Back and forth: Analyzing Eagles' plans at safety, LB and whether they feed Dallas Goedert vs. Vikings

Zach Berman and Bo Wulf traded emails ahead of Thursday’s Eagles-Vikings game:

Berman: Bo,

Is this a new email address? Per tradition, I’m messaging you before a game. The Eagles host the Vikings for a much-anticipated home opener — and they’re missing a few key starters. 

Linebacker Nakobe Dean was placed on injured reserve, so he’s sidelined at least four weeks. Safety Reed Blankenship and running back Kenny Gainwell are both out with ribs injuries. Cornerback James Bradberry will miss this game with a concussion. 

We know Josh Jobe will start at cornerback in Bradberry’s place. At running back, it’s clear that Rashaad Penny will be active with D’Andre Swift and Boston Scott, and Swift will likely lead the way. Christian Elliss (or Nicholas Morrow) will start in place of Dean. I’m assuming Elliss, unless you disagree? Safety is a bigger question. Justin Evans, Terrell Edmunds, and Sydney Brown are the options. How do you see defensive coordinator Sean Desai handling the personnel? 

Regardless of who’s in there, the middle of the defense figures to be inviting for the Vikings. The Eagles will need to rely on their pass rush against an undermanned Vikings line (center Garrett Bradbury is out; left tackle Christian Darrisaw is questionable). 

What’s your read on the lineup on defense? And should Eagles fans be worried about this particular matchup?

Wulf: Of course they should be worried. I think the Eagles have a major advantage up front, especially in the middle. Bradbury is often considered a borderline liability in the first place, so it’s reasonable to expect the combination of Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Fletcher Cox and Milton Williams to have their opportunities to blow up plays. Vita Vea did a lot of that in Week 1, while the Eagles’ inside guys were dominant against another undermanned interior group for the Patriots. 

Behind the line of scrimmage, though, the Eagles will simply hope to survive. You know I think Elliss will get the initial nod – he and Blankenship called plays after Dean left against New England, so I presume it will be Elliss on the call this time – and I think he’ll exceed others’ expectations of him. That’s my island. But Cunningham seemed to struggle in Week 1 and there’s a reason Morrow didn’t make the team. I expect we’ll see all three throughout the game, and maybe even some Edmunds there. Nolan Smith took a handful of off-ball linebacker reps during camp, but it seems like perhaps too tight a turnaround to expect him to do that this week. 

Safety is a bigger concern for this week, I think. Evans also seemed to struggle in Week 1 and a combination of him and Edmunds in the back would be uninspiring and lack mobility. I don’t think the Eagles want Brown to be thrown into the mix this early, but unless they plan on playing Avonte Maddox at safety, Brown is too physically talented to leave on the bench in a situation like this. It’s funny, everyone else at safety worked with Blankenship and the first-team defense throughout the summer but not with each other. I’m fascinated to see what Sean Desai will do. It seems like this is a chance for him to prove the theory that he has more creativity up his sleeve than the defense had with Jonathan Gannon. With Justin Jefferson and, to a lesser degree, T.J. Hockenson to worry about, he has his work cut out for him. 

Anything you disagree with? What are you most curious about on the other side of the ball? Do you think we’ll see a concerted effort to overcorrect the Dallas Goedert targets? And, most importantly, how did you get this email address? 

Berman: I wish I had a good solution to offer at safety. Brown is the way I’d go because I expect him to eventually be a starter, but I can see them relying on the experience of Edmunds on a short week. Your point about Brown’s talent being too much to leave on the bench is a good one.

I’m also curious to see if the Eagles use Darius Slay to follow Justin Jefferson — especially with Bradberry sidelined. Last season, Slay defended Jefferson on 17 of 47 plays. Jefferson only had reception on five targets with a target EPA of -11.9, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Slay also had two interceptions on those attempts. 

“I think we have to do what is best for our matchups and our players that gives us the best chance, that doesn’t hurt us,” Desai said when asked about his philosophy of traveling a cornerback. “We’ve got to make sure it systematically fits. We’ve done it. I’ve done it in my history. I think it’s a good tool to have when you need it. I’m sure we’ll do it throughout the season at different spots if and when we need to.”

On offense, I’m most curious to see how Jalen Hurts responds from a lackluster performance and if there’s an overcorrection to try to feed Goedert and Swift the ball. Swift won’t be an issue with Gainwell out. Goedert’s catch-less performance was made worse by the dearth of targets. 

“Fantasy owners aren’t too happy with me, but Eagles fans, we got the win, that’s all we care about,” Goedert said. “I have myself on fantasy. I didn’t win, probably because of myself. Move onto the next one.”

Sirianni compared it to DeVonta Smith going without a catch in the season opener last season. Smith then had 15 catches during the next two weeks. Sirianni said it happened organically within the offense, although the Eagles made sure to manufacture touches for Smith. In fact, the first play of the Week 2 game — also against Minnesota at home — was a quick pass to Smith. So yes, I’m expecting a concerted effort to get him the ball.

What jumps out to you about the Eagles offense vs. Vikings defense? And what does offensive coordinator Brian Johnson need to show you in Week 2?

(And I found your email in the company directory. Tried “Beau” at first, but it didn’t work.)

Wulf: I’d like to see either one of two things from Johnson this week compared to Week 1. It would be nice to see a little more diversity of personnel and formation than we did on Sunday. The Eagles played a heavy dose of 11 personnel against the Patriots – a surprising 51 of 61 snaps, with four snaps each of 12 and 13 personnel and two snaps of 21. I would be surprised not to see more 12 personnel, especially against a Vikings front I think the offensive line can lean on. 

On the flip side, at the risk of being too results-oriented, I know Johnson knows a lot more about football than I ever will. If that relative stagnancy wasn’t just a gameplan- or weather-specific thing, rather an indication of what to expect this year, then it would be good to see it pay off. The Vikings were vulnerable on a few plays downfield in Week 1, let’s see the big play return to the Eagles offense. 

Beyond Johnson, as you said, I’m eager to see how Hurts bounces back. He was a little muddled last week, as was the protection at times. Flores blitzed at a league-high rate in Week 1, so Hurts and Co. will be tested again. 

Prediction time, Zack. Who you got? 

Berman: I recognize the middle of the field could be an adventure on defense, but this game will be won on the lines of scrimmage. The Eagles are better on both sides of the ball, and I expect that to be the difference. The pass rush should be able to disrupt Cousins, and my guess is the offensive line provides better protection. Goedert has a bounce-back game, Swift is a big story on Friday morning, and the Jalen Carter hype reaches another level after an impressive performance on national television. Eagles 28, Vikings 21

Wulf: I think both sides are going to be able to move the ball with relative ease. Maybe the Eagles’ pass rush will dominate, but I expect Cousins to have plenty of success over the middle of the field against the depleted Eagles defense. I also think the Eagles will be fine on offense. Too much talent for that not to be the case. And you know I’m not betting on the Melvin in a primetime game. Eagles 34, Vikings 30