Ready To Rumble

[Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a series of stories on InsideTheBirds.com by Andrew DiCecco recapping the Eagles offseason and looking to the 2022 season. Today’s story focuses on the most significant offseason addition to the team.]

Before signing Jaquiski Tartt on Saturday to a one-year deal, the Eagles had a fairly clear pecking order at safety.

Two months ago, the team neglected to invest in the position through the draft and failed to fill the void created by Rodney McLeod’s departure.

Ultimately, the Eagles retained McLeod’s veteran running mate – Anthony Harris – while fourth-year defensive back Marcus Epps appeared poised to fill the vacancy opposite Harris.

Though Harris experienced an uneven first season in Philadelphia and lacks the range and other pertinent intangibles needed to thrive as an every-down safety, the 30-year-old defender is versed in defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s system and viewed as a leader.

Instinct tells me he’s likely to remain entrenched as a starter for one more season.

Marcus Epps will battle newcomer Jaquiski Tartt at training camp to start opposite Anthony Harris.

However, when assessing Epps and Tartt under a microscope, the once-clearly defined strong safety role isn’t as apparent as it once was.

Tartt brings 367 tackles (21.0) for loss, four sacks, 18 passes defended, four interceptions, and 64 games of starting experience to Philadelphia.

The 30-year-old safety provides old-school ferocity and toughness to the room, thrives as a back-end enforcer, is supremely athletic, and could easily identify himself as a linebacker and no one would debate him.

With that, however, Tartt has battled a litany of injuries. His over-aggressive nature tends to lead to lapses and he doesn’t offer much in terms of big-play potential.

Be it Jim Schwartz, or most recently Jonathan Gannon, Eagles defensive coordinators have recently echoed effusive praise for Epps, and last season Epps’ actions reflected their words.

The former Wyoming product played a career-high 505 defensive snaps, accounting for 48 percent of the total defense, while racking up 62 tackles, five passes defended, and an interception in 16 games (three starts).

What Epps lacks in world-class athleticism, he makes up for with his football intellect, instincts, toughness, and versatility.

One thing that shouldn’t be understated is the confidence the coaching staff has in Epps to carry out his assignments at a high level.

Given his familiarity with Gannon’s philosophy and ideologies, Epps also appears to have an early advantage. Furthermore, Gannon has been closely working with Epps for the past year and has seen the gradual improvement.

In spite of Tartt’s experience and resume, his play style closely mirrors Harris’, thus making the hypothetical veteran tandem redundant and one-dimensional.

I suspect Tartt will be utilized as a prominently featured third safety, similarly to how the team deployed Corey Graham, while placing greater emphasis on big nickel personnel.

As for Epps, the rare example of a developmental success on the Eagles, I expect the team to see his indisputable progression to the finish line.

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

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