Eagles

James Bradberry Likes His Fit in the Eagles’ Scheme

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: May 19th, 2022 · 9:23 AM EDT

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If we’re ranking Delaware Valley sports sources, John Clark’s airport guy has to be number one. Top of the list. Number two could be the mystery source providing the Let’s Go to the Phones Boys with their Eagles information and the number three source could be whomever gives Jeff McLane his Howie Roseman stuff.

John got James Bradberry arriving in Philly:

Never a doubt! James Bradberry arrived in Philadelphia, and @JClarkNBCS caught up with him at the airport. pic.twitter.com/xmGkxoJlqy

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 18, 2022

A man of few words, Bradberry, or maybe he was surprised that somebody was waiting with a microphone and camera.

Bradberry:

“I looked at the overall scheme and I think it fit my ability the best… I saw the guys they put with the D-line. As a DB sometimes your best friend is the D-line, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Based on the acquisitions this offseason we’re pretty sure the Eagles are going to play a 3-4 in 2022. Moving up for Jordan Davis is the centerpiece move to build the formation. Adding Haason Reddick, a hybrid guy, makes sense for this kind of switch. And Jonathan Gannon played a lot of zone last year, which fits Bradberry and helped him to the Pro Bowl in 2020:

Lowest passer rating allowed in zone coverage:
1. James Bradberry – 40.5
2. Steven Nelson – 53.6
3. Jalen Ramsey – 57.6
4. Darious Williams – 63.4 pic.twitter.com/2eHY6cy7WX

— PFF (@PFF) December 5, 2020

If we’re looking at a 3-4 base, I’d guess it’s gonna look very loosely like this:

• DT: Fletcher Cox
• NT: Jordan Davis
• DT: Javon Hargrave
• OLB: Haason Reddick
• ILB: Nakobe Dean
• ILB: T.J. Edwards
• OLB: Kyzir White/Josh Sweat
• CB: Darius Slay
• CB: James Bradberry
• SS: Anthony Harris
• FS: Marcus Epps

The Eagles were a 4-3 team that played a lot of nickel last year, so in most cases you have to think they’re going to have Avonte Maddox playing in the slot with a Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, and/or Derek Barnett swapping into one of those EDGE roles and replacing a linebacker. It’s hard to say how Gannon views the outside rusher positions since we’ve never seen this before. Can Sweat and Barnett play the hybrid EDGE roles in a 3-4? Are we mixing and matching defensive fronts? Will we see some of those exotic third-down packages we saw last year?

It’s all very exciting. Looking forward to seeing how Gannon deploys these guys at training camp. Maybe I even drag my ass down there this summer.