Philadelphia Eagles: Jim Schwartz would be right at home in Indianapolis

While Doug Pederson probably won’t be hired for a head coaching role in 2022, one of his top assistants just might make his way back into an NFL sideline this fall with a clipboard in his hands.

That’s right, after spending the 2021 NFL season with the role of “Senior Defensive Assistant” with the Tennessee Titans, Jim Schwartz, who coordinated the Philadelphia Eagles‘ defense from 2016-20, has interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts for a chance to replace Matt Eberflus as the team’s next defensive coordinator.

Assuming Schwartz gets the nod over other interviewees like Gus Bradley, Kris Richard, and Joe Whitt, the former Detroit Lions head coach would be reunited with Frank Reich, Mike Groh, Press Taylor, and quarterback Carson Wentz, all of whom he shared time with during his five-year run in Philadelphia.

Is Jim Schwartz the ideal man for the job with the Philadelphia Eagles West Indianapolis Colts? I guess that decision comes down to what Chris Ballard is looking for in a defensive coordinator, but even if his run in the City of Brotherly Love didn’t go as planned doesn’t mean he isn’t a quality coordinator who can win games with the right personnel.

The 2017 Philadelphia Eagles had a championship-caliber defense.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense in 2017 was something special. They finished fourth in points allowed, fourth in total yards allowed, 17th in passing yards allowed, and the very best mark of any team in the league versus the run with an astounding 79.2 rushing yards allowed per game.

Despite having an underwhelming cornerbacks group headlined by Patrick Robinson in the slot and the not-so-dynamic duo of Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby on the perimeter, the Eagles were able to win most games, be they a shootout or a war of attrition thanks to the strength of their front seven, which finished out the season with the 15th most sacks of any team in the league, and had the best linebacking corps Howie Roseman has assembled since returning to power in 2016.

With Jim Schwartz at the helm, the Eagles’ defensive line menaced opposing quarterbacks by collapsing the pocket on seemingly every play and made a trend out of limiting the number of deep passing concepts an opposing team could call, especially if said team didn’t have a quarterback who could extend plays outside of the pocket.

While the Eagles were never again able to reach those defensive heights again, as the team’s personnel waned with each passing season, the team was able to make a playoff run with a backup quarterback under center largely because of their fantastic offensive line, great rushing game, and sheer wealth of talent on the defensive end of the field.

Hmm… do you know what the Indianapolis Colts have? A fantastic offensive line headlined by Ryan Kelly and Quenton Nelson, a great rushing game thanks to Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines, and a defense that features players like DeForest Buckner, Darius Leonard, and Kenny Moore. Like the 2017 Eagles, the Colts’ outside cornerbacks are far from a strength, but when you have a quality front seven featuring legit difference-makers like Buckner and Leonard, you can hide that fact, assuming Schwartz actually gets the gig.

Should the Indianapolis Colts hire Jim Schwartz? Honestly, beats me. I’m not really sure what scheme the team is trying to run or how well Schwartz and Frank Reich got along during their shared time in the City of Brotherly Love, but after watching the Philadelphia Eagles clear house last January, it’d be pretty cool to see the majority of the previous regime reunited in Indianapolis, even if Doug Pederson is still curiously without a job.