Gate City Sports Talk

That’s an interesting position group , and camp battle for that last spot. Guys like Brandon Johnson, Andre Sam, J.T. Gray, Maximus Pulley, Kapena Gushiken, and Cole Wisniewski. Right after this Holiday weekend, Deontae Lawson and as Vic called him, Gush are on the schedule. I’m going to breakdown all of our picks and UDFA signings prior to the start of training camp.

@HeitterSteve Coach can break down this person

#FlyEaglesFly DB Cooper DeJean is going to be one of the most interesting contract breakdowns. We’re still a year away from getting those results, but that extension is going to mean something for players like Caleb Downs too. The closest players to Coops utilization are Jalen Ramsey in Pittsburgh, Quentin Lake with the Rams, Derwin James Jr. with the Chargers, and Jalen Pitre with Texans. I think it’s very possible Coop ends up getting outside CB money. I’m talking 25-30 AAV! 😮 Where do you think his extension will land? Give Me 60 Seconds to EXPLAIN Cooper DeJean's Extension?! youtu.be/Pp7eMUt9uBg

Let's clear some things up about #Eagles DB Cooper DeJean's role in this defense. As I told you guys right after the draft... with them not matching Reed Blankenship's offer - then signing Riq Woolen to a 12M AAV contract - to then turn around and not address Safety until the 7th round of the draft - the writing was on the wall that they planned to move Cooper DeJean to Safety in our Base Defense. Key words, "Base Defense". All you had to do was read the tea leaves. Now, a new narrative is emerging that we don't play that much Base Defense. Yes and No. Our primary defensive alignment is some form of Nickel, and you got to always account for speed nickel with Vic's coverage schemes. However, Vic is also known for his 52 fronts as well, and last season, we played some form of base defense on over 20% of defensive snaps. In my opinion, that's a lot, and far too many snaps to ignore. Essentially, if this was an insignificant number of snaps, would we even be discussing this? Probably not because we wouldn't care if Coop was in this package or not. With that said, it's a lot of snaps even if it's not our predominant defensive alignment, and not only do we want Coop in there, Vic and the rest of the coaching staff do too. A commonly confused comment I see on this app is about Coop's experience playing Safety. Many of you think he played Safety in our base defense last year. He did not. He logged a single snap at safety, and he played in place of Adoree Jackson at Outside CB in our Base Defense last season. During OTAs they leaked out information regarding Coop being crossed trained at outside corner. Then, on July 24, 2025, Vic informed us during his press conference that Coop would also cross train at safety too. He basically said that we're searching for a home for Coop in base defense. Vic reaffirmed his belief that Coop could literally play every alignment within the secondary. However, that's different from what he said yesterday. Yesterday, he outright told us, Cooper DeJean will be one of our starting safeties in base defense. He was much more direct about the role. Keep in mind, last season, Mukuba didn't sign his contract until the day before camp started, and he delt with injuries during camp. The 90-man roster featured Blank, Sydney Brown, Lewis Cine, Andre Sam, Tristin McCollum, Maxen Hook, and they moved Brandon Johnson back there too. Both Epps and Michael Carter II joined us during the actual season. For context about Base Defense, we're playing 7/12 of the top 12 leaders in rushing attempts last season. Not to mention, 6/10 of the top 10 squads using multiple TE formations in: Chi, NYG, LAR, ARI, INDY, Pitts. We needed to be better in base defense. Teams are going to test us, and our worst loss last season is when Chicago kicked our teeth out in the trenches. #FlyEaglesFly

@hakaneugene @SleeperEagles We just gonna have to agree, to disagree. Because if over 20% of snaps, and 1 out of every 5 snaps in a game, literally 12-13 snaps on average per game is insignificant to you, we’re too far apart on this issue to find any middle ground. That’s too many for me to ignore!

@HeitterSteve @SleeperEagles Lol 1-5 is not alot lol you are trippin

The #Eagles will play Cooper DeJean at safety in base defense, per DC Vic Fangio. DeJean played one snap at free safety last season.

@hakaneugene @SleeperEagles Okay, let’s take this to its logical conclusion… If it’s an insignificant amount of snaps, and not a lot, then why is Vic even bothering playing Coop in base? Because it is a lot of snaps, and we need Coop on the field. 1-in-5 snaps is a lot!

