Eagles Movie Evaluation: Zack Baun is the group’s most vital defensive participant

It’s the NFL offseason, so it’s time to get into the Eagles’ upcoming free brokers earlier than we get into draft season. I’ll give my normal ideas and a few clips to again them up, then conclude with my total ideas on the participant and whether or not he ought to be re-signed. This time, I’ll have a look at Zack Baun. All stats on this one are Professional Soccer Focus and from the common season solely.

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Zack Baun
Stats

I’m not the largest fan of utilizing stats to guage linebacker play, however I’ll embrace some anyway. I wouldn’t fear in regards to the missed tackles. Sure, he misses just a few, however it’s partly as a result of he’s at all times flying round to the soccer. He isn’t the most effective tackler, however it’s not an obvious weak point. It’s no shock to see him ranked as the most effective protection linebacker within the NFL.

General

I not often converse so positively about one particular person. I discover it troublesome to specific how good I believe Zack Baun is and the way helpful he’s to this Eagles’ protection. I believe Baun’s season was phenomenal. He was all over the place. Summarizing how good he was in only one article is sort of not possible.

I might write a complete e-book on how good Baun was this yr. Let’s have a look at a few of his greatest strengths as a person. This can appear to be a spotlight reel as a result of Baun made so many performs this yr.

The flexibility to show and run in protection? Test ✅ This play is absurd.

Eagles Protection All22 thread vs. Jags. 1) I am unable to fairly consider how good that is from Zack Baun. That is completely psychological. The Jags name is ideal for this Eagles protection and Baun in some way has sufficient athleticism to backpedal and make a play on the ball. This could be a great play… pic.twitter.com/WxetPio8Bv

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 5, 2024

The flexibility to get out within the flat and make tackles in house? Test ✅

Eagles’ Protection All22 vs. Browns. 1) I do know I do go on about him, however I am only a massive fan of Zack Baun. First play of the sport he performs the run effectively after which the subsequent play he has to maintain his run match and rapidly get out to Njoku within the flat. He is a extremely good athlete for the… pic.twitter.com/4M7k2EseIl

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) October 15, 2024

The flexibility to run down the sector with WIDE RECEIVERS? Test ✅ Inform me who else can do that?

13) Guys. Zack Baun. What on earth. He is working down the sector with a WR from the alternative facet. I believe Blankenship is slightly bit misplaced because the single-high right here so it is a good factor Baun is an absolute freak. Pay him all the things. He deserves all of it. Quinyon does a improbable job… pic.twitter.com/P4dTdImXpk

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) January 13, 2025

The instincts to diagnose a run play immediately and penetrate by means of tight gaps earlier than tackling the again behind the LOS? Test ✅

8) I could not submit a movie thread with out posting Zack Baun… How do you blow up a zone run? Dart by means of the hole earlier than the guard can climb to the second stage. Baun’s instincts are merely off the charts. What an unimaginable participant. pic.twitter.com/lwUgRUm4gq

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) January 20, 2025

The flexibility to hurry the quarterback? Test ✅

6) I believed Fangio despatched some well timed pressures on this recreation too. Right here is Zack Baun completely blowing up the working again on a 6-man blitz (this was a harsh roughing the passer name) and a few wonderful man protection from Quinton Mitchell. Q had one other good recreation, though this… pic.twitter.com/nYlFqnQXJO

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) October 15, 2024

The flexibility to show the ball over – by forcing fumbles or intercepting opposing quarterbacks? Test ✅

8) Man, Zack Baun was distinctive as soon as once more. What a improbable play to trigger the fumble right here. The mixture of athleticism, instincts and playmaking skill may be very uncommon. What a improbable signing. pic.twitter.com/MMZwF5kB6s

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 23, 2024

9) I do not know what to say about Zack Baun. He is elite. At all the things he does. It is a former EDGE rusher dropping into protection, studying Jordan Love’s eyes, and stepping infront of a route that he has no enterprise masking! It is simply pure instincts. He is unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/hpZT1Gnq2Z

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) January 13, 2025

I believe you get the thought. I might have posted much more performs, too. Baun was a pleasure to look at.

Individually, Baun had an unbelievable season. Schematically, he’s the Eagles’ most vital participant. Vic Fangio is thought for post-snap rotation within the secondary. Everybody at all times talks about this.

