Sean Desai Explains Why He Had Two Safeties Back on 4th and 2

The only positive from the Eagles getting their doors blown off is that the press conference questions and answers are better. Case in point, this Wednesday exchange between Jeff McLane and Sean Desai:

Q. Speaking of specific calls, on fourth and two in the first quarter you had two high safeties dropping. What were you expecting on that, and was there any consideration they may actually hand the ball off? (Jeff McLane)

SEAN DESAI: Yeah, they did a good job, broke their tendency. They had been 100% pass in that situation, and we thought we had a good call up to defend really everything there. We were in a six-up look where we thought we had all the gaps protected if they did try to hand one off, and they used that for four yards on that run there.

That’s good play call versus a good play call. That’s part of the game. We obviously want to win those situations more often than not. That was a big one in the game.

Q. Did you like the call still there? (Jeff McLane)

SEAN DESAI: No, of course I would change the call. Any loss that we get, I would change every call. That’s the reality of it.

Q. Sometimes I’m sure you’re okay with that. Sometimes I’m sure you’re saying the numbers suggested that. In that situation though, to have two safeties drop so deep when they only need two yards, are they throwing deep in those situations? (Jeff McLane)

SEAN DESAI: Yeah, you know, the tape had indicated they had a variety of different routes there. We played it. To your question, yeah, I would want that call back. I would want to be in a defense where we can fit that run a little bit more aggressively and then stop them for sure.

That would be maybe changing up the front structure and adding a movement in there instead of the way we played it.

You can’t pick up the entirety of this play without the all-22 film.

It was the second Dallas drive, and they got the ball close to midfield. Dak missed Michael Gallup on a short throw, which set up 4th and 2:

2 deep safeties on 4th and 2 pic.twitter.com/eZtjSRak7f

— Kevin Kinkead (@Kevin_Kinkead) December 13, 2023

Desai says they were in a six-up look and had the gaps covered. That is correct. Haason Reddick has a tight end on his side, so D and C gap for him. Josh Sweat has the other C gap, Fletcher Cox and Jalen Carter are in the B gaps, and Zach Cunningham and Kevin Byard  have the A gaps:

Jalen Carter does a swim move and loses his gap while being held at the same time, so that’s the biggest reason why Dallas converted.

Still, it does make you wonder why Sydney Brown had to drop off when Reed Blankenship was already back there. It’s one thing to have a safety net, but this was 4th and 2 and both guys are 10-15 yards off the line of scrimmage. They’re not even close to the first down marker.

These are the types of situations that make me yearn for that Jim Schwartz scheme. Rely on the defensive line? Yeah, of course, but leave Rodney McLeod back there in single-high and walk Malcolm Jenkins down to the line. Use that box safety’s flexibility instead of putting two guys deep. I know neither of those guys are walking through that door in 2023, but there’s probably some give-and-take adjustment Desai can make.

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