Eagles Defense Soars: Embracing the Vic Fangio Playbook with Style!

Vic Fangio’s film assessment sessions frequently incorporate a blend of dry wit, meticulous detail, and sporadic reenactments of his players’ signature celebrations.

During Monday’s film meetings with the entire defense, Fangio typically emphasizes errors by sketching a frown or annotating “blind” alongside a player’s miscalculation. Simultaneously, he also recreates Josh Sweat’s distinctive sack celebration and the group-wide motion started by Cooper DeJean last month to commemorate significant plays.

“When he notices we’ve made a big hit on tape, he’ll mimic it,” Eagles linebacker Zack Baun stated. “He’s doing all the celebrations. … He’s a tough nut to crack, but once you break the shell, you realize he enjoys having fun.”

Upon joining the Eagles’ coaching staff last offseason, Fangio carried the reputation of being an exacting, tough-minded coach who apparently had conflicts with a few players during his single-year tenure with the Miami Dolphins. Now at the helm of one of the youngest defenses in the NFL while being one of the league’s oldest mentors, Eagles players assert that the 66-year-old finds a crucial equilibrium between a traditional mindset and a more jovial demeanor.

The outcomes have been visible. The Eagles defense, consisting of eight starters aged 25 or younger, heads into Week 16 sitting atop multiple defensive statistics, including total points and yards permitted, net passing yards per throw allowed, and yards per play allowed.

Eagles cornerback Darius Slay, who admitted that he had heard varied opinions about Fangio’s capacity to connect with players from his colleagues across the NFL, stated that the defensive coordinator’s style has become progressively more light-hearted this season while still retaining a certain degree of intensity.

“He’s been around in this league for so long that he’s kind of figured out a way to maintain his youth while keeping his mindset,” Slay elaborated. “He does an admirable job of adapting to us. I know you’re not in my meeting room, but he makes a plethora of jokes. Everyone thinks he’s perpetually this strict coach, yet he manages to balance that while maintaining his cool demeanor and also reminding us of the primary objective, which is being one of the top defenses and aiding in our victories.”

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‘No flick’

Whenever Fangio performs his trademark celebration before the defense, Sweat experiences a blend of pride and humiliation.

While they generally review one of his sacks or discuss forthcoming opportunities, Fangio’s exaggerated manner of wiping pretend sweat from his forehead does not quite align with Sweat’s approach.

“It’s embarrassing because he doesn’t do it correctly,” Sweat chuckled. “I never mentioned it to him. But it’s amusing. I really love it, though. I really do. Because I know, you see, he’s a hard individual to win over. It takes time to earn his trust. For him to do that is unprecedented for us. Normally, he’s surly. He’s just an old, grumpy guy.”

What exactly is wrong with Fangio’s rendition?

“He’s like, just, like this,” Sweat remarked, mimicking his movement without the crucial wrist flick. “No flick. No flick, no wrist. No anything.”

Sweat isn’t the sole player on the Eagles defense who has gradually gained Fangio’s trust. His arrival at the NovaCare Complex earlier this year followed a challenging season for the group, which ranked 30th in points allowed, 26th in yards allowed, and 31st in third-down conversion rate by the conclusion of the year. In contrast, the unit stands at No. 2 in third-down conversion rate this season.

An offseason overhaul led to the defense becoming younger, with first-round rookie Quinyon Mitchell and second-rounder DeJean securing starting positions by midyear. The team also relied on the emerging trio of Jalen Carter, Nakobe Dean, and Nolan Smith to undertake larger roles.

While it is essential to highlight that Fangio made several appointments on the defensive coaching staff, including younger assistants who predominantly had prior experience under him, Sweat noted that Fangio’s extensive knowledge across each position group has significantly contributed to the defense’s advancement.

“He meticulously reviews every play, every position, throughout the entire session,” Sweat explained. “You’ve got to stay alert. But he gives everyone attention. Every position. And you don’t witness that often. Some coaches merely segment it, like, ‘Position coaches, handle your responsibilities.’ But not him.”

Eagles defensive tackle Thomas Booker remarked: “He comprehends the intricate details of each position. From outside to inside release for DBs to effectively setting up a maneuver with a wider alignment for a three-technique to a linebacker adjusting their alignment pre-snap, six inches to the right so you can penetrate the B-gap, or any other detail. His comprehensive understanding of the game enables him to provide valuable tendencies and advice. He often uses the phrase ‘game within the game.’ It benefits everyone.”

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Booker, 25, pointed out that Fangio is of a similar age to his father, which has assisted him in connecting with the seasoned coach and his penchant for sarcastic quips. One of his favorites is the coach’s inclination to add succinct messages next to players who committed mistakes during the group’s film evaluations.

“My dad has these quirky phrases we refer to as ‘Tom Booker-isms,’ and Fangio probably has his own version of those,” Booker commented. “He sprinkles in a little humor and snarky remarks that he enjoys sharing.”

‘Let him shine’

In the days prior to the Eagles’ matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Baun informed Fangio that his secret was public knowledge.

The Eagles linebacker, who has been performing at an All-Pro caliber since joining the team in the offseason and shifting from outside linebacker to the off-ball role that Fangio anticipated he would excel in, had friends in town from Chicago familiar with the veteran coach from his tenure on the Bears’ coaching staff.

“They inquired if I was aware of Vic’s meatball recipe,” Baun recounted. “I responded, ‘No, that’s intriguing. Tell me more.’”

This led to Baun typing “Vic Fangio meatballs” into a search engine. The search results included anpiece from The Athletic featuring the video that’s now notorious within the Eagles locker room after Dean posted it on social media earlier this week with the caption, “Let him cook.”

“I showed Vic the video and he reacted, ‘G—,’” Baun chuckled. “I’m aiming to snag the recipe, though.”

Whether it’s a ripple effect of a thriving season or something more profound for the Dunmore, Pa., native, Fangio’s initial season back home contrasts sharply with the reputation he carried from Miami. Fangio dismissed rumors of tension between him and Miami players during the offseason, yet a few players, particularly Jalen Ramsey and Jevon Holland, took thinly veiled jabs at their former coordinator after he and the Dolphins mutually agreed to part ways in January.

Slay, one of the veteran members of the Eagles defense who has friends across the league, mentioned he received mixed reviews when the Eagles brought Fangio on board.

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“I’ve had some acquaintances who I know well who said he was a solid guy; others said he wasn’t the best guy,” Slay noted. “However, in the end, it was going to be my judgment. I regard him as an excellent guy and a fantastic coach. He entered with a positive mindset. There wasn’t anything disrespectful about his interactions with me or the other players here.

“I believe he genuinely conveys the truth. And I think many men just don’t appreciate the truth. If you can accept the truth from him, I think you’d turn out pretty well.”

That truth can be sharp at times, particularly in the early stages as Fangio implemented and emphasized the various components of his strategy.

As the regular season’s final stretch approaches with rising expectations for the team to excel at the right moment, the humor and playful celebrations have emerged as a counterbalance and a testament to how far the unit has advanced.

“I think he’s simply becoming more at ease,” Slay commented. “I know during training camp he was focused on installing defenses and ensuring we mastered our responsibilities, and now that he’s confident we understand his system … I suppose he feels secure enough and trusts us enough to complete the tasks, which is bringing out his personality. Yet he still demands certain things from us because that’s his role.”

Inquirer staff writer Olivia Reiner contributed to this article.

The Eagles are scheduled to play in Week 16 against the Washington Commanders. Join Eagles beat reporters Olivia Reiner and EJ Smith as they analyze the hottest narratives surrounding the team on Gameday Central, live from Northwest Stadium.