What to Expect from Philadelphia Eagles' Pass Rush and Pass Defense in 2015

When you think about Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles, you're going to naturally be inclined to remember their offensive success over the past two seasons. After all, the offense ranked fourth in points scored in 2013 and third in 2014. 

But it's the defense, a weakness of the team in both 2013 and 2014, that has a chance to be special in 2015. In terms of points allowed and other statistical rankings, the Eagles probably won't be a top-10 or top-12 defense. However, it's the additions to the defense this offseason that could take the Eagles from good to great in 2015. 

The two areas of the defense I'll focus on here are the pass rush and the pass defense. One was among the league's best last season, while the other was among the league's worst.

Pass Rush

It's impossible to place the Eagles in the top tier of defensive fronts with the St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills or New York Jets. But you could make a legitimate argument for the Eagles' inclusion in that next group of pass-rushers. After all, the Eagles collected 49 sacks in 2014, which was tied for the second-most in the NFL. They also forced 26 fumbles, the most in the league last year. 

This past offseason, the Eagles lost veteran outside linebacker Trent Cole, but they gained inside linebacker Kiko Alonso. In terms of pass-rushing ability, that's a slight step back, but when you factor in that the Eagles named former first-round pick Brandon Graham a starter at outside linebacker, it's an ideal situation. 

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Kelly says Brandon Graham may be pound-for-pound strongest guy on the team

— Eagles Insider (@EaglesInsider) June 9, 2015"

The best part about the pass rush for the Eagles is that there isn't one player who completely dominates the group. There's no J.J. Watt, an incredible player on an average unit, or even a Robert Quinn, a dominant player on a dominant unit. What the Eagles have is a number of solid pass-rushers, and all of them are capable of getting the job done on a consistent level. 

The list begins with outside linebacker Connor Barwin, a free-agent signing from Kelly's first offseason. Last season, Barwin recorded 14.5 sacks, earning the first Pro Bowl selection of his career. Vinny Curry, with nine sacks, and Graham, with 5.5 sacks, both dominated as pass-rushing specialists off the bench. 

Inside linebackers Mychal Kendricks and Alonso should be good for a combined four to six sacks next season. And defensive end Fletcher Cox has a chance, if he continues to improve, to develop into the best pure pass-rusher on the squad. Ignore his relatively low sack numbers (just four in 2014). He's a pure physical specimen, a beast of a defensive lineman who is extremely difficult to block one-on-one. 

With Cole out but Alonso and Graham now in as starters, it's easy to see why this unit is expected to be special once again. 

Pass Defense

The Achilles' heel of the 2014 Eagles was their secondary, especially in the final quarter of the season as they lost three straight games to fall out of playoff contention.

Cornerbacks Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher combined to allow more than 1,200 passing yards and 14 touchdowns, per Pro Football Focus, while safety Nate Allen surrendered five touchdowns. Only last year's free-agent signing Malcolm Jenkins, who recorded an interception in three straight games in September, performed up to expectations. 

Give credit to Kelly, though, as the third-year head coach drastically changed the outlook of the entire secondary in a single offseason. Gone are Williams, Fletcher and Allen, the first a veteran roster cut and the last two departing free agents. In their places are players like Byron Maxwell, Walter Thurmond and rookies Eric Rowe, JaCorey Shepherd and Randall Evans. 

The big piece to the puzzle, of course, is Maxwell. The top free-agent cornerback not named Darrelle Revis, the Eagles inked the former Legion of Boom member to a six-year, $63 million deal. With just 17 career starts under his belt, the 27-year-old Maxwell will have his hands full playing away from Pro Bowl teammates like Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

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#Eagles DC Billy Davis said they may use CB Byron Maxwell to shadow opposing No. 1 WR's this season.

— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) June 4, 2015"

In 2015 alone, Maxwell may face the likes of Dez Bryant, Odell Beckham and DeSean Jackson twice, as well as Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Evans and Sammy Watkins. 

Question marks remain at the cornerback and safety spots next to Maxwell and Jenkins, where a number of players could win a job with a strong training camp performance. Possibilities at cornerback include Nolan Carroll, Rowe or even Shepherd, while the options at safety consist of converted cornerback Thurmond, Jaylen Watkins and oft-injured Earl Wolff. 

It's difficult to see the No. 2 corner and the other starting safety playing particularly well in 2015, but overall, the secondary should be drastically improved from last season.

Even though it's difficult to see a scenario where he lives up to his lucrative deal, Maxwell should easily be the team's best cover cornerback next season and onward. Rowe, the other big addition, is talented enough to fill in at any position in the defensive backfield, while Shepherd could compete for a significant role, even as a rookie.

The Eagles also replaced defensive backs coach John Lovett with Cory Undlin. With the Denver Broncos in 2014, Undlin helped three of the team's four defensive backs earn Pro Bowl nods. Even though he's only been with the team a few months, Undlin has already been praised by his players, and it's not out of line to call the replacement of Lovett with Undlin the single biggest secondary change this offseason.  

No matter what happens to the team this season, Williams, Fletcher and Allen are gone. Those three alone combined to allow 19 touchdown passes in 2014, per Pro Football Focus. At best, the Eagles will have a league-average secondary in 2015, but average would be a tremendous improvement over the 2014 debacle.