Jordan Davis is out for at least the next three games. The Eagles were able to sustain the loss of their run-stopping nose tackle last week against the Texans. And considering their upcoming opponents, the Commanders and Colts, and each team’s below-average rushing offense, they may not have much to worry about the next two weeks.
“It’s a blend of how I’m calling the game. … If the team is trying to pound you, you want to get another hat in the box,” Gannon said Tuesday. “You make sure that you’re not checkmated by the number count. With saying that, there’s some give and take to that, too, in the pass game.” Houston accumulated 43 yards on their nine rushes vs. the 5-2. On their last two carries, with Hargrave in the middle, the Texans picked up just 4 yards.
Tackling has been a season-long problem. The Eagles rank second to last in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Nine of their 14 missed tackles vs. Houston came on runs alone. But how much has it cost the team? A year ago, for instance, it ranked first, and no one would take that unit over the current one.
But Davis’ importance in the overall function of Gannon’s scheme, which places precedence on not surrendering explosive passing plays, can’t be overstated. His statistical production may not look like much, but the 6-foot-6, 336-pound rookie’s presence in the Eagles’ five-man front not only helps slow the run but allows the coordinator to favor defending the pass.
Davis had already taken strides in learning a different technique than the one he played in college at Georgia. The Eagles slowly added more to his plate, and even had him on the field in some 4-down packages before his injury. But they didn’t want to overwhelm their top draft pick when they still had Hargrave, Fletcher Cox, and Milton Williams.
But the benefit can come when offenses pass out of run looks or off play action. Gannon’s scheme is predicated on taking away the deep pass and forcing the quarterback to check down, as the Steelers’ Kenny Pickett did here.
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