The Eagles are preparing for Monday’s Wild Card Playoff Game at Tampa Bay and the coaching staff is digging in. Offensive Coordinator Brian Johnson, Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay, and Senior Defensive Assistant Matt Patricia met the media on Wednesday at the NovaCare Complex to discuss what they’ve seen from Tampa Bay.
Johnson: Preparing for the Tampa Bay blitz game
The Eagles have seen it before and in Week 3’s 25-11 win at Tampa Bay, they defeated the blitz and pressure packages created by Bucs Head coach Todd Bowles.
Offensive Coordinator Brian Johnson says communication and everyone being on the same page is key for Monday night to win against Bowles.
“He’s done it at a high level for a really long time,” Johnson said. “I think just the variety of different fronts, different personnel groupings, being able to mix and match, being able to package it in a way where it looks very similar to other things that they can present. So for us, we really have to be on in terms of our identification system.”
Tampa Bay blitzes at the third-highest rate in the league, so that is certainly something to watch in this game. But the Bucs are more than a blitzing defense. They’ve been together a long time and they are healthy (the team missed cornerback Carlton Davis in the Week 3 game). Johnson has taken notice.
“They’re definitely healthier. They’ve got a fantastic veteran group that’s been there, seems like, forever. And obviously they’re very well coached,” he said. “Coach (Todd) Bowles does a great job defensively, and they’ve got some players who are battle tested and who have done it at a high level for a really long time. Everybody here