@HeitterSteve @SleeperEagles No thats not alot lol wtf is you saying

@woolford3387 @Will_Rucker3_AD It's not even 15%, it's actually 22%. When the Eagles signed Woolen to a 12 million AAV contract, the signaled what they were doing.

@Will_Rucker3_AD But it will take someone off the field for the 15% of the snaps that is one of their best 11 players on defense.

Derwinnnn

@MonolithicFilm @SleeperEagles That’s true, and I agree we play a lot of nickel. At the same time, 1-in-5 plays is not insignificant either. That’s a lot For reference, the wild card game against San Fran, Coop played in place of Adoree outside for 19 snaps, at Dallas we played 22 snaps in base, vs Chicago 27

@HeitterSteve @SleeperEagles The defense will be better with him at safety in a two receiver set. No denying that. That being said, he will still be the slot corner covering receiving tight ends and underneath stuff 75% of the time.

@hakaneugene @SleeperEagles Yes we do. While Nickel is our dominant alignment, the next most common alignment is form of base, 5-2 & 4-3 primarily. We played some form of base on 22% of snaps. That’s a lot. Last year, in base, Coop played in place of Adoree outside. 200+ snaps. This year, it’s S.

@SleeperEagles We barely play base

@MonolithicFilm @SleeperEagles We got to stop with this narrative, it’s not correct. Nickel is our dominant alignment, but 5-2 base and 4-3 base is next up. We play some form of base defense on 22% of our snaps. Last season, in base, Coop played in place of Adoree outside at CB. 200+ snaps. This year, S.

@SleeperEagles He might get two in 2026. Base defense is hardly ever on the field.

@vin3074 @zrunns Yes sir! This new narrative they’re spreading is hilarious. Dude was insulting people for not listening to Vic, while simultaneously, not listening to Vic. 😂 I thought he was engagement farming at first. Nope, he just literally doesn’t understand what he was seeing.

@HeitterSteve @zrunns Coach once again don’t feed the animals. Did coop play safety during last training camp ? Was he being cross trained at safety? Why can’t these clown actually pay attention what really goes on.

He played safety in base last year too. But we don’t run base that often. This is the exact statement Vic said all last season. Yall don’t pay attention

@SkowronekBurgh @SevensTheKing The point I’m making Benny is that 22% of snaps, which is the amount of snaps we play base defense is a lot more than people realize. In 2024 we had CJGJ, Blank, Slay, and Q. No opportunity for Coop in base. In 2025, no Slay. So, Coop outside in base for Adoree. This year, S.

@HeitterSteve @SevensTheKing I mean he was a rookie that year so would make sense he played less snaps…

#FlyEaglesFly Can we talk about how 777 people that hearted this tweet either don’t know what base defense is, or thought Coop moving to Safety in base was far fetched? They thought signing Riq to a 12 million AAV contract, and not letting him play base was reasonable? #Eagles

No way buddy was so loud, and so wrong. Got called out on not understanding the defense, and tried to throw an insult and block me. 😆 Buddy, you’re charmin toilet paper soft. #FlyEaglesFly

What did I miss about Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos? Bo Nix ankle is actually pretty serious? I honestly didn’t know that. Payton put him on blast? WTH!!! Sean Payton really put a journalist in timeout during the draft? No f’ing way! That’s funny, but not funny. 😂

@SevensTheKing Yes sir. The tweet was about finding Coop a home in base defense for the 2026 season. After signing Riq, it was clear to me they planned to play Coop at Safety in base. To be fair, I thought Vic was leaning more Michael Carter II in Sub packages not Epps. Got that wrong!

@HeitterSteve Ah misunderstood

@B_Shmoney They play 22% of their defensive snaps out of some form of base. Last year, Coop played over 200 snaps outside at CB in place of Adoree in Base defense. This year, those 20% of snaps. 1-in-5 snaps will be at safety. Some ya’ll need to learn our defense before you post.

The eagles barely play in base lmao

@SevensTheKing The point of the tweet was we weren’t signing any big name safeties b/c we play 22% of our snaps out of base defense. Then, Coop is off 6-8% of plays. Add it up, and that’s a 20-30% reduction in snaps. We signed Riq, 12M AAV, Coop’s not playing outside. Where’s the opening? S

@SevensTheKing The snap counts I have are 67, 61, 56, and 77. Per PFF, I have Coop playing 9 snaps during that period of time. So yes, it’s true he missed snaps equally between not playing in base, and not playing the first month of the season. But you’re missing the point of the tweet…