Key to Philadelphia's success: Raiding Georgia Bulldog Cabinet

In the NFL, the genius at that time seemed to have no brains in the review. Most teams see great college teams as potential clients that can be classified, such as picking the most selected orange from a pile. But why not just drafts…everyone before you were the biggest defense in college football history?

The 2024 NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles have the best defense in the NFL, which isn't ugly: It's at its core the University of Georgia defense in 2021, one of the best Department of Defense in college football history. Never “get the band back together” in a football game is a more appropriate or effective roster philosophy.

The Hawks' 2024 defensive ability began three years ago, 750 miles southwest, in Athens, Georgia. That year, the Bulldogs were unbeaten in the regular season and then suffered an unexpected defeat against Alabama in the 2021 SEC Championship. Georgia eliminated the blood and scored 23 and 15 points to Michigan and the crimson tides, respectively, to demand the national championship in a provocative, indisputable way.

NFL teams tend to be alert to recruiting logos rather than players, but Georgia’s “G” has taken a lot of weight in 2021. As a team, Georgia averaged just over 10 points per game, including an unwise 41 points from Alabama. SEC Championship – But total points that don't score on defense, such as Pick-6 and special team touchdowns. The Bulldogs defense unit only allows 132 points or 8.8 points per game.

While individual Bulldog players may not post stunning stats, this is simply because there is a lot of talent and the quarterback doesn’t have enough sacks. However, the NFL general manager understands the potential of the group and drafted the Bulldogs for five teams in the first round of the 2022 draft, one third of Georgia's 15 players in 2022.

The main person in charge of those talent assessmentists: Howie Roseman of Philadelphia, who has sent the Boy Scouts to the SEC for years, especially Georgia. The investment now pays dividends.

“They can basically land the whole person there; Roseman told The Athletic in 2022. “You go to practice, go to the game, go to visit the facility, and then you’re going to go, ‘Photos, I’ll draft this, I’ll draft the whole thing, I’ll draft the whole thing, team. It's a honor for their plans and for what they do. “

After Cherries picked out the then-National Championship Tide, they put their first two draft picks in 2021 (wide catcher Devonta Smith and guard Landon Dickerson) His eyes turned to Athens. Starting with Jordan Davis in the 2022 NFL Draft defensive tackle Jordan Davis is in No. 13, the Hawks basically rebuild Doug a few hundred miles north. Philadelphia won guard Nakobe Dean in the third round of 2022, then added defensive tackle Jalen Carter (first round, ninth total) in 2023 , defender Nolan Smith (1st round, Game 30) and defensive back Kelee Ringo in the fourth round. (Carter fell to Philadelphia after Carter worried about his maturity and his legal status in Athens’ fatal towing racing accident; the Hawks’ internal security issues satisfy Carter’s adaptation to the team Sexual problems.)

The Doug people immediately provide lasting results. Carter is second in 2023's AP defensive rookies, behind Houston's Will Anderson Jr. This season, he was named All-Pro second-class player and professional bowler. In 16 games last season, Smith had 42 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 11 quarterbacks. Ringo has played in all 17 games in both seasons and is the Pro Bowl special team this year. Davis was named All-Rookie Team in 2022. He has played in all 17 games this season and he has 27 tackles, including 3 losses.

Unfortunately, a Dawg will watch from the sideline. Dean had 128 tackles and 80 solos in 2024, but tore his teller tendon in the first round of the playoffs against Green Bay. (Also in the roster: Lewis Cine is the sixth Doug of the same era, signing Bills’ practice roster earlier this season. He hasn’t played green yet.) Overall, Philly Dawgs has the least yardage count and second place in any team in the NFL.

Of course, expecting good players to come out of Georgia is not a certain idea. In fact, Super Bowl Lix's 24th consecutive Super Bowl marks at least one Bulldog in the lineup, a testament to the ability of elite talent to emerge every year in the program. Hearing what the players say, the culture instilled by head coach Kirby Smart is the key to Georgia’s success—the same culture is reflected in Philadelphia.

“This is one of my favorite first 30 visits,” Nolan Smith said shortly after being selected. “Just as I walked into the building, the coach, the people around them, they greeted him with a smile, They say hello, it's really just the whole city. So it's really fun to go from a good culture to a better one.”

Smart is the old-school head coach in Nick Saban mode, who plays every turn and preaches the value of teamwork and the dangers of complacency. At zero, how this management style performance is a question, but like Saban, Smart is setting up his players for the NFL's affluent future, while Eagles take advantage.

If the Eagles take out the Chiefs on Sunday, don't be surprised if there is a little hurdle at the Lombardy Trophy ceremony. After all, Philadelphia Dougs has been there before.