Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is ready to bring over four decades of coaching experience to the City of Brotherly Love. While Fangio’s blunt coaching style wasn’t appreciated by some players on the Miami Dolphins, the 65-year-old brings much-needed leadership to Philadelphia.
After last season’s embarrassing collapse, it was clear that the Eagles needed to make a drastic change. Fangio brings credibility to Philadelphia, and he’s already making a strong impression on the team’s young players.
Eagles LB Nakobe Dean, Former Georgia Bulldogs Praise Vic Fangio’s Coaching Style
Beginning in 2022, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made a conscious effort to add former Georgia Bulldogs on defense in the NFL Draft. While Roseman’s investment has yet to pay off, the former Georgia players could thrive under Fangio in 2024 and beyond.
Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean was asked about Fangio’s coaching style following Monday’s practice, and it quickly became clear that he appreciates Philadelphia’s new DC.
“He’s old school. I feel like everybody loves him,” Dean said. “Everybody loves his straightforward attitude. How he just tells you straight up if he liked that or he didn’t like it. There’s not too much gray area with him, if you ask him a question.”
Dean isn’t the only former Bulldog who appreciates Fangio’s style. Second-year defensive tackle Jalen Carter also praised the veteran coordinator for his old-school mentality.
Jalen Carter on what he's been working on this offseason and his impressions of Vic Fangio #Eagles pic.twitter.com/YXY3Ni958O
— Chris Franklin (@cfranklinnews) May 22, 2024
Eagles nose tackle Jordan Davis also discussed Fangio’s arrival and his excitement for the new-look defense. Despite a slow start to Davis’ career, he’s eager to showcase his potential in Fangio’s defensive scheme moving forward.
“We have a lot more opportunity to make plays,” Davis said when asked about Fangio’s scheme at the start of training camp. “There’s a new freshness, a breath of fresh air, for the defensive line. It just kind of feels familiar for us (Davis and Carter) because that’s the type of scheme we played at Georgia.”
While the defensive line will definitely benefit from Fangio’s arrival, there’s another former Bulldog ready to take the next step in Philadelphia’s secondary.
Fangio Offering Plenty of Opportunities to Former Bulldogs
Carter and Davis receive most of the attention as former first-round picks, but Fangio is willing to give several other former Bulldogs an opportunity to contribute in 2024.
Kelee Ringo and Nolan Smith have showcased their skills through the first week of Philadelphia’s training camp. Both were lost in the shuffle as rookies in 2023, with the Eagles’ defense spiraling out of control.
That said, Ringo and Smith were two of the team’s lone bright spots down the stretch last season. Now, under Fangio, they’re ready to take a significant step forward.
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After surrendering a 39-yard reception in his first meaningful action as a rookie, Ringo played at a high level in his four starts for the Eagles. According to TruMedia, he allowed just three receptions for 14 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in four starts.
Isaiah Rodgers or Quinyon Mitchell were expected to run away with the starting outside cornerback spot across from Darius Slay, but Ringo isn’t letting that happen. He’s continuing to build on last season’s success and is off to a strong start under Fangio in 2024.
Smith is also enjoying a surprising rise following Fangio’s arrival. Many expected Smith to rotate in behind Bryce Huff, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, and potentially Zack Baun. Yet, Smith is making the most of his opportunities on the edge, having notched back-to-back “sacks” during Monday’s practice, according to multiple reports.
Similar to Ringo, Smith is capitalizing on his strong play to end last season. And given Haason Reddick’s departure and Baun’s move to inside linebacker, there is suddenly a considerable role that Smith can fill immediately.
Following the first week of training camp, it’s clear that Philadelphia’s former Georgia players have enjoyed Fangio’s coaching style. Now it’s up to them to continue to grow and earn significant roles in what could be a surprisingly good defense this upcoming season.