Taylor Heinicke Talks Prepping for Eagles | Episode 54

a little bit. And I think we really have to start Logan on what defensive coordinator Jack Dorio is going to be able to do against their offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. Yeah. I think Jack's an excellent job of the last couple of weeks of kind of throwing in a wrinkle from

a defensive perspective. In the first game, they brought a little bit of cover zero, which they haven't done a lot of this season, but it was enough to kind of throw Jalen Hurts and Sion off their game, right, And so what's the wrinkle going to be this week? How do you find that edge for this group? Because that's something that Jack is an excellent job of but he needs to be on his a game this week

to stime me this offense which has been outstanding for Philadelphia. Yeah, one of the things I want to add, I think our secondary has to find a way to stop Devonte Smith and A J. Brown. I think the last time these guys face these guys, they had combined thirteen catches, two hundred and fifty plush yards and two touchdown. With each of those guys has a touchdown, the piece we have to find a way to contain him. Might not be able to stop him, but contain him. And I

think it's gonna start up front. Yeah, do you think that Saint Juice matches up well with A J. Brown? I mean the first matchups that of an excellent shot. I think we might have to think about Saint Ju's going to Devonte Smith. He's a speaster. He's the guy that I would rather see Saint Jukes, you know, run with someone who can run and give you know that to the other cornerback. Let him see a guy in Aja Brown who don't think it's gonna scratch the field

that much. You know your interview with Benjamin Saint Jus If you haven't watched that. It is on our website. He is such a smart one. He really gets into studying it and I like that he really relishes the challenge yea of going up against the number one. You want that from your corner and to see him grow into that role and the work that he's already done. He's only going to get better, but he will have forgot this one. Another matchup that I think is really

going to be pivotal key is in this game. Of course, we were all anticipating the return of Carson Wentz to Philadelphia, but it is going to be Taylor hiding games. Yeah, I think Taylor, you know, I think the thing that about Taylor that's going to be so important is can he keep this offense on schedule right? Can you find ways to kind of much like in the second half of Green Bay, get the ball, to get the ball

to the checkdown. It doesn't need to be a home and every single player, I think Scott Turner needs to kind of incorporate in the game plan. Find ways to get big plays, but it's not every single time. So be efficient offensively, elevate the run game with the r RPO stuff, make good decisions. There's Ultimately, when it comes down to and if you can avoid kind of throwing those costly interceptions like we've talked about, I think you're

gonna be an okay spot. And I think the way you can do that is having our office ave line play better. Again. Off the death of the Eagles front you know, front four. I think last time we've seen these guys play, they was rushing four and we couldn't protect. So we have to find a way to do something offensively where this is going to be our OC in the run game or the past game. Find a way to protect those guys a little better so we can go out there and run out office that we want

to run. And then something Taylor has done a really nice job of, at least against Indianapolis and against Green Bay, of elevating the offensive line, ducking pressure, buying time, feeling and working within the pocket. Obviously struggle a little bit of that against Minnesota, but that is a skill set that he possesses, and hopefully you can bring that to

this week's game. When Carson Wins played them earlier on in the season, he was sacked seven times, you know, and the offensive line has had their fair share of challenges this season, but Taylor being able to use his legs can't avoid that a little bit. And one of the things in a Philadelphia is saying we've got a plan for is that he makes off scripted plays, so there's not the easiest for them to defend against because if something breaks down, he still has a way to

extend the play. And they've got the playmakers as we have seen Terry McLaurin, Curtis Sym to go out there and make outstanding catches because he's not afraid to throw it and give his guy the opportunity to come down with it. So it might be a little bit more closely contested game than I think folks might be giving it credit for going into this one. Quarterback Taylor Heineke will get his fourth start of the season on Monday night. Linda Fletcher caught up with Heineke to get his thoughts

and preparing for the Eagles. So, Taylor, you've had a couple of days to kind of get over the lost to Minnesota Snapp in a three game loses streak. What has been the message from culture Varia as you guys get ready to start your preparation against a Philadelphia Eagles. Yeah, you know, it's it's a new week, and you know, we can't change the past. So we got to move on from Minnesota, as hard as it was, you know, letting that one slip. Um, we have a great opportunity

ahead of us. It's gonna be a crazy, crazy crowd on Monday Night at Philly. We understand their record and you know their division oponent. It's gonna be a tough one, but you know, we're excited for it. The Eagles offense has has garnered a lot of attention. Is as crazy as this sounds, their defense it's being one of the even though their top five defense they say kind of underrated. What makes this Eagles defense so tough to deal with? And they got a bunch of pretty much Pro Bowler

caliber guys on defense. You know, their whole defensive line is really good. Um. You know, they got they got safety from the Saints at the beginning of the year. They got two really good corners. So, um, there's a very solid defense. You know, it's pretty simple, but at the same time, they play it very well. It's kind of the same thing I said, you know a couple of weeks back about Indie. Um, you know, they know what they run and they just run it really well.

So U, it's one of those things that we have to keep them on our position and try and you know, have long, long drives on the field as you as you mentioned, you know long drives on the field. We look at our running game. Antonio Gibson and also Brian Robinson Junior, what do you think think when you see those guys out there running the football with the aggressiveness and the physicality that they that they do. Yeah, it's a lot of fun. And you know, kind of put

the old line in there as well. You know they're doing a great job and getting those guys holes run through. But you know when you hand the ball off to b Rober or a g and you kind of see them slip through a hole and do their thing, it's a lot of fun to watch. So um, I would like to say, you know, a good running games. Quarterback's best friends. So um, you know, hopefully we can keep

that thing going. As you're on the sideline, I don't know how much you're able to look at our defense on the field and see what they are able to do in terms of getting out to the quarterback, stopping a run and doing some of the things that they're able to do. When you get an opportunity to look

at this defense, what goes through your mind? These guys are playing hard, um, and you know I do watch them and I go through the little slides on the notebook, but after that, you know, I'm watching the screen and those guys are flying around getting after it. And they've played well, you know, for for a month and a half now, and again you know that we have a lot of trust in them to do their job. So um, you know they've they've they've they've done a great job.

You know, hopefully they keep doing that. As you you mentioned the environment that is gonna be like in Philadelphia. I've played on a Monday night football in a Monday night football game. I'm not sure if you've played there before on a Monday night. What do you anticipate this atmosphere being like lots of booze and lots of explicit words. But uh, you know it's fun. That's why you played the game, um, to go in hostile environments like this against a really good team and kind of showcase what

you got. So and I have full faith in our guys and you know all the guys are excited for the for the opportunity, I'm gon give you a heads up. You have to be prepared to get for the bus to get egged on the way coming into the study. All right, Bet, but thanks for joining. I appreciate your question. For all of your news and analysis, be sure to tune into Command Center weeknights if I've thirty and ten pm on NBC Sports Washington. You can also stream on YouTube and commanders dot com