Eagles DC's big idea: How Phillies closer Jhoan Duran can help with INTs
· Yahoo Sports
PHILADELPHIA − Quinyon Mitchell is considered one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. But as he goes through his third season as a full-time starter, the Eagles All Pro corner is still looking for his first regular-season interception.
It's glaring because through three games, the Eagles don't have any takeaways. According to NBC Sports Philly, it's the first time in team history that the Eagles haven't come up with a turnover on defense through the first three games of a season.
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Mitchell, one of the few defensive players to play well in the Eagles' 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sept. 28, actually had a chance to intercept two passes by Bears QB Case Keenum. At least one of them could have been returned for a touchdown.
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It's not like Mitchell can't catch. He has 4 INTs in five playoff games. And the Eagles' defenders work daily on intercepting passes during drills in practice.
But Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he might have a better solution.
"We've just got to keep giving them multiple ball drills," Fangio said. "Coaches throwing ball drills is almost a waste because they're lollipops. We've got to get them on the JUGS (machine) or get a real quarterback throwing them some balls that have some RPMs, maybe like a (Jhoan) Duran fastball rather than a Jamie Moyer."
Fangio is referring to Phillies closer Jhoan Duran, who throws 100 mph fastballs, as opposed to former Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer, whose fastball was clocked in the low 80s when he pitched for the Phillies from 2006-10.
Then again, maybe that's not such a great idea after Duran gave up a three-run homer to the Braves' Austin Riley in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. That powered the Braves to a 5-3 victory.
Still, Fangio's point is valid. And it's not just Mitchell.
The Eagles' secondary has had its share of miscues. That included Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond running wide open through the middle of the field. Keenum hit him in stride and that turned into a 41-yard touchdown.
Fangio said cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Cooper DeJean had a communication breakdown on the play. Fangio wouldn't divulge which player was at fault. But it appeared as if three of the Eagles' defensive backs were in man-to-man coverage while Woolen appeared to be playing zone.
"We just got to communicate better, make sure everybody gets the call," DeJean said. "Get everybody on the same page so we don't leave guys running free."
The Los Angeles Rams are more than capable of taking advantage of similar Eagles' mistakes when the two teams meet on Oct. 4 at Lincoln Financial Field.
That's because the Rams have Matthew Stafford, who has thrown for nearly 65,000 yards in his career, along with star wide receivers in Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, who's expected to play after missing the first three games with a groin injury.
Fangio pointed out how the Rams have amassed at least 500 yards of offense in three of their last four games, dating back to their loss in the NFC Championship game last January.
"That in and of itself explains to you what the chore is that we have," Fangio said. "They run it very well. They stay committed to the run, and they've got a really good play-action game off of it that they marry very well to the run game. You've got Stafford at quarterback. The guy's going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Got the weapons and the tight ends that they have, and they're probably having Nacua back this week.
"So yeah, it's a tough assignment because they're balanced, and they run and throw it very effectively."
The Eagles have more pressing concerns in the secondary, particularly at safety. Fangio admitted that he is rotating Marcus Epps and Michael Carter at the safety spot next to Drew Mukuba. Epps won the competition for the starting job during training camp. But he has missed tackles. Carter hasn't been much better.
In addition, Mukuba, the Eagles' second-round pick in 2025, has had his struggles. That included a defensive holding penalty when defensive tackle Moro Ojomo had a sack on third down that would've forced a field goal. Instead, the Bears got a first down and eventually scored a touchdown.
Fangio said veteran Kenny Moore, whom the Eagles signed to the practice squad on Sept. 23, then promoted to the 53-man roster on Sept. 29, is not a candidate to take over at safety against the Rams. Moore has spent most of his nine seasons in the NFL as a nickel corner. He has never played safety in the NFL. But that's where the Eagles have him playing so far.
"He's a down-the-line possibility, maybe," Fangio said about Moore. "He's really never played safety in his career, so it'd be some heavy lifting for him on the immediate return."
Catching some fastballs from Duran can't hurt, either.
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles DC's big idea: How Phillies closer Jhoan Duran can help with INTs
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