The Detroit Lions (6-3) and Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) will square off in a Week 11 battle between two of the best teams in the NFC. In a matchup many were expecting to see in the NFC Championship game last season, this game once again has the potential for major playoff implications.
While both teams are loaded with talent, each has experienced some attrition on their coaching staff. Three of the four coordinators on these teams last season departed for head coaching positions in the offseason, as the Lions lost coordinators Ben Johnson (Bears) and Aaron Glenn (Jets), while the Eagles lost Kellen Moore (Saints).
Let’s take a closer look at the Eagles coaching staff, the scheme they run, and some scouting notes from previously viewed games.
NFL coaching seasons: 17 seasons (three as an offensive coordinator for the Colts, 2018-20)
Head coaching seasons: 5th season (Eagles 2021-present)
Influences: Frank Reich, Shane Steichen, Mike McCoy, Ken Whisenhunt, Anthony Lynn, Brian Daboll, Charlie Weis, Todd Haley
Style: CEO
Playcaller: No
Dan Campbell on coach Sirianni:
“Coach Sirianni’s done a hell of a job with that crew. They’re very talented.”
Offensive coordinator: Kevin Patullo
NFL coaching seasons: 16 seasons
Passing game coordinator: 5 seasons (Colts 2020, Eagles 2021-2024)
Offensive coordinator seasons: 1st season
Influences: Nick Sirianni, Frank Reich, Shane Steichen, Chan Gailey, Ken Whisenhunt, Curtis Modkins
Key Staff: Jeff Stoutland (OL coach)
Offensive scheme
Passing game: Modern Pro Spread
Running scheme: Zone blocking scheme (primarily)
Staples of scheme:
- Personnel: 11 (58.3%, 19th), 12 (26.6, 13th), 13 (7.1%, ninth), 21 (0.5%, 27th)
- West Coast concepts: Shotgun, play-action (24.3%, 20th in the NFL), pre-snap motion, etc.
- Patullo strives for a more “attacking” offense where they’re the “aggressor”
- Want to attack all levels of the field
- Lots of routes designed to beat man coverage
- Looks to establish a “rhythm” offense
- Strong run game with RB and QB
- QB Zone-Read, RPO, and designed scrambles
- Screens (WR bubble, traditional RB) and gadget plays
Scouting notes
- Transition to a new OC hasn’t been smooth
- Struggled to run this season, just 4.0 rushing yards per play (25th in NFL)
- Holes have been harder to run through, and Saquon Barkley has been less effective
- Teams are stacking the box 31.7% of the time (fifth most)
- Explosive runs have declined this season
- More mental mistakes than expected from a Championship team
- Jalen Hurts is keeping them going—Passer rating is 112 (sixth best)
- Incredibly efficient in the red zone (81% red zone scoring efficiency, best in the NFL)
- They’re winning games in a variety of ways (6-1 record in one-score games this season)
- Teams are blitzing them more this season (38.7%, most in the NFL)
- Pressure rate (37%) and sack rate (9.4%) are bottom 10 in the NFL
- WR involvement has varied in consistency and led to complaints from players
- DeVonte Smith has been the most involved and productive WR
- TE2s have struggled, leading to issues with 12 personnel
Dan Campbell on Eagles offense:
They’re very talented, outstanding O-line. We know about (RB Saquon) Barkley, we know about those receivers. (QB) Jalen Hurts runs the ship there, man. He’s an outstanding QB, man. Can run, can make those throws, takes his one on ones. So, dangerous, potent offense. The tight end, a good player. A really good player.
Dan Campbell on what makes Eagles RB Saquon Barkley so challenging to defend:
“It’s because he’s big. He’s big, but he’s got the agility and the speed of a scat back. He’s powerful, he’s strong, explosive. He can hit the hole. And if he’s got a step and there’s a hole, he can take it the distance. And so you can’t just stick an arm out and pull this guy down. That’s what it is. You’re talking about a power back that’s got very good feet, lateral quicks, and explosive and speed to go the distance. That’s what it is.”
Defensive coordinator: Vic Fangio
NFL coaching seasons: 40 seasons
Head coach: 3 seasons (Broncos 2019-21)
Defensive coordinator seasons: 22 seasons (Panthers (1995-98, Colts 1999-2001, Texans 2002-5, 49ers 2011-14, Bears 2015-18, Dolphins 2023, Eagles 2024-present)
Influences: Jim Mora Sr., Dom Capers, Rex Ryan, John and Jim Harbaugh, Greg Mattison, John Fox
Key Staff: Jeremiah Washburn (DE/OLB coach, former Lions OL coach 2009-15)
Defensive scheme
Base: 34 OVER (displays like a 4-2 nickel)
Coverage: Fangio Shell (Split-safety, quarters heavy, off-zone match system)
Staples of scheme:
- 1-gapping 4-man front (2 DL, 2 pass rushing LB)
- Wide-9 edges
- Interior DL stunts (will incorporate edge stunts when in traditional sets)
- Bottom-10 blitz rate (21.9%, 26th)
- Will roll safety or nickel to LB level for run support
- Subpackages 80+% of the time
- Pre-snap look rarely changes, because they mainly run 4 post-snap coverage schemes
- Zone: Cover-3 (28%), Cover-4 (16%), Cover-6 (20% – second most in NFL)
- Man coverage: Cover-1 (23%)
- Cloud (Umbrella) coverage with deep safeties designed to prevent explosive plays
- Communication in secondary needs to be at a high level
Scouting notes
- Terrific in the red zone (allowing a TD on just 48.15% of red-zone drives, fourth best in the NFL)
- Top 10 in points allowed (21.3, 10th)
- Coverage has been a strength (-0.12 EPA per pass play, seventh best)
- Pressures (122, 12th) and pressure rate (35.2%, 15th) have been average this season
- Sacks (19, 24th) and sack rate (5.5%, 24th) have been way down
- Time to pressure is just average (2.64 seconds, 13th) … but they’ll get there if you hold the ball
- Success rate vs. run has also been down (44.1%, 25th)
- Allowing 118.6 rushing yards per game (19th) and 4.4 yards per rush (20th)
- Defensive line not getting off blocks
- Stacking the box (13.1%) at the smallest rate in the NFL, relying on their front alone to stop the run
- Run tackling efficiency has dipped (3.23 yards after contact, 23rd)
Dan Campbell on the Commanders’ defense:
“Defensively, man, the engine of this defense, that front. Those guys can get after it. They added (EDGE Jaelan) Phillips to it. They got (EDGE) Nolan (Smith) back. The D-tackles there in the middle. It’s a disruptive front, they get after it. Backers are smart, and they’re aggressive. They play downhill, sideline to sideline. DBs, umbrella coverage, but then they’ll match up quite a bit too. So, smart crew, know how to play. Traditionally has gotten takeaways. I know not as much as they have in the past, but they’re always going after the ball, it’s all over the tape.”
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