One of the most concerning parts of the preseason game on Monday night was the way the defense wilted on third down (against Patriots backups). I rewatched all the third downs in the first half and noted the formations and playcalls. See the full list of 13 plays below along with the pre-snap formation (click for bigger) .
The end result was different than I expected, though. I remembered Juan Castillo's blitzes as the main problem, and certainly they were a major issue. He blitzed on three third down opportunties. On two of those plays, Josh McDaniels saw it coming a mile away and called screens that burned the defense, gaining 36 total yards. The third blitz actually did work, sacking Ryan Mallett for a loss of nine yards, only to be nullified by Nnamdi Asomugha's holding call.
But I was surprised to see just how bad the defense was under the four-man rush. Despite decent pressure from the front four, the Patriots converted 6 of 10 opportunities against no blitz, gaining 74 yards and a touchdown. That's not anyone's idea of good third down defense. Still, like the sack above, this set does include an interception by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie that was called off for roughing the passer.
One more note, before I release you into the wild of all 13 plays: the Eagles pre-snap formations were 100 percent reliable in predicting their defense. When they had the DEs stand up, that indicatd a blitz. When they had a more conventional pre-snap look, a more conventional defense ensued. Now, Castillo may be playing a long game here, trying to trick the team's early opponents that those patterns will hold. But if not, the predictability of the defense will be easy to attack going forward.
1st Q: 3-12-NE 18 (13:43) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass incomplete short right to D.Woodhead.
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1RB, 1 TE, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, man-press coverage. Allen in the box.
* Play: 4-man rush gets pressure from Hunt and Cole. Poor throw somewhere between covered Woodhead (Kendricks) and covered Branch (DRC). Incomplete.
1st Q: 3-8-NE 13 (10:20) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass short left to J.Edelman to NE 29 for 16 yards (K.Coleman; N.Allen).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR.
* Def Formation: Nickel, man-press coverage. DTs line up wide, with Cole and Hunt as stand-up rushers in the middle. Kendricks at line of scrimmage to the top, Coleman in the box.
* Play: Patriots throw quick WR screen to left side, get two offensive linemen out front. Eagles blitz 6, none react quickly to screen. Asomugha blocked by Branch. Hanson only half-blocked by linemen, doesn't pursue for tackle. Coleman comes across formation, catches up with Edelman at same time Allen appears as last defense.
1st Q: 3-15-PHI 35 (6:57) (Shotgun) D.Woodhead up the middle to PHI 33 for 2 yards (P.Hunt; T.Cole).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR.
* Def Formation: Nickel, no press coverage.
* Play: Draw to Woodhead. Four man rush, possibly cover 2. Hunt and Cole both beat blockers to inside, make tackle for minimal gain.
1st Q: 3-7-NE 23 (3:11) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass short right intended for D.Branch
INTERCEPTED by D.Rodgers-Cromartie at NE 34. D.Rodgers-Cromartie ran ob at NE 30 for 4 yards.
PENALTY on PHI-F.Cox, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at NE 23 - No Play.
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 2 RB (or 1 RB, 1 TE) in the backfield, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel. Asomugha and Hanson with man-press coverage at top. DRC playing off on other side.
* Play: 4-man rush. Both backs chip ends and release. Cox beats guard, gets pressure up the middle. DRC steps in front of Branch to make interception. Cox (barely) hits QB late, penalty called.
1st Q: 3-7-NE 41 (2:22) (Shotgun) R.Mallett sacked at NE 32 for -9 yards (T.Cole).
PENALTY on PHI-N.Asomugha, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at NE 41 - No Play.
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 2 RB, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, man-press coverage. DTs line up wide, with Cole and Hunt as stand-up rushers in the middle. Kendricks at line of scrimmage to the top, Coleman in the box.
* Play: Eagles blitz 5, with Ryans starting to blitz then peeling off to cover Woodhead. Hunt gets pressure up middle, Kendricks beats RB block on outside. Cole and Cox clean up for sack. Negated for holding call on Asomuga.
1st Q: 3-5-PHI 49 (:51) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass short middle to D.Branch to PHI 29 for 20 yards (K.Coleman).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, empty backfield. 5 wide with Woodhead at the top.
* Def Formation: Nickel, Asomugha and Hanson with man-press coverage at top. DRC playing off on other side. Kendricks picks up receiver to slot right, Ryans goes out to get Woodhead wide left.
* Play: 4-man rush, Hunt/Jenkins stunt gets pressure in QB's face but he completes pass over the middle to Branch, who got a step on DRC.
2nd Q: 3-9-PHI 28 (15:00) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass short right to S.Vereen to PHI 8 for 20 yards (P.Hunt).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1 RB in backfield, Woodhead wide right as 4th receiver
* Def Formation: Nickel, Man-press coverage on all but Woodhead, on whom Allen has off coverage. DTs in stance with rest milling around.
* Play: Eagles blitz 6, Patriots get 3 linemen out in front of RB screen. Big gain, Hunt chases him down from behind.
2nd Q: 3-7-PHI 7 (13:48) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass short right to A.Silvestro for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, zone coverage with corners playing off.
* Play: 4-man rush, good pocket. TE beats Kendricks one-on-one on out route at goal line for TD.
2nd Q: 3-3-NE 27 (8:24) (Shotgun) B.Bolden up the middle to NE 31 for 4 yards (M.Kendricks).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 2 RB, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, man coverage. Coleman in the box.
* Play: Inside run. Landri pushed away from the play, Patriots linemen get enough on LBs to get 1st down
2nd Q: 3-13-PHI 28 (5:05) (Shotgun) B.Hoyer pass deep middle to D.Branch to PHI 11 for 17 yards (K.Coleman).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 2 RB, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, zone coverage (Marsh in for DRC, Boykin in for Hanson).
* Play: 4-man rush. Completion over the middle to Branch in a hole in the zone. Kendricks doesn't drop back enough, Coleman doesn't react quickly enough.
2nd Q: 3-17-PHI 18 (3:48) (Shotgun) B.Hoyer pass short middle to J.Ebert to PHI 17 for 1 yard (D.Ryans).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, zone coverage.
* Play: 4-man rush, Hunt gets inside pressure. Short middle dump off pass bottled up quickly by Ryans.
2nd Q: 3-9-NE 30 (2:02) (Shotgun) B.Hoyer pass deep right to D.Stallworth pushed ob at 50 for 20 yards (C.Marsh).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 2 RB, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, man-press coverage. Allen in box, threatens blitz.
* Play: 4-man rush. Hunt gets pressure around edge, QB escapes pocket, finds Stallworth on comeback route down the sideline against Marsh.
2nd Q: 3-18-NE 42 (1:40) B.Bolden up the middle to NE 47 for 5 yards (C.Jenkins).
* Off Formation: Under center, 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, man coverage on outside
* Play: 4-man rush, inside run stopped by Jenkins.