The Vic Fix

Vic Fangio, the new defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, has assembled a group of respected veteran coaches to revitalize a unit that collapsed during the 2023 season.

On the latest episode of “Inside The Birds,” Geoff Mosher and Adam Caplan provided intel on the new defensive staff.

GETTY IMAGES: New Philadelphia Eagles DC Vic Fangio brings aboard an experienced coaching staff.

Vic Fangio

Geoff Mosher: “We talk about the five man front, that is a relatively new implementation from Vic basically as a way to counter the McVay/Shanahan wide zone schemes. That has really worked…Vic has generally been a two-high [safeties] guy. He has a quarters, Cover 4, two high base philosophy because he wants to limit explosive plays.”

Adam Caplan: “Talking to someone with the Bears, this guy has been in the league for 15-17 years, he said Vic is probably the smartest football coach he has ever been around…I am fascinated to see how Vic handles this group.”

Clint Hurtt

Caplan: “You talk to any coaches and personnel people, he is one of the most respected defensive line coaches in the NFL. He knows exactly what Vic wants, he knows the techniques.”

Mosher: “I was looking at the Seahawks’ defensive metrics last year and something really jumped out at me that is encouraging about Clint Hurtt. Despite finishing 25th overall on defense and not blitzing very much, they had the eighth best pressure rate and ninth best hurry rate in the NFL.”

Bobby King

Caplan: “He is probably one of the better inside linebacker coaches in the league. Zach Cunningham flourished big-time with him, Jack Gibbons was an undrafted free agent for Tennessee in 2022 and became a starter under King, Benardrick McKinney did well for a while.”

Mosher: “You have Nakobe Dean coming off the injuries, this test that they are doing with Zack Baun, and then Devin White trying to rebound from a tough year last season. He has a lot of different guys to coach up in that room.”

Christian Parker

Mosher: “I think this is a good get for Vic. He is considered a promising young coach. It is really hard to get guys when you get hired. You have to find guy who are either not under contract or are allowed to get out of contract. To get a guy who has experience with [Fangio] and who people like, that is better than looking for scraps.”

Caplan: “The term that I was given was ‘rising star in the coaching community.’ We got that from three different coaches. He is a young guy who has worked his way up. His official title is Passing Game Coordinator, he is overall in charge of the defensive backs.”

Mosher: “We had heard that Patrick Surtain liked being coached by Christian Parker.”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.