This yr, Fangio’s success towards the run was all about pre-snap rotation along with his defensive entrance. The entrance routinely moved from 4-man to 5-man fronts to get an additional physique on the line of defense. These shifts occurred on the final second, forcing the offensive line to change their assignments on the final second. Offensive strains struggled to deal with these shifts all season lengthy. The Eagles might preserve taking part in with mild packing containers however with heavy fronts. It was an enormous purpose why this Eagles’ run protection was excellent. Why was Vic Fangio ready to do that?

Zack Baun.

9) Ah man, the Eagles are actually going to overlook BG’s skill to kick inside. It has been so efficient this yr. He blows up this run.

I hope he does come again subsequent yr, but when that is the final play I submit of BG, it has been a pleasure to look at him. An Eagles legend. This group… pic.twitter.com/zLkKac6bp2

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 26, 2024

In fact, you may surprise, absolutely different defensive coordinators can even drop a linebacker into the EDGE place? What makes Baun so distinctive?

What number of off-ball linebackers are former EDGE defenders? What number of off-ball linebackers are comfy setting the sting or taking part in with their hand within the filth? Not many. Baun’s versatility enabled Vic Fangio to show this protection into probably the greatest the NFL has ever seen. Right here, he’s stopping the run as an EDGE defender.

12) Then we get the massive one on 4th and 1. Carter almost blows the entire play up on the LOS however Daniels escapes. Watching reside, I assumed Zack Baun had a free run at Daniels, however I used to be flawed, he really had a pulling guard working straight him while lined up at EDGE. What a… pic.twitter.com/EB9Dxq7I7O

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 18, 2024

Oh, and what number of can effortlessly drop again into protection after rotating pre-snap?

Eagles Protection All22 thread vs. Packers. 1) The Eagles zone match was so good early on on this one. The Packers could not get something going. The Eagles rotate Baun down as an EDGE and he is nonetheless comfy in protection. The home windows are so tight, and it almost leads to an INT pic.twitter.com/GDCarhRx6B

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) January 13, 2025

I’m undecided there’s a single linebacker within the NFL with Baun’s present ability set. Good luck if the Eagles suppose they will let Baun stroll out the door, and Vic Fangio will ‘turn water into wine’ as soon as once more. There isn’t one other linebacker I watched this yr with this ability set. They received’t get one other Zack Baun. I can promise you that.

The Eagles’ skill to play the run with two deep safeties depends on having a linebacker comfy as a conventional linebacker or an EDGE defender. Baun is the defender that makes this protection so versatile.

Jalen Carter stands out as the Eagles’ finest defensive participant. I believe Zack Baun is the Eagles’ most vital defensive participant.

Re-sign?

I’m not a cap man. I’m a movie man. It’s a great factor I’m not Howie Roseman as a result of I might pay Baun no matter he desires. I’m not normally that man who shouts ‘pay the man’ as a result of I perceive it’s not that straightforward. I’ll simply say this. Shedding Baun could be a monumental failure for this group. I might have signed him to an extension within the first half of the season. He shouldn’t be allowed to stroll out the door. It was apparent after 1 week that this man was the right match for this method. I stated after week 1…

I do know everybody’s spoken about how good Zack Baun was already, however I am unable to fairly consider what number of completely different roles he performs as I rewatch.

He is lining up all over the place, blitzing, dropping into protection, taking part in as an EDGE. His versatility makes him a dream for this method.

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) September 8, 2024

I might be keen to spend a ton of cash on Baun, however I perceive the issues about his solely having one good yr. It might make sense to provide him a closely front-loaded contract. Per Over the Cap, these are the highest 5 linebacker contracts at the moment.

You possibly can name me loopy, however I believe Baun is worthy of a top-three kind of contract. I might be OK giving him greater than Matt Milano. I’ve seen some point out $13 million yearly, however I might be surprised if he doesn’t get extra on the open market. Anybody who runs an analogous protection fashion to Fangio’s might be throughout this man. I might do what it takes to maintain him in Philly.

The Eagles have traditionally ignored the linebacker place with a view to prioritize different positions. Now’s the time to buck the time. It’s time to pay Zack Baun.

Thanks for studying! I’d love to listen to your ideas, so be at liberty to remark under and ask any questions. If you happen to loved this piece, you will discover extra of my work and podcast right here.