Inside the Tape: Breaking Down Jeremiah Trotter Jr.'s Impact in Week 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Box scores give you the what. Film gives you the why.
Welcome back to a new weekly film series, where we bypass surface-level stats to isolate the schematic tweaks, matchups, and micro-details that define the Eagles from week to week.
After diving into Drew Kendall’s tape against the Bears last week, the focus shifts today to LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr who made his first start of the year against the Rams. With Zack Baun on the shelf, an opportunity for Trotter against a high-powered Rams attack set the stage for the young ‘backer to open some eyes.
Away from the final few drives, the defensive product was lightyears ahead of where it was the first three weeks, and much of the credit is deserved for Trotter’s aggressive and physical presence in the heart of Philadelphia’s defense. If the film from Week 4 is any sign, Trotter deserves more snaps.
Let’s dive into the tape:
Living in the middle of an NFL defense isn’t easy, especially when you have to take on a left guard working free up to the second level. But Trotter plays this perfectly. This is just good ‘ol duo (double team) here from the Rams where they look to initially push back the defensive tackles and work up the LB in a short-yardage situation. For Trotter, watch how his head peeks around the opposite gap from where his momentum is taking him, making sure Rams RB Kyren Williams is accounted for whatever way he decides to go. But he quickly realizes Jalyx Hunt (58) is looping over the top into the B-gap allowing him to shuffle, avoid the block, and meet Williams in the hole for a tackle. Trotter makes it look easy with a free blocker in his face.
This is excellent football from Trotter, and really, the type of rep if you’re Vic Fangio that forces Trotter into more snaps. It’s physical, downhill, violent football. From the snap, he hops over a gap to account for the motion from Puka Nacua (12) – the same look the Rams later scored on via an end around – presses the A-gap, then bench presses the TE away from his body, sheds the block, and wraps up Williams. It’s textbook linebacker play that you see a lot of the time from Zack Baun, and if Trotter can consistently execute at this level as well, Jihaad Campbell’s snaps will decrease.
Rarely do you ever want a LB on a future first-ballot Hall-of-Fame wideout in man, but you have to be intrigued by this rep from Trotter, especially the nature of the route and location of the target. First, it’s a two-way option from Adams that occurs off-screen. He can work outside or in, depending on the leverage from Trotter. Usually, if the defender is stacked directly on top as Trotter was here, the WR/TE/RB, whoever is the pass-catcher, will go inside as it’s an easier throw for the QB. With Adams taking the inside track, it then becomes a foot race across the middle of the field as Adams crosses Matthew Stafford.
For Trotter to have the athleticism to not only re-direct from the route, keep up with Adams across the field, but to finish the play for just a five-yard gain is outstanding. It’s a matchup I’m sure Stafford saw pre-snap as his second read in the progression, and for the young Eagles LB to limit Adams here is very, very good football from the linebacker spot.
Similar look here against Nacua, but with the TE buzzing out to threaten the flats, the Rams’ All-Pro wideout doesn’t have a two-way go like Adams did in the prior clip. For Trotter, this is called a ‘spot drop’ where a LB works to about seven yards of depth in zone coverage and has to keep everything in front. But what stands out here is Trotter’s elite understanding of angles and open-field tackling – two traits that the best linebackers in football have. Nacua is one of the best in football with the ball in his hands, but he has absolutely nowhere to go after the catch as Trotter sinks and drives through his upfield shoulder just a few ticks after the catch. Also, look how low Trotter sinks to stop Nacua’s momentum, allowing other Eagles to rally to the football after being stonewalled.
It’s a small play in the large scheme of things, but it showcases his awareness, 1-on-1 tackling ability, and toughness to limit one of the games best.
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