and Sean Desai this past season until he was replaced by Matt Patricia on Dec. 16.

The Eagles are reportedly hiring Fangio, 65, to take over a beleaguered defense under Desai and Patricia that ranked near the bottom of the NFL in several categories. The defensive collapse was a major reason why the Eagles finished 1-6 after a 10-1 start.

But don't expect a big change in philosophy, which might not appease fans who are hoping for a Wink Martindale or Todd Bowles blitz-heavy scheme. The blitz flummoxed Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts late in the season in the two games against the Giants and the playoff game against Tampa Bay.

As the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator in 2023, Fangio blitzed less than the Eagles did. The Eagles ranked 23rd, blitzing 22% of the time. The Dolphins ranked 27th, blitzing 21.5% of the time.

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The Eagles have long had a philosophy of building along the defensive line in order to get pressure on the quarterback. It worked resoundingly well in 2022 when the Eagles had 70 sacks, the third most in NFL history since the sack became an official stat in 1982.

But the defensive line play dropped off this season with only 43 sacks. And that exposed the other positions.

So the best solution for Fangio's defense could very well be getting better players.

"I feel like we've had a long history of success here building the team a certain way," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said.

And it doesn't seem like that's going to change with Fangio.

"You don't just take a six-week stretch and say, 'Boom, I'm scratching this entire philosophy,'" Sirianni said. "You look at it as a whole. You drag yourself through the mud of the bad stuff that you went through, and you say, 'Do I need to make adjustments?'

"And the answer is yes a lot of times. And then the answer is no − this is the way it needs to be, and we've just got to do it better, coach it better, or whatever it is."

That includes linebacker. But Roseman pushed back on the notion that the Eagles don't value the position. The reality is the Eagles don't value inside linebacker monetarily compared to other positions, such as the offensive and defensive lines, not to mention quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The Eagles devoted just 0.78% of their salary cap space to inside linebacker, which ranked 22nd in the NFL, according to the website Spotrac.com. The Dolphins under Fangio were higher at 5.7%, which ranked seventh.

The Eagles will certainly have a chance to allocate more resources as they will have a projected $28 million in salary cap space heading into free agency in mid-March. There's a good chance they will have even more space as some veterans will be released before then.

"I think maybe there are some preconceived notions that ... we don't care who we play at linebacker," Roseman said. "Again, our two Super Bowl teams over the last six years, the linebacker play was good from those guys."

Yet in 2022, the Eagles spent even less at inside linebacker with T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White. They used up 0.56% of the cap on the position, which ranked 26th. Both Edwards and White left as free agents after that season.

But the Eagles had a plan in place to replace them. They drafted Nakobe Dean in the third round in 2022, and he sat behind Edwards and White. Dean, however, played in just five games as foot injuries sent him to injured reserve twice.

Roseman said he still believes in Dean. Meanwhile, veteran Zach Cunningham missed four games late in the season with a knee injury, and veteran Nicholas Morrow struggled. After Dean went on IR for the second time, the Eagles added Shaq Leonard, a former Pro Bowl player who had been released by the Colts.

They also lost Christian Elliss to waivers and used an inexperienced Ben VanSumeren at times.

None of it worked.

Even if the Eagles spend more at inside linebacker in 2024, chances are it won't be significantly more. After all, the Eagles have big money invested in edge rushers Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat and cornerback Darius Slay.

That's why defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said if the Eagles' talent improves, the scheme will take care of itself, no matter who's the defensive coordinator.

"It’s all about going out and being a true pro," Cox said last week before Fangio became a candidate. "That’s the biggest thing, how do you adjust? And the real pros adjust no matter what the scheme is. It doesn’t matter who’s calling the plays."

That was true for Slay as well, who was asked what he would like to see in a new defensive coordinator. It just so happens that Fangio's defense emphasized two-deep safeties to limit explosive plays, and an emphasis on the defensive backs playing quarters coverage.

That's what the Eagles have done for the most part under Gannon and Desai/Patricia.

"Whatever scheme (the new coordinator) brings to help us get Ws and be a top defense in the NFL," Slay said. "That’s what I want them to run. My type of defense has been the same. It’s always been man-slash-quarters.

"I know that whatever happens, that’s probably going to be built in. Whatever they need me to do, I’m just gonna go do it to my best ability."

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will overhaul the defense