Matt Patricia defensive play caller: Inexperienced Eagles see increased snaps

Eagles' defense sees changes under new play caller Matt Patricia. Rookie Kelee Ringo and others get more playing time. Defense struggles.

The Philadelphia Eagles saw a shift in their defensive lineup during their recent game against the Seahawks, thanks to the debut of Matt Patricia as the new defensive play caller. This change resulted in increased playing time for several players, including rookie cornerback Kelee Ringo and linebacker Patrick Johnson.

Ringo, who earned his first career start due to an injury to veteran Darius Slay, played a season-high 32 defensive snaps and managed to record his first career pass defensed during the game. His performance, along with that of fellow rookie cornerback Eli Ricks, was impressive, as the duo did not allow a single reception across five targets from Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock.

Johnson, who had not seen any playing time on defense all season, logged eight defensive snaps in the game. He expressed gratitude for the coaching staff's support in helping him transition to a more versatile role, acknowledging that he has been working on playing both on and off the ball since his rookie year.

Overall, the defensive changes and increased playing time for these players were a result of the team's noted struggles in the pass game and critical downs. Despite the challenges, both Ringo and Johnson remain optimistic and focused on improving their performance in future games.