Vic Fangio, the new defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, is well-known for his direct communication style and use of simple language. His remarks regarding Bryce Huff, the team’s new pass rusher, undoubtedly satisfy that requirement.
With 33 years of NFL coaching experience, Fangio is in his first season with Philadelphia. The new Eagles DC was asked explicitly about Huff and whether the defensive tackle has developed into the three-down player they would like him to be during a media conference on July 25. Fangio gave a telling response.
The DC for the Eagles stated, “He is taking the challenge on well.” “He simply needs to get comfortable doing it. He has the talent to do what we want him to do. It will be an ongoing project. Does he appear capable of succeeding today? No. However, I believe that he will eventually.
The Eagles traded veteran pass rusher Haason Reddick to the New York Jets this summer in exchange for signing Huff to a three-year, $51 million contract. Huff will have to be on the field, especially on important downs.
Can Vic Fangio and the Philadelphia Eagles get Bryce Huff to play three downs?
Vic Fangio with a very honest answer about Bryce Huff’s ability to play the run and be an every down player
Says he has the ability to do it but as of now he has work to do against the run: pic.twitter.com/rf8OBb53Pk
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) July 25, 2024
Huff, 26, spent his four seasons with the Jets in a rotational capacity. In each of his four seasons, he never played more than 51% of New York’s defensive snaps (he played 30% in 2020, 51% in 2021, 20% in 2022, and 42% in 2023). It is not surprising that Huff is taking some time to adjust given that he has never been a three-down player in his career.
Huff will still be expected to deliver by the Eagles given the salary they are paying him. He has occasionally had trouble playing against the run, so Philadelphia will also want him to do well against it.
In 334 pass rush snaps last year, Huff recorded 10.0 sacks, 45 hurries, and 12 quarterback hits, according to PFF. However, in 2023, PFF graded him with an 86.8 pass rushing grade as opposed to a 48.0 mark versus the run.
Although he was third in the NFL last season with a pass rush win percentage of 22.9%, he occasionally had trouble keeping the gap together, especially when facing quarterbacks who were also rushing threats. It will be fascinating to observe how Huff performs in such circumstances as well. Fangio also has a tendency to drop his DEs back into coverage more often than most DCs.
Huff is optimistic about his run defense going into the 2024 campaign.
Eagles edge rusher Bryce Huff talking about trying to be an every down player, and whether it ticks him off that he has the reputation of not stopping the run. @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/w8pSae7U4U
— Dave Uram (@MrUram) July 25, 2024
Huff, for his part, says he is not sure who is criticizing him for playing against the run.
Huff stated on July 25, via CBS Sports, “If you watch my film, I have been physical in the run since I have been in the NFL.” “I was playing a lot of run when I started my second year. I saw a good movie. In my third year, I received quality film anytime I was on the field. I am not sure where that reputation arose from because I also put on good footage in the run last year.
Over his four years in the NFL, Huff has mostly been deployed as a situational pass rusher; in Philadelphia, that will not be the case. In both rushing and passing scenarios, the Eagles intend to use Huff for all three downs, so he will soon have the opportunity to alter the perception of his abilities.