The Philadelphia Eagles lost many key players on defense this offseason, but all-time Eagles great Ron Jaworski isn't worried because they still have Vic Fangio.
"To me it's about who you didn't lose," Jaws told Joe Giglio and Hunter Brody (in for Hugh Douglas) on Friday's 94WIP Midday Show live from his 41st Celebrity Golf Tournament at River Winds.
"How about Vic Fangio? Start right there. Vic is out there playing golf right now, awesome guy. I've know Vic for about 40 years when he was the coach with the Stars here in town. Vic is one of the best coaches in NFL history. The guy has always been successful as a defensive coordinator, he is top notch. We weren't talking about this defense last year in the preseason. 'Our defense is mediocre, bottom half'—it's coaching, and players that accept coaching. Vic Fangio turned that defense around last year. You give him talent this year, he'll turn this defense around really quickly. I know we lost five guys, but when you got a Vic Fangio and see what he can do that means a lot. The players bought into his program, they drafted two solid players in the first round and second round. So you've got guys to build on the other players."
In Fangio's first season as Eagles' DC last year, Philadelphia finished as the No. 1 ranked defense in terms of yards allowed (278.4/game) and No. 2 in points allowed (17.8/game). They were also No. 6 in turnover differential (+11).
This offseason, the Eagles lost CB Darius Slay (free-agency), S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (trade), DT Milton Williams (free-agency), DE Josh Sweat (free-agency), CB Isaiah Rodgers (free-agency) and DE Brandon Graham (retirement).