Zack Baun hints at the Eagles defense being even better than top ranked unit from 2024
The Eagles were one of the most physical teams in the NFL last season, and their change in identity began with their late-season collapse in 2023. Vic Fangio entered as defensive coordinator, while Howie Roseman signed Saquon Barkley, Zack Baun, and Mekhi Becton, among others, to help bring physicality and attitude to a Super Bowl contender.
Fangio's addition led to more padded and physical practices, which resulted in a 10-2 team and eight straight wins to start the previous season. Fangio's presence helped the Eagles become the No. 1 defense in the NFL, and the defensive coordinator was a finalist for the Assistant Coach of the Year award.
During a recent appearance on The Exciting Mics podcast, All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun told Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship that the Eagles' defense is miles ahead of where they were last year.
The defense has undergone an overhaul after defensive tackle Milton Williams (New England), Josh Sweat (Arizona), cornerback Darius Slay (Pittsburgh), cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (Minnesota), and linebacker Oren Burks (Cincinnati) all departed via free agency.
In year one under Fangio, the Eagles (278.4 ypg) led the league in total defense for the seventh time in team history, having previously accomplished the feat in 1991, 1981, 1953, 1949, 1945, and 1944 (excludes the 1943 Steagles).
Philadelphia was the second team since the 1970 merger to feature the NFL's rushing champion on offense while showcasing the league's No. 1 defense, joining the 1992 Cowboys (won Super Bowl XXVII). Philadelphia ranked 1st in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (174.2) for the second time in the last three years (also 2022, 179.8). Furthermore, the Eagles finished with the NFL lead in defensive points allowed per game (16.9 — their best figure since 15.8 in 2008), opponent three-and-out percentage (39.0%), and FFs (18, tied). Including playoffs, the Eagles were +27 in turnovers since Week 8. In that span, Philadelphia has 138 points off turnovers (6.6 per game).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Tarik Skubal and AL Central-leading Tigers outduel Zack Wheeler and Phillies 7-5
PHILADELPHIA — All-Star starter Tarik Skubal won his first game since June and Javier Baez homered, doubled and knocked in four runs as the Detroit Tigers beat the Philadelphia Phillies and ace Zack Wheeler 7-5 on Saturday. Skubal (11-3) limited the Phillies (62-48) to three runs and five hits over seven innings while striking out 10. He struck out six of the first seven batters he faced, and didn't relent until the seventh.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Seahawks fan fest: Kenneth Walker rests ‘soreness'; Ernest Jones mourns; more Tory Horton
Kenneth Walker's health is a subject again. Not an issue. But a subject. Walker is the Seahawks' lead running back. He is vital to the Seahawks' new offensive coordinator's promise and directive this season of running the ball 'first and foremost,' as new quarterback Sam Darnold keeps saying. Darnold's fortunes, those of new play caller Klint Kubiak — heck, Seattle's season — will largely go as Walker goes. If he is not available for any time, for any reason, you can hear the angst from fans across the Pacific Northwest. Walker missed training-camp practice Friday. He was not available Saturday evening. Zach Charbonnet was the lead back instead when the Seahawks had their annual fan-fest practice in front of a couple thousand fans at Lumen Field. It was Charbonnet, not Walker, who caught a swing pass from Darnold on the first play of 11-on-11 scrimmaging in the stadium. 'It's just a little soreness with his foot right now. But he's fine,' coach Mike Macdonald said Saturday night following the 10th practice of camp. 'We're just taking care of him right now throughout camp.' Walker, 24, missed six of 17 games last season. The ankle injury he got in December put him on injured reserve and ended his third NFL season. Coaches kept him out of 11-on-11 work during offseason practices this spring. That made it noteworthy he was full go when this training camp began, and for the first practice in full pads to begin this week. And it's noteworthy when he's sidelined. This is a team that lost Chris Carson in his prime with a neck injury in 2022. This is a team that in 2017 went through 16 different running backs carrying the ball because of injuries. This is a team that had legend Marshawn Lynch re-join them out of 14 months of semi-retirement, on Christmas Eve 2019, because so many other running backs had gotten hurt that season. The groans you are hearing about Walker's foot soreness stems from the fact he's yet to play a full season since Seattle drafted him in the second round in 2022 out of Michigan State. And from the fact he plays the most injured position in the sports, the one with the shortest career span. Yet before this foot soreness, Walker said this on Wednesday: 'I feel good. You know, it's good to come out here, be able to play with my brothers and grow throughout training camp and everything with them. It's been cool.' 'I've been changing my routine up, how I eat and sleep. And I definitely feel it in my performance, so I'm going to just keep it up and go into it with the season.' That was when he was participating in almost all the drills with running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu. Thursday when the coach was yanking at a cord attached to the ball as Walker jogged with the ball tightly under his arm. He hasn't practiced since then. This is his contract year. He is playing for what he will play and how much he will earn in 2026, and beyond. He said Wednesday general manager John Schneider and the Seahawks had not talked to him or his agent about a new contract. The team likely wants to see him in Kubiak's new offense, and him get through the season relatively healthy, before making that decision. 'With that part, honestly, I just want to be positive and keep my mind on football and not a contract and all that,' Walker said. 'I just want to make a positive impact on my team and go out there and play it to the best of my ability, and that's what I've been wanting to do since my rookie year to now. 