Let's make something very clear. As soon as it's reported that a guy earns a huge payday, sympathy is thrown out of the window. On, March 13, 2024, it was reported that Bryce Huff had agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Those terms included a $51.1 million payday and $34 guaranteed at signing.
A further study also revealed a $16.1 million signing bonus and $17 million per year... Wow! Yeah, he had better produce, especially in a town like Philly.
Keep in mind that all of this doubled as writing on the wall. There was seemingly no way that Haason Reddick would remain on the Eagles roster.
That theory was validated. Philly traded Haason to the New York Jets for a conditional third-rounder. Huff and Reddick had seemingly taken each others' places. There's just one problem. The Eagles and Birds fans were now expecting a double-digit sack season from Huff.
Things aren't going well for any of the involved parties. The Birds and Jets haven't gotten what they had hoped. Reddick wants a new deal. He has yet to report to Florham Park, and Huff can't get it going in Philly.
Bryce Huff's slump is only going to end if Vic Fangio and the Eagles alter his current role in the defensive scheme.
Bryce Huff has played 113 defensive snaps, roughly 43% of the total during the first four games. That has resulted in two tackles, zero sacks, and three pressures. Pro Football Focus grades him at 52.8 as a run defender, 55.0 as a pass rusher, and 54.6 overall.
Ouch. That hurts.
Birds fans have grown impatient, but there's no sympathy remember? Still, we can be frank. Some of the blame for this falls on Vic Fangio.
Good coaches come up with a cool scheme and try to plug square pegs in round holes. Great coaches build schemes that accentuate their players' strengths. Here's a question. Which of those statements more closely describes Vic Fangio?
Maybe Nolan Smith should be asked to play 'sideline to sideline'. Maybe Philly can stop trying to turn Huff into Haason Reddick? Here are three fundamental ideas that may be hindering Bryce's progression. We weren't asked our opinion, but we decided to offer one anyway because, per league rules, there's no way to execute a trade to reacquire Haason Reddick.
Bryce Huff never been asked to play the run.
Bryce Huff's role is significantly different in Philly than it was in New York. That's understandable based on how much money he makes, With the Jets, he was a depth piece only used in pass-rushing situations. With Philly, he has been asked to take over a starter's role.
Put a pin in that one for a second.
What's the point of dropping Bryce Huff into coverage?
When we watched Haason Reddick, drop into coverage, we felt like ripping our insides out. You remember. Here we are months later, and it's happening again.
To be fair, Bryce Huff hasn't dropped into coverage that often, less than ten times by our count. Vic Fangio says he's getting better at it, but one coverage sack for this guy feels like too many.
Rookie Jalyx Hunt may thrive by accepting that role. It isn't working well for Bryce Huff. Pro Football Focus gives him a coverage grade of 63.7 for the season which is a higher total than what they gave him as a a run defender or edge rusher.
Something tells us Bryce won't be playing slot corner though. That leads us back to the original theory. Something must be done to scheme him into success.
There's simply no point in lining this guy up on one side of the field.
Offensive coordinators walk into every contest vs. the Eagles knowing exactly what Philly intends to do with 'Mr. $51.1 million. He's lining up on the left side of the Eagles' formation, right over the opposing offense's right tackle. The only thing that changes is he occasionally lines up in a four-point stance.
Robert Saleh got the most out of him by moving him around the formation. Things have been stale in Philly other than when he fell during a pass-rush attempt versus the Falcons without being contacted.
We can't blame Coach Fangio for that. Huff's successes and failures are primarily on him. Still, if Philly's defensive coordinator is the genius everyone says he is, there's enough talent here to mold Huff into something respectable. We must understand he won't ever be as good as Haason Reddick was.
