If you’re in a league using individual defensive players, your ears should have pricked up when the Eagles traded LeSean McCoy for Kiko Alonso. McCoy is the better player in the deal; nobody will argue that point, but Alonso is a very active tackler, and he’s getting plugged into a remarkable good situation.
The Eagles run the up-tempo offense, firing off plays to try to wear down defenses. It’s a system that’s effective at times, but it also results in their own defense having to spend a lot more time on the field. More plays means more tackles, and Alonso must be considered in the mix of players who might lead the league in tackles.
Since Chip Kelly took over that franchise, opponents have averaged 71 plays per game against the Eagles. That’s more than any other team, and 10 percent more than the average of the league’s other 31 teams.
| Opponents Plays Per Game Since 2013 | |
|---|---|
| Franchise | Plays |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 70.7 |
| Cleveland Browns | 69.5 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 67.9 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 67.4 |
| New England Patriots | 67.2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 66.7 |
| Tennessee Titans | 66.4 |
| Buffalo Bills | 66.1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 65.9 |
| Denver Broncos | 65.8 |
| New York Giants | 65.5 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 65.3 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 65.2 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 64.8 |
| Oakland Raiders | 64.7 |
| Green Bay Packers | 64.7 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 64.6 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 64.1 |
| Houston Texans | 64.0 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 63.8 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 63.5 |
| Chicago Bears | 63.4 |
| New York Jets | 63.3 |
| St. Louis Rams | 63.1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 62.8 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 61.9 |
| Carolina Panthers | 61.7 |
| Washington Redskins | 61.6 |
| Detroit Lions | 61.4 |
| New Orleans Saints | 61.4 |
| San Diego Chargers | 60.8 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 59.8 |
—Ian Allan