We are still getting to know Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio in every way – what he believes in as a defensive guru, what he likes in his players, how he plans to play the Eagles in this 2024 season, and what nearly 40 years coaching in the NFL ranks, 25 seasons as a coordinator, has taught him.

He is not one to leap to any conclusions. He isn't prone to blowing smoke in any player's direction, and if that has earned him the label of "old school," or "curmudgeon," well, maybe that's just not fair. Fangio calls it like he sees it. He's demanding. He's fair. And when he is asked a question by a reporter, he answers it honestly and thoughtfully.

Fangio spent time with the Eagles as a consultant as they prepared for the Super Bowl and might have been hired as the team's coordinator for 2023 had the timing been more defined when Jonathan Gannon departed after Super Bowl LVII and went to Arizona as the head coach. Fangio was Miami's defensive coordinator in 2023 and he worked wonders with a defense that was plagued by injury – Miami ranked 10th in the NFL in overall defense, racked up a franchise-record 56 quarterback sacks (third in the NFL), and tallied four scores.

So now he's here and the Eagles are glad for it. The defense is very much a work in progress and Fangio is still learning what his players can and cannot do and the players are learning how they will be utilized this season.

The guy is very interesting. Every time he speaks it's a lesson in Fangiology. For example, on Sunday, he had a couple of comments that offered a glimpse into how he thinks and what he believes in, so let's examine.

Example 1: When talking about the "nickel" position and the "cornerback" position, Fangio made it very clear that they are different positions and require different skill sets. Did you know that? Did any reporter in the audience know that? I sure didn't, to be transparent. I've always viewed a nickel player as an inside cornerback, but that's not how Fangio sees it.

"It's universal," Fangio said when asked about No. 1 draft pick Quinyon Mitchell and his role, either in the nickel or as an outside cornerback. "Nickel essentially is really a linebacker position. You know, if you go back to the traditional 4-3, if you stayed in a 4-3, a linebacker would be walked out on that slot. Well, the linebacker leaves the game and now you're in nickel and the nickel is on that slot.

"So essentially when you pare it down, he's playing linebacker-type zones more involved at the run than a corner is. So, it's a drastically different position."

Very interesting. Let's keep an eye on that to further our football knowledge.

Example 2: How much will Fangio blitz? Eagles fans were all over Gannon even in a season when his defense in 2022 was among the very best in the NFL all the way until the second half of the Super Bowl. Maybe the fans still think of the Buddy Ryan days and view those defenses as the way to play the game.

Few in the NFL blitz a ton. Most hope they have enough pressure from the four-down players to play the other seven defenders in coverage. Blitzing is a tricky thing; when it works it's a big play for the defense. When it doesn't, it can be big, big trouble.

So, will Fangio blitz a lot?

"Basically, you want to blitz when you want to and you think it's appropriate. You don't want to blitz because you feel you have to. So that's the answer," he said. "I mean, we'll have games where we hardly do it. We'll have games where we do it a lot. So, it's based on who we are personnel-wise, the scheme we're going against, and what do we feel the best way to stop somebody is."

There is so much more complexity to Fangio's depth of how to win on defense, and it is something to continue to explore as the weeks go along and we learn more about his methods. The Eagles had a good first game against Baltimore with many of the starters at least getting their feet wet before turning it over to the reserves, who stepped up and shined against Baltimore's reserves.

This week, Fangio will learn more about his starting group and his depth in the single day of practice at New England. Tuesday is a big day for the coaching staff and the players. Fangio wants to put together something special here and he's doing that one step and one pearl of wisdom at a time.