‘Luckily, It Hit’

PHILADELPHIA – Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio isn’t easily influenced by what’s vogue when it comes to evaluating players and specific positions.

He has his own process, methods that have become tried-and-true and ones that Fangio tends to keep close to his vest. The veteran coordinator, now in his 38th NFL season, will sift through analytical data and use it as he sees fit and he doesn’t share it with anyone – even fellow coaches.

So, when it comes to assessing the linebacker position – a self-proclaimed forte of Fangio’s, as he’s coached that position most often and watched plenty of linebacker play – he relies on his eyes, specifically what the tape reveals.

But the big mystery this season has been how Fangio unearthed Zack Baun, who has largely served as the heartbeat of a drastically resurgent Eagles defense despite lacking much prior experience playing the inside linebacker position.

ITB IMAGES: ILB Zack Baun is playing at Pro Bowl or All Pro level after Vic Fangio’s decision to move the former Saint to inside linebacker.

Baun, who’s logged a team-leading 87 tackles (four for loss), an interception, pair of sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, is not only playing at an All Pro level; for the money spent, he might just be the NFL’s best free-agent acquisition of the 2024 offseason.

And it all goes back to Fangio and his evaluation.

If you remember, during Fangio’s introductory press conference, when discussing the linebacker position the first name he rattled off before reaching for the roster for reference was Baun’s.

Reflecting back to what he saw initially in Baun to be confident that the former Saints backup edge rusher and special teamer could play inside linebacker, Fangio – as he typically does – stuck to his process.

“When I evaluate players, there’s no check box, things you check off,” he said. “You just watch the tape, watch the movement patterns, watch the players play.

“Howie [Roseman] brought him up to me first, but he had a vision for him as a backup outside linebacker, special teams demon. And after I watched it, I said, ‘No, I think he’s an inside linebacker.’ And luckily, it hit.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.