Vic Fangio's eagerness to bolster the Eagles' defense has been evident in his latest move, trading for Jaelan Phillips, a former Dolphins edge rusher. The signing is a calculated attempt by Howie Roseman to provide Fangio with more ammunition on the edge, thus allowing him to mask the team's deficiencies at cornerback.
The addition of Phillips comes after a tumultuous preseason that saw several players struggle to find their footing, including Adoree' Jackson and Azeez Ojulari. The trade has the potential to shore up the pass rush, which has been an area of concern for Fangio, who typically doesn't like blitzing at rates higher than 20 percent.
While Phillips may not be a game-wrecker in the mold of Myles Garrett, his best season came last year under Fangio's guidance with the Dolphins. He was able to rack up 6.5 sacks in just eight games and showed promise as a rotational edge rusher.
The Eagles' decision to trade for Phillips also highlights their struggles at cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell. Despite the signing of Jackson, the team has continued to acknowledge this deficiency, with Fangio's blitz rate increasing in recent weeks as he tries to compensate for the losses of Josh Sweat and Milton Williams in free agency.
If the Eagles can lean heavier on a four-man rush going forward, especially against opponents like the Packers and Chargers, they may be able to better mask their issues at cornerback. The addition of Phillips is a calculated move by Roseman to give Fangio more options, but it remains to be seen whether it will pay off in the long run.
One thing is clear: the Eagles' defense has been a work in progress this season, with Fangio struggling to find his footing despite the additions of several new players. The signing of Phillips provides hope that the team can finally start to gel and make a push for the playoffs.
The addition of Phillips comes after a tumultuous preseason that saw several players struggle to find their footing, including Adoree' Jackson and Azeez Ojulari. The trade has the potential to shore up the pass rush, which has been an area of concern for Fangio, who typically doesn't like blitzing at rates higher than 20 percent.
While Phillips may not be a game-wrecker in the mold of Myles Garrett, his best season came last year under Fangio's guidance with the Dolphins. He was able to rack up 6.5 sacks in just eight games and showed promise as a rotational edge rusher.
The Eagles' decision to trade for Phillips also highlights their struggles at cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell. Despite the signing of Jackson, the team has continued to acknowledge this deficiency, with Fangio's blitz rate increasing in recent weeks as he tries to compensate for the losses of Josh Sweat and Milton Williams in free agency.
If the Eagles can lean heavier on a four-man rush going forward, especially against opponents like the Packers and Chargers, they may be able to better mask their issues at cornerback. The addition of Phillips is a calculated move by Roseman to give Fangio more options, but it remains to be seen whether it will pay off in the long run.
One thing is clear: the Eagles' defense has been a work in progress this season, with Fangio struggling to find his footing despite the additions of several new players. The signing of Phillips provides hope that the team can finally start to gel and make a push for the playoffs.
I'm not convinced about this trade yet... What makes Roseman think Jaelan Phillips is gonna solve all their edge rush problems? 
I mean, Phillips had a good season with the Dolphins but that was under Fangio's guidance. How's he supposed to replicate that magic in Philly? 
And what about the cornerback situation? They just signed Jackson and now they're relying on Phillips and a four-man rush to mask their issues? 
It seems like more of a band-aid solution to me...
. First, he needs some serious help on the edge, since their pass rush has been lacking all preseason. Then, they need more depth at CB, which was a major concern after Sweat and Williams left in free agency 
. Trading for Phillips might just be the solution they're looking for, but we'll have to see how it plays out in the long run 
. The Eagles defense has been all over the place this season, so any positive development is welcome news! 
The addition of Phillips gives Fangio more options on the edge and might help mask some of the weaknesses in that area. 
But, can it pay off? Only time will tell if this trade is the spark the Eagles need to take their defense to the next level 
.
! It's like a breath of fresh air for the Eagles' defense. Fangio's been trying to get that pass rush going, but it was like they were hitting a brick wall 
. With Phillips on board, I think they've got a good shot at making some noise in the playoffs 
. The fact that they're trying to mask their CB issues by blitzing more is kinda genius 
. It's all about finding the right balance and making their defense a whole lot harder to crack 
. Now, I'm not saying they'll be perfect or anything, but with this addition, I think the Eagles are finally on the cusp of something special 
.
. The four-man rush thing might just work if they can get some decent pressure up front. Will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few weeks 
. I mean, they're basically just throwing more money at the problem (literally in this case) instead of addressing it head-on. It's like they're saying "oh, we can't figure out how to cover anyone, so let's just add more pass rushers and hope for the best". 
.
.
and i'm still trying to figure out how to use it 
, anyway back to football... so like, why do they need an edge rusher if they already have someone who's supposed to be good at corner 
and if they can get him to be that consistent I think the pass rush will actually be pretty solid 
. Anyways, I'm keeping an eye on this one 
. If they can get their defense clicking, they might just make a push for the playoffs 
.
. It's like, yeah, Jaelan Phillips is cool and all, but has he even played a full 16-game season with us yet? 
This trade might just be what the Eagles' D needed, now let's see if it translates to wins on Sundays! 
️