Can Liam Coen Outwit Vic Fangio?
September 27th, 2024
Matching wits.
An interesting angle to study in Sunday’s game between the Bucs and the Eagles is the battle of coordinators.
The Eagles’ Kellen Moore, who long-time NFL people consider little more than a PlayStation Warrior who calls pretty plays from his Waffle House menu but allegedly cannot manage an offense (see: Eagles loss to Dixie Chicks where Moore choked that game away), will be going against Todd Bowles.
Advantage: Bowles.
But on the other side of the ball is Liam Coen vs. Vic Fangio. The Eagles defensive coordinator is considered among the best. That doesn’t mean he is flawless.
Former Eagles beat writer with NJ.com, Matt Lombardo, has his own Substack page “Between the Hashmarks.” His sources tell him Fangio’s defense has cracks.
There’s some healthy skepticism about the Eagles from people I trust inside the league.
“I think the Eagles’ issues on defense are the same issues you saw in Miami last season,” a league source tells me. “Vic Fangio doesn’t adjust the defense and doesn’t make the smaller decisions that affect the major ones.
“His biggest flaws shine through in the last four minutes of games and have for a few years now.”
Well, Joe really does not hope for the game to come down to the final four minutes.
Joe would hope Coen uses Mayfield’s legs to run some rollouts and get him out of the pocket, be a little mobile. Two of the three quarterbacks the Eagles faced this year, both NFC South quarterbacks (Kirk Cousins and Derek Carr), aren’t exactly nimble like Mayfield.
September 27th, 2024 at 11:40 am
Yes please, some designed roll outs would be nice. Maybe they weren’t designed but saw a couple in game one. Rolling right and hitting Godwin working his way across the field for 11 or 13 looked good.
September 27th, 2024 at 11:41 am
Any defensive coordinator can use a pass rush to tear apart a leaky O-line. If they give Mayfield some time and at least present a threat to run the ball he can torch them with his receivers. X’s and O’s take a backseat to the Jimmy’s and John’s in the trenches for this game.
September 27th, 2024 at 11:47 am
Before the Bronco’s the answer would have been …yes!
Now… I’m not sure??
September 27th, 2024 at 12:12 pm
That loss to Atlanta wasn’t on Kellen Moore. Siriani called off a run which a lineman was mad about and Siriani yelled at him on Live TV like a kid. Then Barkley missed an easy screen pass for a first down that would have sealed the game. He catches that ball 9 times out of 10. It’s hard to say their offense is bad when the TE has 170 yds which is more than Baker threw the whole game.
September 27th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
We won against Glenn (Detroit), and they threw everything they had at us!
We can win against Fangio. I think Coen outwits Fangio! Bucs have to forget the Denver fiasco! L G !!
September 27th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
I think the bucks were just burnt out the last game I was sitting in the stands in the shade and I was melting. I can’t imagine playing on that field.
September 27th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Coen has to improve
He has to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers
September 27th, 2024 at 1:49 pm
Nic doesn’t make adjustments on defense? News Flash: Neither does Coen on offense. Baker got sacked 1000 times in 2 games. Coen never changed a thing.
September 27th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
Same at Kentucky, “Lakeland.” It’s The Twilight Zone. This offense has not looked very good at all. We have one of the best WR-tandems in the league… Maybe, THE Best who are currently healthy. Let that sink in. Something’s Gotta Give.
September 27th, 2024 at 2:03 pm
Billybuc… actually, Soriano was mad because the play was designed to catch Atlanta off sides. The db broke the neutral zone, and all the lineman had to do was move . Encroachment. First down. Game over. The lineman blew it. That’s why the tight end has n motion is seen exasperated, because he knew that was the game. Next play Barkley drops pass…
September 27th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
The Detroit and Denver games did not exactly show any awareness of needing to adjust to how bad the line was getting blown up. Baker under duress every play is not a recipe for success. And, the running game is atrocious. Did they really think the middle of the line was acceptable? Did they think they could wish Skule to goodness? Astonishing lack of awareness. Doesn’t bode well for rapid response. Maybe two games of getting our head kicked in is enough to let them know we have a problem. I think Coen has some imagination. Not sure if it is enough. Jury still out…. Go Bucs. Eagles are our floor mat.
September 27th, 2024 at 4:20 pm
‘Joe would hope Coen uses Mayfield’s legs to run some rollouts and get him out of the pocket, be a little mobile’.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Baker has the best YPC average on the team right now (6.9 YPC). Granted a number of those were off scrambles, but several looked to be designed QB runs. Baker does fine with rollouts, but I’d like to see him take better advantage of what the defense gives him if they break contain. Make ’em pay.
September 27th, 2024 at 4:28 pm
Kind of makes you wonder why Sean McVay did not want Liam Coen calling plays for him with the Rams. Was it because McVay is a control freak or was it that he knew Coen could not call a good game.
September 27th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
Todd can’t outwit Bo Nix.
September 27th, 2024 at 8:16 pm
The key is Goedeke. He’s coming back (hopefully) and that will solidify that line. With more time in the pocket I believe the offense will bounce back.
September 27th, 2024 at 9:12 pm
Eh, I’d say Liam Coen’s playcalling has left quite a bit to be desired as well.
I keep repeating myself, but he’s demonstrated that designing plays is quite different from effectively calling plays during a game. Hopefully he can prove to be competent at the latter this weekend.
September 27th, 2024 at 9:18 pm
@ Scotty, McVay is a control freak and also much smarter and creative than Liam. No reason to give the control to a lesser mind. Doesn’t mean Coen can’t do the job. Just not as well as McVay. Not everyone is a genius or even a pretend genius in this league. Campbell in Detroit does it with guts, common sense and attitude. He’s got some brains he hides too.