'I'm going to just keep that same mindset and not worry about everything.' Ernest Jones mourning Middle linebacker Ernest Jones was back practicing for the second consecutive day. Saturday morning Jones IV posted on social media he remains in mourning over his father passing away. 'Give me some time, man... I'm hurting,' his son wrote on X/Twitter. Macdonald, whose father is in need of a kidney transplant, said he's talked this week to Jones about his loss. 'I can't imagine going through that,' Macdonald said. 'That's why it's so important for have support (in the team facility) for guys when they need it, because our guys need to be helped. Obviously, EJ (Ernest Jones IV) needs it now. We've got 90 guys on the roster. They're all dealing with stuff. It's hard to imagine. You're trying to be empathetic with him and again, be as supportive as we possibly can.' Jones left the team to be with his family at their home in Georgia following his dad's death. 'He's a beast. The guy is an alpha,' Macdonald said of his middle linebacker the team traded for during last season and re-signed this spring. 'He's probably our top leader on defense. 'But it's a tough time. It's really hard, and his family needs him, they're really far away. That's a tough balance right now, so it's going to be a process over the next however long. One of these things never goes away. It's this new reality which is unfortunate.' Tory Horton keeps rising Rookie fifth-round draft choice Tory Horton continued his rise from demoralizing knee surgery 10 months ago at Colorado State to the Seahawks starting offense. On the fourth play of the first scrimmage period Saturday night he caught a pass at the sideline from Darnold. Darnold threw to him again on the next play, but well wide of Horton to end the series. Later, Horton made another of his deft toe taps inside the sideline while catching a pass from Darnold that otherwise would have been incomplete out of bounds. 'A wise man, Steve Smith Sr. (2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist) once said 'Rookies need to make a play a day to make a name for themselves.' And he's doing that,' Macdonald said of Horton. 'He's making multiple plays every day.' Horton has for now passed veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Bobo on the depth chart. For the second consecutive practice, Valdes-Scantling ran primarily with Drew Lock and the second offense while Horton was with Darnold and the ones. Darnold has been throwing to Horton in scrimmages for more than you'd expect a rookie to see the ball when Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are also running routes on plays. 'He has shown a lot of great things so far in training camp,' Darnold said of Horton. 'His curiosity and the questions that he asks with the receivers, and to us as quarterbacks (show) he's hungry to learn the game, learn the system.' No starters in preseason opener Macdonald stated what was becoming obvious: Seahawks starters will not play Thursday in the first preseason game when Pete Carroll's and Geno Smith's Las Vega Raiders come to Lumen Field. Seattle's current coach had an opinion of how the fans and city should greet the Seahawks' former coach and traded quarterback. 'Look, we should be cheering Pete when he gets here. We should be cheering Geno,' Macdonald said. 'How could we not?' Jalen Milroe running Each day in scrimmages, Kubiak calls designed runs for rookie third-string quarterback Jalen Milroe. Saturday night, Milroe took off around end four times for bulldozing-like gains before a defender approached him outside. The offensive coordinator appears to be test the edge containment of Seattle's defensive ends — and perhaps a package of plays for Milroe in each game plan during the regular season. Don't be surprised to see the third-round pick from Alabama running a few, select plays with a running component during the regular season. Extra points *Another day, another sterling play from rookie safety Nick Emmanwori. He was step for step, shoulder to shoulder with fellow rookie second-round pick and tight end Elijah Arroyo on a short out route during Macdonald's one-on-one 'competition' period of practice. Emmanwori knocked away Lock's accurate pass. Then Emmanwori turned to the cheering fans. He gave them a wipe-out signal with his hands, and pantomimed putting a sword back in its sheath after a conquest. Third-year reserve safety went down injured defending a long pass in the end zone during a scrimmage late in practice. He got carted off the field. Macdonald said the fear is a serious knee injury, pending further tests. *Macdonald had the first-team offense simulate a possession in overtime late in practice. Darnold drove his unit down the field with completions to a Jason Myers 'winning' field goal. *The Seahawks have a players day off from practice Sunday, the one day off per week mandated by the NFL collective bargaining agreement. They will return to practicing on Monday.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cardinals injury update: Several players miss Red & White practice
The Arizona Cardinals held their annual Red & White practice on Saturday at State Farm Stadium in front of over 26,000 fans. They were down a few players, which is common every year as training camps progress, especially with how the Cardinals are doubling up on their padded days. Who were the players who did not practice on Saturday? Cardinals Red & White practice: Players who didn't practice Still on the PUP list, defensive linemen Walter Nolen and Bilal Nichols, along with outside linebacker BJ Ojulari cannot practice. Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. sat out still with knee soreness, his third straight missed practice. Receiver Michael Wilson is in concussion protocol. Running back James Conner and defensive lineman Calais Campbell were given veteran days off. Per Darren Urban, safety Joey Blount was out with an illness and defensive lineman Justin Jones missed but it is not known why. Also per Urban, backup center Jon Gaines went to the locker room during practice. The Cardinals have Sunday off and will have a walkthrough on Monday. They will practice Tuesday through Thursday and get ready for their first preseason game on Saturday. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Several Cardinals players miss Red & White practice
