On The Rebound

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles don’t have much time to dwell on their shortcomings from Monday night in Chicago with the Los Angeles Rams coming to town for a 1 p.m. kickoff Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, but they’ll need to improve their communication and fundamentals on defense in short order.

Uncharacteristic as it might be for the Eagles, Bears HC Ben Johnson crafted a masterful gameplan that placed coordinator Vic Fangio’s unit squarely on the ropes. The quick game from quarterback Case Keenum played a role, but so did coverage lapses and inconsistent tackling.

The defensive personnel, most of which has played together for at least a few seasons now, was in a state of constant flux.

“I thought our guys were ready to play mentally and physically,” Fangio said Wednesday. “Our details were off a little bit, especially when they were throwing it quick, so that’s on me. Didn’t have them ready to execute better.”

Jalen Carter and the Eagles’ defense will try to shake off the embarrassment of getting carved up by third string QB Case Keenum in Week 3.

Here are a few takeaways that provide a bit more clarity into some of the prominent defensive storylines that emerged from the 27-7 loss:

Safety Dance

Marcus Epps started at safety opposite Drew Mukuba but logged a couple of reps he probably want back – including the opening drive touchdown, when Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III muscled through Epps and a host of Eagles defenders for an 8-yard touchdown.

On the ensuing drive, it was Michael Carter II who aligned opposite Mukuba, but Epps also worked in. The rotation continued throughout the evening, with Epps recording 27 snaps to Carter’s 20. According to Fangio, who last week indicated Carter could be in line for more snaps, it was the plan going in.

“Well, we were going to play them both,” he said. “That was the plan all week. We practiced it that way and we played them both.”

Moving forward, at least for this week, Fangio said that both Epps and Carter II are “still going to man it,” but what’s been made clear through the first three weeks of the season is that the Eagles need better showings from their safeties. That also includes second-year pro Drew Mukuba, who turned in his shakiest performance of the young season.

Missed tackles and apparent communication breakdowns have resulted in some vulnerability at the position, but Fangio maintained that he has no intention of moving versatile defensive back Cooper DeJean to safety full time. That means Epps and Carter II will be afforded another valuable opportunity to put their respective stamp on the position.

The rotation, Fangio said, isn’t determined by situational moments. The swapping of the two veterans gives Fangio a look at each respective skill set in game action, though when asked if the goal is to eventually settle on one, he said: “That’s always your goal.”

With the high-powered Los Angeles Rams coming to Philadelphia this weekend, it isn’t exactly the best time to experience turbulence at the position. But in the event that neither Epps or Carter II runs with the opportunity, Fangio might have one more card to play in veteran Kenny Moore II, who on Tuesday signed to the active roster from the practice squad.

How does Fangio view Moore as a potentially viable solution, you’re likely wondering?

“Well, he’s a down-the-line possibility, maybe,” Fangio said. “He’s really never played safety in his career, so it’d be some heavy lifting for him on the immediate return.”

Clarity on backbreaking touchdown

The Eagles, down six in the third quarter, were technically still in the game at the time. A defensive stop would have stopped the bleeding and could have resulted in a momentum shift.

But quarterback Case Keenum proceeded to lead a five-play, 71-yard scoring march in which the Bears encountered little resistance, capping the drive with a 41-yard connection from Keenum to wide receiver Kalif Raymond. It was a backbreaking play, to be sure, heightened by a communication lapse between defensive backs Cooper DeJean and Riq Woolen that left Raymond with the middle of the field all too himself.

“It was between Cooper and Riq,” Fangio confirmed. “Had a miscommunication on that.”

While Fangio refrained from assigning blame on play, the veteran coordinator outlined what must happen moving forward to ensure a breakdown of that magnitude doesn’t occur.

“Correct it, make sure they understand it, which we thought they did,” he said. “That wasn’t an uncommon motion for that team.”

Was Fangio pleased with his call in that moment?

“No, the result was sh–ty,” he said.

That play was one of several this season for the Eagles that can seemingly be attributed to a communication breakdown in the secondary. It’s worth reiterating that Reed Blankenship, now a member of the Houston Texans, had been a primary communicator. Ensuring each player is on the same page is a collaborative effort, but the moving parts – and new faces – in coverage heightens its importance. Especially with a high-powered Rams offense coming to town this weekend.

“We just gotta communicate better,” DeJean said Wednesday. “Make sure everybody gets the call, get everybody on the same page so we don’t leave guys running free.”

ITB PHOTO: Jonathan Greenard played his first snaps as an Eagles edge Monday against the Bears.

Greenard continues progression

Greenard made his Eagles debut in the prime-time matchup following an extensive road to recovery. The veteran pass rusher was first shelved last December due to a shoulder injury sustained with the Minnesota Vikings and then suffered a pre-training camp pectoral strain that sidelined him for the entirety of training camp and the Eagles’ first two games.

Greenard, who logged 18 snaps against Chicago, delivered some productive rushes in a cameo, and his performance generally matched the expectations of Fangio going in.

“About what I thought,” Fangio said. “He got, I don’t know, 18, 19 snaps, I think. Had some good rushes. Some little things were off a little bit, but about what I expected.”

It’s been a quiet start for the Eagles’ pass rush contingent in terms of sack production, though the pressure, namely from third-year pro Jalyx Hunt, has shown up.

Perhaps the absence of splash plays up front has created a ripple effect on the backend coverage, specifically for the aforementioned safety group, but that figures to change once the Eagles are able to turn Greenard loose without restrictions.

The proverbial ace in the rotation, Greenard, who brings with him 38 career sacks, was acquired via trade on draft weekend. His presence, in theory, will command attention from opposing offenses, but the addition is also expected to create more opportunities for Hunt and Nolan Smith in the pass rush department.

Greenard, projected as a full participant in practice for Wednesday’s walkthrough for the second consecutive practice, is trending in a positive direction. That he returned following his first on-field action since December without setback is an encouraging development.

Fangio expects his usage to gradually increase this Sunday against the Rams.

“I think it’ll be an upward trend,” he said. “Eighteen, 19 snaps this past game, maybe up to 30 this game. Ballpark figures, don’t hold me to it.”

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is the Eagles beat reporter for InsideTheBirds.com.