Eagles safeties under the microscope again as defensive woes continue in loss to Bears: ‘Got to tackle better’
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio rotated Michael Carter II and Marcus Epps throughout the game. That did not stop Bears quarterback Case Keenum from attacking the safety group early and often.
CHICAGO — The Eagles defense on Monday allowed 375 total yards to a Bears offense led by third-string quarterback Case Keenum, who last started a game 1,009 days ago.
Some of the blame can be placed on the Eagles’ safeties.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had a curious game plan for safeties Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II in the team’s 27-7 loss. It appeared that Epps — who has struggled this season — was benched for Carter on the second drive of the game, but he returned just five plays later. This was the start of a rotation that even left Epps confused after the game.
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“I don’t really know,” Epps said when asked about the rotation. “Yeah, I mean, we kind of just go back and forth in practice. However, the coaches want to call it, that’s how they call it. And [we’ll] do whatever the coaches of the team ask us to do.”
In fairness to Fangio, Epps should have seen a demotion coming. The 30-year-old veteran had three missed tackles in Week 2, which prompted questions about his starting status, and then missed two tackles on the opening drive vs. Chicago. Epps spoke about this unprompted on Monday.
“You just got to tackle better,” Epps said. “We got to work on it in practice. So we got to take it upon ourselves to get better and continue to grow in that aspect.”
It wasn’t just the tackles. The rotation clearly led to communication issues in the defensive backfield, with Keenum, 38, routinely attacking the safeties downfield. On Chicago’s second scoring drive, Keenum connected with Luther Burden III for a 25-yard gain (with safety Andrew Mukuba in coverage), then hit Rome Odunze for a 22-yard gain (with Epps in coverage) one play later.
Epps and Mukuba were also at the center of two Bears touchdowns. Burden dragged a gaggle of Eagles defenders, Epps included, on Chicago’s opening drive touchdown. Mukuba slipped while in coverage late in the third quarter, which led to Kalif Raymond’s 41-yard score.
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Keenum’s final stat line: 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
“It was an over route,” Mukuba said when asked about Raymond’s touchdown. “I was in a post [coverage] and I got broke whenever the ball was thrown.”
So, what’s the solution? Fangio said last week that he wouldn’t move Cooper DeJean — who starts at safety in place of Epps in base defense — to safety full-time. Perhaps he considers that after a showing like this.
If not, he could turn to 31-year-old defensive back Kenny Moore, a nine-year veteran whom the Eagles signed to the practice squad last week. Moore spent nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and primarily played nickel cornerback, but he does have safety experience.
One thing is certain: After Monday’s mess, the Eagles have to consider doing something different at safety.
