The question had nothing to do with last year’s coaching staff. That’s right where Brandon Graham took it.
BG was asked Wednesday what life is like at the NovaCare Complex without Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox, and at first he started talking about Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis and how good new defensive line coach Clint Hurtt has been , for them: “They’ve got a good coach in Clint, and I really think last year that’s what we didn’t have.”
Then he left.
Graham, now entering his franchise-record 15th season with the Eagles, didn’t mention any coaches by name, but it’s easy to understand who he was talking about.
After the season, the Eagles replaced both defensive coordinators, Sean Desai and Matt Patricia, as well as defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, linebackers coach DJ Eliot and secondary coach DJ McDonald from the defensive coaching staff, as well as some assistant position coaches.
Veteran Vic Fangio is the Eagles’ fourth defensive coordinator in the last three years.
“I really think last year we didn’t have all the right coaches in the right position, I would say,” Graham said. “You can see the guys (now) really believing in what we’re doing, and I’m excited for the young guys that just came in and the new rookies that are coming in because they’re really going to have a good opportunity. and a good taste of what it’s really like to be in the NFL.
“Last year you noticed little things, certain things we weren’t on the same page about. Just here and there, he’ll show up, but he showed up in a big way in the last game (playoff loss in Tampa). And it was like, everything I learned, you always have to make sure we have proper communication, so there’s great communication right now within the locker room, on the field, in the classrooms.
“And I knew Howie was going to fix it. Because once you realize it, you just have to deal with it for the year. That’s how it is. But I don’t see any of that at all. I’m more excited because we have Fangio, someone with experience, very good. “I’m not saying anything about the past, but it was more like everyone was on the same page about certain things.”
The Eagles finished last year ranked 26th in yards allowed, 29th in points allowed, 31st in pass defense, 31st on third down, 29th in the red zone and 24th in sacks. Patricia replaced Desai with the Eagles 10-3 and things got worse, with the Eagles losing three of their last four and then allowing 32 points in the wild card loss to the Buccaneers.
BG credited the organization, particularly Howie Roseman, for understanding how many changes were needed and for taking steps with both the coaching staff and roster to try to get the Eagles back to defensive respectability.
“He’s the magician, I would say,” Graham said. “Trying to find out where we went wrong, being honest, having those difficult conversations and not being afraid to make certain moves to make sure that when you have a good team like ours and good players, sometimes it doesn’t always show. That’s because sometimes we’re not on the same page.
“That’s the difference in professional sports. All it takes is one person to get a task wrong and then it costs us the game, things like that. …
“I think he did a good job of bringing guys in, really bringing in some really good coaches. And yes, I’m excited to see where we go.”
When it was over, Graham walked off stage, laughed and said, “Okay, don’t get me in trouble.”
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