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If it seems like it was not so long ago, the Eagles' offensive line was considered one of the top two or three NFL units, well, that's why it was not so long ago. is because it was not the case.
But defeat in the sport can be quick, even for the Super Bowl champions.
After giving nine sacks for the last two games, those in charge of keeping Carson Wentz up and running are in the hot seat for Sunday's important game against the Minnesota Vikings at Linc.
The Tennessee Titans collected four sacks and a dozen spins against Wentz last week in a 26-23 overtime win over the Eagles. The previous week, the Indianapolis Colts had fired Wentz five times in a 20-16 win at the Eagles.
This is the first time the Eagles have dropped at least four sacks in consecutive games since 2010.
"The reality is that we have high expectations because we have done well in the past," said center Jason Kelce. "We had a good season last year. To do this, we know that the attention to detail must be at the rendezvous. And we know that we must all be on the same page. The communication must be there. The technique must be there. And it's really not very far.
Maybe not. But with a 2-2 record and a home game against the Vikings that may not be essential, but are certainly important in the approaching games of the 5th week, coach Doug Pederson begins to blunt.
According to numerous reports, he plans to put left guard Stefen Wisniewski on the Sunday bench and replace him with Isaac Seumalo.
Seumalo, the Eagles' third round pick in 2016, was handed over to the left guard post before the 2017 season, but had serious difficulties in the first two games and was quickly sidelined.
He was then replaced by Chance Warmack and then Wisniewski, an eight-year career veteran with 98 starts, who played the best football of his career in the Eagles Super Bowl.
Wisniewski did not play as well this year as last year, but the rest of the offensive line did not play either.
"I will not get up here and [say]… I'm just going to say this, we're constantly evaluating everyone, "Pederson said Friday.
"This week we exchanged guys. Isaac played a left guard. He played at the center. We have not made any changes yet. "
Seumalo made a brief appearance in the locker room on Friday when media availability, but declined to speak to reporters. Wisniewski was not in the locker room at all during the 45 minutes of the team's presence.
Seumalo only played 13 offensive snaps in the first four games, all three of the third in the 13-group. Pederson and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland occupy a prime spot in Seumalo, which was used almost exclusively at the center during training camp and preseason.
"You see what Isaac did," Pederson said. "He is in his third year. His level of confidence is extremely high right now. He is healthy. He plays physically. He had a very good training camp and a dead season.
"There are a lot of positives for Isaac right now. We are all comfortable with him. Stout is comfortable with him. We love his progress and [we’ll] see what happens. "
>> READ MORE: The predictions of our authors on Eagles-Vikings
Seumalo, one of the Eagles' best offensive linemen, is comprised of 6 to 305 pounds.
"Our force staff did an amazing job with him," Stoutland said a few weeks ago. "It's really the truth. That's where it comes from. You can see it in the field. "
The Eagles have struggled with stunts and blitzes in the last two games. The blame is not entirely attributable to the offensive line, but enough.
"It was a bit of everything last week," said Brian Baldinger, an analyst at NFL Network, a former offensive lineman who has played in the league for eleven years. "It was a good maneuver from Tennessee. The Eagles had trouble doing a few stunts.
"And sometimes they get beaten up. (Titans defensive tackle) Jurrell Casey defeated Wisniewski once. He beat (left tackle Jason) Peters. He was a handful inside and was against everyone he played. "
Kelce, who was a selection of the first All Pro team last season, has been playing with a left knee brace since the start of the season. This is the first time he has used one since 2013, after missing 14 games with ACL and MCL tearing in the right knee.
He did not appear in the team's injury report and Pederson insisted that, despite the presence of the splint, there was no problem with Kelce's knee. But he admitted that he gave her breaks in practice.
"He's a veteran player who does a lot for us," he said. "I just want to make sure it's 100%. He practices every day, but [we] just give him a game [off] here and there."
Given the problems the Eagles have had in recent weeks with acrobatics and blitzing, it is likely that the Vikings will test them early with the same strategy.
"[Vikings coach Mike] Zimmer sees the problems they face, "said Baldinger. "I'm sure he'll test it right away. They will see if the back can go to the right place. They know that the Eagles love to protect themselves against fakes. So, I'm sure they will attack their backs.
"They're under pretty much the same pressure as Tennessee."
This is certainly a repairable situation, especially when one is playing longer with Wentz.
"The Eagles are certainly capable of straightening the situation," said Baldinger. "But they must do it.
"Communication needs to be improved. They need to improve in some of the stunts they were beaten on last week. There is just too much penetration. "
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