Joe Camporeale-USA Today Sports
The first preseason game for the Philadelphia Eagles was much anticipated for obvious reasons. Chip Kelly‘s offensive schemes and the new hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense were two of them. Well, the offense looked good and efficient. The defense … not much, especially the run defense (200 rushing yards allowed in the first half alone).
It felt like deju vu as the defense opened up by giving up a 62-yard run to Stevan Ridley. Then Ridley himself finishing the job with a 1-yard TD run on the first possession for the New England Patriots.
The second series was Tom Brady being Tom Brady. The Eagles’ coverage really wasn’t that bad on that series. Brady was just that good, especially on the TD throw to Shane Vereen. Mychal Kendricks had great coverage, but that ball was perfect.
Of course, the tackling was disastrous, but that was to be expected considering the lack of tackling the Eagles have done thus far. Here is Kendricks on the Eagles’ tackling, courtesy of Philly.com:
“That was really the first time we went live … It takes a while. I missed a tackle. I went in there like I was going to tag him off, so I’ll get used to it.”
So that is the question. Will the lack of tackling come back to hurt the Eagles? To be honest, I don’t think it will. The Eagles can clean up some of those mistakes with repetitions. I do believe they will have issues on that side especially early on in the season. It’s just common sense that with this much personnel change, it’s to be expected.
We should know what type of defense the Eagles will have by Week 6 or 7. My guess: an average defense at best.
Joseph Hickman is a Philadelphia Eagles writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @phillytugger, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+
