Inside Job

In Vic Fangio’s estimation, Monday’s game on the west coast was probably the first time in Brandon Graham’s storied career where he aligned at defensive tackle and was tasked with a job requirement that extended beyond merely rushing the passer – either-or situations, as Fangio worded it.

Graham, 37, logged 30 snaps in the Eagles’ 22-19 loss to the Chargers, his largest snap share since Week 10 of last season. Sure, the usage and positional focus was born out of necessity, in an all-hands-on-deck call to arms in the wake of the absence of third-year standout Jalen Carter.

Individually, Graham might not have factored into the box score, but the veteran defensive lineman made significant contributions to a swarming Eagles run defense that limited the productive two-headed rushing tandem of Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal to 100 yards combined.

Graham, of course, is a pass-rusher by trade who has moonlighted inside on occasion. But given the unenviable chore of replacing a feared game-wrecker like Carter, who commands attention on every snap, sacrifices became mandatory – and Graham answered the bell.

“It felt great,” he said. “I’m excited to keep chipping away. My training camp is over. I’ve been out there a little more, and of course, JC is down, so I’m trying to do everything I can for the team because I know we have four games left. Raiders this week. I’m excited to keep chipping away, keep building that teamwork.”

Eagles legend Brandon Graham was asked to play inside more against the Chargers with Jalen Carter shelved, and will be asked to do it again.

With Carter mending from a recent procedure on his shoulders – his timetable for return deemed week-to-week – Graham and third-year pro Byron Young were the recipients of increased workloads in the first game without him, providing inspired returns. Graham pointed out that his technique was comparable to that of last season, when he undertook a similar role.

In the interim, Graham is absorbing as many of the fine details as possible, honing in on technique while refining what he’d already been familiar with. Graham has put in extra work on the practice field to ensure the technical aspect of his role is dialed in. His relationship with defensive line coach Clint Hurtt has also aided in easing the transition.

“I feel comfortable,” he said. “It’s just certain stuff … if I am gonna be in the middle, I have to make sure I’m holding my ground and making sure I got the right technique, especially if I get double teamed, stuff like that. But it’s all about using your hands – my triceps, everything feels great. I just feel like I have to continue working the technique. It’s a daily walk with it.”

Graham, who said he feels quick from the interior, cited the importance of balance when playing inside, making sure both feet remain entrenched on the ground when striking. Always team-first, Graham has embraced the newness, fixating on the particulars to ensure he’s well-prepared whenever the Eagles need him.

To further fine-tune his technique, Graham has paid close attention to fellow lineman Jordan Davis, emulating the mammoth interior tackle’s subtleties learning from a teammate that, in Graham’s eyes, is having a Pro Bowl season.

Graham, third in franchise history in sacks (76.5), spent the better part of his now-16-year NFL career pinning his ears back off the edge and hunting quarterbacks. Kicking inside, however, presents its own unique set of challenges and demands, namely first-step explosiveness and urgent hand usage in a considerably more confined space.

“You have to be quicker because everything comes at you quicker because you don’t have as much space as you do as an outside linebacker,” he explained. “You at least get two steps. As soon as you get off the rock you have to use your hands right away because the guard … he don’t like space. He’s trying to minimize as much space as he can so he’s gonna try to get on you fast.”

Pivoting from the leisure life of retirement to the trenches, Graham has a knack for responding when the Eagles need him most. This time, he’s here to lending a helping hand to a team with Super Bowl aspirations, providing leadership, experience and levity and doing whatever needed for the betterment of the collective.

While Graham’s most recent snap share was eye-popping, even out of necessity, don’t expect the workload to lighten or vary in the immediate future. Though, in fairness, that should have been expected, as Fangio set the pace in the early stages of Graham’s presumed swan song season, when he said that Graham is “not on any ceremonial last-year retirement parade.”

“BG is the ultimate pro,” Fangio said this week. “He’s got strength. He knows how to play blocks. I think he’ll be better this week moving forward.”

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