How the Eagles defense might try to slow down the Rams’ slot machines

It’s hard to imagine anyone predicting this Eagles would have the best defense in the league following their 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4. However, after adjustments during the bye week, the Eagles’ defense has played an integral role in the team’s six-game winning streak . Through ten games, the Eagles have allowed just 273.1 yards per game, the lowest average in the league. They also rank seventh in run defense (99.9 yards per game) and second in pass defense (173.2 yards per game).

This week, the Eagles’ pass defense faces a big test against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The Rams feature former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford, one of the league’s top passers, along with standout wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, who pose a significant challenge, especially in certain areas of the field.

Kupp and Nacua had excellent performances in the Rams’ win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, combining for 229 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Both receivers surpassed 100 yards, with Nacua tallying 123 and Kupp finishing with 106. Rams head coach Sean McVay excels at using creative play designs, often putting Kupp and Nacua in the slot to maximize their effectiveness.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Kupp is in line for 212 of his 319 photos this season. While Nacua mainly plays on the outside, he has competed on occasion 52 of his 187 photos. The Rams often use movement to create mismatches, and Kupp and Nacua are threats on jet sweeps, exploiting the advantage if defenders don’t contain themselves on the outside.

In last year’s game against the Eagles, then-defensive coordinator Sean Desai’s unit allowed Kupp to catch eight passes for 118 yards, while Nacua had seven catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is well aware of the damage that Kupp and Nacua can inflict if there are deficiencies in coverage or discipline.

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“They’re two really good receivers and they both have really good chemistry with Stafford,” Fangio said Tuesday. “They are strong at the catch point. They are both strong receivers and they are excellent runners after the catch… That they (Rams) are at this point in the season with the injuries they have had speaks highly of their players and their coaching staff. Now they are almost at full strength again offensively and they will be a difficult group to defend.”

The Eagles player who will be tested early and is often a rookie cornerback Cooper DeJeanthe nickel cornerback. When he plays on the inside, his job is not only to cover them, but also to communicate with the other defensive backs and linebackers about when a receiver is moving and how to adjust the coverage on the fly, while also helps to stop the flight. . According to PFF, DeJean ranks fourth in quarterback rating allowed (80.6) among defensive backs with at least 151 snaps in the slot. With more than 171 snaps in, he has allowed 22 completions on 31 targets for 144 yards – one catch per 7.8 snaps, the eighth-best rate in the league.

There will be times when McVay will essentially open up the wide receivers to give them a few yards of yardage using the motion, so DeJean and the other defensive backs moving down into the slot will have to make sure that if they are defeated, they limit yards after the catch by immediately tackling them. It will be interesting to see how much press coverage the Eagles will have to disrupt route timing.

Stafford isn’t a dual-threat quarterback, which gives the Eagles’ defensive line a chance to pressure him if the secondary forces him to hold onto the ball. Last season, the Eagles sacked Stafford four times, twice by defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Similar pressure will be key this week to keep the Rams’ receivers from making explosive plays down the field.